The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1904-03-24

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short rest they returned to the charge
and ate and drank, and drank and ate,
again and again, till nature could en-
dure no more and all sank into a heavy
sleep. This was the hungry squaws'
opportunity, and so well they improved
it that the remaining store of pro-
visions, which in the morning we had
| thought sufficient to last the whole
company week, disappeared like dew
before the sun. About sunset most of
the younger men, having overcome
their gluttonous stupor, bestirred them
selves for game of ball. The ball
was made of strips of raw-hide, covered
with many pieces of wooden cloth SO
that its force might not injure the
moccasined foot. There appeared to
be no rules regulating the game, its
whole purpose being to see how often
and how far each warrior could kick
the ball
] The moon being at the full, it was
determined to keep up the fun till mid
night, But first supper must be had,
and the delightful news soon spread
! that as an extra treat a dish of nachi
would be served. What under the moon
was ''nachi?" Even the half-indian
Interpreter could not tell us. so we de-
cided to wait and see 1t was not the
| first time that we had cause to regret
the curiosity that has led women into
unpleasant situations from the days of
great grandmother Eve down to her lat
est descendant. Nachi, it seems, is the
greatest luxury of which the Llanisto
mind can conceive. and this is the re-
cipe for its preparations: Take liv-
ing, full-groWn, fat sheep, and hang it
up by the fore feet, instead of by the
hind feet as usual. Then care
fully cut hole in the wind
pipe and stuff down it several
handsful of salt and red pepper mixed
together. This accomplished, despite
the poor animals struggles, sever the
juglar and pull it out sufficiently to
turn the mouth of the vein into the
windpipe, down which the blood flows,
carrying the pepper and salt into the
lungs. The writing, tortured creature
in soon surprisingly swollen up and
dies in inexpressible agony. When the
body is opened, the lungs are found
| horribly distended with blood pepper
and salt, the whole forming one c0agu-
lated mass. This is Nachi-and may
heaven preserve us from seeing it
again. 1t is carefully extracted from
the yet quivering animal, cut in slices
and served up warm. The blood pud-
ding before mentioned, which is a daily
article of Araucanian diet, is merely
the uncooked blood of any animal, CO.
! agulated by the addition of salt to the
consistency of custard. Whenever a
sheep is XII lied by the ordinary process,
while one woman catches the blood in
a wooden bowl, another stands by to
receive the entrails, which are stewed
like tripe and much relished
We must not overlook the ladies of
Araucania, especially on such an occa-
sion when decked i'll festive 'gaud and
gear" Most of them have good figures
and agreeable faces. with luxuriant
black hair, pearly teeth, small feet, in
clined to toe inward, and really beautl-
full arms: but their diet of raw meat
and corn renders them gross at an early
age, and at thirty they are tlabby old
crones No belle of civilization is
more addicted to face painting 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 a broad belt from ear to
ear over the cheek, eyelids and nose.
The black is used to give effect to the
eyebrows, which are pulled out so as to
leave only Il fine line, while the lids and
lashes are tipped with black in the
same manner that henna is used by
women of the Orient. While girl Of
Araucania is not put up for sale like an
Oriental hour, she is none the less
an article of merchandise and has no
more voice in the choice of a
husband. When man makes up his
mind to marry, he goes first to his
friend for assistance in carrying out
the project. If he is poor each of his
friends agree to contribute toward the
expenses-one giving horse, another
dIl OA, lue CIlEu pair vi silver SIlllupS,
and so on. A dark night is selected
and rendezvous named. At the APP
pointed hour the lover and his friends,
all we'll mounted, congregate as agreed,
and in silence they cautiously approach
the residense of the bride. Half doz-
en- of the best orators enter and wake
up the girls father, to whom they ex-
plain the object of the visit, set forth
the merit of the would-be son-in-law
and formally ask his consent to the
match-which is usually granted with
readiness if the prize offered be large
enough. Meanwhile the enamored
: swain has been searching out the rest
ing place of his Dulcinea; and she, how
ever willing, screams loudly for protec-
ton, as in duty bound. Then ire
mendous row ensues. The women rise
up en- masse, arm themselves with
clubs, stones and missiles of every kind,
and rush to the maiden's defense. The
friends interpose to give the lover
fair play, endeavoring with gentle vi
olence to disarm the fierce viragoes;
but the latter are not to be appeased
and lucky is the man who escapes
without some bleeding memento OF
the fight 1t is a point of honor with
the bride to resist with all her might,
until at 1pnUth tho imnatipnt bride