Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-09-20
DRINK FROM SKULLS.
How Chile's Aborigines Keep Alive
Hatred of the Spaniards.
A VISIT TO THE ARAUCANIANS.
SLIPPING Beverage Brewed from Che cudl
of the Indian Women.
FANNIE B. WARDS NOVEL EXPERIENCE
rcoRREsPoNDENCE OF THE p1srkrcK.I

VALDIvIA, CHILE, Aug. 26.-When w
came down to this important German city
which is located in the extreme south Of
Chile, many miles up the Valdivia river
with Corral as its seaport-it was not con
sidered safe to journey in the usual route
| (by ocean), on account of blockaded port;
and rebel cruisers and various calamities
| that are liable to overtake vessels in
Chilean waters during these days of war.
The only alternative was to travel across
country, most of the way on horseback,
through what is yet known in the Spanish
history as the 'Tnvincible State" being
controlled by those unconquerable Indians,
the Araucanians.
It will be remembered that many years
after the Spaniards had taken possession Of
the rest of Chile, they abandoned the hope
less task of trying to subdue the Araucan-
ians, who are the bravest and most interest
ing Indians in all South America, and mag
unanimously gave them what they had al
ways possessed-thelr independence, which
they have ever since maintained. Their
| territory extends from the Andes to the sea,
between the Bio-Bio and Valdivia rivers,
and comprises some of the best agricul-
tural sections of the country, as well as the
heaviest forests and widest mountains
THEY FEARED THE WHITES.
Centuries ago the Araucanian Council
! of Wise Men" passed law which punished
with death any Indian who should sell his
| lands to the white man. AS they now exist
| these Indians are divided into three dis
tinct tribes-the Pehuenches, who rove the
pine forests (Pechuen) of the Andes; the
Llanistas, who inhabit the interior llanos,
or plains, and the Castinos, who live near
| the borders of Araucania, cultivate the
soil, raise cattle and have voluntarily sub
mitted themselves somewhat to the Fed
eral Government. Not many years ago a
Indian domain would have been
impossible. To this day it is en-
| tirely out of the question to visit the savage
Pehuenches, for the fool-hardy pale-face
who ventures within the dark forests and
gloomy mountain recesses never returns to
tell the tale. Even to cross the open plains
Of the Llanistas requires 10 small amount
of courage; but spice of danger adds zest
to such an expedition, and one is sure to
pick up many curious bits of information
concerning these remarkable aborigines-
not to mention the barbaric trinkets which
every Gringoe's soul covets, earrings,
OidCC1CLs, epulS VA USdtCu
INTERESTING OVERLAND PARTY.
Our party consisted of nine well-armed
gentlemen (mostly Englishmen and Ger
mans), led by one who was familiar with the
route, having traversed it many times on a
mission of trade, which made him welcome
among the Indians; several Valdivia ladies,
who had come North to visit relatives, with
out considering that the exigencies of war
might make return to their homes diff
cult matter; and myself and young lady
stenographer; half-breed interpreter and q
number of servants. We were abundantly
supplied with extra animals, tents, edibles
and ammunition; besides the Photographic
outfit which accompanies your correspon-
dent and her assistant as closely as their
shadows.
Thus equipped for three weeks life in the
wilderness, we cantered out of the military
capital of Angel one early morning and pro-
ceeded due southwark in the best of spirits.
One who has not done considerable gipsy-
ing can never form an idea of the exultant
sense of freedom that comes to q wanderer
beyond the haunts of men-the religious
awe that inspires him amid the grandeur of
the mountains and the silence of the forests;
and the stified feeling that oppresses him
when first returned to civilization, and the
hardship of sleeping under roof between
Christian sheets-longing for bed of skins
on the boundless plain and the soft radiance
of the stars through the flap of a tent.
RACE OF AMAZoNS
I am not going to give you an itinerary
of the Journey, which was much like other
pilgrimages through q wild country. 1t in
cluded many hardships and some perils,
days of healthy exercise and ravenous ap-
petites, Jolly evenings around camp-fres,
and nights Of soundest sleep. The Castinos
who inhabit the borders of Araucania have
farms and comfortable homes, and civiliza-
tion has done for them what Spanish cruel
ties and force of arms were powerless to ac-
complish. To-day this tribe of the redoubt-
able Araucanians are plodding laborers and
have somehow become wonderfully bleached
in complexion. Their broad-shouldered
women work in the fields, outdoing the
men in feats of strength as well as surpass-
ing them in intelligence; and whenever a
Castino husband gets drunk or unruly, his
gentle spouse makes nothing of giving him
a sound hogging.
1t is related in history that when the con-
querer, Valdivia, desired to recruit his
arnte, while yainly endeavoring to over
throw the ancestors of these dusky people,
he caused his favorite mare to be shod with
shoes of pure gold, put on with headless
nails. Then he went up to Peru and in
duced one of the native princes to race
horses with him for q high wager. Of
course, as Valdivia expected, the golden
shoes fell off and were left ON the field.
HOW vALDIvIA GOT RECRUITS.
When some of the common people picked
them up and took them to their owner in
hope of areward, he said to them grandilo-
quently: "Keep them, my children; keep
them. In the land of Chile whittier shall
soon return, riches are to be had for the
gathering. There gold and silver are so
common as to be of little value; here they
will serve to allay your hunger" 1t is
needless to remark that afterward the
shrewd General found plenty of recruits.
His statement comes nearer the truth to-
day, for in this part of Chile riches may
truly "be had for the gathering in
golden grain and silvery wheat, which,
when harvested, yields from 40 to 60 bushels
to the acre. All the land lying along the
Bio-Bio and in the great plains of the Rio
Veragara is wonderfully rich and requires
little cultivation.
After more than a week of easy travelling,
latterly through unbroken wilds, frequent |
picnic halts being made for fishing and |
hunting, we suddenly came in sight, one
afternoon, of Llanisto village. At the |
same moment young Indian appeared in |
the path and stopped the cavalcade to in
quire who we were and where we were |
going.
THE PARTY HAD BEEN WATCHED.
He was evidently acting from authority
and had been sent from the village to In