100 



chase, as to obtain them they must give to their fa- 

 thers a certain amount of property, as has been and 

 still is the practice in most countries of both 

 continents. But in their marriages they scrupu- 

 lously avoid the more immediate degrees of rela- 

 tionship. Celibacy is considered as ignominious. 

 Old batchelors are called by way of contempt vuchu 

 apra^ and old maids cudepra^ that is, old, idle, good 

 for nothing. 



Their marriage ceremonies have little formality, 

 or, to speak more accurately, consist in nothing 

 more than in carrying off the bride by pretended 

 violence, which is considered by them, as by the 

 negroes of Africa, an essential prerequisite to the 

 nuptials. The husband, in concert with the father^ 

 conceals himself wdth some friends near the place 

 where they know the bride is to pass. As soon as 

 she arrives she is seised and put on horseback be- 

 hind the bridegroom, notwithstanding her pretended 

 resistance and her shrieks, which are far from being 

 serious. In this manner she is conducted with much 

 noise to the house of her husband, where her rela- 

 tions are assembled, and receive the presents agreed 

 upon, after having partaken of the nuptial entertain- 

 ment. Of course, the expenses of an Araucanian 

 wedding are by no means inconsiderable, from 

 whence it happens that the rich alone can maintain 

 any considerable number of wives. The poor con- 

 tent themselves with one or tv/o at most. Nor does 

 tliere arise any inconvenience from the scarcity of 

 women, as the number of females is much greater 



