THE COUNCIL
The Araucanos, whom certain travellers, either ill-informed or of
bad faith, persist in representing as savage men plunged in the most
frightful barbarism, are, on the contrary, a relatively civilized
people. Their government, the origin of which is lost in the night of
time, and which, at the period of the Spanish conquest, was as well
organized and carried out as easily as at the present day, is, as
we have said in a preceding chapter, an aristocratic republic, with
essentially feudal tendencies. This government, which affects all the
appearances of the feudal system, has all its good qualities and all its
defects. Hence, except in time of war, the toquis possess but the shadow
of sovereignty, and the power resides in the entire body of the chiefs,
who, in questions of importance, decide in a general diet, called the
_Auca-coyog_, the great council, or council of free men, for such is
the name they claim for themselves, and very justly, for no power has
yet been able to subdue them. These councils are generally held in the
presence of all, in a vast prairie.
Antinahuel had eagerly seized the pretext of the renewal of the treaties
to try and obtain from the chiefs authority to carry into execution the
projects which had been so long ripening in his brain. The Araucanian
code, which contains all the laws of the nation, created an obligation
for his doing so, from which even his renown and popularity were
powerless to release him. But he hoped to overcome the opposition of
the chiefs, or their repugnance to submit to his will, by means of his
eloquence and the influence which, under many circumstances, he had
exercised over the minds of the Ulmens, even those most determined to
resist him.
The Araucanos cultivate with success the art of speaking, which among
them leads to public honours. They make it a point to speak their own
language well, and to preserve its purity by guarding particularly
against the introduction of foreign words. They carry this so far,
that when a white establishes himself amongst them, they oblige him
to abandon his own name and take one of their country. The style of
their speeches is figurative and allegorical. They call the style of
parliamentary harangues _coyagtucan;_ and it must be observed that these
speeches contain all the essential parts of true rhetoric, and are
almost all divided into three heads.
The few words we have said will suffice to show that the Araucanos are
not so savage as we have been led to suppose. In short, a small people,
who, without allies, isolated at the extremity of the continent, have
since the landing of the Spaniards on their coasts, that is to say,
during three hundred years, constantly and alone resisted European
armies composed of experienced soldiers and greedy adventurers, whom no
difficulty was likely to stop, and who have preserved their independence
and their nationality intact, are, in our opinion, respectable in
every point of view, and ought not to be stigmatized as barbarians
with impunity--the sad, despicable vengeance of those proud and
impotent Spaniards, who have never been able to conquer them, and whose
degenerate sons at this very day pay them a tribute, under the lying
excuse of an annual offering.
We who, thrown by the chance of our adventurous travels among these
indomitable tribes, have lived many days with them, have had an
opportunity of judging soundly of these ill-understood people. We have
been able to appreciate all that is really simple, great, and generous
in their character. Terminating here this somewhat long digression, a
tribute of gratitude paid to ancient and dearly-beloved friends, we will
resume our narrative.
Antinahuel and Black-Stag arrived at the place where the chiefs were
assembled. They dismounted and joined the groups of Ulmens. The chiefs,
who were peacefully chatting together, at their arrival became silent,
and, for a few minutes, not a word was heard in the assembly. At length
Cathicara, the toqui of the Piré-Mapus, made a few steps towards the
centre of the circle, and took the initiative.
Cathicara was an old man of seventy, of majestic bearing, and imposing
countenance. A renowned warrior in his youth, now that many winters had
wrinkled his brow and silvered his long hair, he enjoyed, by just title,
a great reputation for wisdom in his nation. Descended from an old race
of Ulmens, continually opposed to the whites, he was an inveterate enemy
of the Chilians, against whom he had long waged war. He was acquainted
with the secret views of Antinahuel, of whom he was the most devoted
friend and partisan.
"Toquis, Apo-Ulmens and Ulmens of the valiant nation of the Aucas, whose
immense hunting grounds cover the surface of the earth," he said, "my
heart is sad; a cloud covers my mind, and my eyes, filled with tears,
are constantly cast towards the ground; whence comes it that grief
devours me? Why does the joyous song of the goldfinch no longer sound
cheerfully in my ears? why do the rays of the sun seem less warm to me?
why, in short, does nature appear less beautiful to me? Will you tell
me, my brothers? You are silent; shame covers your brows; your humbled
eyes are cast down--have you nothing to reply? It is because you are a
degenerate people! your warriors are women, who instead of the lance
take up the spindle; because you bow basely beneath the yoke of these
Chiaplos, these Huincas, who laugh at you, for they know that you have
no longer blood red enough to contend with them! When, Aucas warriors,
did impure owls and screech owls begin to make their nests in the eyrie
of eagles? Of what use is this stone hatchet, the symbol of strength;
this hatchet, which you have given me to defend you, if it is to remain
inactive in my hands, and if I must descend into the tomb, towards
which I am already hastening, without having been able to do anything
for your enfranchisement?--Take it back again, warriors, if it is to be
nothing but a vain, honorary ornament; for myself, my life has been too
long--let me retire to my toldo, where, to my last days, it will be at
least permitted me to weep over our independence, which is compromised
by your weakness, and our glory eclipsed for ever by your cowardice!"
After uttering these words, the old man made a few paces backwards,
staggering as if overcome by grief. Antinahuel sprang towards him, and
appeared to lavish consolations upon him in a low voice. The speech had
strongly moved the assembly, for the toqui was beloved and venerated
by all. The Ulmens remained apparently silent and stoical; but their
feelings of hatred had been powerfully stirred, and passion began to
gleam from their eyes in ominous flashes. Black-Stag stepped forward.
"Father," he said, in a low, insinuating tone, and with a quiet air,
"your words are rough; they have plunged our hearts in sadness; why have
you been so severe with your children? Pillian alone is acquainted with
the intentions of men. What do you reproach us with? with having done
today what our fathers have always done before us, while they did not
believe themselves in a position to contend victoriously against their
enemies! No, owls and impure birds do not make their nests in the eyries
of eagles. No, the Aucas are not women! They are valiant and invincible
warriors, as their fathers were before them. Listen! listen to what
the spirit reveals to me: the council with the Spaniards of today is
null and void, because it has not taken place as the Admapu requires.
The toqui has not presented to the chief of the palefaces the branch
of the Cinnamon tree, the symbol of peace; the canes of the Apo-Ulmens
have not been bound in a sheaf with the sword of the Huinca chief;
the oath and the speeches have been pronounced upon the cross of the
palefaces, and not upon the sheaf, as the law requires. I repeat, then,
the Huinca-coyog is a nullity, nothing but a vain, laughable ceremony,
to which we ought to attach no importance. Have I spoken well, powerful
men?"
"Yes! yes!" the chiefs cried, brandishing their arms, "the Huinca-coyog
is null!"
Antinahuel then took a few steps forward within the circle, with his
head advanced, his eyes fixed on vacancy, and his arms extended, as if
he heard and saw things which he alone could see and hear.
"Silence!" Black-Stag cried, pointing to him with his finger; "the great
toqui is holding conference with his nymph!"
The chiefs experienced a sensation of terror while looking at the toqui.
A solemn silence prevailed in the assembly. On his part, Antinahuel did
not stir.
Black-Stag approached him softly, and, stooping towards his ear, asked,--
"What does my father see?"
"I see the warriors of the palefaces; they have dug up the war hatchet,
and are fighting with one another."
"What more does my father see?" Black-Stag resumed.
"I see streams of blood, which redden the soil; the odour of that blood
rejoices my heart, for it is the blood of palefaces shed by their
brothers!"
"Does my father see anything more?"
"I see the great chief of the whites! he fights valiantly at the head
of his soldiers! he is surrounded, he fights still! he is nearly
falling--he falls--he is down--he is conquered! His enemies seize him!"
The Ulmens present at this scene looked on in stupefied amazement; it
was incomprehensible to them. A smile of disdain curled the lips of
Black-Stag, as he continued,--
"Does my father hear anything?"
"I hear the cries of the dying demanding vengeance upon their brothers!"
"Does my father hear anything else?"
"Yes; I hear the cries of Aucas warriors, long since dead, and they
freeze me with terror!"
"What do they say?" the chiefs exclaimed unanimously, a prey to intense
anxiety. "What do the Aucas warriors say?"
"They say, 'Brothers, the hour is come! To arms! To arms!'"
"To arms!" the chiefs shouted, as with one voice. "To arms! Death to the
palefaces!"
The impulse was given, enthusiasm had seized all hearts; from this
moment Antinahuel was able to raise the passions of the crowd to
delirium at his pleasure. A smile of supreme satisfaction lighted his
haughty countenance as he recovered apparently from his vision.
"Chiefs of the Aucas," he said, "what do you order me to do?"
"Antinahuel," Cathicara replied, throwing his stone hatchet into the
fire, in which he was directly imitated by the other toquis; "there is
now but one supreme hatchet in the nation, it is in your hands; let
it be red up to the hilt in the blood of the vile Huincas; lead our
Uthal-Mapus to battle--you have the supreme command! We give you the
power of life and death over our persons. From this hour, you alone in
the nation have the right to command us; whatever be your orders, we
will accomplish them."
Antinahuel raised his lofty head, his brow radiant with pride:
brandishing in his nervous hand his powerful war hatchet, the symbol of
the dictatorial and boundless power which had just been conferred upon
him, he said haughtily,--
"Aucas, I accept the honour you do me; I will prove worthy of the
confidence you place in me. This hatchet shall never be buried till
my body has served for food to the vultures of the Andes, or till the
cowardly palefaces, against whom we are about to combat, shall have come
upon their knees to implore pardon!"
The chiefs replied to these words by cries of joy and ferocious
howlings. The Auca-coyog was terminated. Tables were placed, and a
banquet gathered together all the warriors present at the council.
At the moment when Antinahuel was seating himself in the high place
reserved for him, an Indian, covered with perspiration and dust,
approached him, and whispered a few words in his ear. The chief started;
a nervous paroxysm shook his whole frame, and he arose a prey to the
most lively agitation.
"Oh!" he cried, passionately, "it is to me alone that woman should
belong!" and, addressing the Indian who had spoken to him, he added,
"Bid my mosotones mount, and be prepared to follow me instantly."