The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1904-03-24
Strange Customs in Chill.
~ ARAUCANIAN HOUSE WARNING.
QUEER WAY OF SECURING A

BRIDE.
social correspondence of The Journal
t.BRAL, CHILL, February 8, 1904.
,. the third day of our detention in
-- llanias territory, the swollen,
.-3reless stream still keeping us pris-
..ars We were honored by an invita-
.-,a 10 attend house warming on the
.r,,0-w which in Araucania is made
.,, occasion of prolonged festivities.
v. we're informed that a grand feast
s.0t be the special feature of each
doings, and that every guest was
.,py.ted to contribute thereto some
ing edible or drinkable.
Nhat 10 you suppose was our con-
.. .:on? In this case necessity was
.-5 The mother of invention" and
-. >l,liticed to the emergency our last
..4 Il self raising flour, baked into
-udde-cakes. These, when cold,
~uiead with thin coating of
..ul peach jam, and piled one above
.r.,. III huge heaps. 1t kept the
busy all the rest of the day, as
.- ty the ladies of the party: but
uGItmptu dish was pronounced
and we afterWard learned that
Idians looked upon it as the
mans staple article of food.
.. f1e next morning the great chief
.. l person to escort the men OF
4lty to the distant clearing where
-W dwelling was to be erected,
b. mark of special condescenslon
r- H3Ws' were permitted to follow
rear. SO gorgeouSly was his
-r.-} lighness gotten up for the oc
JHat it may truly be said even
mou III all his glory was never so
.ved. He wore the yellow leggings
Juubie crimson bed blanket lately
-uted TO him by our leader, with
g.. ~i.yer soap-case hung around his
1y blue ribbon, where it ratified
..5asT triple rows of teeth, human
l 4uimal; while his bushy hair in
d.. strips of red flannel were braid
7as crowned by tiara of brilliant
FRS and garnished with long strings
ri's bones. Far in the respectful
--ucr trotted his pigeon-toed wives.
- lis beloved pipe, guanaco robes
I'D to sit upon, and his choicest
age. the time-worn skulls that
Tor drinking vessels, without
20 feast would be complete.
-yed at the spot, we found the
gers already assembled and every
face wore a look of the most
elect happiness ever beheld on hu-
... untenance At one side, where
-riaWs were mostly collected, we
several young sheep, yet living,
lpuud among scores of chicha
Ud bags of green corn; and as
ursts arrived, additions We're
'0 the store. Presently some
began digging holes in the
close by. Two young women
uue OF the bound sheep, stretched
a log, and While one held it.
turned over its head and ran
nto the large vein behind its
soon bled to death and all the
va, carefully saved for pudding.
eUs part of the days labor
5y entirely in eating. drinking
ing orders. When the squaWs
avg the holes and sprinkled in each
drops OF sleeps blood, chicha
ere circulated and all drank free
su hour fterWards-chicha ad
u the interval-some posts,
ugh to form the four corners of
.lse, were planted by the women
holes. BY the way, is it not
that these Indians consider the
' 4 lamb as a sacrifice to their
| Whenever they go to war a
a.l killed and its blood sprinkled
the arms of the warriors. When
IS make treaty of peace the slain
.i again brought into requisition.
-At Of the coyenanting party drinks
'e Of the blood and eats bit of
avs flesh to prove that what has
l >-aled by the blood of innocence
Uot he broken.
4 Ter another hour or more of home
Keyed chicha and cheerful converse
ross-pieces were firmly bound to
posts with thongs of raw-hide, and
Iaising for that day was completed.
uterpreter told us that it would re-
- not less than week to finish the
"sc The next day they would weave
fht smaller poles for the walls. On
-e.hfr day they would put up the
ALTERS. and so on, nursing the job as
a- As possible because time, being
4tl- Tor slaves, is no object to these
aepehdent Araucanians. About noon
squaWs announced that the ban.
'rt was ready. The green sward
-"Ntd tor festive board and the men
't"'ea themselves contentedly upon il
vide circle under the shadow OF
Trees, while the women who were
i ugaged in waiting upon them re
aaled fasting, dutifully willing to
'e,aEe- hours later, of whatever
tuWns their lords might leave for the