Germans, and are very dreadful when the Ulmenes are concerned, in which case they become real civil wars. But it must be acknowledged that they are generally unaccompanied with the effusion of blood, and are confined to pillage alone. This people, notwithstanding their propensity to violence, rarely employ arms in their private quarrels, but decide them with the fist or with the club,

CHAP. III.

Military System of the Araucanians; their Arms and Mode of making War.

THE military government of the Araucanians is not only more rational and better systematized than the civil, but in some respects appears to be superior to the genius of an uncultivated nation. Whenever the grand council determines to go to war, they proceed immediately to the election of a commander in chief, to which the Toquis have the first claim, as being the hereditary generals or stadtholders of the republic. If neither of them is deemed qualified for the command, dismissing all regard for rank, they entrust it to the most deserving of the Ulmenes, or even the officers of the common class, as the talents necessary for this important station are what alone are required. In consequence, Vilumilla, a man of low origin, commanded the Araucanian army with much honour in the war of 1722; and Curignanca, the younger son of an Ulmen of the province of Encol, in that which terminated in 1773.

On accepting his appointment, the new general assumes the title of Toqui, and the stone

hatchet in token of supreme command, at which time the native Toquis lay aside theirs, it not being lawful for them to carry them during the government of this dictator. They likewise, sacrificing private ambition to the public good, take the oaths of obedience and fealty to him, together with the other Ulmenes. Even the people, who in peace shew themselves repugnant to all subordination, are then prompt to obey, and submissive to the will of their military sovereign. He cannot, however, put any one to death without the consent of the principal officers of his army, but as these are of his own appointment, his orders may be considered as absolute.

From the arrival of the Spaniards in the country to the present time, it is observable that all the Toquis who have been appointed in time of war were natives of the provinces of Arauco, of Tucapel, of Encol, or of Puren. Whether this partiality is owing to some superstitious notion,, or rather to some ancient law or agree ment, I am unable to determine; it appears, however, to be repugnant to the principles of sound policy, as it is very rare for the component parts of a state to maintain themselves long in a state of union, when they do not all participate equally in the advantages of the government. But it is a peculiarity worthy of admiration, that this discrimination has hitherto produced no division among them.

One of the first measures of the national council, after having decided upon war, is to dispatch certain messengers or expresses, called guerquenis, to the confederate tribes, and even to those Indians who live among the Spaniards, to inform the first of the steps that have been taken, and to request the others to make a common cause with their countrymen. The credentials of these envoys are some small arrows tied together with a red string, the symbol of blood. But if hostilities are actually commenced, the finger of a slain enemy is joined to the arrows. This embassy, called pulchitum, to run the arrow, is performed with such secrecy and expedition in the Spanish settlements, that the messengers are rarely discovered.

The Toqui directs what number of soldiers are to be furnished by each Uthalmapu; the Tetrarchs in their turn regulate the contingencies of the Apo-Ulmenes, and these last apportion them among their respective Ulmenes. Every Araucanian is born a soldier. All are ready to proffer their services for war, so that there is no difficulty in raising an army, which usually consists of five or six thousand men, besides the corps de reserve, which are kept in readiness for particular occasions, or to replace those killed in battle.

The commander in chief appoints his Vice Toqui, or lieutenant-general, and the other offi

cers of his staff, who in their turn nominate their subaltern officers. By this method, harmony and subordination are maintained between the respective commanders. The Vice Toqui is almost always selected from among the Puelches, in order to satisfy that valiant tribe, who, as I have already observed, amount to the fourth part of the population of the state. Nor have the Araucanians ever had cause to repent of this selection. During the last war, one of these mountaineers, Leviantu, lieutenant-general of Curignancu, harassed the Spaniards greatly, their troops constant employment.

and gave

The army is at present composed of infantry and of horse. It originally consisted entirely of the former, but in their first battles with the Spaniards, perceiving the great advantage which their enemies derived from their cavalry, they soon began to discipline themselves in the same Their first care was to procure a good breed of horses, which in a short time became so numerous, that in the year 1568, seventeen years after their first opposing the Spanish arms, they were able to furnish several squadrons, and in the year 1585, the cavalry was first regularly organized by the Toqui Cadeguala.

manner.

The infantry, which they call namuntulinco, is divided into regiments and companies; each regiment consists of one thousand men, and contains ten companies of one hundred. The ca