Araucania

Araucania, a republican confederation in South America, lying south of Chili, and bounded by the rivers Biobio and Valdivia. The territory is about 180 miles long by 150 broad, with an area of some 25,000 square miles. In 1773 their independence was recognised, and their four states, governed by hereditary chiefs, form a feudal union free from European influence, though nominally protected by Chili. The breeding of cattle and vicunas is the chief industry. The port of Arauco is situated in a bay of the same name to the north, and half way down the coast is the important commercial city of Valdivia.

The Araucanians were renowned for their valour and highly-organised political system, which enabled them successfully to resist all attempts of the Spaniards to subdue them. But in the northern provinces many have been merged with the whites in a common Chilian nationality, constituting the most orderly and flourishing of all the Hispano-American commonwealths. The pure Araucanian race, whose territory extends from the Bio-bio southwards to the Valdivia (Callecalle), with a total area of about 25,000 square miles, still number from 70,000 to 80,000, of whom as many as 16,000 are reckoned as capable of bearing arms. The collective national name is Moluche, i.e. "warriors," and they form three separate geographical groups, known as Picunche, Puelche, and Huilliche, i.e. "People of the North," "East," and "South" respectively. They are a stout, vigorous race, of short stature (5.1 ft. to 5.2 ft.), with full round features, prominent cheek bones, large nose, broad at base, straight black eyes, long black hair, coppery or olive-brown complexion. The language is soft and euphonious, abounding in vowels and open syllables, but extremely difficult owing to its highly polysynthetic character. In this respect it is a typical American language, rivalling the Aztec, Miztec, or Kree in the extraordinary length of its words. The Araucanians, whose numerous tribes are governed by hereditary chiefs or nobles, are the Manichaeans of the New World, their religious system being based on the theory of a good and evil principle (Apo and Pillan) contending for supremacy over men and the universe. Apo, being capable of naught but good, receives no worship, but Pillan, source of all evil, is propitiated by all sorts of offerings and sacrifices, formerly including human victims. Polygamy is universal; but the first wife is the most respected, though the women generally are treated as little better than slaves and drudges.