WHOLE VOL. ARAUCANIAN CHILD LIFE — HILGER 383 



child begins to walk. Skull formation was not practiced, but face 

 molding was. 



Occasionally today, as formerly, the mother takes the child, fol- 

 lowing delivery, and bathes herself and it in the waters of a stream 

 (it is believed that the child will benefit physically by the bath), but 

 more often the baby is bathed in lukewarm water by the woman who 

 assists at delivery. 



Postnatal interests. — Noses were not pierced. Every child had its 

 ears pierced, formerly, when it was given its name. Relatives were 

 invited as guests on this occasion. There was no conventional ear 

 piercer. Occasionally (for the benefit of the child, so it was believed) 

 either grandmother, and sometimes others, at the ear-piercing feast 

 pierced the skin on the back of her own hand, a performance known 

 as katawe. Today, generally, only a girl's ears are pierced. 



To prevent or cure chafing the sap of specific plants was applied 

 to the baby ; grease was not used ; today, commercial talcum powder 

 is used. Diapers were either homewoven cloth, woven especially for 

 the purpose or cut from worn-down material, or softened skin of 

 guanaco or lamb untanned and closely clipped. A child able to speak 

 is expected to tell its toilet needs. 



The baby's first clothing was a wrap of guanaco or lamb skin if 

 the diaper was cloth ; or cloth, if the diaper was guanaco or lamb skin. 

 A woven band was used in swaddling. 



Generally the cradle was made by the father for the first child and 

 kept in the family for subsequent children. The baby spent most of 

 its waking hours swaddled and lashed to it, with the cradle in erect 

 position resting against some object; at night, it slept with its mother 

 out of its cradle. It was transported by its mother on horseback, in 

 its cradleboard, with the cradle either resting in front of the mother 

 or being tied securely to her back. A mother traveling on foot carried 

 her baby in her arms. An older child was often transported on the 

 back of an adult. A hammock for a small child was suspended indoors 

 or outdoors. Both burdened- and nonsense-syllabled lullabies were 

 sung to babies. 



Nothing was done to develop early growth of teeth. Inflamed gums 

 were washed with a decoction — today young mothers use vinegar. 

 If a teething child ran a temperature, its gums were rubbed with 

 unwashed wool of black sheep ; young mothers today use commercial 

 alum. No significance was attached to the appearance or the loss of 

 the first tooth. Both deciduous and second teeth were buried in the 

 toldo when they came out. 



