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particularly obvious, in the serious stories that they 

 relate of apparitions, phantoms and hobgoblins, res- 

 pecting which they have innumerable tales. But in 

 truth, is there any nation on earth, so far removed 

 from credulity in that particular, as to claim a right 

 of laughing at the Araucanians ? They have, ne- 

 vertheless, some among them, who are philosophers 

 enough to despise such absurdities, and laugh at the 

 folly of their countrymen. 



They are all, however, agreed in the belief of the 

 immortality of the soul. This consolatory truth is 

 deeply rooted, and in a manner innate with them. 

 They hold that man is composed of two substances 

 essentially different : the corruptible body, which 

 they call anca, and the soul, am or pulH, which they 

 say is ancanolu, incorporeal, and mugealu, eternal, 

 or existing forever. This distinction is so fully es- 

 tablished among them, that they frequently make use 

 of the word anca metaphorically, to denote a part, 

 the half, or the subject of any thing. 



As respects the state of the soul after its separa- 

 tion from the body, they are not, however, agreed. 

 All concur in saying, with the other American tribes, 

 that after death they go towards the west beyond the 

 sea, to a certain place called Gidcheman, that is, the 

 dwelling of the men beyond the mountains. But 

 some believe that this country is divided into two 

 parts, one pleasant, and filled with every thing 

 that is delightful, the abode of the good ; and the 

 other desolate, and in want of every thing, the habi- 

 tation of the wicked. Others are of opinion that 

 all indiscriminately enjoy there eternal pleasure, pre- 



