^J 



much skill, figures of flowers and animals in various 

 colours, and the border is ornamented w ith a hand- 

 some fringe. Some of these ponchos are of so fnie 

 and elegant a texture as to be sold for a hundred and 

 even a hundred and fifty dollars. 



Th-e Araucanians make use of neither turbans nor 

 hats, but wear upon their heads a bandage of em- 

 broidered wool, in the form of the ancient diadem. 

 This, whenever they salute, they raise a little, as a 

 mark of courtesy, and on going to v/ar ornament it 

 with a number of beautiful plumes. They also wear 

 around the body a long woolen girdle or sash hand- 

 somely wrought. Persons of rank wear wooilcu 

 boots of various colours, and leather sandals, called 

 c/ielle^ but the common people always go bare- 

 footed. 



, The women are clad with much modesty and 

 simplicity. Their dress is entirely of wool, and, 

 agreeable to the national taste, of a greenish blue 

 colour. It consists of a tunic, a girdle, and a short 

 cloak, called ichella, which is fastened before with a 

 silver buckle. The tunic, called chiamal^ is long, 

 and descends to the feet , it is without sleeves, and 

 is fastened upon the shoulder by silver broaches or 

 buckles. This dress, sanctioned by custom, is never 

 varied; but, to gratify their love of finery, they 

 adorn themselves with all those trinkets which ca- 

 price or vanity suggests. They divide their hair 

 into several tresses, which fioat in graceful negli- 

 gence over their siioulders, and decorate their heads 

 with a species of false emerald, called guanea, held 

 by them in high estimation. Their necklaces and 



