170 THE ARAUCANIANS. 



[1824 



of St. Carlos; and the manners and customs of the two places differ 

 but very little. 



I have already mentioned that the aborigines on this coast are called 

 Araucanians, and that they inhabit the rich and fertile districts between 

 the rivers Biobio and Valdivia. The fruitfulness of the soil, abundant 

 springs, and a temperate climate, render that country even more de- 

 lightful than Chili. Arauco, the smallest province in their territory, 

 has given its name to the whole nation. They never used to build 

 towns, but resided in scattered villages, or in hamlets on the banks 

 of rivers. Love of liberty and want of refinement induced them to 

 consider walled cities as the residence of slaves. 



The Araucanians, says Vancouver, were the only people in South 

 America that maintained their independence by force of arms ; but the 

 prudence and ability of a single individual have done more in reducing 

 that warlike people than all the armies of Spain. By the judicious 

 policy of Vallenor, President of Chili, the two nations have long been 

 kept on amicable terms with each other ; and now Indian magistrates 

 superintend the trade carried on by their countrymen with the Span- 

 iards. The colonists and the natives associate with each other, and 

 Araucanian workmen are frequently met with in the Spanish settle- 

 ments. Intermarriages have likewise tended to strengthen the bond 

 of union, as is also the case at Chiloe. 



Polygamy is considered lawful by the Araucanians in the interior, 

 who still adhere to their ancient usages ; but the first wife is treated with 

 great respect by all the others, and acknowledged to be their superior. 

 Each wife is obliged to present daily to her husband a dish prepared 

 with her own hands ; and once a year a poncho, or embroidered cloak. 

 The women pay great attention to the cleanliness of their persons. 



November 28th. — On Sunday morning, at six, A. M., w r e resumed 

 our survey of the coast, with a fine breeze from south-south-west, 

 and fair weather ; and on Monday, the twenty-ninth, were close in with 

 the entrance of the river Tolten. We soon discovered that this river 

 would admit nothing but boats ; and even to enter with them would be 

 at the hazard of capsizing, from the heavy rollers that are continually 

 running in from the south-west, and breaking on the bar a great part 

 of the year. 



There is a small town on the northern bank of this river, which the 

 natives call Pelchue, containing about seven hundred inhabitants, 

 principally converted Araucanians. They have a church and two 

 Catholic priests, who are Spaniards, and keep the people completely 

 under their control. These ecclesiastical gentlemen attend the fan- 

 dango dances with the natives, and share in their favourite amusement 

 of cock-fighting, at which the latter will often hazard all thai they are 

 worth. There is a building erected expressly for that purpose in the 

 south part of the town, surrounded by a beautiful garden. The build- 

 ing is one story high, and about forty by sixty feet on the floor, with a 

 circle of seats and galleries. This amusement is allowed only on Sun- 

 days and festivals, on which days it is attended by a vast concourse 

 of people of all classes, the most of whom are never backward in 

 betting. 



