Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-10-04
NOVEL INDIAN FEAST.
Fannie B. Ward Attends a House.
Raising With the Araucanians.
A DISH SHE COULDN'T ENDURE.
How the DuskY Bellies Play Second Fiddle
on Big Occasions.
A VERY ROUGH WAY TO WIN A BRIDE
rcoRnrspospENcE OF THE p1sp Arc1,. =,

liz
VALDIvIA, CHILE, Sept 3.-On the
second day of our detention in the Llanisto
territory, the swollen, bridgeless streams
still keeping us close prisoners we were
honored by an invitation to attend house
raising on the morrow-which in Araucania
is made the occasion of prolonged festivi-
ties and many ceremonies. We were in
formed that a grand feast would be the
special feature of each days doings and that
very guest was expected to contribute
thereto something edible or drinkable.
What do you suppose was our contribu-
tion? In this case necessity was the mother
of invention, and we sacrificed to the emer-
gency our last sack of self-raising -four,
baked into large griddle cakes. These, when
cold, were spread with a thin coating of
peach jam, and piled one above another in
huge heaps. 1t kept the cook busy all the
rest of the day, assisted by the ladies of the
party, but the impromptu dish was a pro-
nounced success, and we afterward learned
that the Indians looked upon it as the white
mans staple article of food.
DRESS OF THE CHIEFTAIN.
Early the next morning the great chief
came to escort US in person to the distant
clearing where the new dwelling was to be
erected, and as a mark of especial conde-
scension we 'squaws" were permitted to
follow in the rear. So gorgeously was his
greasy highness gotten up for the occasion
that it may truly be said even Solomon in
all his glory was never so arrayed. He
wore the yellow leggins and double Grim
son bed blanket lately presented to him by
our leader, with my silver soap case hung
around his neck by blue ribbon, where it
ratified against triple necklace of teeth,
human and animal, while his bushy hair,
In which stripes of red flannel were braided,
was crowned by tiara of brilliant feathers,
and hung with long strings of birds bones.
Far in the respectful distance trotted his
several wives bearing his beloved pipe,
guanaco robes for him to sit upon and his
choicest heritage, the time-worn skulls that
serve for drinking vessels, without which
no feast would be complete. Arrived at
the spot we found most of the villagers al
ready assembled and every dusky face wore
a look of the most perfect happiness ever
beheld on human countenances. AT one
side, where the squaws were mostly col
lected, we noticed several young sheep, yet
living, lying bound among scores of chicha
pots and bags of green corn, and as new
guests arrived additions were constantly
made to the store.
THE CEREMONY OF GIVING.
Whenever a donation was handed in the
following dialogue invariably took place
between the donor and those appointed to
superintend the feast: 'T beg you to ac-
cept mere trife as an offering to this great
occasion"
Chow very generous; nothing of the
kind was expected, and you ought not to
have brought so much"
ssIt is but a poor trife, not worthy so
grand feast, but pray that you will not
disdain it.
Presently some squaws began digging
holes in the ground close by; two young
women seized one of the bound sheep,
stretched it across a log, and while one held
it, the other turned over its head and ran
knife into the large vein behind its ear. 1t
soon bled to death, and all the blood was
carefully saved for pudding. By the way
is 1t not strange that among these Indians
the blood of lamb is considered an emblem
of safety? Whenever they go to war,
lamb is killed and its blood sprinkled upon
the arms of the warriors, as a sign that
vengeance shall not overtake them. When
they make treaty of peace the slain lamb
is again brought into requisition. Each of
the covenanting parties drinks little of the
blood and eats bit of the raw flesh, to
prove that what has been sealed by the
blood of innocence cannot be broken.
THEY TAKE THEIR TIME TO IT.
The mans part of the days labor con-
sisted entirely in eating, drinking and Civ |
ing orders. When the squaws had dug the
holes and sprinkled in each a few drops of |
the sleeps blood, chicha-pots were circu-
lated and all drank freely. An hour after |
wards-chicha ad ibitum in the interval |
some posts, tall enough to form the four |
corners of the house, were planted by the |
VI omen in the holes After another hour or |
more of home-chewed chicha and cheerful |
cross-picces were firmly bound |
to the post with thongs of raw-hide; and |
the raising for that day was completed. |
The interpreter told US that it would require |
not less than week to finish the house. |
The next day they would weave in the |
smaller poles for the walls On another
day put up the rafters; and so on, nursing |
the job as long as possible, because time, |
being "made for slaves" is no object to |
those independent Araucanians. We wit |
messed only one day of it, as on the follow |
ing morning we started anew for Valdivia- |
but that brief glimpse was sufficient.
Promptly at high noon the squaws an
that the banquet was ready. The |
green sward served for "festive board"
and the men seated themselves contentedly |
upon it in a wide circle under the |
shadow of the trees, while the women who |
were not engaged in waiting upon them re- |
NAMED fasting, dutifully willing to partake,
hours later, of whatever crumbs and bits |
their lords might leave for the dogs and |
them.
A COMMUNION IN PEPPERS.
First some raw clans were brought, in !
huge wooden troughs, and on the top of |
each trough was placed one big red pepper. |
Every Indian, in turn, took two or three |
clans, and then the pepper was passed from |
lip to lip, each one sucking it and handing |
it on to his neighbor. This preliminary |
ceremony, we were told, was in token of |
lasting friendship-and very warm such |
love must be, Judging from the tears that |
sprang to every eye. When the CLANS had |
been devoured the chicha jars circulated |
freely, passed from mouth to mouth in the |
most confidential manner. Then came kettles |
of cooked corn, steaming hot; then mora |
chicha. Then quantities of raw mutton, cut |
in small chunks and piled on wooden travs. |
Then ears of roasted corn; and last, but by |
no means least, our own contribution of |
cold, iam-besmeared pancakes, whose sticky |
sweetness SO pleased the chief that he at |
once opened negotiations with our leader |
with a view to purchasing few ''white |
sduaws" who could make them. Between |
every course chicha flowed freely. The |
braves gobbled raw sheep and corn till full |
to bursting; and after short rest they re-
turned to the charge and ate and drank, and |
drank and ate, again and again, till nature |
could endure no more and all sank into a |
heavy sleep.
woMENs, RIGHTS AT LAST.
This was the hungry squaws' opportunity, |
and sn well thev imnroved Ii that the re-