85 



The seasons, as in Europe, consist of three 

 months ; the spring is called Peitghcn^ the summer 

 Ucan, the autumn Giialug, and the winter Pucham, 

 To render the distribution of the year uniform, they 

 also divide the natural day into twelve parts, which 

 they cvA] g/iagcwtUy assigning six to the day and six 

 to the night, in the manner of the Chinese, the Ja- 

 panese, the Otalieitans and several other nations. 

 Thus each gliagantu or Araucanian hour is equal 

 to two of ours. Those of the day they determine 

 by the height of the sun, and those of the night by 

 the position of the stars : but, as they make use of 

 no instrument for this purpose, it follows that this 

 division which must necessarily be unequal accord- 

 ing to the different seasons of the year, will be much 

 more so from the imperfect manner of regulating it. 

 They begin to number their hours as is general in 

 Europe, from midnight, and give to each a particu- 

 lar name.* In civil transactions, they calculate in- 

 differently, either by days, nights or mornings, so 

 that three days, three nights, or three mornings sig- 

 nify the same thing. 



To the stars in general they give the name of 

 hiiaglen, and divide them into several constellations, 

 which they call />«/, or 7'itha. These constellations 

 usually receive their particular appellations from the 

 number of remarkable stars that compose them. 

 Thus the Pleiades are called Ccjupal^ the constella- 

 tion of six, and the xVntarctic Cross, Meleritho^ the 



* These names, commencing at midnight, are, Puliuen^ Ucun^ 

 Thifianantii^ Maleu^ Vutamaleu, Ragimitu, Culunantu, GullanCu^ 

 Coiiantu, GuvgueimntUj Pwii, Ragijiun, 



