I 



99 



to such a degree, that they proceed to the greatest 

 excesses to revenge themselves. 



The names of the Araucanians are composed of 

 the proper name, which is generally either an adjec- 

 tive or a numeral, and the family appellation or sur- 

 name, which is always placed after the proper name, 

 according to the European custom, as cariAemii^ 

 green bush ; meli-antu, four suns. The first denotes 

 one of the family of the lemus, or bushes, and the 

 second one of that of the antiis^ or suns. Nor is 

 there scarcely a material object which does not 

 furnish them with a discriminative name. From 

 hence, we meet among them with the families of 

 Rivers, Mountains, Stones, Lions, &c. These fa- 

 milies, which are called cuga^ or elpa^ are more or 

 less respected according to their rank, or the heroes 

 they have given to their country. The origin of 

 these surnames is unknown, but is certainly of a 

 period much earlier than that of the Spanish con- 

 quests. 



CHAPTER IX. 



Matrimony and Domestic Employments. 



BY the admapu polygamy is allowed among the 

 Araucanians, whence they marry as many wives aü 

 they can furnish with a dower, or more properly pur^ 



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