The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-10-04

their opponents. The cir resounded with
q discord of wild voices, while knives,
wives and ponies were staked
and rapidly changed owners. Like other
unclvlll5ed people the Araucanisns are
fond of gambling and haoitu-
ally indulge in it. They have a game of
chance which is played with a four sided
teetotum; an 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 bean and returned to
the bosom Of his family with little more
covering than that furnished 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 pelican.
But we must not overlook
THE LADIES OF ARAUcAN1A,
especially on such an occasion when decked
in festive ''gaud and gear" Most of them
have good figures and agreeable faces, with
luxurlant black hair, pearly teeth, small
feet, inclined TO toe inward, and really
beautiful arms, but their diet of raw meat
and corn renders them gross at an early
age, end ct thirty they are flab6y old
crones. No belle of civilization is more
addicted to face paintinE than they, but
here white powders are not in vogue, the
colors 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 broad belt from ear to
ear, over the cheeks, eyelids 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 tip
PED IN the same manner that henna is
used by women of the east. This estab-
llshed fashion is rigidly observed,
but individual fancy sometimes varies it a
little, as, for example, by two black tears
running down the cheeks, and black seal
Tops outlining the red band across the face.
The glossy hair is divided into two
long bralds, wound around with strings of
bright beads, connecten at the ends by an
other string OF brass thimbles or tiny bells
Ordinarily, the bead checked braids are
twisted around the head like two snakes,
the ends falling down over the face or
sticking out in front like horns; but on
great occasions, such as a house-raising a
head-dress, large as a hand towel, cam
posed entirely of beads OF various colors
wrought into figures, is arranged 10 fail
low over the forehead and hang down be-
hind over the back and shoulders. The
bottom is fringed with a row of brass
thimbles or bells, and it is really an effsc-
tive article Of dress.
1ue HECK Is luCdSeu III regular dog
collar, made of leather studded with silver.
The bosom is covered with a great pro
fusion of beads, in all the colors of the
rainbow, supplemented with as many
thlmbles, bells and silver coins as the
wealth of the wearer will allow. All the
women wear bracelets and anklets of beads
and hollow bones, and the chiefs and wise
men, as distinction of rank, sport anklets
of bright hued 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, falling to the
knees, and is pinned up over the shoulders,
leaving the arms free, while a broad leather
belt with silver buckles confines it at the
waist. The other blanket is thrown over
the shoulders like a CT ak, fastened In front
with a silver pin, the head of which is often
the size and shape of tea pl ,te 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 ear-drops dang
ling to the shoulders, and dabs of red paint
on the lips, the picture is complete. While
a girl of Araucanla Is not put up 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 husband. When
A YOUNG MAN MAKES UP HIS MIND TO MARRY,
he goes first to his friend for assistance in
the carrying out of the object. If heis Door
each of his friends, according to his means,
agrees to contribute towards the expenses
one giving a fat OK, another horse the
third pair of silver stirrups, and SO on. A
dark night is selected and rendezvous
named At the appointed hour the lover
md h Ia fri q mr. tod
gate as agreed, and in silence they eau
tiously approach the residence of the bride.
Half dozen of the best orators enter and
wake up the girls father, to whom thew ex-
plain the object of the visit, set forth the
merits OF his would-be son-in-law. and
formally ask his consent to the match
which is usually granted with readiness if
the offered price be large enough. Mean
while the enamored swain has been search
ing out the resting place of his Dulcinsa;
and she, however willing, screams loud for
protection, as in duty bound. Then a tire
msndous row ensues. The women rise M
en- masse, arm themselves with clubs. stones
and missiles Of every kind, and rush to The
maiden's defence. The friends interpose
to give the lover fair play, endeavorine
with soothing and gentle violence to dis
arm the fierce viragos; but the latter are
not to be appeased, and happy is the man
who escapes without some bleeding mn
mento of the fight
1t Is a point of honor with the bride To re-
sist with all her might, until at length the
impatient bride groom grabs her BY the
heels or hair and drags her along the
ground to the open.door. Then he springs
to the saddle, still firmly grasping his
screaming captive, and yelling in triumph,
starts off at full gallop. The friends sally
forth, still pursued by the outraged ma
irons, and follow fast in the track of the
fugitives. Having gained the woods the
lover dashes into the tangled Tickets
while the friends CONSIDERABLY pause on
the outskirts until they are satisfied no one
is in pursuit. when they quietly dispense.
NO FURTHER MARRIAGE CEREMONY
is required, and few days afterwards the
happy couple emerge from the depths of
the forest as husband and wife. Two or
three days more are allowed to pass. and
then the friends call upon the bridegroom
each brin ging his promised contribution
Driving the sheep and cattle before them
and carrying the skins, bags of corn. etc.
the whole party repair to the former real.
dence of the bride. There the presents are
handed over to the father, is satisfied thar
he has received his daughters value. mani.
tests extreme pleasure In the marriage and
mutual congratulations are in order. The
various amounts contributed by the
friends toward paying for wife, are con-