Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
DESCRIPTION OF
THE INDIVIDUALISM OF
THE PEHUENCHE PEOPLE
OF MENDOZA
This nation, which considers itself independent of the rest, does not
have any strict alliance; nor do its members subordinate them-
selves to their own chiefs except through a kind of tolerance, so that
no one is abused.
Only the oldest elders or the richest are those who are called caci-
ques, or
guilmenes.
This title, which is earned by one's deeds, if those of
one's ancestors were also recommendable, impresses the subjects more.
According to this procedure, the son of a cacique who is not worthy, who
does not make himself rich, [and] who has not accomplished great feats,
is nothing. He is viewed as a contemptible
mocetón
[commoner]; and then
the staff of the cacique is inherited by the Indian of the village who is the
most handsome and who speaks well and easily.
The caciques do not have any jurisdiction either to punish or to
reward anyway. There each person is the judge of his case and, conse-
quently, respects no one else's opinion. In this manner, if a
guilmén
wants
to abuse a
mocetón
and the latter feels more vigorous, he will attack his
chief, stab him, do whatever he can. And far from meriting punishment,
he will be considered a strong man for having proved his ferocity. If the
cacique has more relatives than the
mocetón,
they will go all out to right
wrongs and assault the
mocetón,
in order to pay him back and do the
same to him. This action is the only restraint that they have; but in any
case, the merit of having maimed the cacique will not be considered a
loss, even if the
mocetón
may lose his possessions.
Source:
Luis de la Cruz. “Tratado importante para el perfecto
conocimiento de los indios peguenches.” In Angelis, Pedro de, ed.
Colección de obras y documentos relativos a la historia antigua y moderna
de las provincias del Río de la Plata
. 3 vols. 1835 (Reprint, Buenos Aires:
Editorial Plus Ultra, 1969) vol. 1, pp. 449-450.
differentiation, with women subordinated to men, who for the most
part were monogamous. Women cleaned game, cooked, cared for and
disciplined the children, put up the
toldos,
wove baskets, and made
