WHOLE VOL. 



ARAUCANIAN CHILD LIFE — HILGER 



351 



lofche there became known as Reumai. Reumai's brother stayed on 

 in Argentina with the deceased father's lofche, which lofche today 

 is known as Namunkura of Collon Cura. 



The lofche probably persists today where groups of Araucanian 

 families live in the vicinity of a recognized cacique whom they speak 

 of as their cacique. Such groups existing in 1952, according to the 

 late Father Ludovico Pernisek, are listed in table 9. 



The late cacique of El Salitral, having no sons and believing that 

 his daughter Leonor, because of her formal education, was more 

 capable than any man in the families under him, appointed her, before 

 his death, to succeed him. No objections were raised by his people. 



Table 9. — Groups of families (probably lofche) in igs3 under a recognized 

 cacique, according to Father Ludovico Pernisek 



"A woman can look after the interests of her people as well as a man 

 can. This woman has proved that," said a man from Collon Cura. 



No cacique today functions as formerly. However, a man is recog- 

 nized as a cacique if he has been elected by his people ; or, if no elec- 

 tion has taken place, if he is looked upon by people within an area as 

 their cacique, and is also so recognized by other Araucanians. The 

 Argentine Government authorities — local, territorial, and federal — 

 then deal with him as the authoritative representative of his people. 

 His chief authority lies in leasing grazing lands for the herds and 

 flocks of his people from the Argentine Government. His chief duties 

 are those of calling his people together and presiding at meetings in 

 which grazing and similar needs are discussed. If the rjillatun is still 

 held in his area, it is his duty to send out the call for its performance, 

 and to lead in its celebration. 



