72 



festival is terminated by applying to the mangled 

 body the head of a sheep, which is. succeeded by a 

 scene of riot and intoxication. If the skull should 

 not be broken by the blows of the club, they make 

 of it a cup called ralilonco^ which they use in their 

 banquets in the manner of the ancient Scythians and 

 Goths. 



On the termination of a mot, a congress is assem- 

 bled, called by the Spaniards parlamento^ and the 

 Araucanians humcacoyag. This is usually held in a 

 delightful plain between the rivers Bio-bio and Du- 

 queco, on the coni^nes of both territories, whither 

 the Spanish President and the Araucanian Toqui re- 

 pair with the attendants agreed upon in the prelimi- 

 nary articles. The four Uthalmapus send at the 

 same time four deputies, who are usually the Te- 

 trarchs themselves, and v/hose unanimous consent is 

 requisite for the establishment and ratification of 

 peace. In the congress that was held after the war 

 of 1723 were present one hundred and thirty Ul- 

 menes with their attendants, who amounted to the 

 number of two thousand men. The camps of the 

 negociating parties were separated by an interval of 

 two miles. * 



The conference's commenced with many com- 

 pliments upon either side, and in token of future 

 friendship, they bind the staves of the Ulmenes with 

 that of the Spanish President together, and place 

 tliera in the midst of the assembly ; an Araucanian 

 orator then presents a branch of cinnamon, which is 

 with them the token of peace, and placing his left 

 hand upon the bundle of staves, makes in the Chi- 



