102 



his necessary clothing, with one of those cloaks al- 

 ready described called ponchos, which form one of 

 the principal branches of the Araucanian commerce. 



The greatest attention is paid by the women to 

 the cleanliness of their houses, which they sweep, as 

 well as their courts, several times in the course of a 

 day ; and whenever they make use of any utensil 

 they immediately wash it, for which purpose their 

 houses are supplied With an abundance of running 

 water. The same attention to cleanliness is paid to 

 their persons ; they comb their heads twice a day, 

 and once a week wash them with a soap made from 

 the bark of the quillai,^ which keeps the hair very 

 clean. There is never to be seen on their clothes 

 the least spot or dirt. The men are likewise equal- 

 ly as fond of cleanliness ; they never fail to comb 

 their heads every day, and are also accustomed fre- 

 quently to wash them. 



Bathing, as among the ancients, is in common 

 use with these people, who think it necessary to pre- 

 serve their health and strengthen their bodies, and 

 in order to have it convenient they are careful to 

 place their houses on the banks of rivers. In warm 

 weather they bathe themselves several times a day, 

 and it is rare even in winter that they do not bathe 

 themselves at least once a day ; by means of this 

 continued exercise they become excellent swimmers, 

 and give wonderful proofs of dexterity in this art. 

 They will swim for a great distance under water, and 



* Quillaia Safionaria ; it is also much used by the Spaniards, 

 especially those Vv'ho live in the country. 



