Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-09-27
GUESTS OF A CHIEF.
Fannie B. Ward and Party Storm
Bound With the Araucanians.
LIVED ON THE FAT OF THE LAND.
Trinkets and Tinsel Made Them Forever
Friends of the Ssvages.
SOME REMARKABLE TRIBAL CUSTOMS
rconREsroSprNcE OF THE prspArcH.I ]

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mules and horses tethered at little dis
tance, where wooded hillock served as
break-weather- under the shelter of |
splendid grove of pimento (pepper) trees
whose dropping branches, covered will
feathery leaves Of darkest green and lons
punches of pink pepper-corns, nearly
touched the ground on either side. A
guard of armed servants and muleteer.
was posted night and day, and the gentle
men took turns in overseeing the watch.
But our precautions proved to be entirely
unnecessary. We were never safer In the
midst of civilization than here in the heart
of Araucania, in the unsurveyed wilds OF
this distant country; and had any outside
danger menaced us, 1 believe that the
Indians-who considered us their guests and
therefore under their special protection
would have defended us with their lives, il
need be.
COMPELLED TO CAMP LIFE
II happened that q storm came on-a
three days chilly drizzle, common in this
latitude at any time of the year, where a
wet season and dry, which prevail nearer
the equator, are not so distinctly defined.
Horseback travelling in the rain, through
an uninhapited district, would have been
extremely uncomfortable; so we were easily
persuaded to remain in camp until the skies
cleared. I have camped in many climes,
under diverse circumstances and picnicked
with all sorts of people-but have never
enjoyed such real camping out" (the in
tended spirit of which is return to ab-
original life), as here among one of the
most warlike tribes on the face of the earth,
whose ancestors for centuries successfully
resisted civilized arms and Spanish cruel
ties, and maintained their independence in
tact, while all the other nations of South
and Central America fell under the sway of
the conquerers.
The sQuaws insisted on taking entire care
of the animals, and kept us plentitully sup
piled with cool water from distant spring
and brushwood for cooking purposes; and
every morning the carcass of young sheep,
freshly killed and dressed, was brought as
a gift from the chief. Knowing that money
was one of the least desirable things we
could give these kind-hearted barbarians, as
they had no use for the currency of civiliZa-
tion, we "got even" to their unbounded
delight, by presents of trinkets, such as
toilet articles, haDd-mirrors, buttons cut
from our clothes, sewing materials, silk ties
and handkerchiefs, etc.
DELIGHTING THE SAVAGE HEART.
The articles that appeared to give most
heartfelt pleasure were q mouth organ, a
jewsharp and an accordion, which we pur-
chased for the purpose from the muleteers,
nv silver soapcase (Which the chief i'm
mediately filled with tobacco and hung
around his neck by a string), and rose
colored, be-ribboned jersey undervest,
which thencetorth served his highness'
favorite daughter, child about II years
old, as q costume complete, reaching from
shoulders to knees and being the only gar
ment she wore.
We noticed that when the storm first be-
gan, heralded by skurrying clouds and
muttering thunder, the Indians appeared to
be greatly excited, for they knew there was
going to be another great battle in the sky
between their dead ancestors and the Span
iards who had killed them. Believing the
thunder to be the latter's cry of fear and
distress, they turned out en- masse in the
pouring rain to cheer the wraiths of their
warriors. When the storm began to abate
they watched the skies with utmost anxiety,
for they have one sure sign by which to
know which side has won the ghostly battle;
if the clouds move toward the village, the
Indians have been victorious, but if they
move from it, the conquistadores have won,
and everybody is sorrowful. In this in
stance the clouds swept gloriously, full
phalan1, toward the town, and all were
were hidden, and dancing and singing (or
rather howlihg) were kept up all night
A FEAST WITHOUT PLEASURE.
1 may mention, en- passant, that though
we attended the feast, for to remain away
sympathy with the defeated Spaniards and
given deadly offense, are appetites were
not voracious. Chicha, home-chewed of
course, flowed far more abundantly than
water, and stewed puppy figured promi-
nently among the delicacies Thanks, how
ever, to the horde of living CANNES that
prowled around the squalling circle, and to
our awkwardness-both real and simulated
we managed to dispose of all objection
able viands, unnoticed amid the general
hilarity.
The worst time came with the ceremony
of drinking from those human skulls.
Happily, "squaws" of any color are exempt
from the horrible duty, the sex being too
insignificant to be allowed such familiarity
with the lords of Araucania. We saw the
gentlemen of our party grow pale and
paler as those time-worn craniums ap
preached, being handed from mouth to
mouth around the circle; but subsequently
everyone of them assured us that though
they lifted the skulls and pretended to
swallow with gusto, their lips touched
nothing. All the Araucanians are extremely
superstitious and attach Specification to
every dream, confidently looking for its
fulfillment.
THE DEAD IN THE SUNSET LAND.
The Castinoes believe in the literal resur-
rection of the body-that the dead pass at
once to happy hunting grounds in the far
West where the sun sleeps, and there each
happy Indian has a large tract of land and
all the wild animals he can slay and eat for
ever. When one of that tribe dies his favor
lite horse is killed to accompany him and
all his weapons, utensils and trinkets are
buried with him for use in the Sunset Land
The friends of the deceased put food on the
grave every night for weeks-and when
foxes, wolves and other wild creatures de-
YOUR it during the hours of darkness they
believe that the dead man has eaten it and
is refreshed on his long journey.
The Llanisto are firm believers in Cici-a
NEUROLOGICAL parsonage who takes the place
of the Christians satan-a real, living,
walking and talking evil one, as when in
the Garden of Eden he assumed the form of
a serpent and conversed with Grandmother
Eve 1t was Cici that caused the ocean at
one time to rise all over the earth; and the
Indians prove it by shells and the bones of
marine animals which may be found high in
the mountains. 1t is Cici, too, who induces
people to steal and lie and murder. A
Llanista accused of theft is always granted
a hearing. Hearsay evidence or circum-
stantial won't do; there must in every case
be two eye witnesses to establish the guilt
of the offender
STORY OF A MISSING MOUTH ORGAN.
During our staY in the camp the precinus