Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-09-19

rel Rulp, or pretended to, after spill
ing it in the long. thick fur upon which we sat.
Chicha is not unpleasant to tie taste, whether
made OF corn wheat. apples or wild grapes,
but We knew that in this every dirty female in
sight had had a hand, or rather a tooth. The
Indian way of making it is truthfully described
e 6yy a gentleman who recently saw it done in
this part OF Araucania.
HOW CHIcHA rs MADE.
He says: "While the women were engaged at
their usual avocation one Of them brought out
dish Of meal, slightly moistened, and a small
earthen Jug, both of which she sat upon the
ground. One Of the girls approached, took Q
handful OF the meal and made it into a ball
when she stuffed into her mouth. and, with
both cheeks distended, returned to her work.
another followed, and another. until all, from
children to blear-eyed old crones, we're busy
munchlng and chewing. with their faces puffed
out like balls, but still managing to keep up a
ceaseless jabbering In few minutes the first
returned and lifting up the jug emptied into
it the whole contents of her mouth. She took
another mouthful Of meal and went of, chew
ing and jabbering as before. The rest fol-
lowed In due time and so it went on until the
meal was exhausted and the jug was full l
approached one Of the women. being puzzled
TO comprehend these proceedings, and pointing
to the jug inquired, Chem tua what is that?
".Mudia, she replied, 'cume, cume'-good,
good.
just then the guide came along and asked
him what on earth the women were doing?
Making mudia, or Indian chicha, he ex-
planned composedlv.
Great Scott, the liquor that have been
drinking for a month past
1.-The very same he replied; and without
observing the nervous twitching of my mouth,
went on to describe the process infinitely. A
quantity Of wheat is boiled over a slow fire for
several hours, after which the decoction is
strained and set aside to cool. To this jug
full OF masticated grain is added, in order to
produce rapid fermentation, and as soon as
fermentation begins the liquor is fit for use. A
that evening, which l respectfully declined.
ms process of beer making is not peculiar to
the Araucanians for Mr.. Herndoh in his Val
ley OF the amazon speaks Of q native drink
prepared ii the same way"
RICH CHIEF.
Warmed into confidence by this Slowing cup ~
the chief informed us that he was very rich
man. having fifteen wives, fifty ponies and many
sheep; that his subjects were loyal and con-
tented, as were all the tribe to which he be-
iohged. They were at peace with the world,
had good homes and enough to eat. What
more could they desire? True, the smallpox
visited them pretty often and carried off a
great many people. but notwithstanding that
depopulator the Llanistos were the most DOW
ertul nation on earth.
RELICS OF BATTLES WITH THE sPAN1ARDs.
Through the interpreter we replied that we
were not Spanish nor descendants of Spaniards,
and that We had read with pleasure how his
ancestors had withstood the conquerors: that
We sympathized with his warriors and knew
from those facts that they were very brave
The delighted chief beamed from top to toe
with pleasure and whispered something to a
squaw, who left the room and presently re-
turned with an armful of human skulls. From
most OF them the face part had been partially
Gu cut away. and all were worn perfectly smooth.
me grInnlng chief assured US that every skull
was once the Uranium of q Spaniard Of high
rank, who had been slain while fighting the
Araucanians. Some of them had been handed
down from generation to generation through
several centuries and were used only by chiefs
and wise men to drink out of on great occasions.
The others had been taken from enemies dur
ing his own time and we're used for drinking
cups at ordinary feasts.
RELIGIOUS BELIEF
One OF the party. anxious to learn something
about the religious belief of these strange peo-
pie, asked the chief if he were not afraid those
dead Spaniards might return some time and
claim their heads His lordship replied with
perfect sincerity, that he did not think it pos
sible. because they were fully occupied up in
the clouds fighting with the Indians they had
killed. and being themselves killed, over and
over again, through all eternity. In reply to
the question whether all Indians go to the
clouds at death he said that only warriors that
had distinguished themselves in battle we're
permitted to go there. When a common In
dian dies he Immediately becomes a humble
bee, having nothing to do but to wander up
and down the earth eating sweet things and
singing his enemies.
IN THE SPIRIT LAND.
The Araucanians never have q feast without
putting some chicha. sugar and other good
things on the graves Of their dead, SO that the
humble bees into which the departed have
entered may have their share. When the war
rior spirits in the clouds are angry the friends
on earth can see their wrath in the form of
lightning, and when they have great battle
with their old-time enemies and the latter are
vanquished it is known by their howls of dis
tress, which we call thunder. A very great
chief, who has led his tribe through many sue
cessful battles, goes to better place than the
clouds-he is turned into volcano, and when
things on earth do not please him he shows his
rage by splitting out fire and smoke.
After an hour or two Of this edifying CONVEX
sation we begged permission to retire and pitch
our tents for the night. To this not unreason-
able request the chief was loath to consent.
saying that we must remain in his house where
his wives would serve us well. Being placated,
however. by the gift Of a red blanket. q pair OF
yellow leggins and o small mirror he reluc-
family let us 60. FANNIE B. WARD.