78 



If the Araucanians discover little rei^ard for their 

 deities, they are, however, very superstitious in 

 many points of less importance. They firmly be- 

 lieve in divination, and pay the greatest attention to 

 such favourable or unfavourable omens as the ca- 

 priciousness of their imagination may suggest to 

 them. These idle observations arc particularly di- 

 rected to dreams, tc the singing and flight of birds, 

 which are esteemed by the whole of them the truest 

 interpreters of the vill of the gods. The fearless 

 Araucanian, who Avith incrediljle valour confronts 

 death in battle, trembles at the sight of an owl. 

 Their puerile weakness in this respect would appear 

 incompatible M'ith tie strength of their intellect, if 

 the history of the hnnan mind did not furnish us 

 with continual examples of similar contradictions. 



They consult upoi all occasions their diviners, 

 or pretenders to a kiDwledge of futurity, who arc 

 sometimes called C/iífiía, and at others Dugol, 

 among whom are sone that pass for Guenguenu, 

 Genpugnu, GenpirUy &.C. which signify masters of 

 the heavens, of epidemic diseases, and of worms or 

 insects, and like the Llamas of Tibet boast of being 

 able to produce nin, of having the power to 

 cure all disorders, and to prevent the ravages of the 

 worms that destroy :he corn. They arc in great 

 dread of the Calcui, or pretended sorcerers, who 

 they imagine keep concealed by day in caverns with 

 their disciples, callee Ivunclics^ man-animals, and who 

 at night transform ihemselves into nocturnal birds, 

 make incursions in ilie air, and shoot invisible arrows 

 at their enemies. Their superstitious credulity is 



