The Adventurers

by Gustave Aimard

  CHAPTER XLI.

  THE COUNCIL

  The Araucanos, whom certain travellers, either ill-informed or ofbad faith, persist in representing as savage men plunged in the mostfrightful barbarism, are, on the contrary, a relatively civilizedpeople. Their government, the origin of which is lost in the night oftime, and which, at the period of the Spanish conquest, was as wellorganized and carried out as easily as at the present day, is, aswe have said in a preceding chapter, an aristocratic republic, withessentially feudal tendencies. This government, which affects all theappearances of the feudal system, has all its good qualities and all itsdefects. Hence, except in time of war, the toquis possess but the shadowof 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 isthe name they claim for themselves, and very justly, for no power hasyet been able to subdue them. These councils are generally held in thepresence of all, in a vast prairie.

  Antinahuel had eagerly seized the pretext of the renewal of the treatiesto try and obtain from the chiefs authority to carry into execution theprojects which had been so long ripening in his brain. The Araucaniancode, which contains all the laws of the nation, created an obligationfor his doing so, from which even his renown and popularity werepowerless to release him. But he hoped to overcome the opposition ofthe chiefs, or their repugnance to submit to his will, by means of hiseloquence and the influence which, under many circumstances, he hadexercised over the minds of the Ulmens, even those most determined toresist him.

  The Araucanos cultivate with success the art of speaking, which amongthem leads to public honours. They make it a point to speak their ownlanguage well, and to preserve its purity by guarding particularlyagainst the introduction of foreign words. They carry this so far,that when a white establishes himself amongst them, they oblige himto abandon his own name and take one of their country. The style oftheir speeches is figurative and allegorical. They call the style ofparliamentary harangues _coyagtucan;_ and it must be observed that thesespeeches contain all the essential parts of true rhetoric, and arealmost all divided into three heads.

  The few words we have said will suffice to show that the Araucanos arenot so savage as we have been led to suppose. In short, a small people,who, without allies, isolated at the extremity of the continent, havesince the landing of the Spaniards on their coasts, that is to say,during three hundred years, constantly and alone resisted Europeanarmies composed of experienced soldiers and greedy adventurers, whom nodifficulty was likely to stop, and who have preserved their independenceand their nationality intact, are, in our opinion, respectable inevery point of view, and ought not to be stigmatized as barbarianswith impunity--the sad, despicable vengeance of those proud andimpotent Spaniards, who have never been able to conquer them, and whosedegenerate sons at this very day pay them a tribute, under the lyingexcuse of an annual offering.

  We who, thrown by the chance of our adventurous travels among theseindomitable tribes, have lived many days with them, have had anopportunity of judging soundly of these ill-understood people. We havebeen able to appreciate all that is really simple, great, and generousin their character. Terminating here this somewhat long digression, atribute of gratitude paid to ancient and dearly-beloved friends, we willresume our narrative.

  Antinahuel and Black-Stag arrived at the place where the chiefs wereassembled. 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 lengthCathicara, the toqui of the Pire-Mapus, made a few steps towards thecentre of the circle, and took the initiative.

  Cathicara was an old man of seventy, of majestic bearing, and imposingcountenance. A renowned warrior in his youth, now that many winters hadwrinkled his brow and silvered his long hair, he enjoyed, by just title,a great reputation for wisdom in his nation. Descended from an old raceof Ulmens, continually opposed to the whites, he was an inveterate enemyof the Chilians, against whom he had long waged war. He was acquaintedwith the secret views of Antinahuel, of whom he was the most devotedfriend and partisan.

  "Toquis, Apo-Ulmens and Ulmens of the valiant nation of the Aucas, whoseimmense hunting grounds cover the surface of the earth," he said, "myheart is sad; a cloud covers my mind, and my eyes, filled with tears,are constantly cast towards the ground; whence comes it that griefdevours me? Why does the joyous song of the goldfinch no longer soundcheerfully 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 tellme, my brothers? You are silent; shame covers your brows; your humbledeyes are cast down--have you nothing to reply? It is because you are adegenerate people! your warriors are women, who instead of the lancetake up the spindle; because you bow basely beneath the yoke of theseChiaplos, these Huincas, who laugh at you, for they know that you haveno longer blood red enough to contend with them! When, Aucas warriors,did impure owls and screech owls begin to make their nests in the eyrieof 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 remaininactive in my hands, and if I must descend into the tomb, towardswhich I am already hastening, without having been able to do anythingfor your enfranchisement?--Take it back again, warriors, if it is to benothing but a vain, honorary ornament; for myself, my life has been toolong--let me retire to my toldo, where, to my last days, it will be atleast permitted me to weep over our independence, which is compromisedby 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, andappeared to lavish consolations upon him in a low voice. The speech hadstrongly moved the assembly, for the toqui was beloved and veneratedby all. The Ulmens remained apparently silent and stoical; but theirfeelings of hatred had been powerfully stirred, and passion began togleam 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 haveyou been so severe with your children? Pillian alone is acquainted withthe intentions of men. What do you reproach us with? with having donetoday what our fathers have always done before us, while they did notbelieve themselves in a position to contend victoriously against theirenemies! No, owls and impure birds do not make their nests in the eyriesof eagles. No, the Aucas are not women! They are valiant and invinciblewarriors, as their fathers were before them. Listen! listen to whatthe spirit reveals to me: the council with the Spaniards of today isnull and void, because it has not taken place as the Admapu requires.The toqui has not presented to the chief of the palefaces the branchof the Cinnamon tree, the symbol of peace; the canes of the Apo-Ulmenshave 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 thepalefaces, 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, powerfulmen?"

  "Yes! yes!" the chiefs cried, brandishing their arms, "the Huinca-coyogis null!"

  Antinahuel then took a few steps forward within the circle, with hishead advanced, his eyes fixed on vacancy, and his arms extended, as ifhe heard and saw things which he alone could see and hear.

  "Silence!" Black-Stag cried, pointing to him with his finger; "the greattoqui 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 didnot 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 bloodrejoices my heart, for it is the blood of palefaces shed by theirbrothers!"

  "Does my father see anything more?"

  "I see the great chief of the whites! he fights valiantly at the headof his soldiers! he is surrounded, he fights still! he is nearlyfalling--he falls--he is down--he is conquered! His enemies seize him!"

  The Ulmens present at this scene looked on in stupefied amazement; itwas incomprehensible to them. A smile of disdain curled the lips ofBlack-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 theyfreeze me with terror!"

  "What do they say?" the chiefs exclaimed unanimously, a prey to intenseanxiety. "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 thepalefaces!"

  The impulse was given, enthusiasm had seized all hearts; from thismoment Antinahuel was able to raise the passions of the crowd todelirium at his pleasure. A smile of supreme satisfaction lighted hishaughty 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 thefire, in which he was directly imitated by the other toquis; "there isnow but one supreme hatchet in the nation, it is in your hands; letit be red up to the hilt in the blood of the vile Huincas; lead ourUthal-Mapus to battle--you have the supreme command! We give you thepower of life and death over our persons. From this hour, you alone inthe nation have the right to command us; whatever be your orders, wewill accomplish them."

  Antinahuel raised his lofty head, his brow radiant with pride:brandishing in his nervous hand his powerful war hatchet, the symbol ofthe dictatorial and boundless power which had just been conferred uponhim, he said haughtily,--

  "Aucas, I accept the honour you do me; I will prove worthy of theconfidence you place in me. This hatchet shall never be buried tillmy body has served for food to the vultures of the Andes, or till thecowardly palefaces, against whom we are about to combat, shall have comeupon their knees to implore pardon!"

  The chiefs replied to these words by cries of joy and ferocioushowlings. The Auca-coyog was terminated. Tables were placed, and abanquet gathered together all the warriors present at the council.At the moment when Antinahuel was seating himself in the high placereserved 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 themost lively agitation.

  "Oh!" he cried, passionately, "it is to me alone that woman shouldbelong!" and, addressing the Indian who had spoken to him, he added,"Bid my mosotones mount, and be prepared to follow me instantly."