WHOLE VOL. ARAUCANIAN CHILD LIFE — HILGER 293 



A girl at first menses, but not at any subsequent one, was isolated 

 for several days in the toldo, usually in a corner behind some hang- 

 ings. The mother prepared the girl for the event, but only in rare in- 

 stances explained its purpose. Following isolation, invited relatives 

 partook of a plentiful meal at which the girl was present. Quoting a 

 woman in her sixties : "My mother took me aside one day and said, 

 'Now you are of an age when you will get a certain sickness.' I was 

 about 13 or 14 years old then. She did not tell me what the sickness 

 was, and since I did not know what it was, I could not speak to her 

 about it. One day, later than that, she said to me, 'You look pale and 

 sad and are upset. Bring me the white blanket.' She laid it on the floor 

 in a corner, away from the fireplace, and then hung a hide on a rope 

 that was stretched cornerwise [about 5 feet high] to make that corner 

 a private place. Since the hide did not shut off the entire corner, she 

 sent me to get a blanket which she slung over the remainder of the 

 rope. The corner was now completely shut off. She told me to sleep 

 on the white blanket that night. I did so. The next morning she 

 examined the blanket and found it soiled. She said, 'Now you are 

 grown up. Do not be ashamed of it. It is something every girl gets, 

 and every woman has. When you are much older, it will go away 

 again. While you have it you must be careful not to wash your hair 

 or feet; if you do, it will make you sick. However, you can comb 

 your hair, but do not touch your hair when doing so ; it may fall out if 

 you do. You must stay here in the corner so no one will disturb 

 you.' My mother came behind the hangings and sat with me and 

 talked, but no one else did so. Nothing would have happened if 

 someone else had, but only a mother does so — that is our custom. 

 While the girl was in the corner, the others in the family went about 

 their work as usual ; they were all glad that all was well with the girl. 

 The girl was given only light foods to eat. I was given a little fried 

 meat — we usually ate meat raw — cooked cereal, and catute well mixed 

 with water. I did no work. I merely waited. I sat on the white 

 blanket or lay on it for four days. When my mother noticed I was 

 well, I went to bathe. The danger in washing my head and feet was 

 now passed. I wore my silver ornaments, for relatives that had been 

 invited to a feast were arriving. Such a girl is congratulated. Every- 

 one knows that she has stood it well. After the feast the girl goes 

 about her work again." 



Quoting another woman in her sixties : "I spun while I was back 

 of the hangings. When it was over with, my parents gave a meal to 

 which acquaintances were invited, at which they drank chicha and 

 mudai, and sang songs for the occasion. My father and my mother 



