The Republican journal., 1891-10-08

IW1ES. In Inc lattef case tne trldl Is put uoWH
as drawn, and recommences. Each game is
duly notrhed on a stick, and the party first
tallying certain number gains the victory
In this instance some fifty players were en-
gagged, who prepared for battle by stripping
themselves to a poncho about the loinS. There
was much shouting and scutiling, many hard
tumble and occasional cracked shln. but the
greatest goodwill reigned throughout.
Meanwhile the older and more dignfed
warriors engaged in the game of avas. This
appears to he somewhat like dice and is played
with eight beans marked on one side and ten
small sticks used as taies. \ 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 a certain number. The players seem
to believe. with PythagoraS, that beans have
souls, for they kiss them, talk to them, rub
them on their breasts. all the time shouting at
the top OF their lungs, impIorng good luck
for themselves and evil for their opponents.
The air resounded with discord of wild
voices, while knives, blankets, wives aud
ponies were >taked and rapidly changed OWN
ers.
Like other uncivilizel people, the Araucan-
iahs are excessively fond OF gambling and
habitually indulge in it. They have game Of
chance which is played with four-sitIed teeto-
tum; and are expert in several games of skill
an Indian has staked mis- 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 a
teetotum; and when disputes have arisen
among the Wise Men, grave questions of state
have often been decided by the game of pei-
can.
But we must not overlook the ladies of
Araucania. especially on such an occasion
when decked in festive ''gaud and gear" Most
of them have good tigures and agreeable faces,
with luXuriant black hair, peariy teeth, small
feet, inclined to toe inward, and really beauti-
ful arms; but their diet of raw meat and corn
renders them gross at early age, and at
thirty they are tl1bhy Old croneS. No belle of
civilization is more addicted to face painting
than they, but here white powders are not in
vogue, the coIors 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 put
on in a broad belt from ear to ear over tie
cheeks, eyelidS and nose. The black is used to
give effect to tie eyebrows, which are pulled
out 80 As to leave only a fine line, while the ills
aud a>hes are tipped in the same manner that
henna Is used by women Of the East. This es-
tabshed fashion is rigidy observed, but indi-
Nl.tual fancy sometimes varies il a little, as,
for example, by two black tear. running down
the cheeks and black scaliop, outlining the red
band across face,
The glossy hair is divided into two long
braids wound around with Strings of bright
beads, connected at the ends by another string
of brass thimbleS or tiny shells Ordinarily
the bead-bedeckcd bruids are twisted around
the head like two snakes, the en&s falling
down over the face or sticking out in front
like horn>; but ON great occasions, such as a
house-rai>!ng, a head-dres> large as a hand
towel, composed entirely Of beads Of various
coIorN wrought into figures. is arranged to fall
~ 1,t.. .i,