306 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. I33 



animals. I want to help you ; but you must speak our language.' Since 

 the boy grew up in the cacique's family, he spoke perfect Araucanian. 

 Later he found out who his own parents were, but he never went 

 back to his family." The informant then told of Araucanians who 

 were taken captive by Argentines and reared by them : "They learned 

 perfect Spanish. My husband's two sisters were kidnaped by Whites 

 when very small, and taken to Buenos Aires where they still Hve. 

 They, too, do not want to return here to their people." 



Another method by which the Araucanians learned Spanish was 

 told by a woman who had heard old men tell about it : "When the 

 Argentines came here and took over our land not one of our people 

 knew enough Spanish words to talk with them. So they taught our 

 people to speak Spanish. The commander of the army made our 

 people stand in a row. Then he ordered one person after the other, 

 down the row, to repeat Spanish words and sentences after him." She 

 indicated individuals standing in a row and pointing a finger at each 

 one successively said : 'You, you, say Buenos Dias !' 'You, next 

 one, say Buenos tardes.' 'You, next one, say Buenos noches, my 

 commander!' Our people could not pronounce the words as he did, 

 although they tried hard enough. So the commander made them 

 repeat and repeat and repeat the words. And that is how our people 

 learned Spanish. Our people did not mind too much having to learn 

 the Spanish language, but they resented it when they were made to 

 march before the officers and speak Spanish words. The women were 

 obliged to wear their chamall (homewoven clothes) and silver orna- 

 ments and their ojotas (footwear). Our people have disliked the 

 Whites ever since for this." She halted a moment and added, "But they 

 say they came to civilize us. In due time Araucanian men were drafted 

 into Argentine military service where they learned to speak Spanish 

 well. Upon their return home they taught it to others, especially to 

 their children." 



Informants were not aware of differences in their language as 

 spoken by women and as spoken by men — something a non-Arauca- 

 nian who had lived among Araucanians for many years was certain 

 existed — unless variations such as the following were meant : A man 

 addresses his father as chau ; his mother as nuke ; his brother and 

 sister each as piiie ; a woman does not use these words when addressing 

 the same persons. A man speaks of his son as /ot'gm, and his daughter 

 as iiawe ; a woman speaks of both as paiien. 



The Araucanians had no written language. Pictographs found in 

 many places formerly occupied by Araucanians are not Araucanian, 

 it appears. Saiko, who had studied the pictographs in many places. 



