m 



CHAPTER X. 



Food ; Music and other Diversions* 



THE usual diet of the Araucanians is very sim- 

 ple ; their principal subsistence is several kinds of 

 grain and pulse, which they prepare in a variety of 

 different modes. They are particularly fond of maize 

 or Indian corn, and potatoes ; of the last they have 

 cultivated more than thirty different kinds from time 

 immemorial, esteeming them a very healthy nutri- 

 ment, which the experience of ages has sufficiently 

 demonstrated. Although they have large and small 

 animals and birds in plenty, yet they eat but little 

 flesh, and that is simply boiled or roasted. They 

 have the same abstemiousness in the use of pork, 

 ffom which they know very well how to prepare 

 black puddings and sausages. Their seas and rivers 

 abound with excellent fish, but they do not much es- 

 teem this kind of aliment. Instead of bread, which 

 they arc not accustomed to eat except at their enter- 

 tainments, they make use of small cakes or roasted 

 potatoes with a little salt. Their usual drinks con- 

 sist of various kinds of beer and of cider, made 

 from Indian corn, from apples and other fruits 

 of the country. They are nevertheless extremely 

 fond of wine, which they purchase from the Span- 

 iards, but hitherto, either for political reasons, 

 Of more probably from carelessness, they have 

 Vol. II. O 



