Moral condemnation, political fear and mercantile profit: Spanish attitudes and policies in the face of Indian borrachera feasts (frontier of Concepción de Chile, 18th century)

Abstract

Throughout the native Americas, collective feasts were important events of sociability. In Chile, Indian borracheras were considered one of the main difficulties Christian missionaries had to face in order to convert natives, also civilian and military authorities considered them dangerous because theycould lead to rebellions and uprisings. Therefore, the sale of alcohol to the Indians was traditionally rejected until, on occasion of the Parlamento of 1793 and after obtaining several favorable opinions in this regard, the Spanish government decided to encourage the trade of alcoholic beverages with the natives. Why did those who had traditionally opposed the introduction of alcohol at the border now overwhelmingly endorsed and recommended it with emphasis? Through different sources, which include the opinions requested from several colonial actors, we will try to answer this question, examining the economic situation of the Concepción’s frontier towards late 18th century, whose avatars explain the reactions of the interested parties to a large extent.