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particularly directed to drearas_, to the singing 

 and flight of birds, which are esteemed by the 

 whole of them the truest interpreters of the will 

 of the gods. The fearless Araucanian, who 

 with incredible valour confronts, death in battle, 

 trembles at the sight of an owl. Their puerile 

 weakness in this respect would appear incera- 

 patible. with the strength of their intellect, if 

 the history of the human mind did not furnish us 

 with continual examples of similar contradictions. 

 They consult upon all occasions their diviners, 

 or pretenders to a knowledge of futurity, who' 

 are sometimes called Gligiia, and at others Dugol, 

 among whom are some that pass for Guenguenu, 

 Genpugnit, Gen-piru, &c. which signify masters of 

 the heavens, of epidemic diseases, and of worms 

 or insects, and like the Llamas of Tibet, boast 

 of being able to produce raiu, of having the 

 power to cure all disorders, and to prevent the 

 ravages of the worms that destroy the corn. 

 They are in great dread of the Calcus, or pre- 

 tended sorcerers, who they imagine kc^p con- 

 cealed by day in caverns with their disciples, 

 called Ivunches, man-animals, and who at night 

 transform themselves into nocturnal birds, make 

 incursions in the air, and shoot invisible arrows 

 at their enemies. Their superstitious credulity 

 is particularly obvious, in the serious stories 

 that they relate of apparitions, phantoms, and 

 hobgoblins, respecting which they have innu- 



