286 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. I33 



of them as grown-ups ; chose a mate in marriage for each, and pro- 

 vided the exchange of marriage gifts. 



The respect shown by children to parents was noteworthy. Parents 

 spoke of young unmarried sons and daughters, gainfully employed, 

 who gave part or all of their earnings to the general support of the 

 family. They also spoke of the obedience of children; complaints 

 about children were rare. 



In general, children of a family were agreeable among themselves; 

 quarrelsome ones w^ere corrected, and sometimes punished. Children 

 of simultaneous wives were taught to get along together. "We were 

 like brothers and sisters; parents did not allow their children not to 

 like one another ; we had great respect for one another." There were 

 no taboos regarding brother-sister relationships, such as speaking 

 to each other or being in each other's presence. 



CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR 



CARE AND DRESSING OF THE HAIR, PERSONAL APPEARANCE 



Formerly a girl's hair was not cut but was worn in braids ; today 

 most girls have it cut. A boy has always worn his cut; "it was cut 

 like one cuts wool ofif a sheep." It was cut for the first time when he 

 was 2 to 3 years old. 



Most children seen were clean and had the appearance of being well 

 cared for ; an occasional one had hair disheveled and face dirty. In 

 general, when at home, children were barefoot and wore mended 

 and faded clothes ; in schools, villages, or in homes where visitors 

 were expected, they wore better clothes, and usually shoes. (See 

 pis. 62-67 for children.) 



SIGHT AND HEARING OF THE CHILD 



Non-Araucanians spoke of the keen sense of sight and hearing of 

 Araucanian children, and of adults, as well. "If they have once seen 

 a horse, they can tell its tracks wherever they see them. Consequently, 

 they can often tell you from a horse's tracks what person passed down 

 the road or path," said an estancia owner who employed Araucanians. 

 A cow or horse that has strayed into a herd of several hundred, or a 

 strange sheep in a large flock, is immediately spotted by them. Chil- 

 dren that accompanied the writer through woods and over meadows 

 sighted hidden flowers in crevices, commented on unusually tall grass, 

 and on colors of stones lying at a distance. Insects were identified by 

 their buzzing and birds by their songs and call notes, and both were 

 accurately mimicked. 



