Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-09-21
THE ARAUCANIANS.
AMONG THE UNCOMFORTABLE
ABORIGINES OF CHILL.
A Horseback Journey Through Their
Domain-In the Mud Palace of An
Indian KING.
special Correspondence of the Gazette.

Chilli. many miles up the Taldivia river,
with Corral as the seaport, it was not con-
sidered safe to journey in the usual route
Inv ocean, on account of blOckaded ports
and rebel cruisers and various calamities
that are liable to overtake vessels in Chill
ian waters during these days of war. The
only alternative was TO travel across-coun-
;rynuSt Of the way on horseback, through
what is Vet known in the Spanish history
as tie 'In.incible state" being controlled
as he UmconQuerable indians, the Araucan-
iins.
after the Spaniards had taken possession of
tbe rest of Chill. they abandoned the hope
les task Of trying to subdue the Araucan-
i4.s. who are the bravcst and most inter-
esriug Indians in all South America, and
raguauimOusly gave them what they had
always possessed - their independence.
which they have ever since maintained.
Their territory extends from the Andes to
the sea between the Bio-Bio and Naldivia
rivers. and comprises some of the best ag-
ri,ul.ural sections of the country, as well
A. the heaviest forests and widest noun
t4irS. Centuries ago the Araucanlan
council OF wise men, passed law which
punished with death any Indian who should
Sc. his lands TO the white man.
As they now exist these Indians are di-
yffej into three distinct tribes-the Pc
hgruchcs, who rove the pine forests
g'.caeunt OF the Andes; the Llanistas, who
i.a4lit the interior Ilanos or plains, and the
Casinos. who live near the borders of
AI-trcauia cultivate the soil, raise cattle
llE have voluntarily submitted themselves
somewhat to tho Federal govrrnment. Not
man. years ago a journey across any part of
the Indian domain would have been impos-
sa.g. To this day it is entirely out OF the
question 10 visit the savage Pehuenchcs, for
Tie iUol-haruy pale-face who ventures
i Il rrlrg., .ngN1rf,
tam receSSeS never returns to tell the tale.
ven 10 cross the open plains of the Liam
is,a- requires no small amount of courage,
hu; "A spice of danger adds zeSt 10 such an
expedition. and one IS sure TO pick up many
curious bits of information concerning
Hose remarkable aborigincs-nOt to men
ton he barDaric trinhets which ever Grim
ru'S soul cOyets, earrings, bracelets, spurs
and s'irrups of beaten silver.
Bur party consisted of nine well armed
Ecn'IrInen. tmostly Englishmen and Ger
i.usI. led by one who was familiar with
rUe route having traycrscd ii many times
o. mission of trade which made MIN wei
rua- among the Indians; several Naldivia
laiirS who had come north 70 visit reid
tives. without considering that the eXigen-
r.r, OF war might make return TO their
homes difficult matter; ana myself and
-eung lady stenographer: Il half-brccd H.
iCrprcter, and number of servants. We
were abuudautlN supplied with extra AM
mails tents gdibles and ammunition ;besideS
the Photographic outfit which accompanies
s.Ii' correspondent ana her assistant as
closely Is their shadows. Thus equipped
!Ur 'hrre weeks lie i'll the wilderness, we
cautercd out of the military capital OF An
g.. one early morning, and proceeded due
sr.thward IN the best of spirits.
p.e who has not done considerable syp-
swing can never form an idea of the cXu!-.
lf q
drrer Ocy oud the hauntS of man-the relIg-
i1us awe mat inspires him amid the grand
cur Of the mountains and the silence Of the
forests. and the stitled feeling that OPP
presses him when first returned to ciViliza-
ton. and The hardship Of sleeping under Il
roof between Christian sheets-longmg for
bed of skins on the bouudless plain and
Tie soft ia lance Of the stars through the
flap of :. tent.
am not going to give You an itinerary Of
the Journey, which was much like other pll-
FrimaEes through wild country. 1t in
Guided many hardShips and somcperis, days
Of healthy exercise ana raVenouS appetiteS,
Jolly evenings around camp-tires, and
riehts Of soundest sleep. The CASTINGS.
who iuhabit the borders of Araucania, have
farms and comfortable homes, and ciyiliza-
ton has done for them what Spanish cruel
ties and force of arms were poweress to
accomplish. To-day this tribe of the re-
ers and have somehow become wonderfully
b.rached in complexion, Their broad
shuuldered women work in the fields, out
doing the men III feats of strength as well
rs surprising them in intelligence; and
whenever a Casino husband gets drunk or
unruly. his gentle spouse makes nothing of
giving him Il sound tiogging.
Il is related in history that when the
CouQuerer. Valdiyia, desired TO recruit his
army, while yaiDiy endeaVOring 10 over
throw the ancestors of these dusky people.
lie caused his favorite mare to be Shod with
shoes of pure gold, put on with headless
heels nails. Then he went up to Peru
and induced one of the native princes TO
lace horses with him for a high wager. OF
course, Is Naldfvia expected, the golden
saoeS fell OF and We're left on the field.
When some of the common people picked
turm up and took them to their owner in
hope of a reward, he said 10 them grandilO-
qlcuily. Keep them, my children, keep
itym IN the land of Chill, whittier / shall
snon return, riches are to be had for the
g.,Ucriug There gold and silver are so
common As 10 be of little value: here they
Wi. serve 10 a!lay YOUR hunger" Il is
Tg0llcss 10 rcma2k that afterwards the
s.rrWd general found plenty of recruits.
His statement comes nearer the truth to-
gay. for in this part of Chill riches may
u is "bc had for the gathering but in
golden grain and silvery wheat, which when
harvested yields from forty TO sixty bush
els 10 s. lie acre. AL the land lying along
The Bo-Bio and in the great plains of the
RIO Neragara is wonderfully rich, and re-
Qure~ little cultivation.
Attcr more than week Of easy travelling,
la"er,y through uuOroken wlldS, frequent
picnic hats being made for fishing and
hunting, we suddenly came in sight, one
Afternoon of . LlauistC village. At the
same moment a young Indian appeared in
The path and stopped the cavalcadc 10 in
g.ire who we were and where we We're 60
'rc. He was evidently acting from author
--r. and had been sent from the village 10
Intercept Us. Il was afterwards disclosed
;lG. keen eyes and silent footsteps had been
sradowing us for several days, though we
lad not suspected it. Our interpreter dis
NAyei a written passport from The Great
White Father in Conception (the gov
eruurI and assured the ArauGinian that we
were friends who had come long way to
v'Sit the mighty chief of the Llanistos and
MS people. Thereupon the smiling warrior
exhibited a splendid set of whiteSt ivory,
ma INFORMED US that, though the great
chisi lived further down the river. the sub
chief who was 4 man of SURPRISING va!or,
'youId DC happy 10 welcome us.
I confess that 1t was not without some
reputation we followed our new guide into
tie center of the Indian camp, and halted
iH front of the largest dwelling. II was a
tIree-room palace of mud and logs, rooted
with dried grass, and in its doorway stood
a man of powerful frame, with an eX-
lemely ugly but rather intelligent face and
al abuormally large head, whose size was