87 



and their ow n, for as their Ulmenes have not the 

 right of imposing any species of service%r con- 

 tributions upon their subjects, still less in their 

 opinion should those of celestial race require it 

 of man, since tliey have no occasion for it. Go- 

 verned by these singular opinions, they pay to 

 them no exterior worship. They have neither 

 temples nor idols, nor are they accustomed to 

 offer any sacrifices, except in case of some severe 

 calamity, or on concluding a peace ; at such timej 

 they sacrifice animals and burn tobacco, which 

 (hey think is the incense most agreeable to their 

 deities. Nevertheless they invoke them and im- 

 plore their aid upon urgent occasions, addressing 

 themselves principally to Pillan and to Meulen. 

 To this little regard for religion is owing the in-^ 

 difference which they have manifested at the 

 introduction of Christianity among them, which 

 is tolerated in all the provinces of their domi- 

 nion. The missionaries are there much respect- 

 ed, well treated, and have full liberty of pub- 

 licly preaching their tenets, but, notwithstanding, 

 there are but few of the natives who are converted. 

 If the Araucanians discover little rcsrard for 

 their deities, they aye, however, very superstitiou*; 

 in many points of less importance. They firmly 

 believe in divination, and paj^ the greatest atten- 

 tion to such favourable or unfavourable omens 

 as the capriciousness of their imagination may 

 fu^gcijt to them. These idle observations art 



