225 



where their cattle feed during the continuance of 

 the herbage. When that begins to fail they 

 transport their habitations to another situation, 

 and in this manner, continually changing place, 

 they traverse the valleys of the Cordilleras. This 

 wandering life is not, however, without its plea- 

 sures : by this means they acquire new acquaint- 

 ances, new accommodations, and new prospects. 



Each village or encampment is governed by an 

 Ulmen, or hereditary prince. In their language 

 and religion they differ not from the Araucanians. 

 They are fond of hunting, and often, in pursuit 

 of game, trayerse the immense plains that lie 

 between the great river of Plata and the straits 

 of Magellan. These excursions they sometimes 

 extend as far as Buenos Ay res, and plunder the 

 country in the vicinity. They frequently attack 

 the caravans of merchandize going from thence 

 to Chili, and so successful have they been in 

 their enterprises, that at present, owing to that 

 cause, the commerce in that quarter is said to be 

 almost entirely stopped.* 



* It may be here proper to relate what I myself noticed on 

 my passage tijrough these districts. On the 27th of April, 

 17S3, I left Mendoza with post-horses for Buenos Ayres. We 

 soon learned from some people whom we met, that the Pe- 

 huenches were out on their excursions; and we soon after re- 

 ceived the raeluucholy information of the massacres they had 

 committed in the Portion of Magdalena. In consequence of 

 this there was not a post-house where we stopped but was in a 

 YOL. II. Q 



