101 



CHAP. VII. 



Rhetoric; Poetry; Medical Skill; Commerce 

 of the Araucanians. 



Notwithstanding their general ignorance, 

 thej cultivate successfully the sciences of rheto- 

 riCj poetry, and medicine^ as far as these are at- 

 tainable by practice or observation ; for they 

 have no books among them, nor any who know / 

 how to write or read. Nor can they be induced 

 to learn these arts ; either from their aversion to 

 every thing that is practised by the Europeans, 

 or from their being urged by a savage spirit to 

 despise whatever does not belong to their country* 

 Oratory is particularly held in high estimation 

 by them, and, as among the ancient Romans, is 

 the high road to honour, and the management of 

 public affairs. The eldest son of an Ulmen 

 who is deficient in this talent, is for that sole 

 reason excluded from the right of succession, 

 and one of his younger brothers, or the nearest 

 relation that he has, who is an able speaker, sub- 

 stituted in his place. Their parents, therefore, 

 accustom them froni their childhood to speak in 

 public^ and carry them to their national assem- 



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