Arauco?

[kate riley]

Dear List:

A question from a writer friend:

There is a tree in Chile labeled by a 17th or 18th century
priest Araucaria araucana Pehuen.   There is also a town near Concepcion
Chile called Arauco.  The Mapuche and other indigenes of Chile have been
generally referred to as Araucarians.  Does anyone know (or know
someone who might know) the origins of these terms and/or the histories
of these namings?

Thanks,

Kate Riley