Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-10-03

deafening shouts. The Araucanian game OF
; pelican differs little from the sport SO common
in England known to school boys as "hocky"
or ,shinty.". 1t is played with small wooden
ball. propelled along the ground by sticks
curved at the lower end. The oppos-
ing sides have their bases at the two
extremes OF the alley; the ball is placed in a
hole half way between the bases. and over it
two boys are stationed, one from each party.
while the other players are scattered along the
alley, each armed with a stick. When all is
ready the two in the middle strike their sticks
together in the air and commence a rough and
| tumble fight for the ball, each striving to
knock it toward the others party. The object
| OF every one is to drive the ball through his
opponents base, or in defense of his own, to
knock it sideways along the bordering line of
twigs. In the latter case the trial sput down
| as drawn and recommcnces. Each game is
duly notched on a stick, and the party first
| tallying a certain number gains the victory.
| In this instance some fifty players were en-
gagged, who prepared for battle by stripping
| themselves to poncho about the loins. There
was much shouting and scuffiirg. many a hard
tumble and occasional cracked shin. but the
greatest goodwill reigned throughout
THE GAME OF AvAs.
| Meanwhile che older and more dignifed war
| riors engaged in the game OF avas. This ap-
| pears to be somewhat like dice and is PLAYED
| with eight beans marked on one side and ten
small sticks used as tallies. A blanket is spread
upon the ground, upon which the players sit,
| facing one another. Alternately they take up
the beans shake them in the hand and throw
them down on the blanket; the spots turned up
are counted and the one wins who first reaches
certain number. The players seem to be-
| lieve, with Pythagoras. that beans have souls
for they kiss them. talk to them. rub them OF,
| their breasts, all the time shouting at the top
| OF their lungs impioring good luck for them
| selves and evil for their opponents. The air
resounded with discord OF wild voices. while
Knives. blankets wives and ponies were staked
and Japidly changed owners.
Like other uncivilized people the Arauca-
mans are excessively fond of gambling and
habitually indulge in it. They have game of
chance which is played with four-sided teeso-
| tum and are expert in several games of skill.
| one OF which is said to resemble chess MANY
| an Indian has staked his all upon the turn of
| a bean and returned to the bosom of his family
with little more covering than that furnished
him by nature. The fate of prisoners of war
has frequently depended upon the caprice of
teetotum, and when disputes have arisen among
the wise men grave questions of state have
often been decided by the game of pelican.
DRESS OF THE WOMEN.
But we must not overlook the ladies of Arau-
| cania, especially on such an occasion when
decked in festive ''gaud and gear" Most of.
them have good figures and agreeable faces
WIN iuxurlant black hair, pearly teeth. small
feet, inclined to toe inward, and really bcaJti-
fN arms. but their diet Of raw meat and corn
renders them gross at an carly age and at
thirty they are fabby Old crones. No belle OF
civilization is more addicted to face pain ding
than they, but here white powders are NOT IN
vogue. the cotors used being black and red
Two species Of earth supply these cosmetics,
which are mixed with grease to prevent them
from being easily washed off The red is pat
on IN broad belt from car to ear. over the
cheeks eyeiids and nose. The black is used to
give effect to the eyebrows. which are pulled
out SO as to leave only fine line. while the lids
and lashes are tipped in the same manner that
henna Is used by women Of the east. This
established fashion is rigidly observed, but in
hvldual fancy sometimes varies it u little as
for example, by two black tears running down
the cheeks and black scallops outlining the red
band across the face.
The glossy hair is divided into two long
braiis, wound around with strings of bright
beads. connected at the ends by another string
OF brass thimbles or tiny bells Ordinarily
tine bead-bedecked braids are twisted around
the head like two snakes, the ends falling down
over the race or sticking out in front like horns
but on great occasions. such as a house raising
head dress, large as a hand towel COMPOSED
entirely of beads of various colors wrought
into figures, Is arranged to fall low over the
forehead and hang down behind over the back
and shoulders. The bottom is friuged with
row of brass thimbles or bells and it is really
an effective article Of dress.
The neck is encased in a regular dog collar.
made OF leather studded with silver The
bosom is covered with a great profusion of
beads. In all the colors of the rainbow, supple
mented with as many thimbles, bells and silver
CONS as the wealth OF the wearcr will allow
All the women wear bracelets and auklets of
beads and hollow bones, and the chiefs and
wise men. as distinction of rank sport ank-
lets OF briyht-huet WOODEN threads twisted to-
gether. woman's dress consists of two
blankets, not unlike the 'ponchos" of the men.
One OF them Is wrapped around the body, fall
ing to the knees. and is pinned up over the
shoulders, leaving the arms free, while a broad
leather belt with silver buckles confines il at the
waist. The other blanket is thrown over tine
shoulders like a cloak, fastened in front with a
silver pin, the head of which is often the size
and shape OF tea plate. These garments
are mostly of home manufacture, dyed black
or dark blue; but are sometimes made of
European red flannel With the addition of
massive silver eardrops dangling to the
shoulders, and dabs of red paint on the lips,
the picture is complete.
HOW MARRIAGES ARE MADE.
While girl OF Araucania Is not put IN for
sale like an oriental houri she is none the less
an article Of merchandise to be paid for by
him who would possess her, and has no more
voice in the choice OF a husband. When a
young man makes up his mind to marry he
goes first to his friends for assistance in the car
| r.ing ont of the object. If he is poor each of
his friends. according to his means agrees to
contribute toward the expenses-one giving n
Tat OK, another a horse. the third Il pair of sill
yer stirrups ami A dark night is selected
and rendezvous named. At the appointed
hour she lover and his friends, all well mounted,
congreSate as agreed and in silence thew
cautiously approach the residence Of the bride
Half dozen of the best orators enter
and wake up the girls father. to whom
they explain the object of the visit set forth the
merits OF his wouid-be son-in-iaw. and formally
| ask his consent to the match--which is usually
granted with readiness if the offered price be
| large enough. Meanwhile the enamored swain
has been searching out the resting place of his
Dulcinea; and she, however willing, screams
loud for protection, as IN duty bound. Then a
trementuons row ensucs. The women rise up
| en- masse, arm themselves with clubs. stones
and missiles of every kind and rush to the
raiden's defense. The friends interposo TO
give the lover fair piay. endeavoring with
| soothings and gentle violence to disarm tie
fierce viragoes; bu. the latter are not to lie ap-
peased, and happy is the man who escapes
| without some bleeding memcnto Of the fight.
1t ID a point of honor with the bride to resist
with all her might, until at length, the impa-
| tient bridegroom grabs hex by the heels or the
hair and drags her along the ground to the
open door. Then he springs to the saddle, still
firmly grfsping his screaming captive. and
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