110 



who occupy the eighth station advance, and with 

 their sticks rem.ove the ball from a hole in the earth, 

 when each endeavours to strike it towards his party ; 

 the others impel it forward or backward^ according 

 to the favourable or unfavourable course it is . pur- 

 suing, that party obtaining the victory to whose li- 

 mits it is driven. From hence proceeds a severe 

 contest between them, so that it sometimes happens 

 that a single match requires more than a half a day 

 to finish it. This game has its established laws, 

 which the judges oblige them very strictly to ob- 

 serve ; notwithstanding which, many disputes oc- 

 cur. The successful players acquire great reputa- 

 tion, and are invited to all the principal parties that 

 are made in the country. When two pix)vinces 

 challenge each other, as frequently happens, this 

 amusement becomes a public spectacle. An im- 

 mense crowd of people collect, and bet very largely. 

 The peasants of the Spanish provinces have intro- 

 duced among them this game, and their families, 

 in reference to it, are divided into two parties 

 called plazas and lampas. It has become one of 

 their most favourite amusements, notwithstanding 

 the proclamations issued from time to time by go- 

 vernment against all those who encourage or pro- 

 mote it. 



What we have said of the Araucanians does not 

 altogether apply to the Puelches, or inhabitants of 

 the fourth Z7í/z«//72í?/¿/, situated in the Andes. These, 

 although they conform to the general customs of 

 the nation, always discover a greater degree of rude- 

 Mess and savageness of manners. Their name sig- 



