81 



CHAP. V. 



Si/stem of Religion and Funeral Ceremonies. 



The religious system of the Araiicanians is sim- 

 ple^ and well adapted to their free manner of 

 thinking and of living. Thej acknowledge a 

 Supreme Being, the author of all things, whom 

 they call *Pillan, a word derived from piilli or 

 'pilli^ the soul, and signifies the supreme essence ; 

 they also call him Guenu-pillan, the spirit of 

 heaven ; Buta-gen, the great heing ; Thalcove, 

 the thunderer ; Vilvemvoe, the creator of all ; 

 Vilpepilvoe, the omnipotent ; Mollgelu, the 

 eternal ; Avnolu, the infinite, &c. 



The universal government of Pillan is a pro- 

 totype of the Araucanian polity. He is the 

 great f Toqui of the invisihle world, and as 

 such has his Apo-Ulinenes, .ind his Ulmenes, to 

 whom he entrusts the administration of aft'airs 



* Pillan is also, according to DobrizhofFer, (T. 2. p. 101) 

 their word for thuuder. Tupa, or Tupi, in like manner among 

 all llic Tuj)i tribes of Brazil, and also the Guaranies of Para- 

 guay, equally means thunder and God. E. E. 



t According to Falkner, his general name among the Mo 

 luche tribes is ToquicLcn, Governor of the People . E. 



