Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-09-24
THE ARAUCANIANS.
AMONG THE UNCOMFORTABLE
ABORIGiNES OF CHILL.
A Horseback Journey Through Their
Domain-In the Mud Palace of An
Indian KING.
Special Correspondence O, the Gazette.

| Win SofIdI dS ll-c seaport, II NdS Iiul CUll-
l sidered safe TO journey in the usual route
| tby ocean, on account of blockaded ports
| and rebel cruisers and various calamities
| that are liable to oyertake vessels IN Chill
| ian waters during these days of war. The
| only alternative was 10 travel across-coun-
| try, most of the way on horseback. through
| what is yet known in the Spanish history
| as the ''Invincible state being controlled
| as the unconquerabe Indians, the Araucau-
| lanS.
| 1t will be remembered that many years
after the Spaniards had taken possession Of
| the rest of Chill. they abandoned the hope
| less task of trying to subdue the Araucan-
| ians, who are the bravest and most inter
esting Indians in all South America. and
magnanimously 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-
| ricultural sections of the country, as well
| as the heaviest forests and widest noun
talnS. Centuries ago the Araucaniau
council of wise men, passed a law which
punished with death any Indian who should
sell his lands to the white man
As they now exist these Indians are di-
vided into three distinct tribes-the Pc
huenches, who rove the pine forests
(Pecheun) ofthe Andes the Llanistas. who
liIC iJlttIlOE lidllUS Ut pldlDS. anu
Casinos, who live near the borders of
Araucania, cultivate the soil, raise cattle
and have voluntarily submitted themselves
somewhat to the Federal govrrnment. Not
many years ago journey across any part of
the Indian domain would have been impos-
sible. To this day it is entirely out of the
question to visit the savage Pehuenches, for
the fool-hardy pale-face who ventures
within their dark forests and gloomy noun
tain recesses never returns to tell the tale.
Even to cross the open plains of the Liam
lStaS requires no 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
those remarkable aborigines-not to men
ton the barbaric trinliets which ever Grin
COS soul covets, earrings, bracelets, spurs
and stirrups of beaten silver.
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 mission Of trade which made him wei
come among the Indians; several Valdivia
ladies, who had come north to visit rela-
tives, without considering that the exigen-
cieS of war might make return to their
homes difficult matter: and myself and
young lady stenographer; a half-breed in
terpreter, and number of servants. We
We're abundantly supplied with extra ami
uldlS. leulS. eulDleS anu llllHluNlJlOn .DSSlueS
the Photographic outfit which accompanies
your correspondent and her assistant as
closely as their shadows. Thus equipped
for three weeks lite in the wilderness, we
cantered out of the military capital of An
gol one early morning, and proceeded due
southwark in the best of spirits.
One who has not done considerable gyp-
Sylng can never form an idea of the exul-
tant sense of freedom that comes to wan
derer beyond the haunts of mantle relig-
ious awe that inspires him amid the grand
eur of the mountains and the silence of the
forests, and the stif1ed feeling that OPP
presses him when first returned to civiliza-
ton, and the hardship of sleeping under a
roof, between Christian sheets-longing for
Il bed of skins on the boundless plain and
the soft IA iiance of the stars through the
flap of a tent.
am not going to give you an itinerary OF
the journey, which was much like other Pill
grimages through wild country 1t in
cluded many hardships and someperils, days
of healthy exercise and ravenous appetites.
jolly evenings around camp-fires, and
nights of soundest sleep. The CASTINGS,
who inhabit the borders of Araucania. have
farms and comfortable homes, and civiliza-
ton has done for them what Spanish cruel
ties and force of arms were powerless to
accomplish. To-day this tribe of the re-
doubtable AraucanianS are plodding labor
ers and have somehow become wonderfully
bleached in complexion. Their broad
Shouldered women work in the fields, out
doing the men in feats of strength as well
as surprising them in intelligence; and
whenever Casino husband gets drunk or
unruly, his gentle spouse makes nothing of
giving him sound fogging.
1t is related in history that when the |
conquerer, Valdivia, desired to recruit his |
army, while vainly 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 |
(heels) nails. Then he went up to Peru |
and induced one of the native princes to |
race horses with him for a high wager OF |
course, as Valdivia expected, the golden |
shoes fell of and were left on the field. |
When some of the common people picked |
them up and took them to their owner in |
hope of reward, he said to them grandilo- |
quently: keep them, my children, keep |
them. In the land of Chill, whittier | shall |
soon return, riches are to be had for the |
gathering. There gold and silver are so |
as TO be of little value; here they !
will serve TO allay your hunger 1t is
needless to remark that afterwards the |
shrewd general found plenty of recruits
His statement comes nearer the truth to-
lay, for in this part of Chill riches may
truly ''be had for the gathering in |
golden grain and silvery wheat, which when
harvested yields from forty to sixty bush
sls to the acre. All the land lying along
he Bio-Bio and in the great plains of the
Rio Veragara is wonderfully rich, and re-
IuireS little cultivation.
After more than q week of easy travelling |
atterly through unbroken wilds, frequent
picnic haltS being made for fishing and
hunting, we suddenly came in sight, one
afternoon, of a Llanisto village. AT the
'ame moment a young Indian appeared in
he path and stopped the cavalcade to in |
luire who we were and where we were CO.
ng. He was evidently acting from author
ty, and had been sent from the village to
us. 1t was afterwards disclosed
hat keen eyes and silent footsteps had been
hadowing us for several days, though we
lad not suspected it. Our interpreter dis
played written passport from The Great |
White Father in Conception 1.-THE gov
rnor) and assured the Araucanian that we
we're friends who had come long way to |
'islt the mighty chief of the Llanistos and |
lis people. Thereupon the smiling warrior
splendid set of whitest ivory,
nd informed US that, though the great
hief lived further down the river, the sub
hief, who was i man of SURPRISING valor, |
would be happy to welcome US.
l confess that it was not without some |
reputation we followed our new guide into
he center of the Indian camp, and halted
n front of the largest dwelling. 1t was a
hree-room palace of mud and logs, rooted |
nth dried grass, and in its doorway stood |
man OF powerful frame, with an ex-
remedy ugly but rather intelligent face and
n abnormally large head, whose size was
exaggerated by a bushy shock of coarse