APPENDIX. 427 



liver, &c. whilst the animal was yet alive ; the blood from the heart he sprinkled 

 upwards towards the sun, the other priests doing the same with the blood 

 from the body. They (the priests) then devoured the heart, liver, lights, 

 and entrails, reeking with blood ; whilst the caciques were permitted to eat 

 the body of the sacrifice.* 



The sacrifice being finished, they proceeded to their divination or pro- 

 phecies ; and as their revelations were of the most flattering nature, the 

 council was permitted to be opened under the auspices of the Sun. The 

 Indians were naked, as they are in all functions of war, council, religion, or 

 athletic exercises. Their long hair was more than usually ornamented by 

 white, red, blue, or yellow plumes ; and their faces frightfully painted with 

 black, red, and white earths. 



The oldest cacique sitting cross-legged on a cloth prepared for that pur- 

 pose, the next in seniority sat in the same manner on his left, and so in 

 succession, till the junior cacique came to close the circle on the right of 

 the senior. The General and his interpreters were seated in the centre of 

 this circle. Our officers and the Indian captains formed a second and third 

 rank round the circle; where we stood, to hear these turbulent sons of liberty 

 represent their constituents in the open air, exposed to the rays of a scorching 

 sun. All being seated, a profound silence reigned, which was at length 

 interrupted by the principal or oldest cacique, in a short speech directed to 

 the members, intimating the object of their union, &c. He then addressed 



himself to Carrera, saying, that having assembled tribe of Indians in 



council, he was authorized and required by their authority, and in their name, 

 to congratulate and welcome the Pichi Rey to their country ; to enquire re- 

 specting his health, and the difficulties he might have met in his march 

 hither ; the state of the country from whence he came ; the strength of the 

 military establishment there, and how employed, or likely to be employed ; 

 a particular relation of the wrongs which he had suffered from his enemies, 

 &c. &c. ; and to inform him, that as they were convinced that he was the 

 true friend to the Indians, he had only to command their tribe, and they 



* It is curious that the account given here by Mr. Yates, of the sacrifice of the colt, 

 agrees with what we are told of the ceremonies practised by the ancient Mexicans at a 

 human offering. It should seem, therefore, that the horse is only a substitute for a man, 

 The way is now open, and I do not doubt that an intelligent observer might find among 

 the Araucanians much to throw light on the history of the more polished ancient Ame- 

 rican states. 



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