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Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 
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 Research Library, The Getty Research Institute 
 
 http://archive.org/details/historicalrelatiOOoval 
 
An Hiftorical 
 
 RELATION 
 
 OF THE 
 
 Kingdom of CHILE. 
 
 BY 
 
 ALO N SO D E OVALLE, 
 
 O F 
 
 The Company of JESUS, 
 
 A Native of St. J ago of Chile », and Procurator 
 at Rome for that Place. 
 
 Printed at Rome by Francisco Cavallo, 164.0. 
 with Licence of his Superiors. 
 
 Tranflated out of Spanijh into Englijh. 
 
 T H E 
 
 I J 
 
15m tnr- 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 
 
 >ifii* 
 
 
 
THE 
 
 Tranflator's PREFACE. 
 
 WHEN the translation of the hiftory of Chile was firft 
 undertaken, it was more out of confideration of ma- 
 king that part of the world, fo remote from ours, 
 better known, as to the geographical part, the natural hiftory, and 
 the firft fettlements of the Spaniards, than to enter into a diftin£t 
 narrative of the events of that invasion, which contain little in- 
 ftru&ion, being between a people of great arts and abilities on one fide, 
 and another of great natural courage, and no culture of the mind 
 or body, on the other. The cafe was fo extravagantly unequal 
 between them, when the odds of guns, armour, horfes, and difci- 
 pline, are weighed againft nakednefs, anarchy, panick terrors, and 
 Simplicity, that it feems a kind of prodigy that the love of liberty 
 and a ftock of natural unpolifhed bravery, ftiould hold a conteft 
 with armed avarice, fpirited by fuperftitious zeal, for almoft a 
 whole century. 
 
 The natural hiftory of Chile is fo admirably performed, that it 
 may be a model for mod relations of that kind; for there are ex- 
 acl defcriptions of all the beafts, birds, fillies, plants, minerals, 
 coafts, rivers, bays, and inhabitants of the country, that can be 
 wilhed for. There is, befides, an excellent account of the climate, 
 the feafons, the winds, the manner of living both of the Indians 
 and the Spaniards. The defcription of the great Cordillera, or chain 
 of mountains, which runs for almoft a thoufand leagues in a parallel 
 line with the South Sea, and divides Chile from the ultra moun- 
 tain provinces, is fo accurate, that nothing of that kind can be 
 more fo : the narrative of the manner of travelling through thofe 
 vaft plains of Cuyo and Tucuman, as far as Buenos Ayres, and the 
 river of Plata ; the topographical defcription of the ftreights of 
 Magellan, with all its bays, ports, and its whole navigation, are of 
 great inftru£tion, as well as very entertaining. 
 
 In all this the jefuit, who was the author of this hiftory, mud 
 be confeflfed to have defer ved the character of a candid inquifitive 
 philofopher ; and in what he has performed befides, about the 
 fettlements of the Spaniards, he is very particular, efpecially in his 
 defcription of the city of St. Jago de Chile; where any one may fee 
 the progrefs of prieft-crafc in that new world, by the vaft riches of 
 the convents, monafteries, and nunneries : but above all the in- 
 ftructive chapters of this treatife, there is one about the methodsof 
 driving a trade between Europe and Chile to and from the Philippines 
 
 and 
 
The Tranflator's PREFACE 
 
 and Eafl Indies, which contains iecrets of commerce and naviga- 
 tion, which I wonder how they were publifhed, and 'tis poffible 
 may, e're it be long, be praclifed by the Spaniards and other nations, 
 if the navigation of the Mexican gulph becomes fo troublefome, 
 as it is like to be made by the naval powers of Europe, who feem 
 to have chofe thofe feas for the fcene of all their maritime power to 
 exert itfelf in. 
 
 There is a digreffion about the firft difcovery of the iflands and 
 continent of America by Columbus, and a progrellive narration of all 
 the other difcoveries, as they were made, and by whom, which is 
 very curious ; but as it is borrowed from other writers, the author 
 can challenge no other merit than that of a judicious compiler. 
 
 All that needs to be added to this preface, is, to let the world 
 know that the translation was firft encouraged by the Royal So- 
 ciety, of which the tranflator has the honour to be a member ; and 
 that it was two fummers work, that it might be the lefs fubjecT: 
 to errors; and to prevent them, that worthy encourager of all 
 natural knowledge, as well as of his own profeffion, in which he 
 excels, Dr. Hans Sloane, has contributed very obligingly fome of 
 his care and attention. 
 
 THE 
 
 
( I) 
 
 BOOK L 
 
 Of the Nature and Properties of the 
 Kingdom of Chile. 
 
 CHAP. I. 
 
 Of the Situation j Climate , and c Divifion of the Kingdom of C HIL E. 
 
 THE kingdom of Chile, which 
 is the uttcrmoft bounds of South 
 America, and has the kingdom 
 of Peru to the noth, begins 
 at th- 25th degree of fouth latitude, to- 
 wards the Antartick Pole, and is extended 
 in length five hundred leagues, as far as the 
 ftreights of Magellan, and its oppofite land, 
 called La Tierra del Fuego, which reaches 
 to the 59th degree. The breadth of Chile 
 is various ; for it may be faid to extend it- 
 felf one hundred arid fifty leagues eaft and 
 weft, becaule though that which is properly 
 call'd Chile, is not in many places above 
 twenty or thirty leagues broad, which is 
 generally its extent from the fea to the fa- 
 mous Cordillera Nevada, or chain of moun- 
 tains cover'd with mow, (of which we (hall 
 fpeak in its proper place,) yet in the divi- 
 fion of the bounds of the feveral govern- 
 ments of America, the king added to Chile 
 thofe vaft plains of Cuyo, which runs in 
 length as far as Chile does, and are above 
 twice as broad. 
 
 The oppofite part of the world to this 
 kingdom, is the meridian that paffes be- 
 tween the ifland Taprobana of the Antients, 
 • which is Zeilon, and cape Comorin, begin- 
 ning at twenty fix degrees north of the equi- 
 noctial line. The inhabitants are properly 
 antipodes to thofe of Chile ; and thofe who 
 inhabit the countries that reach from thirty 
 ftven degrees to forty four of the moil 
 wefterly parts of New Guinea, would be 
 alfo diametrically antipodes to the inhabi- 
 tants of Caftille ; but 'tis yet uncertain, whe- 
 ther that part of the world is land or water •, 
 but this is certain, that it falls out in the 
 divifion of Caftille, and is oppofite to it, and 
 is weft from Chile one thoufand feven 
 hundred leagues. 
 Climate. This kingdom is comprehended in the 
 third, fourth, and fifth climate: In that 
 
 5>art of it which is in the third climate, the 
 ongeft day is . thirteen hours ; and in the 
 fifth climate, the day at longeft is about 
 fourteen hours, and fomething more, quite 
 Vol. III. 
 
 contrary to Europe, as being oppofite to it, Ovalle. 
 but not diametrically ; for the longeft day "-^j, 
 in Chile is St. Lucias, and the lhorteft *"^V^ / 
 St. Barnaby's ; the fan is always there to- 
 wards the north, and the fhadows to the 
 fouth. 
 
 This is the fituation of the kingdom of 
 Chile, which borders upon the north with 
 the province of Aracama, and the rich 
 mines of filver of Potcfi, where the king- 
 dom of Peru begins ; and on the fouth it 
 has the great fea to the pole, and the iflands 
 dif over'd in it. Abraham Orteliuswzs of 
 opinion, that there was on this fouth fide 
 of the kingdom of Chile, a land which was 
 contiguous with New Guinea ; and this opi- 
 nion lafted till we were undeceiv'd by thofe, 
 who having pafs'd by theftreightof St. Vin- 
 cent, otherwife call'd the ftreight of Le 
 Maire, went round that fouth land call'd 
 the Tierra del Fuego, and return'd to the 
 north fea by the ftreights of Magellan ; 
 proving evidently the faid land to be an 
 ifland entirely feparated from any other 
 land ; as I fhall Ihew further in its proper 
 place. 
 
 Chile has on the eaft Tucuman and Buenos 
 Ayres, and to the north eaft Paraguay and 
 Brafil; to the weft it has the South-Sea, 
 which, according to the opinion of Antonio 
 de Herrera, is all that is comprehended be- 
 tween Chile and China, and begins at the 
 Golden Cherjonefus, or the ifland of Sumatra ; 
 and that fea is in breadth, eaft and weft, 
 two thoufand feven hundred leagues. 
 
 According to what has been faid, we Divifion. 
 may divide this kingdom into three parts : 
 The firft and principal is that which is com- 
 prehended between the Cordillera Nevada 
 and the South-Sea, which is properly call'd 
 Chile. The fecond contains the iflands 
 which are fow'd up and down upon its coaft 
 as far as the ftreights of Magellan. The 
 third contains the province of Cuyo, which 
 is on the other fide of the fnowy mountains, 
 call'd the Cordillera Nevada, and run in 
 length all along as far as the ftreights, and 
 B in 
 
 * 
 
Of the Nature and Properties of the 
 
 Book I. 
 
 Ovalle. in breadth extends to the confines of Tucu- 
 
 l6 4 6 - man. 
 V ^V**-' To begin then with that part which is 
 moft properly call'd Chile : I confefs I had 
 rather the defcription of it had fallen to 
 the lot of fome ftranger who had feen it ; 
 for then the danger of pafling for too par- 
 tial for one's own country (to which are 
 expos'd all thofe who write of k) would 
 have been more eafily avoided, and fuch a 
 one might with lefs apprehenfion enlarge 
 upon the excellent properties which God 
 has been pleas'd to endow it with. The 
 common opinion of all thofe who have 
 come from Em-ope to it, is, that its foil 
 and its climate exceed all others they have 
 feen ; though, perhaps, in that they only 
 make a return for the kind welcome they 
 all meet with in thofe parts. As for my part, 
 all I can fay, is, that though it be like Eu- 
 rope in every thing, except in the oppofition 
 of the feafons, which are tranfpos'd, it be- 
 ing fpring and fummer in die one, when it 
 is autumn and winter in the other, yet it 
 has fome properties which do really fingu- 
 larize it, and deferve the praifes given it 
 by travellers ; for, firft, neither the heat 
 nor the cold are fo exceflive as in Europe, 
 particularly as far as the 45th degree of la- 
 titude, for from thence to die pole the ri- 
 gorous and exceflive cold begins. 
 Tempera- The fituation accidental of the land of 
 ture of the Chile, muft be the caufe of this temperature 
 of the air ; for being cover'd on the eaft 
 by the high mountains of the Cordillera, 
 which are all fo prodigioufly elevated, it 
 receives the frefh and cooling breezes from 
 the fea ; and the tides which penetrate as 
 far as the foot of the mountains, joining 
 with the coolnefs of the fnow, with which 
 they are cover'd, refrefh the Air fo, that 
 about four a-clock in the afternoon the heat 
 is no ways troublefome. Nay, if one is in 
 the fhade, one may fay, that in no hour of 
 die day die fun is infupportable, efpecially 
 from thirty fix degrees or thereabouts, nei- 
 ther day nor night the heat can be com- 
 plained of; which is the caufe, that at the 
 town of the Conception, which is in that 
 fituation, the covering for beds is the fame 
 winter and fummer, neither of thofe feafons 
 being any ways troublefome. 
 Chile free Another good quality of this country is, 
 from Ugh- to b e f ree f rom lightening ; for though 
 fometimes thunder is heard, tis at a great 
 diftance up in the mountain. Neither does 
 there fall any hail in the fpring or fummer ; 
 or are thofe ftorms of thunder and lighten- 
 ing feen here, which in other parts make 
 the bells be rung out, and the clouds to be 
 exorcized ■, neither are there fo many cloudy 
 days in winter as in other parts ; but moft 
 commonly after the rain has lafted two or 
 three days, the heavens clear up, and look 
 
 ttnmg, 
 
 as if the sky had been wafh'd, without the 
 leaft cloud, in a very fhort time after the 
 rain ; for as foon as ever the north wind, 
 which brings the cloudy weather, ceafes, 
 the fouth fucceeds, and in a few hours drives 
 away the rain ; or if it be in the night- 
 time, the dew falls, and the fun rifes brigh- 
 ter than ever. 
 
 This country is yet to be valued upon AnJallpoi- 
 another propriety of it, which is, that irj*»«w «■**- 
 is free from poifonous creatures, fuch as""'"" 
 vipers and fnakes, fcorpions or ' toads ; fo 
 that one may venture to fit under a tree, or 
 lie down and rowl on the ground, without 
 fear of being bit by them. Neither are 
 there tygers, panthers, or any other mif- 
 chievous animals •, except fome lions of a 
 fmall kind, which fometimes do harm to 
 the flocks of fheep or goats, but never to 
 men, whom they fly from •, and this is not 
 only in the cultivated land, where men are 
 frequent, but in the woods and folitude, 
 and in the thickeft groves, of which there 
 are fome fo clofe with trees, that one can 
 hardly break through them afoot. I heard 
 a friar of ours, who was an excellent Buil- 
 der, fay, that having gone for three months 
 together in woods, where there was no fign 
 of any one's having pafs'd before, to find 
 out trees proper for the timber of the church 
 of St. J ago, he had never met with the 
 leaft poifonous creature, that could either 
 caufe a naufeous idea, or a dangerous effect. 
 
 There is another moft wonderful fingu- No bugt 
 lariry of this fame country, which is, that w ' tf '"" 
 not only it does not breed, but will not' /r " r '" 
 fuffer any punaixes or bugs to live in it; 
 which is the more to be admir'd, that on 
 the other fide the mountains they fwarm. 
 I never faw one in it alive, for fometimes 
 there are fome in the goods and furniture of 
 people who come from the province ofCuyo ; 
 but as foon as they feel the air of Chile they 
 d ie. The experience that was made of this, 
 by one that was either curious or malicious 
 enough, was wonderful ; for coming from 
 Cuyo to Chile, he brought fome of thofe 
 creatures with him, well put up in a Box, 
 and fuch food provided for them as to keep 
 them alive ; but no fooner were they come 
 to the valley of Aconcagua, which is the 
 firft valley coming down from the moun- 
 tains, but they all died, not fo much as 
 one remaining alive. 
 
 I do not fay any thing here of the mines 
 of gold, nor of thofe excellent waters which, 
 running from them, are cordial and heal- 
 thy ; nor of die abundance of provifions 
 for life, nor of the phyfical plants, nor of 
 many other rare qualities in which this coun- 
 try exceeds others, as well to avoid confu- 
 fion, as becaufe thofe things will be better 
 fhew'd when we come to treat of each of 
 them in particular in their proper place. 
 
 In 
 
Chap. i. 
 
 Kingdom of CHILE. 
 
 The cli- 
 mate and 
 foil of Chile 
 very like 
 thofe of 
 Europe. 
 
 Several 
 lands in the 
 fame lati- 
 tude with 
 Chile, yet 
 much dif- 
 fering in 
 tlimate 
 from that 
 and Eu- 
 rope. 
 
 In all other things the land of Chile is 
 fo like Europe, both in climate and foil, 
 that there is very fmall or no difference ; 
 and it is very remarkable, that in fuch va- 
 riety of difcoveries made in America, none 
 is fo conformable in every thing with the 
 European constitution, as this tract of 
 Chile ; for in moft of the places between 
 the tropicks, as Brafil, Cartagena, Pana- 
 ma, Portobello, and thofe coalts in that fi- 
 tuation, the heats are violent, and conti- 
 nual all the year ; and in fome other places, 
 fuch as Potoji, and the mountains of Peru, 
 the cold is as exceffive ; in fome they have 
 a winter without rain, and have their rain 
 in fummer, when their heat is higheft; 
 others there are, where they have neither 
 wine, oil, nor wheat of their own product ; 
 and though in fome they may have thefe 
 productions, yet the other fruits of Europe 
 do not take with them ; but Chile has, juft 
 as Europe, its four feafons, of fpring, fum- 
 mer, autumn, and winter •, it does not rain 
 in fummer, but in winter •, and all the pro- 
 duct of Europe agrees with their foil. 
 
 One thing is much to be admir'd, and 
 that is, that the land of Cuyo, that of'Tu- 
 cuman, and Buenos Ayres, being all in the 
 fame latitude with Chile, are neverthelefs 
 fo different in climate from it and from 
 Europe ; for though in thofe parts it freezes 
 exceedingly, fo as to freeze water within 
 doors, and that their cattle, if left abroad, 
 die with cold, yet there does not fall a 
 drop of rain all the winter, and the fun 
 fhines out fo bright and clear, that not a 
 cloud is to be leen : But in the fpring they 
 have fuch abundance of rain, that it 
 would drown the whole country, if the 
 fhowers lafted as long as in Europe or in 
 Chile;' for when the rain lafts but an hour 
 and a half, the ftreets are full of ftreams in 
 the towns, and the carts are up to their 
 
 axle-trees, though they are very high inOvALLE 
 thofe parts, and all the country is as it Jfy-d. 
 were a fea : There fall likewife at that time V ^V > "' 
 thunder-ftones, and hail as big as a hen's 
 egg, nay, as geefe eggs, and fometimes 
 as big as oftriches; as I myfelf have 
 feen. 
 
 All thefe ftorms and varieties of weather 
 form themfelves in the high mountains, 
 that are a kind of wall to the kingdom of 
 Chile ; and they never come fo far down as 
 to invade its territories, but flop at them 
 like a barricado ; for in Chile the weather 
 is always fteddy and conftant, without fud- 
 den changes, all the fpring, fummer, and 
 autumn ; in winter, indeed, there are de- 
 grees of heat and cold, as there is a diffe- 
 rence in the length and fhortnefs of the 
 days, according to the degrees of the lati- 
 tude, and courle of the fun, which caufes 
 the fame variation as in Europe, though in 
 oppofite months. 
 
 From hence it follows, as authors do A great 
 obferve, and experience teaches, that there r /f em " , 
 muft be, and is, a great refemblance be- tmm t jf t 
 tween the animals and other productions of animals 
 Chile and thofe of Europe. As a proof'""' '*"' 
 of this, I have feen feveral gentlemen thatf™"^ 
 came to Chile from other parts of America, chile, and 
 either as commanders, or for other employ- *H' °f 
 ments, which are in the king's difpofal, in- E^P 6 ' 
 credibly overjoy'd at this conformity with 
 Europe ; for they think themfelves, as it 
 were, in their native country, the air and the 
 provifions of both fo like in their qualities : 
 The meats are more nourishing than in hot- 
 ter climates ; and when thofe who have 
 been either born or bred in thofe hot coun- 
 tries come to Chile, they are forced to ab- 
 ftain, and keep a watch upon their appe- 
 tites, till their ftomachs are ufed by little 
 and little to the ftrength of the food of 
 that country, and can digeft it. 
 
 The four 
 (eafons. 
 
 Winter. 
 
 CHAP. II. 
 
 Of the four Seafons of the Tear, and particularly of the Winter and Spring: 
 With a Tf)efcrif>tion of fome Flowers and Medicinal Tlants. 
 
 TH E four feafons of the year, which 
 are in Europe the fpring, the fummer, 
 the autumn, and the winter, are with the 
 fame duration of time enjoyed in Chile, 
 though not exactly under the fame names, 
 at the fame time •, for the fpring begins 
 about the middle of the European Auguft, 
 and lafts to the middle of November ; then 
 begins the fummer, which holds to the 
 middle of February ; which is followed by 
 the autumn, which lafts to the middle of 
 May ; and then the winter enters, and 
 makes all the trees bare of their leaves, 
 and the earth cover'd with white frofts, 
 ("which neverthelefs diffolve about two hours 
 
 after fun-rife, except in fome cloudy days, 
 that the ificles laft from one day to an- 
 other ;) the winter ends again about the 
 middle of Auguft. 'Tis very feldom that 
 the fnow falls in the valleys or low grounds, 
 though fo great a quantity is upon the 
 mountains, that it fills up fometimes all 
 the holiow places to the height of feveral. 
 pikes, and there remains, as it were, in 
 wells and refervatories, to provide, as it 
 does in due time, fo many fprings and ri- 
 vers with water, fo fertilizing the valleys 
 and plains, that they produce infinite crops 
 of all forts in the autumn, and enrich the 
 kingdom. But notwithftanding that it 
 
 feldora 
 
 ' 
 
Of the Nature and Properties of the 
 
 Book I. 
 
 Ovalle. feldom fnows in the valleys and plains, yet 
 1646. i t i s f co id i n them, that few parts of Eu- 
 * r ^ 'rope are colder; which proceeds not only 
 from the degree of elevation this land is in, 
 but alfo from its neighbourhood to thofe 
 vaft mountains called the Cordillera, who 
 fend out fuch fharp and piercing winds,, 
 that fometimes they are infupportable ; 
 therefore the fea. coaft is much more tem- 
 perate and warm; but in return, much 
 more expofed to vehement tempefts of 
 winds, than the inland parts, where thefe 
 ftorms are in fome meafure fpent before 
 they reach them, and fo cannot whip 
 them and torment them as they do the fea 
 coafts. 
 rhom- For fome protection againft thefe fharp 
 
 bufas in co \d w i n d s , God Almighty has placed fe- 
 
 sfirjhg"' veral S reat clufters of thorn-bufhes, which 
 plenty of thrive fo well, that it is the ordinary fewel 
 ftwel. f all the countries about the town of 
 St. J ago, and the valleys near it. It is a 
 plant not unlike an oak, though more du- 
 rable ; the heart of the wood is red, and 
 incorruptible ; of it they make coals for the 
 furnace, and other fhop ufes. In other 
 parts the true oak ferves for the fame pur- 
 pofe ; as in the territory of the city of Con- 
 ception, where there are very large woods 
 of them, which are fo thick, that though 
 they have already ferved for the ufes of the 
 natives fo many years, yet when they are 
 enter'd, they can hardly be paffed in the 
 middle •, and this within half a league of 
 the city •, for further up in the country there 
 are forefts, where no man ever fet his 
 foot. 
 Ever- Though thefe oaks, as alfo the fruit- 
 
 grtmi. trees, lofe their leaves in winter, yet there 
 are wild trees which do not, though all co- 
 vered with ice and fnow -, and the cold is 
 fo far from injuring them, that when the 
 fun melts the froft, they look brighter and 
 more beautiful. As foon as the firft rains 
 come, the fields begin to be cloathed in 
 green, and the earth is covered in twenty 
 or thirty days with grafs ; amongft which 
 nature produces a fort of yellow flower 
 in fuch abundance, that the plains and 
 valleys look like carpets of green and yel- 
 low. 
 string. Thefe firft rains feem to prepare the 
 
 earth for its ornamental drefs of flowers 
 with the fpring, which begins about the 
 middle of Auguft ; and diey laft till De- 
 cember, that the heats come in, and that 
 with fuch variety and abundance of fo 
 •many kinds, that the fields look as if they 
 had been painted, producing a moft de- 
 Defcr'rptitm lightful object. I remember once, as I 
 of fome Wus travelling, I faw fo great a diverfity 
 flowers, f ine j e fl owers> f orne fcarlet, others blue, 
 yellow, red, ftraw-colour, purple, &c. 
 that I was mov'd to tell them, and I told 
 
 in a fhort time two and forty forts, fo ad- 
 mirable was their variety ; and yet I do not 
 reckon among thefe the cultivated ones in 
 gardens, nor thofe that were brought from 
 Europe, fuch as carnations, rofes, flock- 
 gillyflowers, orange, lillies, poppies, lu- 
 pins, &c. I only fpeak of thofe that grow 
 wild, which are fo odoriferous and fvveet- 
 fcented, that 'tis out of them that they 
 diftil a water call'd aqua d'angeles, or, an- 
 gel's-water. The fmell of thefe flowers is 
 perceived fweeteft at the rifing and fetting 
 of the fun ; which mingled with the fcent 
 emitted by the herbs, which are very aro- 
 matick, produce a moft admirable perfume, 
 and for that reafon they put the fprputs and 
 tops of them among the flowers which 
 make the angel-water. 
 
 It is fcarce poflible to exprefs the force 
 with which the earth puts forth thefe plants, 
 which is fo great, that in many places 'tis. 
 hard to diftinguifh the cultivated from the 
 uncultivated lands. One would think at 
 firft that all had been plowed and fowed 
 alike ; and with the continuance of the 
 rains, the grafs runs up fo ftrong, and 
 grows fo intricate, that a horfe can hardly 
 break through it, it coming in moft places 
 to the faddle-girts. 
 
 Muftard-feed, turnips, mint, fennel, Piaw^&c. 
 trefoil, and other plants, which I fee are 
 fowed and cultivated in Europe, for the 
 juft efteem that is made of them, do all 
 grow wild in Chile, without ferving to the 
 ufe of life at all, otherwife than by the 
 cattle's feeding on them, which they may 
 do for feveral leagues together. The muf- 
 tard plant thrives fo mightily, that it is 
 as big as one's arm, and fo high and thick, 
 that it looks like a tree. I have travelled 
 many leagues through muftard groves, 
 which were taller than horfe and man ; and 
 the birds build their nefts in them, as the 
 gofpel mentions in thefe words, ita ut vo- Mat. xiii. 
 lucres cceli veniant 6? habit ent in ratnis ejus; '*• 
 fo that the birds of the air come and lodge 
 in the branches thereof. 
 
 There are many plants of great virtue charaaer 
 in phyiick, and known only to the Indians, °f ! he Ma - 
 call'd Machis, who are a race of men that j hls ' °J ,n " 
 are their doctors. Thefe plants they conceal ,'™. ' 
 carefully, and particularly from the Spa- 
 niards, to whom if they communicate the 
 knowledge of one or two, it is a great 
 mark of their friendfhip ; but the know- 
 ledge of the reft they referve, and it paf- 
 fes from father to fon. Thefe Machis, or 
 doctors, are not only efteem'd by the In- 
 dians, but by the Spaniards themfelves, who 
 have recourfe to them in the greateft extre- 
 mities, when the difeafe prefTes moft. They 
 find wonderful effects from the application 
 of diefe fimples, which they ufe in a lefTer 
 dofe with the Spaniards than with the h- 
 
 dia*::, 
 
Chap. 2. 
 
 Kingdom of CHILE. 
 
 5 
 
 d'nms, who are of a more robuft nature, and 
 
 - ftronger conftitution. 
 
 Two re- I ^ aw one °f our ° r der much troubled 
 
 markabk with the falling-ficknefs and fwooning fits, 
 
 cures per- fo as j ie was f orcec l t h ave always fome 
 
 formed by 
 
 ^V^. 
 
 chis, 
 
 °le Ma- body in his company, or elfe he might have 
 his. fallen down Hairs, or otherwife killed him- 
 
 felf: he had ufed all the remedies that the 
 learning of phyficians and the charity of re- 
 ligious men could fuggeft, but without any 
 efteft at all ; nay, he was worfe and worfe 
 every day. Our fathers learned at laft, 
 that about twelve leagues off from that 
 place there lived an Indian Machi: they 
 lent for him ; and being come, and having 
 heard the relation of his diftemper, he gave 
 him as much of a certain herb in wine as 
 the bignefs of a nail ; and it had lb great an 
 effect, that it took away the diftemper, as if 
 he had taken it away with his hand, the 
 perfon being never troubled with it more, 
 all the time I knew him. 
 
 I have feen many other cures performed 
 by thefe Machis, particularly in cafes of 
 poifon •, for in that fort of diftemper they 
 are very eminent. I fhall mention but one 
 inftance, of a gentleman who had been pi- 
 ning away for feveral years, and often at 
 death's door : once, being in extream dan- 
 ger, he heard of a famous Machi who lived 
 a great way off", but was a fhe-doctor, (for 
 there are women amongft them eminent in 
 the art :) he procured, by prefents, to have 
 her fent for •, and having promifed her a 
 confiderable reward, befides what he gave 
 her in hand, which lie was well able to per- 
 form, being very rich and powerful, fhe 
 began to apply her remedies, which were 
 herbs-, and one day, when fhe fliw his 
 body prepared to part with the poifon, fhe 
 caufed a great filver voider to be fet in the 
 middle of the room, and there, in the p re- 
 fence of many people, the gentleman having 
 firft been very fick in his ftomach, he caft 
 up the poifon which had been given him 
 many years before, wrapp'd up in hair, 
 which came up with it; and he was perfect- 
 ly well after this, as he himfelf related to 
 me. 
 
 Though, as I have faid, the Indians are 
 fo clofe in keeping fecret the herbs they ufe, 
 yet many of them, perfuaded by reafon, 
 and induced by friendfhip, do communi- 
 cate fomething-, and time and experience 
 has difcover'd fo many more, that if I 
 fhould mention them all, I ftiould be fore'd 
 to make a book on purpole of them ; there- 
 fore I fhall only mention three that I have 
 more prefent in my memory, the effects of 
 which are prodigious. 
 Defcrifiion The firft fhall be the famous plant call'd 
 of fome Quinchamali, which rifes not a foot above 
 'herbs? 9 ' tne ground, and its branches fpread like a 
 nofegay, and end in little flowers at the 
 \ Vol. III. 
 
 paints, which, both in colour and fhape, Ovalle. 
 are not unlike the faffron call'd Rami. , ^£- 
 They pull up the herb, and boil it entire 
 with its root, leaves, and flowers, in fair 
 water, which is given to the Patient to 
 drink hot: amongft other effects it pro- 
 duces, one is to diffblve all coagulated 
 blood in the body, and that very quickly ; 
 fo that an Indian feeling himfelf wounded, 
 takes it immediately, to hinder the blood 
 that could not come out at the wound from 
 congealing inwardly, and fo prevents all im- 
 pofthumation, and the corruption of the reft. 
 There happened in our college of St. fa- 
 go an accident, which gave proof of this ad- 
 mirable herb ; which was, That an Indian 
 belonging to us being gone to the great 
 place to fee the bull-feaft, a bull, to his 
 great misfortune, catch'd him up, and tofs'd 
 him in the air, and left him almoft dead on 
 the ground ; he was brought to our houfe, 
 and the phyfician, being called, faid he 
 was a dead man, and nothing could five 
 him : but, however, he told the father that 
 has care of the fick, that it would coft but 
 little to give him the Quincbamali, wrap 
 him up warm, and leave him alone fome 
 hours. It was done accordingly •, and after 
 fome time, the father reforting to the place 
 where they had laid him, to fee if he was 
 dead, he was found not only alive, but out 
 of danger, and the fheet all full of blood, 
 which the herb had caus'd him to void 
 through the pores of his body, fo as he re- 
 main'd perfectly well in a little time. 
 
 The fecond herb is that which we Spa- 
 niards call Albaaquilla, and the Indians, 
 Culen, becaufe its leaves are like the leaves 
 of fweet bafil : it grows in bufhes fo high, 
 that they feem to be trees ; the leaves are 
 very fragrant, and fweet like honey : be- 
 ing bruifed, it is applied to the wound out- 
 wardly, and fome drops of its juice are 
 to be poured alfo into the wound ; after 
 which moll admirable effects of its efficacy 
 are ken. 
 
 I was told by captain Sebaftian Garcia 
 Carrero, the founder of our novitiat-houfe 
 of Bucalemo^ that as he was travelling with 
 a dog in his company, which he loved 
 extremely, fome wild monkeys that live 
 in the mountains fell upon him, and fo 
 worried him among them by biting him, 
 fome on one fide and fome on the other, 
 that they left him full of wounds, and 
 particularly with one large one in his 
 throat : his mafter came up at laft, and 
 found him without fign of life : he was 
 much troubled for the lofs of his dog, 
 and lighted to fee what he could do for 
 him. This Albaaqitilla is an herb that 
 grows every where in the fields ; and the 
 gentleman, at a venture, gathering three or 
 four handfuls of it, bruized them between 
 C two 
 
Of tie Nature and 'Properties of the Book J. 
 
 OvALLE.two ftones, and poured the juice into the 
 1646. dog's wounds, and into the great one ot 
 
 VV^ his throat he thruft a handful of it, and fo 
 left him without hopes of life : but it fell 
 out wonderfully, that after a few leagues 
 travelling on, turning back to look at 
 fomething, he faw his dog following at a 
 diftance, who was fo well cured that he 
 lived many years after. 
 
 The third herb, that I can remember, is 
 like a knot of fine hair, and which is not 
 commonly met with : this is an admirable 
 herb in fevers and pleurifies ; it is boiled 
 in water, and drank ; it purifies and clean- 
 fes the blood, expelling diat which is bad, 
 and fo the fick body remains perfectly 
 
 cured •, as I my felf have had die experience 
 of it. 
 
 There are feveral other plants, fome of 
 which cure the pains of the liver; others dif- 
 folve the ftone in the bladder, and break it 
 to pieces •, fome are excellent for the fciatica. 
 and other infirmities ; all which, if I were 
 to relate in particular, I fhould make 3 
 new diofcorides, or herbal, which is not my 
 intention. We will therefore leave the 
 flowers and herbs of the fpring, the har- 
 mony of the finging of birds, which fo re- 
 joices the mornings, and the fixene and 
 quiet days of this feafon, to draw near the 
 fummer; which will afford us matter of 
 difcourfe. 
 
 CHAP. III. 
 
 Of the Summer and Autumn, and their 'Produfi. 
 
 summer. HpHE Summer begins in the middle of 
 JL November, and lafts to the middle of 
 February, fo that the greater! heats are at 
 Chriftmas ; and we are forc'd to have re- 
 courfe to our faith, to confider the Child 
 God trembling with cold in the manger ; 
 for when we rife to fing matins, particu- 
 larly in Cuyo and tucuman, where the heats 
 are exceflive, we are ready to melt with 
 heat. In Chile the heats are not fo excef- 
 five, becaufe the country is more tempe- 
 rate ; but ftill the weather is not fo cold 
 as it was in Bethlcm. About this time the 
 fruits begin to ripen, which are in great 
 variety ; and there are but few of thofe of 
 Europe that are wanting •, for as foon as 
 any of them are brought, either in ftone, 
 feed, or plant, they take, and 'tis wonder- 
 ful to fee how they thrive. I remember 
 about thirty years ago there were no cherries; 
 there coming by chance a little tree from 
 Spain, from which all the curious began to 
 multiply them in their gardens, (it being 
 both a rarity, and a valuable fruit ;) in a 
 fmall time they were fo increafed, that 
 they were banilh'd from the gardens to 
 the fields, becaufe they produced fo ma- 
 ny young plants from their roots, that 
 they took up all the ground about 
 them. 
 Defmptlon Of the fruits of Peru, Mexico, and all 
 of frmts. the continent of America, not one will grow 
 in Chile ; and the reafon is, the oppofition 
 of the climate of Chile ; nay, though they 
 bring either plant, feed, or fetting, they 
 never thrive ; for thofe countries are within 
 the tropicks, and Chile is out of them : 
 for which reafon alfo the fruits of Europe 
 take fo well in Chile, fuch as pears, 
 abricots, figs, peaches, quinces, &V. 
 which bear infinitely •, and if there is not 
 care taken to lefTen their number when lit- 
 tle, it is impofiible for the boughs to bear 
 
 the weight of the fruit, fo that they are 
 fain to prop them up with forks when they 
 grow near ripe. 
 
 The fruit that exceeds all the reft for 
 bearing, is the apple of all kinds, of 
 which there are prodigious orchards ; and 
 of thefe, though they lefien the number, 
 yet the others increafe fo much in weight, 
 that the trees are brought down to the 
 ground; fo that there are many windfalls, 
 filling all the ground about them, and the 
 very rivers on which they ftand, and flop- 
 ping the courfe of the water. 
 
 All the crops of oats, wheat, maiz, and Gram, 
 all other garden product, begin to be cut 
 in December, and fo on to March ; and they 
 ieldom produce lefs than twenty or thirtv 
 for one, nay, fome a hundred for one, and 
 the maiz four hundred for one ; and 'tis very 
 feldom that diere is any fcarcity of grain, 
 but it is very cheap molt commonly. 
 
 As for the fruit of the gardens, it is ne- 
 ver or rarely fold, but any body may, with- 
 out hinderance, ftep into a garden or orchard, 
 and eat what they will ; only the ftrawber- 
 ries, which they call Frutilla, are fold ; for 
 though I have feen them grow wild for 
 miles together, yet, being cultivated, they 
 are fold very dear : they are very different 
 from thofe I have feen here in Rome, as 
 well in the tafte, as in the fmell ; and as for 
 their iize, they grow to be as big as pears, 
 moft commonly red, but in the territory 
 of the Conception there are of them white 
 and yellow. 
 
 About this time alfo the herbs that fatten 
 the cattle grow ripe ; and then they begin 
 to kill them with great profit, it being die 
 chiefeft riches of the country, by reafon of 
 the tallow and hides which are fent for Peru. 
 They kill thoufands of cows, fheep, goats; 
 and the flefh, being lb cheap that it is not 
 worth laving, they throw it away into the 
 
 fea 
 
Chap. 3. 
 
 Kingdom of CHILE. 
 
 .■iutumn. 
 
 Time of gn 
 thering 
 dives and 
 grapes. 
 Noble and 
 generous , 
 vines. 
 
 fea or rivers, that it may not infect the air ; 
 only they fait the tongues and loins of the 
 cows, which they fend for Peru as prefents 
 to their friends ; and they who are able, 
 and underftand it, fend likewife fome 
 dried falt-fifh for the king's forces, or keep 
 it to feed their own (laves or fervants. 
 
 Autumn begins about the middle of Fe- 
 bruary ; fo lent proves the moft delicious 
 time of the year ; for befides lobtters, oy- 
 iters, crabs, and other forts of fhell-fiih 
 and fea-fifh of all kinds, they fifh in the 
 ponds and rivers for trouts, Vagres, Peje- 
 reges, and other very choice river-fifh of 
 Icveral kinds ; and at the fame time there 
 is a great plenty of pulfe, and garden-pro- 
 duct, as gourds, all forts of fruit, parti- 
 cularly quinces, which are as big as one's 
 head, and another kind called Lucumas, of 
 which they make fo many dimes, that the 
 mortification of Lfting is hardly perceived. 
 
 In &£ end of Autumn diey begin to ga- 
 ther the olives and the grapes; and this kits 
 uie months of May and June. The wines 
 are moft noble and generous, and fam'd by 
 the authors who write of this country : 
 there is fuch plenty of them, that the 
 
 plenty is a grievance, there being no vent Ovalle. 
 tor fuch quantities: it kills the Indians, be- yLr^r. 
 caufe when they drink, 'tis without mea- s "*v^* =/ 
 fure, till they fall down •, and it being 
 very ftrong, it burns up their inward parts : 
 the belt kind is the Mufcatel. I have feen 
 fome that look like water ; but their ope- 
 ration is very diiferen tin the ftomach, which 
 they warm like brandy. 
 
 There are white wines alfo very much white 
 valued ; as thofe of the grapes called Uba w "»"« 
 Torrontes, and Albilla : the red and deep- 
 colour'd are made of the ordinary red grape, 
 and the grape called Mollar. The bunches of 
 grapes are fo large, that they caufe admi- 
 ration ; particularly I remember one, which, 
 becaufe of its monftrous bignefs, was by 
 its owner (a gentleman) offer'd to our lady's 
 fhrine : it was fo big as to fill a basket, and 
 to feed the whole convent of friers for that 
 meal, and they are pretty numerous. The 
 branches of the vines are by confequence ve- 
 ry big, and the trunk or body of them is in 
 fome places as thick as a man's body, 
 and no man can incompafs with extended 
 arms the heads of them, when they are in 
 full bloom. 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 Of the natural Riches of the Kingdom of Chile; which are its Mines of 
 Gold \ and other Metals ; as alfo of the indujirious Management of its 
 other ProducJ. 
 
 1 v>o forts *~W^ H E riches of Chile are of two forts : 
 *f riches. J^ £ rit) tho f e wn i c h nature has be- 
 
 ftowed on it, without the help of human 
 induftry; and, fecondly, thofe which have 
 been produced and invented by the inha- 
 bitants, to improve and enjoy its fertility. 
 To the firft kind belong its mines of gold, 
 filver, copper, tin, quick-filver, and lead, 
 with which heaven has inriched it. Of the 
 copper of Chile are made all the great 
 guns for Peru and the neighbouring king- 
 doms, in the garrilons of which there are 
 always ftores, particularly on the coafts : 
 all the bells of the churches, and utenfils 
 for families, are of this metal ; fo that fince 
 the working of thefe mines, no copper has 
 come from Spain ; for the Indies are furfi- 
 ciently fupplied by them with all they 
 can want. 
 Little lead, There is little lead work'd, becaufe 
 and le(s there is little ufe of it •, quick-filver lefs, be- 
 l",' ck ~ caufe the mines are but newly difcovered ; 
 and as they were going to work them, the 
 obltacle to thofe of Guancabilica in Peru 
 was removed, and fo there was no need of 
 working thofe of Chile. Thofe of filver 
 likewife lie unwrought, becaufe the gol- 
 den mines are of lefs charge, and fo 
 every body has turned their induftry to- 
 
 wards them: they are ib many, and 
 fo rich, that from the confines of Peru 
 to the extreameft parts of this kingdom, 
 as far as the Itreights of Magellan, there is 
 no part of the country but they difcover 
 them j which made father Gregory of Leon, 
 in his map of Chile, fay, That this coun- 
 try ought rather to have been called 
 a plate of gold, than to go about to 
 reckon up its golden mines, which are 
 innumerable. 
 
 All the authors who have writ of this 
 country, do mightily enlarge upon its 
 riches ; and the fame is done by all thofe 
 who have navigated the {freights of Ma- 
 gellan : Antonio de Herrera, in his general 
 hiftory of the Indies, fays, That in all the 
 IVefi-Indies, no gold is fo fine as that of 
 Valdivia in Chile, except the famous mine 
 of Carabaya ; and that when thofe mines 
 were firft work'd, (which was before thofe 
 Indians who are now at peace with us were 
 at war,) an Indian among them did ufe to 
 get from them every day 20 or ^opefo's of 
 gold, which comes to near 500 reals of 
 plate, and was a wonderful gab. 
 
 And the already-cited John and Theodore Great 
 de Brye fay, That when the Nodales pa/Ted t l ™y »f 
 the ftreights H>f St. Vincent, otherwise*" ' 
 C 2 called 
 
 \ 
 
8 Of the Nature and Properties of the Book I. 
 
 Ovalle. called ftreights of Le Maire, there cime 
 1646. f ome Indians from the country called La 
 **V*S cfierra del Fuego, who exchanged with the 
 Spaniards a piece of gold of a foot and a 
 half long, and as broad, for fcifTars, knives, 
 needles, and other things of little value -, 
 for they do not value it as we do. Other 
 authors fay, that mod of the gold that was 
 laid up in the hues treafure, was brought 
 to him from Chile, though having never 
 fubjected the Araucanos, he could not have 
 that quantity which this rich country would 
 elfe have afforded. 
 
 But what need I weary myfelf in cita- 
 tions of people abroad, when thoie who 
 live in the country of Chile, and fee it eve- 
 ry day, are the belt teftimony of the great 
 riches that the Spaniards have drawn from 
 thefe mines ; which was lb great, that I 
 have heard the old men fay, That in their 
 feafts and entertainments they us'd to put 
 gold-duft in their falt-fellers, inftead of 
 fait •, and that when they fwept the houfe, 
 the fervants would often find grains of gold 
 in the fweepings, which they would wafh 
 out, for the Indians being the perfons that 
 brought it to their lords, they would often 
 let fome fall. 
 Gold mere I have faid before, that it was much 
 plenty than m ore eafy to get gold than filver out of 
 (/her. x ^ e mines, becaufe this laft cofts much 
 pains ; firft, to dig it from the hard rock, 
 then to beat it in the mills to powder, 
 which mills are chargeable, as is alfo the 
 quick-filver, neceflary to be us'd to make 
 the filver unite, and all the reft of the ope- 
 rations requifite to refine it ; but the ad- 
 vantage of getting gold has no other trou- 
 ble in it, than to carry the earth in which 
 it is found to the water, and there wafh it 
 in mills on purpofe, with a ftream which 
 carries off the earth, and the gold, as being 
 heavieft, goes to the bottom. 
 
 'Tis true, that fometimes they follow 
 the gold vein through rocks and hard places, 
 where it grows thinner and thinner, till at 
 laft the profit that arifes is very fmall ; yet 
 they perfift to follow it, in hopes it will 
 grow larger, and end at laft in that which 
 they call Bolfa, which is, when coming to 
 a fofter and eafier part of the rock, the 
 vein enlarges fo, that one of thefe hits is 
 enough to enrich a family for all their lives. 
 There is now lefs gold found than formerly, 
 by reafon of the war the Spaniards have 
 had with the nation of Araucanos ; but 
 ftill fome is found, particularly in Co- 
 quimbo, where, in the winter, when it 
 rains much, is the great harveft of gold ; 
 for by the rain the mountains are wafh'd 
 away, and the gold is eafier to come at. 
 There is likewife fome gold in the terri- 
 tory of the Conception ; in which I was 
 told, by a captain who enter'd into our 
 
 feciety, That there wa' - , not above half 
 a leigue from the town, a pond, or {land- 
 ing-water, which is not deeper than half 
 the heighth of a man ; and that when the 
 Indians have nothing to fpend, they fend 
 their wives to this pond ; and they going 
 in, feel out with their toes the grains of 
 gold ; and as foon as they have found 
 them, they ftoop and take them up. They 
 do this till they have got to the value of 
 two or three pefo's of gold ; and then a pe; h 
 they feek no longer, but go home, and about the 
 do not return for any more as long as that va! " e °f 
 lafts; for they are not a covetous people, JjjjL, " 
 but are content to enjoy, without laying 
 up. _ . 
 
 I brought with me to Italy, one of thefe 
 grains thus found, of a pretty reafonable 
 bigneis ; and fending it at Seville to be 
 touch'd, without either putting it in the 
 fire, or ufing other proofs, it was allowed 
 to be of twenty three carats, which is a 
 very remarkable thing. Now the peace 
 is made, and the warlike Indians quiet, 
 the Spaniards may return to fearch for 
 the gold of Valdivia, and other mines 
 thereabouts, which will extreamly increafe 
 the riches of the country. 
 
 As for the product made by the inJuftry B , ee 
 of the inhabitants, it confifts particularly M;; 
 in the breed of their cattle of all kinds, fhief prt- 
 as I have obferv'd above ; fending the tal- ,; ; 
 low, hides, and dried flefh, for Lima ; 
 where having firft retain'd the neceflary 
 proportion for themfelves, which is about 
 twenty thoufand quintals of tallow every 
 year for that city, and hides accordingly, 
 they diftribute the reft all over Peru : the 
 hides, particularly, are carried up to Po- 
 toji, and all that inland trad of mints, 
 where moft of their cloathing comes from 
 Chile; they are alfo carried to Panama, 
 Carthagena, and the reft of that continent ; 
 fome of this trade extends itfelf likewife to 
 Tucuman and Buenos Aires, and from thence 
 to Brajil. 
 
 The fecond producl: is the cordage and cord^e, 
 tackling, with which all the fhips of the *«<•«/«? 
 South-Seas are furnilh'd from Chile ; as alfo/'"'•/ 7 •"/' /, , 
 the match for fire-arms, with which all th£f or jfo? 
 king's garrifons along the coaft are provi- arms. 
 ded from thofe parts; for the hemp which 
 makes the firft material of all thefe provi- 
 fions, grows no where in the Weft-Indies 
 but in Chile: there is alio packthread ex- 
 ported, and other fmaller cordage. 
 
 The third product: is mules, which are^aiM. 
 fent to Potoji, tlixough the deiart of Ara- 
 
 
 cama. 
 
 The fourth producl: is the cocoa-nuts, cocta-nuti. 
 
 which are the fruit of the palm-trees-, and 
 do not, indeed, proceed from induftry, 
 but grow wild in the mountains, without 
 any cultivation, fo thick, that I have feen 
 
 ral 
 
Chap. 4. 
 
 Kingdom of CHILE. 
 
 Almonds, feveral leagues of this tree. Almonds 
 likewife, and the product of gardens, 
 which do not grow in Peru, are carried 
 thither with great profit, fo as to be able 
 to fet up a young beginner. When I 
 came to Lima, I obferved that the anni- 
 feed which had been bought at Chile for 
 two pieces of eight, was fold there for 
 twenty; and the cummin-feed, bought at 
 twenty, was fold for fourfcore; which 
 makes merchants very willing to trade 
 to thofe parts, as hoping to grow rich in 
 a fmall Time ; and this increafes the riches 
 of Chile, by drawing every day thither 
 men with good flocks. The gains made 
 this way are fo confiderable, that a man 
 who has about forty thoufand crowns to 
 employ in land, flocks, and flaves, to take 
 care of them, may every year have a re- 
 venue of ten or twelve thoufand crowns, 
 which is a gain of twenty five per cent. 
 very lawful, and without any trouble to 
 one's confcience, or fubjection to the 
 dangers of the feas : for thofe who will 
 run the hazards of that element gain 
 much more ; for the merchants, by many 
 commodities, get a hundred, and two 
 merchants, hundred, nay, three hundred per cent, in 
 a navigation of about three weeks, which 
 is the time ufually employed from Chile 
 to Lima, without any fear of pirates, all 
 thofe feas being entirely the king of 
 Spain 5, and fo free from thofe robbers. 
 Befides, 'tis very feldom that any ftorms 
 are felt in that voyage, or, at leaft, not any 
 that endanger the lofs of the fhips. The 
 greateft danger proceeds from the covetouf- 
 nefs of the owners and merchants, who 
 trufling to the peaceablenefs of thofe feas, 
 and that they fail all the way from Chile to 
 Lima before the wind, they load up to the 
 mid-maft. 'Tis not exaggeration ; becaufe 
 I have feen them go out of the port with 
 provifions for the voyage, and other necef- 
 faries, as high as the ropes that hold the 
 mafts ; and though the king's officers are 
 prefent to hinder the fhips from being over- 
 loaded, yet generally they are fo deep in the 
 water, that they are but jufl above it ; and 
 with all thefe, there are many goods left 
 behind in the magazines of the port ; for 
 the land is fo productive of every thing 
 
 Great en- 
 courage- 
 ment to 
 
 5' 
 
 that the only misfortune of it, is to want a Ovalle. 
 vent for its product, which is enough to ^£^. 
 fupply another Lima, or another Potoji, V «^*V > ^ 
 if there were one. 
 
 'Tis upon this foundation, that 'tis af- 
 firmed generally, that no country in all 
 America has a more folid eflablifhment 
 than Chile ; for in proportion to the in- 
 creafe of inhabitants in Peru, Chile mud 
 increafe too in riches, fince it is able to 
 fupply any great confumption, and yet 
 have enough of its own in all the kinds 
 of corn, wine, flefh, oil, fait, fruits, 
 pulfe, wool, flax, hides, tallow, chamois, 
 leather 1 , ropes, wood, and timber, me- 
 dicinal remedies, pitch, fifh of all kinds, 
 metals of all forts, and amber. There 
 wants filk ; and 'tis to be wifhed that 
 it may never get thither, but for orna- 
 ment to the altars ; for it is already the 
 beggering of the country, by reafon of 
 the great expence in rich cloaths ; parti- 
 cularly by the women, who are not out- 
 done in this, even by the braveft ladies of 
 Madrid, or other parts ; but yet the land 
 is fo proper for filk-worms, that if any 
 one carries the feed of them there, I am 
 perfuaded it will take with great abun- 
 dance, the mulberry-trees being there al- 
 ready as full grown, and in as great beauty 
 as in Spain. 
 
 The wax likewife comes from Europe? 
 though there are bees who make both 
 honey and wax. Pepper, and other eaft- 
 india fpices, come from abroad, though 
 there is a kind of fpice which fupplies the 
 want of them very well ; and the authors 
 above cited fay, That in the ftreights of 
 Magellan, there is good cinnamon ; and 
 that on thofe coafts there grow trees of a 
 moll fragrant fmell in their bark, and which 
 have a tafle like pepper, but of a more 
 quick favour, as it fhall be made out when 
 we treat of that ftreight. 
 
 In the whole kingdom, the herbage and Herbage, 
 the fifhing are in common -, as alfo the^""^> 
 hunting ; and the woods for fewel and tim- J^jw"« > 
 ber ; and the fame is practifed as to the falt/w, and 
 mines. There is no impofition on trade f*h mines, 
 through all the kingdom, every one being ^ ™ cm ~ 
 free to tranfport what goods he pleafes, ei- 
 ther within or without the kingdom. 
 
 CHAP. V. 
 
 Of the Famous Cordillera of Chile. 
 
 Defcription f I 1 H E Cordillera, or high mountains 
 
 of the Cot- _|_ of Chile, are a prodigy of nature, and 
 
 diUera. without parallel in the world : 'Tis a chain 
 
 of high mountains, which run from north 
 
 to fouth from the province of Quito, and 
 
 the new kingdom of Granada, to Chile, 
 
 Vol. III. 
 
 above a thoufand Caftillan leagues, accord- 
 ing toAntonio de Herrera, in his third tome, 
 Decade 5. to which adding the length of 
 the kingdom of Chile to the ftreights of 
 Magellan, it will make in all little lefs than 
 1 500 leagues. The remotefl part of Chile 
 D is 
 
10 
 
 OVALLE 
 1646. 
 
 Of the Nature and Properties of the 
 
 Book L 
 
 Vefcription 
 ef feveral 
 animals. 
 
 Hogs. 
 
 Monkeys 
 
 Coats. 
 
 is not above twenty or thirty leagues from 
 the fea. Thefe mountains are forty leagues 
 broad ; with many precipices, and interme- 
 diate valleys, which are habitable till one 
 comes to the tropicks ; but not beyond them, 
 becaufe of the perpetual fnows with which 
 they are always covered. 
 
 Antonio de Herrera, already cited, puts 
 two chains of mountains-, one much lower, 
 covered with woods and handfome groves, 
 becaufe the air is more temperate near it ; 
 the other much higher, which by reafon of 
 the intenfe cold, has not fo much as a bum 
 on it, the mountains being fo bare, that 
 there is neither plant nor grafs on them : 
 but he fays, that on both thefe forts of 
 mountains there are feveral animals, which 
 becaufe of the fingularity of their kinds, I 
 fhall here defcribe fome of them. 
 
 One of the moft remarkable, is a fpecies 
 of hogs, that have their navel in their back, 
 upon the back-bone : they go in herds, and 
 each herd has its leader, who is known 
 from them all •, becaufe when they march, 
 none dares go before him, all the reft fol- 
 low in great order. No hunter dares fall 
 on thefe herds till he has killed this captain, 
 or leader ; for as long as they fee him, they 
 will keep together, and lhew fo much cou- 
 rage in their own defence, that they appear 
 invincible •, but as foon as they fee him 
 killed, they are broke, and run for it, gi- 
 ving up the day, till they chufe another cap- 
 tain. 
 
 Their way of eating is alfo admirable : 
 they divide themfelves into two bodies ; one 
 half of them goes to certain trees which are 
 in a country called Los Quixos, in the Pro- 
 vince of Quito, and are like the cinnamon- 
 trees : thefe they fhake to bring down the 
 flowers, which the other half feeds on ; and 
 when they have eat enough, they go and 
 relieve the other half of the flock, and make 
 the flowers fall for them ; and fo return the 
 fervice to their companions, that they have 
 received from them. 
 
 There are many forts of monkeys, who 
 differ mightily in their fhapes, colour, and 
 bignefs, and other Properties : fome are 
 merry ; fome melancholy and fad ; thefe 
 whiffle, the others chatter ; fome are nim- 
 ble, others lazy ; fome cowards, others 
 ftout and courageous ; but yet when one 
 threatens them, they get away as fdH as they 
 can. Their food is fruit and birds-eggs, 
 and any game they can catch in the moun- 
 tains : they are very much afraid of water; 
 and if they happen to wet or dirty them- 
 iclves, they grow dejedled and fad. There 
 are alfo great variety of parrots. 
 
 The wild goats are numerous : they are 
 called Vicunnas, and have fo fine hair, that 
 it feems as foft as filk to the touch : this is 
 ufed to make the fine hats fo much valued 
 
 in Europe. There are likewile a fort of 
 fheep of that country, they call Quauacos, 
 which are like camels, but a good deal lefs, 
 of whofe wool they make waiffcoats, which 
 are woven in Peru, and are more valued 
 than if they were of filk, for their foft- 
 nefs, and the finenefs of their colours. 
 
 The fame author fays, moreover, TlwtTwofamcus 
 through this chain of mountains there went %* w/, J ,i ' 
 two highways, in which the Ingas fhewed 
 their great power •, one of them goes by the 
 mountain all paved for nine hundred leagues, 
 from Pojlo to Chile : it was five and twenty 
 foot broad, and at every four leagues were 
 noble buildings •, and to this day there are 
 the places called Tatnbos, which anfwer our 
 inns, where every thing neceflary is to be 
 found by travellers ; and that which was 
 moft admirable, at each half-league there 
 were couriers and pofts, who were defigned 
 for the conveniency of pafiengers, that they 
 might fend their letters and advices where 
 they were requifite. The other way, which 
 was alfo of twenty-five foot broad, went by 
 the plain at the foot of the mountains, with 
 the fame proportion and beauty of inns and 
 palaces at every four leagues, which were 
 enclofed with high walls •, as alfo ftreams 
 and rivolets running through this way, 
 brought thither by art, for the refrefliment 
 and recreation of travellers. 
 
 This is what Antonio de Herrera, and 
 other authors, who treat of the Indies, do 
 tell us about this famous Cordillera : now 
 I fhall relate what I myfelf have feen, and 
 do know about it. 
 
 And firft, I muft fuppofe, that though 
 thefe two highways run feparate and diftincl; 
 through all Peru and Quito, yet they muft 
 grow nearer each other as they rife higher 
 in the mountain ; for when they come to 
 Chile, they are no longer two, but one. 
 This is clearly found, by experience, in thofe 
 who crofs the Cordillera, to go from Chile to 
 Cuyo, as I have done feveral times, that I 
 have palTed this mountain, and never could 
 fee this divifion, but always continual and 
 perpetual mountains, which ferve for walls 
 and fortifications on each fide to one which 
 rifes in the middle infinitely higher than 
 the reft, and is that which moft properly 
 is called the Cordillera. I am alfo perfwa- 
 ded, that the two ways above mentioned 
 came but to the boundaries of Chile, and 
 ended in thofe of Peru. I have, indeed, in 
 pafling the Cordillera, met with great old 
 walls of ftone on the top of it, which they 
 call the Ingas ; which, they fay, were en- 
 campments, (though not his, for he never 
 came to Chile,) but of his generals and armies 
 fent to conquer the country ; and 'tis not im- 
 poflible but the faid two ways might be 
 continued on to thefe buildings ; but it was 
 not practicable, that it could be with that 
 C perfec- 
 
Chap. 5. 
 
 Kingdom of CHILE. 
 
 it 
 
 perfection, as in that part of the mountain 
 contained within the tropicks ; where be- 
 caufe the hills are more tradable, fuch ways 
 might be made as they defcribe •, but not in 
 the mountains of Chile, which are one upon 
 another fo thick, that it is with great difficul- 
 ty that a fingle mule can go in the paths of 
 it : and the Cordillera grows rougher and 
 rougher; the more it draws nearer the pole, 
 fo that it appears to be above the compafs 
 of human power to open a way through it, 
 ib curious and finely contrived as it is re- 
 prefented. It was not necefTary that the Inga 
 fhould ufe fo much art and induftry, to make 
 admirable that which is already fo much 
 fo, as this mountain is in its whole courfe 
 through the kingdom of Chile, as it fhall 
 be fhewed when we difcourfe in particular 
 of its feveral parts and properties. For, firft, 
 fuppofing what we have faid of its running 
 fifteen hundred leagues in length, and forty 
 in diameter, its wonderful heighth makes it 
 aftonifhing : the afcent is fo prodigious, 
 that we imploy three or four days in arriv- 
 ing to the top of it, and as many more 
 in the defcent, that is, fpeaking properly, 
 and only of the mountain, for otherwife it 
 may be affirmed, that one begins to mount 
 even from the fea-fide, becaufe all the way, 
 which is about forty leagues, is nothing 
 but an extended fhelving coaft ; for which 
 reafon the rivers run with fuch force, that 
 their {breams are like mill-ftreams, efpe- 
 cially near their heads. 
 Sudden • "When we come to afcend the higheft 
 change of ^ \ nt f tn£ mountain, we feel an air fo 
 piercing and fubtile, that 'tis with much 
 difficulty we can breath, which obliges us 
 to fetch our breath quick and flrong, and 
 to open our mouths wider than ordinary, 
 applying to them likewife our hankerchiefs 
 to condenfe our breath, and break the ex- 
 tream coldnefs of the air, and fo make it 
 more proportionable to the temperament, 
 which the heart requires, not to be fuffbca- 
 ted : This I have experienced every time 
 that I have pafted this mighty mountain. 
 
 Don Antonio de Herrera fays,That thofe 
 who pafs it in Peru, fuffer great Teachings 
 and vomitings ; becaufe no one thing pro- 
 duces fo great an alteration at once, as a 
 fudden change of air ; and that of the moun- 
 tain being fo unproportioned to common 
 refpiration, produces in thofe who pafs 
 over it thofe admirable and painful effects. 
 He fays moreover, that thofe who have en- 
 deavoured to dive into the caufes of them, 
 do find, That as that mountain is one of the 
 higheft in the world, the air of it isfo extream 
 fubtile and fine, that it difcompofes the 
 temperament of the animal, as has been faid. 
 'Tis true, that in that part of the Cordil- 
 lera in Peru, which they call Pariacaca, 
 there may be a concurrence of other caufes 
 
 and difpofition of the climate, to which OvAlle. 
 may be attributed fome of thefe effects ; for l6 4 6 - 
 if they were to be attributed only to the V ^'Y"^' 
 heighth of the mountain, we that pafs it 
 in Chile ought to find thofe inconveniencies 
 as much, or more, becaufe the mountain is 
 higheft without comparifon ; and yet I ne- 
 ver endured thofe Teachings or vomitings, 
 nor have feen any of thofe motions in others, 
 but only the difficulty of breathing, which 
 I have mentioned. 
 
 Others experience other effects, which lExhilatkns 
 have often heard them relate ; for the ex- and other 
 halations, and other meteors, (which from 
 the earth feem fo high in the air, that fome- 
 times we take them for ftars,) are there un- 
 der the feet of the mules, frighting them, 
 and buzzing about their Ears. We go 
 through the mountains treading, as it were, 
 upon clouds ; fometimes we fee the earth 
 without any oppofition to our fight, and 
 when we look up, we cannot fee the hea- 
 vens for clouds ; but when we are afcend- 
 ed to the higheft of the mountain, we can 
 no longer fee the earth for the clouds below, 
 but the heavens are clear and bright, and 
 the fun bright and fhining out, without any 
 impediment to hinder us from feeing its 
 light and beauty. 
 
 The Iris, or Rainbow, which upon the Rainhw. 
 earth we fee croffing the heavens, we fee it 
 from this heighth extended under our feet ; 
 whereas thofe on the lower parts fee it over 
 their heads : nor is it a lefs wonder, that 
 while we travel over thofe hills which are 
 dry and free from wet, we may fee, as I 
 have done often, the clouds difcharge them- 
 felves, and overflow the earth with great 
 force ; and at the fame time that I was 
 contemplating, at a diftance, tempefts and 
 ftorms falling in the valleys and deep places, 
 as I lifted up my eyes to heaven, I could 
 not but admire the ferenity over my head, 
 there being not fo much as a cloud to be 
 feen, to trouble or difcompofe that beautiful 
 profpect. 
 
 The fecond thing which makes this Show. 
 mountain admirable, is the prodigious 
 fnow which falls upon it in winter, which 
 is fo great, that though thefe mountains are 
 fo high and broad, there is no part of them 
 uncovered with fnow, being in many places 
 feveral pikes deep. I am not informed how 
 it is in the higheft part of all, which is moft 
 properly called the Cordillera, becaufe this 
 being fo very high, that it is thought to 
 furpafs the middle region of the air, its 
 point alone may perhaps be uncovered ; at 
 leaft, when I paired it, which has been fome- 
 times in the beginning of winter, I have not 
 feen a crum of fnow ; when a little below, 
 both at the coming up and going down, it 
 was fo thick, as our mules funk in without 
 being able to go forward. 
 
 But 
 
12 
 
 OVALLE 
 1646. 
 
 W^ 
 The Cordil- 
 lera while 
 from top to 
 bottom af- 
 ter a glut 
 of ruin. 
 
 Of the Nature and Properties of the Book fc 
 
 But that whicfe I have obferved, is,That 
 after a glut of rain, which has lafted two 
 or three days, and the mountain appears 
 clear, (for all the time it rains 'tis covered 
 with clouds,) it feems white from top to 
 bottom, and is a moft beautiful fight ; for 
 the air is fo ferene in thofe parts, that when 
 a ftorm is over, the heavens are fo bright, 
 even in the midft of winter, that there is 
 
 not a cloud to be feen in them for many 
 days •, then the fun mining upon that pro- 
 digious quantity of fnpw, and thoft; coafts 
 and white fhelvings all covered with ex- 
 tended woods, produces a profpecl: which, 
 even we that are born there, and fee it eve- 
 ry year, cannot forbear admiring, and 
 draws from us praifes to the great creator 
 for the wonderful beauty of his works. 
 
 CHAP. VI. 
 
 Of the Vulcanos, and the Mines of Gold and Silver of the Cordillera. 
 
 
 VuUnnos: HPHERE are in this Cordillera, or 
 1 chain of mountains, fixteen Vulcanos 
 which at feveral times have broke out, and 
 caufed effects no lefs admirable than terrible 
 and aftonifhing to all the country : amongft 
 the reft, that which happened in the year 
 1640. is worthy to be remembered. It 
 broke out in the enemy's country, in the 
 territory of the Cacique Aliante, burning 
 with fo much force, that the mountain clea- 
 ving in two, fent forth pieces of rock all 
 on fire, with fo horrible a noife, that it 
 was heard many leagues off, juft like the * 
 going off" of cannon. In all that territory 
 the women mifcarried for fear, as fhall be 
 related more particularly in its proper place, 
 in the account I fhall give of the fubjection 
 of all that country to our catholick king, 
 being moved thereunto by this and other 
 prodigies. 
 
 The firft of thefe Vulcanos is called the 
 Vulcano of Copiapo, and is in about twenty 
 fix degrees altitude of the pole, about the 
 confines of Chile and Peru ; in thirty de- 
 grees is that of Coquimh ; in thirty one and 
 and a half that of La Ligua ; in thirty five 
 that of Peter oa ; in thirty fix and a half 
 that of Chilau ; in thirty feven and a quar- 
 ter that of Antoco : this is followed by that 
 of Notuco in thirty eight and a half ; that 
 of Villarica is in thirty nine and three quar- 
 ters ; near this is another, whofe name I 
 know not, in forty and a quarter ; and in 
 forty one is that of for no ; and near that, 
 in lefs than a quarter of a degree, that of 
 Guanahuca ; and in a little more than for- 
 ty two degrees that of Quehucabi : and laft 
 of all are two more ; one without a name, 
 in forty four ; and that of St. Cle?nent, which 
 is in forty-five and a half. 
 
 Thefe are the known Volcanos of Chile : 
 we have no knowledge of others, which may 
 be as far as the fierra del Fuego, becaufe 
 till this time our difcoveries have not gone 
 fo far ; but there is no doubt but there are 
 fome, as they are to be found before one 
 comes to Chile, in the kingdoms of Peru 
 and Quito. Diego Ordonnes de Salvos, in 
 the third book and eighteenth chapter of 
 
 his Voyage through the whole World, mentions, 
 among the reft, one that is near the fall 
 of the river, in the valley of Cola ; and fays, 
 it is on a mountain in the form of a fugar- 
 loaf, like that of La Plata in Potofi ; and 
 that in winter it throws out fo much fmoak 
 and afhes, that it burns up all the grafs 
 within two leagues round about it. 
 
 He likewife mentions another in the en- 
 trance of the province of Los Quixos, near 
 the town of Mafpa ; and fpeaks of another, 
 which broke out near Quito, in a mountain 
 called die Pinta : and he affirms, that the 
 afhes fly two leagues and a half from the 
 mountain ; and he has feen them lie on the 
 houfes above four foot deep in the neareft 
 places to the mountain. 
 
 Laftly, he tells of that of Ariquipa, which 
 buried the vineyards, and had almoft over- 
 whelm'd the city. To this day there are 
 feen the effects of that defolation, which 
 ruined many families, by deftroying their 
 houfes and poffeffions. At the fame time 
 he obferves, that the earthquakes which be- 
 fore were frequent, ceafed from that time ; 
 and this perhaps may be the reafon why the 
 earthquakes in Chile have always been confi- 
 derably lefs than thofe of Peru, becaufe 
 Chile has more breathing holes for the va- 
 pours to exhale by. 
 
 There is no room for doubting of the im- 
 menfe riches which thefe mountains enclofe 
 in their bowels ; for 'tis a certain argument, 
 and proof of it, to fee only the mineral 
 riches of Chile, which are, as it were, in- 
 dixes of what may be contained in thofe 
 rocks, as the rivers which fertilize the coun- 
 try are a proof of the unexhaufted fountains 
 contained in the rocks and precipices. 
 
 I think there may be two caufes affigned, The coa* 
 why thefe riches do not manifeft themfelves "*''!?£ °f 
 nor appear more : the firft is, that general 'f r e mall 
 ftate reafon, and inviolable maxim among foreign n» 
 the fndians, to conceal and not difcover "<""•. '■' * 
 them to any other nation. This they obferve max:m °r 
 
 r J. , • . .' Hate among 
 
 fo punctually, that it is among them a ca-,/, e Indians. 
 pital crime, punifhable with death, to 
 break filence in this matter, which they 
 make facred and indifpenfible ; and if any 
 
 one 
 
Chap. 6. 
 
 Kingdom of CHILE. 
 
 '3 
 
 one among them, either out of intereft, 
 negligence, or any other motive of conve- 
 niency, difcovers any thing of this kind, 
 his death is infallible, and no power on 
 earth can fave him. 
 a remark- I remember on this fubject, that fome 
 able rela- gentlemen having, by prefents, infinuations, 
 tim of a anc j flatteries, come to the knowledge of 
 journey kb- r trea f ure by the means of an Indian, 
 fearch of and prevailed with him at laft to guide 
 fome rich them to fome very rich mines in a remote 
 mines. mou ntain, he begg'd earneftly of them to 
 be fecret, or otherwife he was a dead man, 
 let them take never fo much care of him. 
 They promifed him accordingly, and fo 
 they fet out, and he brought them through 
 horrid rocks and precipices, where it look'd 
 as if never man had fet his foot, nor fcarce 
 any living animal. Every day they met 
 with certain marks, which the Indian had 
 told them of beforehand : Firft, after fo 
 many days they difcovered a red mountain ; 
 and then at certain diftance from that a 
 black one on the left-hand •, then a val- 
 ley, which began from a monftrous high 
 mountain or rock ; then at fo many leagues 
 a mountain of chalk. All which figns the 
 guide went fhewing them, verifying there- 
 by the relation he had given them before- 
 hand, and comforting them up to endure 
 the hardfhip, by the hopes of fulfilling at 
 laft their expectation, and feeing their la- 
 bour rewarded. 
 
 Their provifions failed them, and they 
 were forced to come back to provide more, 
 to purfue their enterprize. The Indian 
 was always in fear of being difcovered, 
 knowing that he run in that no lefs a ha- 
 zard than that of his life. They returned 
 then to a town ; and to fecure their Indian 
 from his fright of being difcovered, they 
 locked him up in a room very fafe ; but the 
 night before they were to let out again, 
 without ever being able to difcover how 
 it was done, (for there was no figns by the 
 door of any body's going in that way,) as 
 they went to call the Indian in the morning, 
 they found him ftrangled ; by which 
 means, being deprived of their intent, and 
 having loft the hopes of fatisfying their de- 
 fire, they returned to their own homes, 
 though with a refolution to try again, be- 
 ing encouraged by fo much as they had 
 already difcovered. 
 
 The other reafon to be afiign'd for not 
 feeking after thefe mines, is the great 
 plenty of every thing neceftary for life ; fo 
 that hunger, which is the prompter of co- 
 vetous defires, being wanting, there are 
 few that care to run a hazard, and lofe 
 their conveniencies at home, to go through 
 impracticable defarts upon fearch after hid- 
 den treafure ; particularly finding already 
 fo much in the valleys bottoms, rivers, 
 Vol. III. 
 
 and fountains ; nay, even thefe mines in the Ovaixe. 
 low countries are not wrought, becaufe the ■irj!^, 
 profit of odier products is eafier. 'Tis 
 probable that people will increafe ; for 
 every day there is a new addition •, and 
 there then being more confumers, the pro- 
 duct of the land will be dearer ; and pro- 
 vifions not being fo cheap as now, men 
 will be more ingenious and induftrious to 
 feek for fuftenance under ground, by the 
 mines and treafures hid there by provi- 
 dence. 
 
 Thefe few years laft paft have given be- 
 ginning to a difcovery of fome golden 
 mines, and filver ones, on each fide of the 
 Cordillera : for as I pafTed over it once, I 
 remember that the fight difcovers a black 
 mountain at a diftance, whofe top ftiines as 
 if it were covered with filver ; and it is a 
 common tradition that it contains it, and 
 great treafures befides, in its bowels ; but 
 they are at prefent ufelefs, for the reafons 
 alledged ; and becaufe one half of the year 
 the mountain is covered with fnow, and fo 
 not only uninhabitable, but impenetrable. 
 
 They write me word, that on the fide Di/eovery 
 of the province of Cuyo, they have begun "IJ'^h 
 to difcover other very rich mines, which mm es. 
 being below the rougheft part of the moun- 
 tain, may be wrought all the year round, 
 and with great conveniency of the miners, 
 and other necefTary workmen, becaufe carts 
 may come to the very fituation of the mine, 
 which is of confideration for the price ol 
 the metal. They fpeak of it with great 
 expectation, by reafon of the good proofs 
 they have already had in the allaying of 
 it in fmall quantities. 
 
 Befides the mines of gold, and filver, 
 and brafs, and lead, which are work'd in 
 Coquimbo, and thofe of quick-filver, which 
 have been difcovered within thefe few years 
 in Lamache, which is a valley in Chile, 
 I do not know of any others of any other 
 fort in this Cordillera. I am verily per- 
 fuaded there are fome of chryftal ; for, 
 confidering the nature of the place, I cannot 
 think there is one any where more proper. 
 Being in the valley of Rancagua, I heard 
 one of our nation tell an Indian, that up- 
 wards in the mountain he had found a great 
 deal of chryftal : he hearing diis, out of 
 curiofity went up to fee what it was ; and 
 I heard him tell, that after having gone 
 over feveral rocks, he faw on the top of a 
 precipice a great opening, and that draw- 
 ing near to it, he faw a profound cave, 
 and in the bottom of it a great plank or 
 table of chryftal, which appeared to him 
 of the fineft fort ; but wanting help and 
 inftrumcnts to get it out, he returned with 
 only this information, and fome little pieces 
 of a chryftal ftone which he found on the 
 top. 
 
 E C II A P. 
 
OvALLE. 
 1646. 
 
 Of the Nature and Properties of the Book I. 
 
 CHAP. VII. 
 
 Of the Fountains, Rivers , and Brooks of the Cordillera. 
 
 Vajl num- HP H AT which contributes not a little 
 teroffourf J^ to the admiration we have for this 
 tains, g reat c j ia j n f mountains, is the vaft num- 
 irook!,' «»rfber of fountains, fprings, brooks, and ri- 
 rhtrs. vers, which we meet with ever and anon, 
 when we go over it : they are fo nume- 
 rous, that 'tis a thing rather to be feen 
 than related, though the travellers reap 
 but little benefit by the curious obfervation 
 of them ; for by them the ways are the 
 moft broken and troublefome that 'tis pof- 
 fible to imagine : they laft about eight 
 days journey. One muft fuppofe too, that 
 the fummer is pretty well enter'd ; for in 
 winter they are abfolutely impafiable, and 
 in the fpring not without evident danger 
 of one's life ; becaufe one travels all the 
 way on a path fo narrow, that there is but 
 juft room for a mule's feet. On one fide 
 are prodigious precipices, which have at 
 the bottom a furious and profound river ; 
 and on the other hand huge rocks, and 
 fome part of them Handing out fo, that if 
 the mule's loading, (as it often happens, 
 and I have feen it,) touches part of them, 
 it throws down the mule headlong, and 
 fends her rowling down till fhe comes to 
 the river at the bottom, which carries her 
 away to the fea without flopping, except 
 it happen upon fome turning of the river 
 to get it on fhoar ; where, though the la- 
 ding may be faved, yet not the mule's life, 
 becaufe it is impofiible almoft to get her 
 up again. 
 , In many places one is forced to lite; 
 
 Many pla- . ' r c • c c l 
 
 cts fcarcth and even a man on root is not very fafe, be- 
 p affable, t caufe fome of the coafts are fo ftreight and 
 flippery, that it frights one to walk on 
 them. The afcents and defcents of the hills 
 are fo fteep, that when from below one 
 looks at thofe who are above, they look like 
 figures ; and for my part I thought it a te- 
 merity, if not an impofiibility, to venture 
 to get up to them. 
 
 The brooks and rivers which crofs the 
 ways every ftep are fo violent, that there 
 is no head fo ftrong, but it turns to look 
 on their current ; which is fo fwift, that if 
 it comes up to the mule's faddle, there is 
 no pafiing without evident danger of one's 
 life •, for thefe ftreams coming from on 
 high, have the ftrength of a mill-dream, 
 carrying along with them loofe (tones, which 
 overturn a loaded mule as it were a chicken ; 
 fo that 'tis necefiary fometimes to ftay two 
 or three days till the fun does not fhine ; 
 for then thefe brooks are lower, becaufe 
 there is lefs fnow melted : and for this rea- 
 fon 'tis always bed to pafs early in the 
 
 Rapid rt 
 vers. 
 
 morning, they having had all the night to 
 run lower. 
 
 It was necefiary for an allay of the dan- ihe great 
 eers and irkfomenefs of thefe ways, that v *""y °f 
 
 o t j * waters very 
 
 God fhould temper the rigour of the fuf- diverting. 
 ferings, by the variety and diverfion which 
 fo many waters give in their rife and courfe : 
 fome are to be feen breaking out from almoft 
 an imperceptible heighth, and meeting with 
 no intermediate obje<5b, the whole mafs of 
 water, which is ufually very great, difiblves 
 itfelf by the way into fo many drops, which 
 make a lovely profpedr, like fo much pearl 
 falling ; and being mingled by the force 
 of the air, which drives them acrofs one 
 upon the other, it feems a chain hanging 
 from its firft ifiue to the earth ; where, 
 taking another fhape, it becomes a run- 
 ning brook, and unites with the current 
 of the chief river which runs in the middle. 
 
 I faw others, which, before they got to 
 the earth, divided into two branches, form- 
 ing like a thick fhower in the midft of the 
 way, or atomes in the fun-beams ; but 'tis 
 impofiible to paint all the variety of ob- 
 jects produced by thefe feveral motions and 
 compofitions of ftreams and fountains. I to) ojes 
 cannot leave them without mentioning one"?"*' or 
 called the Eyes of Water, which is ytxy^" ngs ' 
 remarkable ; 'tis in the laft mefa but one, 
 at the foot of the mountain. I called it 
 mefa, becaufe providence has, for the re- 
 lief of travellers, difpofed, at fome leagues 
 diftance, little valleys and agreeable plains, . 
 which eafe the travellers in this moft te- 
 dious and long afcent. 
 
 This valley is environed with a wall of 
 moft prodigious high rocks ; it may be a 
 mile or thereabouts in its diameter, and is 
 all the year round full of greens, odorife- 
 rous plants and flowers, which make it a 
 pidture of paradife : in the midft of ic 
 fprings up this fountain, or fountains, be- 
 caufe the fprings of water are many that 
 rife from the ground all about, leaping 
 with great force into the air, which in a 
 little fpace all unite, and make two great 
 bodies, each of them full of water, as clear 
 as chryftal. Thefe two heads begin a kind 
 of combat a little below, and mingling 
 in their courfe with one another, as if fome 
 ingenious artift had ordered it, make a 
 great many turnings and windings, fome- 
 times far from one another, and fometimes 
 united through the whole valley, till at 
 the end of it, joining together, they fall 
 into one canal, which empties itfelf into 
 the principal river, compoied by many of 
 thefe rivulets. 
 
 One 
 
 
 it 
 
Chap. y. 
 
 Kingdom of CHILE. 
 
 *§ 
 
 ihe waters One property of all thefe chryftal ftreams, 
 txtrtum j s extream coolnefs, which they never lofe, 
 no, not when the fun lhines out moft in 
 the heat of the day ; it is fuch, that no 
 body can drink half a cup full of it with- 
 out refting, or taking breath ; and though 
 all thefe fprings have this quality, yet 
 none in fo intenfe a degree as this fountain 
 of Los ops de aqua ; of which, though the 
 weather be never fo hot, 'tis not poiTible 
 to drink above two or three fups ; and one 
 can hardly endure to hold the water in one's 
 hand above a minute. 
 
 Behind one of thofe high mountains 
 which is to the eaft of this fountain, there 
 is a great lake or pond, fo deep and clear, 
 that it appears as if it were of azure ; and 
 there is a tradition, that the laft of the In- 
 gas, kings of Peru, caufed vaft quantities 
 of treafure to be thrown into it, when he 
 iaw that he could not redeem himfelf, nor 
 fave his life by them ; though it feems hard 
 to believe they fhould go fo far to do a 
 thing they might have executed much near- 
 er home. The waters of this lake have no 
 iffue, being environed on all fides with very 
 high rocks, and therefore 'tis thought that 
 it comes under ground to thofe fountains 
 called the Ojos de aqua, and empties itfelf 
 by them. 
 
 I cannot pafs over in filence another foun- 
 tain which is at the foot of the Cordillera, 
 on the other fide towards Cuyo. There is 
 Rio de a river called the Rio de Mendofa, which 
 Mendof*. comes down from the eaft, not inferior to 
 that of Aconcaqua in Chile, which runs to 
 the weft into the fouth fea. Into thefe two 
 rivers are emptied moft of the little ftreams 
 of the mountain ; that of Mendofa meet- 
 ing rn its way with a chalky mountain, 
 bores it quite through, and leaves a bridge 
 broad enough for three or four carts to pafs 
 a-breaft. Under this bridge is a great ta- 
 ble of rock, over which run five different 
 ftreams of water, proceeding from fo many 
 fountains •, which water is extream hot, 
 and very good for many diftempers. The 
 ftones over which it runs are of a green, 
 like emerald. The vault of this bridge 
 furpaffes in beauty aH that human art can 
 produce •, for there hang down from it fe- 
 veral ificles, in fliapes of flowers, and 
 pendants of a ftone like fait ; for the hu- 
 midity which penetrates from above, makes 
 it congeal like points of diamonds, and 
 
 other figures, which adorn this vault jOvalle. 
 through which there falls perpetually a quan- v j£^T. 
 tity of great drops, as big as peafe fome, 
 and others as big as yolks of eggs ; which 
 falling upon the ftone table I have men- 
 tioned, are turned into ftones of feveral 
 fhapes and colours, of no fmall value. 
 
 There is another bridge on the other J*' ln &' s 
 fide, call'd the Inga's bridge, either becaufe n s '' 
 he caus'd it to be built, or becaufe (as is 
 more probable) his generals were the firft 
 difcoverers of it, and pafs'd over it ; for it 
 is not pofilble that any human art could 
 make fo bold an attempt as has been 
 brought to pafs by the author of nature 
 in this place. This bridge is form'd by 
 a moft prodigious high rock, which is clo- 
 ven in two, as if it had been fa wed down, 
 only cover 'd on top : it is hollow to the 
 very river, which is large and rapid, and 
 yet the noife of it is no more heard on the 
 top, than if it were a little brook ; which 
 is a ftrong argument of the great diftance 
 there is between the top and the bottom 
 of the mountain ; for the opening not be- 
 ing above eight foot over, it being eafy 
 to leap from one fide to the other, it 
 would be thought, that a great river be- 
 ing fo ftreightened as to go through it, 
 fhould make a very great noife in paffing 
 fuch a ftreight place with fo much force; 
 and if the noife does not reach the ear, 
 'tis becaufe of the great diftance. I my- 
 felf have gone to the fide of this bridge, 
 and look'd down, (though with great hor- 
 ror, for it ftrikes a fhivering into one, 
 to contemplate fuch a depth, than which 
 I have not feen a more terrible one ;) I 
 not only did not hear any noife, but that 
 great river appear'd a little brook, hardly 
 to be difcern'd. 
 
 Thefe are the entertainments for the eye 
 in paffing this part of the Cordillera : as 
 for the many others which may be met with 
 in fo vaft an extent, who can relate them? 
 I believe there are thofe who know much 
 more than what I have here defcrib'd,which 
 is only what I have feen ; but from fo lit- 
 tle 'tis eafy to infer more ; for if only the 
 rife of two rivers have afforded fuch mat- 
 ter of admiration, what may not be pro- 
 duced in the birth and courfe of fo many 
 others, as we fhall defer ibe in the follow- 
 ing chapter?' 
 
 CHAP. VIII. 
 
 Of the vaft Number of Rivers which take their Rife in this Mountain, and 
 
 empty themfelves into the Sea. 
 
 TH E great author of nature has 
 founded the beft part of the beauty 
 and fecundity of the fields of Chile in this 
 J 
 
 range of mountains call'd the Cordillera, 
 in which, as in a bank that can never break, 
 he has depofited its treafure and riches, by 
 
 affuring 
 
1 6 Of the Nature and Properties of the Book I. 
 
 Ovalle. afliiring the annual tribute of fo many 
 1646. brooks and ample rivers which are to fer- 
 
 ^^y^^ tilize the earth j for neither can the coun- 
 try maintain its fertility without fuch 
 moifture, nor fuch a moifture maintain it 
 felf all the year without fuch quantities of 
 fnow, as are laid up in the deep hollows of 
 it in the winter, to feed in the fummer 
 the many rivers that are derived from it. 
 
 Who can demonftrate the number of 
 them at their rife ? But one may guefs at 
 the prodigious quantity of fnow which fup- 
 plies them ; for though it cannot be feen 
 all in a mafs, becaufe its refervatories are 
 impenetrable, yet its effects do manifeft it ; 
 for befides the feeding of innumerable ri- 
 vers which run to the eaft, and empty 
 themfelves into the north fea, and fupply- 
 ing prodigious lakes in the province of 
 Cuyo, thofe which run to the weft, and 
 enter the fouth-fea, (not reckoning what 
 may be by the ftreights of Magellan, and 
 the Tier r a del Fuego,) are above fifty, 
 which may be well multiplied by four a- 
 piece more which they receive, and fo 
 make two hundred ; which arrive at the 
 fea fo full and deep, that fome of them have 
 water enough for the navigation of the gal- 
 loons and fhips of great burden ; which is 
 the more to be admir'd, becaufe their courfe 
 is fo fhort, the moft extended of them not 
 paffing thirty leagues in length. 
 
 The salt The firft river of this kingdom, begin- 
 
 River. ning from the confines of Peru about the 
 25th degree of latitude, is the river called 
 the Salt River, which comes from the Cor- 
 dillera, running through a deep valley : its 
 waters are fo fait, that they cannot be drank ; 
 and when fometimes horfes, deceived by its 
 pure clear colours, happen to drink of them, 
 they are turned into fait by the heat of the 
 fun, fo that the bodies feem of pearl, they 
 beginning to petrify by the tail. 
 
 Copidpo. The next to this is the river of Copiapo, 
 in 26 degrees-, it runs twenty leagues from 
 eaft to weft, and makes a bay at its en- 
 trance into the fea, "which ferves for a har- 
 bour for fhips. In 2 8 degrees the river of 
 
 Cuafio. Guafco does the fame, and forms a port. 
 
 Coquimbo. After this comes the river of Coquimbo 
 in 30 degrees, whofe port is a noble bay 
 adorn'd on the fhore with frefh and beauti- 
 ful myrtles, and other trees, which con- 
 tinue within land as far as the town, and 
 make a noble and pleafant grove, which 
 out-does all the contrivances of art. There 
 are fifh'd in this coaft tunny-fifh, albucores, 
 and many forts of excellent fifh, as alfo oy- 
 fters, and great variety of fhell-fifh. 
 
 Imgoy and The next to the river of Coqiiimbo are 
 
 Limari. thofe of Tongoy and Limari about 30 
 
 degrees and a half eaft : and then in 3 1 de- 
 
 Chuntn P> rees tne r i yer of Chitapa empties itfelf 
 into the fea. Upon that coaft there is found 
 
 a fort of delicate fhell-fifh, which they call 
 jacas. 
 
 Between the one and thirtieth degre°, 
 and the two and thirtieth, the rivers Longo-^o"S'>ti>ma, 
 toma and La Liga enter the fea •, and about La , L '^*' 
 thirty three degrees that of Aconcagua, ^^ 
 which is the great river which comes down, 
 as we have faid, by the way of the Cordil- 
 lera. This is a very deep river -, and 
 though it runs through the large valleys of 
 Curimon, Aconcagua, Quilota, and Concon, 
 which being cultivated with all kinds of 
 products, particularly wheat, flax, hemp, 
 &c. and by confequence well water'd, yet 
 this river arrives at the fea as full and deep 
 as if they had not drained it by the way 
 to fertilize their fields. 
 
 About thirty three and a half, follows 
 the famous river Maypo, which I cannot Mypt. 
 tell whether it be more famous for its good 
 qualities, or for the danger and difficulty 
 of paffing it, many having been drowned 
 in it, and every day mifcarrying by it. It 
 is of fo rapid a current, and fometimes 
 fwells fo high, that no bridge can refill its 
 fury, but it is carried away by it •, for 
 which reafon, at this day it has no other 
 but one of many cables join'd together, 
 and lying a-crofs from one fide to the 
 other. Its waters are ordinarily thick ; and 
 it enters the fea with fo much force, that 
 it makes its way in it diftinct for a good 
 while ; its waters are perfectly known from 
 thofe of the fea by a circle they make : 
 they are befides very cold, and yet it 
 quenches thirft but ill, for it is brackiih, 
 which makes die flefh of the fheep which 
 feed near it, to be excellent in taftc. There 
 are fifh'd here alfo moft excellent fifh, 
 particularly trouts,- efteem'd all over the 
 country. 
 
 There falls into this river, among others, 
 that of St. Jago, otherwife called thest. Jxgo, 
 river of Mapocbo which is divided into or -^-'?>'- 
 feveral ftreams, to water the diflrict of ' 
 that city ; and it does it fometimes more 
 than we could wifh, when it overflows. 
 Not far from the city, it hides itfelf under 
 ground, leaving a bridge of two or t 
 leagues over it, while it maintains a filent 
 courfe underneath ; at the end of this fpace 
 it comes out in bubbles among a grove ot 
 cherry trees, with its waters as clear and 
 purified as chryftal ; fo that though it 
 feems to hide it felf, and die, it is only 
 to fpring up again more beautiful and 
 ftately, being of a ftronger current, be- 
 fore it is again fpread and diffufed to fer- 
 tilize the fields. At this place of its fe- 
 cond birth, there ftands an ancient and il- 
 luftrious convent of St. Francis, which, 
 becaufe it is within fight of a vart for- 
 reft of trees, is called St. Francis of 
 Mountain, in which there have been, from 
 
 time 
 
Chap. 7. 
 
 Kingdom of CHILE. 
 
 l 7 
 
 time to time, moft holy men of the firft 
 founders in that province, and who im- 
 ploy themfelves in the worfhip of God, 
 and help of their neighbours, with great 
 zeal and reputation of their order. 
 Tonngui. The river of Poangue, which falls like- 
 wife into Maypo, runs alfo many leagues 
 under ground: this cannot rife with more 
 advantages than at its firft fountain; for 
 its waters are, at the very fource, fo clear, 
 delicate, and fweet, that they cannot be 
 mended ; it has not its original like all the 
 reft from fnow water, but from minerals 
 of gold, through whofe veins it makes its 
 way, as if it had an aqueduct of that pre- 
 cious metal : its courfe is border'd on each 
 fide with moft beautiful trees, which con- 
 tribute to make its waters wholefome : they 
 are indeed of themfelves a remedy; for 
 they help digeftion fo vifibly, that if any 
 one has exceeded and eat more than his 
 ftomach can well embrace, one draught of 
 this water will relieve him, fo that he fhall 
 be hungry again in a little time. Neither is 
 it ufelefs under ground; for while it is 
 there, it communicates it felf to the whole 
 valley by fubterranean conduits : the effect 
 of which is vifible ; for though in the ham- 
 mer it does not rain a drop, and the valley 
 has no other watering, yet it brings as lea- 
 fonable a crop, and as relifhing fruit, as 
 any other that has the help of rain and 
 other irrigations ; neither have I feen any 
 where larger or more delicious melons, nor 
 more abounding and well grown maiz, than 
 in this valley. 
 De Colina There are two other rivers which fall 
 Mi L X" into Ma yP°-> which are call'd Be Colina 
 ri'e famous an d Lamp a ; which uniting together about 
 lake of ten or twelve leagues from their firft rife, 
 Cudaguel. m ake the famous lake of Cudaguel fo 
 profound and deep, that great fhips might 
 fwim in it : this lake is about two leagues 
 long, all bordered with delicate willow 
 trees, and other greens, which keep their 
 frefhnefs and greennefs all the year round ; 
 and, that nothing may be wanting to its 
 agreeablenefs, it is full of excellent trouts 
 and vagres, which fometimes are fo plen- 
 tiful, that they are eafily catched ; and 
 this ufes to be one of the greateft diver- 
 fions of the citizens of the city of St. Ja- 
 go. There are other lakes, as thofe of 
 Aculco, which empty themfelves into this 
 river of Maypo, on the contrary fide to 
 that of the clear river : there are alfo bred 
 in it, fmelts of above a foot long ; the 
 very name in Spanijh declaring their excel- 
 lency, it fignifying a royal fifh : fome 
 years there are fuch plenty of them, that 
 the whole city may keep Lent with them 
 alone, without buying any other fifh from 
 the fea ; which, though it is very good, 
 yet it never attains to the delicacy of the 
 Vol. Ill 
 
 river fifh, which is fo fweet and healthy, Ovaixe. 
 that it is ufed to be given to the fick and 1 H 6 - 
 convalefcent. v^V» 
 
 After Maypo, is the river of Rapel, notR ap eI, 
 at all inferior to the other; it enters theCachapoal, 
 fea about the 34th degree, and as many md . .T m " 
 minutes; about four or five leagues before ^ mn lc ' 
 the two famous rivers of Cachapoal and 
 Tinguiritica join together, and are no lefs 
 in debt to mankind for the many people, 
 they have fwallowed, than that oi Maypo. 
 Among others which increafe their rapid 
 current, are the rivers Mallua and Cham- Maliua mi 
 baronigo : on the banks of this the order ch ^ mba " 
 of the Redemption has a convent, for the in- ron ' s °' 
 ftruction and edification of all that coun- 
 try. The Jefuites have alfo a novitiate, 
 who have for neighbours a monaftery of 
 St. Bominick. The lands thereabouts are 
 extream fertile, have excellent paftures for 
 the fattenning of cattle, and are much va- 
 lued all over the country. In thirty four 
 degrees and three quarters is the river 
 Delora, which receives thofe of Teno, Delora, 
 Peterroa, and Metaquito, whofe ftream is Teno, Pe- 
 fo rapid, that many perifh in it. Thefe'" 1 ' 03 ' aml 
 rivers water moft rich lands, and a deli- 
 cious country for the breeding and feed- 
 ing of all forts of cattle ; and indeed there 
 is not a foot of ground unimployed in 
 them. 
 
 The great Maule appears at thirty five The Maule. 
 degrees; and it makes the limits of the 
 archbifhoprick and jurifdiction of the city 
 of St. J ago: all that was inclofcd between 
 this and Rapel, Cachapoal, and Tinguiri- 
 tica, was called by the natural Indians Pro- p r omo- 
 mocaes, that is, a place of dancing and de- caes. 
 light, to exprefs the pleafantnefs of that 
 country. They were not out in this cha- 
 racter at all : I remember once, that tra- 
 velling in this country, when I came to a 
 farm of any Spaniard, he would entertain 
 me with nothing but the praifes of it, and 
 that with fo many particulars, that I could 
 not imagine it could be out-done by any 
 in the world ; but when I came to another 
 farm, the mafter of it would relate to me 
 fuch admirable properties of his, that the 
 firft feemed but ordinary to me. Thus 
 I found every one fo in love with the fpot 
 he lived on, that I could not but admire 
 the whole, and have a great idea of 
 the excellency and temperament of this 
 land, as well as of its provifions. Par- 
 tridge are abounding, and all manner 
 of game ; and as for fifh, there are fuch 
 quantities of fmelts and trouts, that they 
 take them when they will, being as fure 
 almoft to catch them, as if they had them 
 in ponds at home. I have heard them 
 often fay, that when they were fat down to 
 table, if any one longed for a frefh trout, 
 they had no more to do, than to fend and 
 F catch 
 
i8 
 
 Ovalie 
 1646. 
 
 Cauquenes 
 
 Of the Nature and Properties of the Book I. 
 
 City of the 
 Concep- 
 tion. 
 
 Itata. 
 
 Nuble. 
 
 Bay of th( 
 Concep- 
 tion. 
 
 Biobio. 
 
 catch one, which they would have ready 
 drefied before they rife from the table. The 
 river Made receives the clear river, and that 
 of Cauquenes ; and though it be as deep 
 again as cither of them, yet it is lefs dan- 
 gerous for paflengers, and fewer people are 
 drowned in it ; becaufe near the fea, by the 
 yard for building of ihips, it fpreads itfelf, 
 and makes a large paflage, where the king 
 has a ferry for the conveniency of paflengers. 
 The Auftin friars have alfo a convent here, 
 and take care of the Spaniards ; and their 
 black and Indian fervants, who people all 
 the banks of this river, and are numerous, 
 living in feparate farms all along the coun- 
 try : thefe they call Eftancias. 
 
 Now we enter the jurifdiftion of the city 
 of the Conception, where the governor re- 
 fides ; and there is a garrifon of the militia. 
 The bilhoprick of the city of Imperial be- 
 gins alfo at this river, which has for next 
 and immediate neighbour the peaceable and 
 noble river of Itata, three times as large, 
 and as deep as the Made, and enters the 
 fea at about thirty fix degrees : its courfe is 
 among rocks, and fo is lefs ufeful to the 
 land, becaufe it cannot water it : They 
 pais it upon rafts, and there are alfo fords 
 in fome places. About the middle of its 
 courfe, the furious torrent called Nuble joins 
 it : this wafhes the walls of the city of 
 St. Bartholomew of Chilian, an antient gar- 
 rifon of the Spaniards, and a fingular proof 
 of their bravery and fidelity. 
 
 Immediately next to this river is the 
 fpacious and agreeable bay of the Concep- 
 tion, into which the flow and filent river of 
 Andalien empties itfelf at thirty fix degrees 
 and three quarters. There is another i'mall 
 river which paffes through the middle of 
 the city, having firft precipitated itfelf from 
 a high rock, and affording matter to the 
 induftry of the inhabitants, for all forts of 
 water-works among pleafant groves of lau- 
 rels, and myrtles, and other odoriferous 
 plants which adorn its banks •, and as it 
 falls from fo high, it invites the induftrious 
 planters to contrive mills for the fuftenance 
 of the city ; of which there are already a 
 great many. 
 
 Two leagues further from this bay, in 
 the thirty feventh degree, the lb-much cele- 
 brated Biobio enters the fea. It is the molt 
 powerful river of all Chile : it has at its en- 
 trance two or three miles in breadth, more 
 or lefs, according as it fwells or fhrinks, 
 which is a great deal, confidering its fhort 
 courfe : but that is not the chief thing 
 which makes it famous, and deferve fo much 
 praife -, it is its wholfome waters ; for (be- 
 sides the particular excellency they may ac- 
 quire, by pafiing through veins of gold, 
 which neverthelefs many other rivers of this 
 
 country have too,) it has a fingular advan- 
 tage, by a fmall river which falls into it ; 
 which river, taking its rife and courfe 
 among Sarxaparilli roots, communicatee 
 to the other its virtue and good qualities, 
 and makes it a cure for many infirmities. 
 There is a tradition, That at the fource of 
 this river there were molt rich mines, work'd 
 before ever the Spaniards came into thefe 
 parts. Upon this information, ~DonAlo>ijb 
 de Sottomayor, prefident of the country, fent 
 a band of foldiers to view them, as they 
 did ; though as they came back, they were 
 laid wait for by the Indians, our enemies, 
 and had a fmart engagement with them, 
 and had much ado to efcape with their lives. 
 This Indian people do always as much as 
 they can to hide from theEuropeans the trea- 
 fures and riches of their country, as it has 
 been faid already. 
 
 This river is the bounds which divides 
 the Spaniards and our Indian friends from 
 the Indian enemies : in winter the river 
 overflows fo, that all the fords are unpaf- 
 fable ; and fo the foldiers may take fome re- 
 pofe till the fpring, at which time they are 
 to begin their inroads again. The enemy on 
 his fide has no garrifon, nor place of 
 ftrength ; for they truft to their mountains, 
 to which they can retire at any time : but 
 the Spaniards have many garrifons all along 
 the river, with which they bridle and keep 
 in awe the potent rage of their proud ene- 
 my, who alone has given them more trou- 
 ble than all the reft of America. 
 
 Their chief forts, befides the cities of 
 the Conception and Chilian, arc thofe of A- 
 rauco and St. Philip, in which there are ge- 
 nerally about fixteen hundred natural ' 
 niards, befides the Indian allies, who 
 numerous. The firft of thefe is upon the 
 fea-fide, and the other nearer the Cordillera. 
 There are others between on each fide of 
 the river, and fome pretty far into the ene- 
 mies country. I can name nine of thefe 
 forts •, which are, that of St. Angol, of the 
 Nativity, of St. Ann, of St. Rofendo, of Good 
 Hope, of Talmacahuida, of St. Peter, of Col- 
 cuta, and that of Levo. Thefe are all pro- 
 vided with great guns, and a fufficient num- 
 ber of foldiers ; and at fuch proportionable 
 diftances from each other, that they can 
 foon receive notice of what is neceftary to 
 be known from the firft to the laft by the 
 cannon-fhot, according as it may have been 
 concerted beforehand. 
 
 The company of Jefus has here two re- 
 cidencies, one in Arauco, and the other in 
 the fort of Good Hope ; from whence they 
 alfo make their attempts, n?t againfl 
 bodies, but to five the fouls of their enemies, 
 engaging with hell itfelf, and obtaining 
 
 OOC3 m " O 
 
 over it daily and glorious victories, as ic 
 
 fhall 
 
Chap. 9. 
 
 Kingdom of CHILE. 
 
 i 9 
 
 Colcura, 
 Arauco, 
 Lavapie, 
 and Levo. 
 
 Ralemo, or 
 Coypo 
 
 Imperial. 
 
 Ladies 
 River. 
 
 fhall be told in its proper place ; for now 
 we muft follow the defcription air ^ady be- 
 gun of the rivers of Chile. 
 
 After Biobio follow four others much in- 
 ferior to it : they are the rivers of Colcu- 
 ra, Arauco, Lavapie, and Levo, which 
 empties itfelf near the thirty eighth degree ; 
 and a little further, that of Ralemo, which, 
 a little from its fource, is called Coypo, in 
 near thirty nine degrees. The pleafant and 
 peaceful river of the Imperial enters the fea, 
 having firft. incorporated with its ftream, 
 the river called the Ladies River, becaufe of 
 the delicacy of its waters and quiet current. 
 More above, nearer its fource, it receives 
 
 the two rivers of Curarava and Eyow, Ovalle. 
 which, before they meet to enter the river ^^' 
 Imperial, form the much-celebrated lake ofo^^ 
 Pur en, a moft unconquerable fortrefs of the. and Eyow 
 Indians, who are more fecure in it, than the/"™ tbl 
 Spaniards in any of theirs. £J* * ? ^ 
 
 About half a degree beyond the river 
 Cauren, which is the fame as the Imperial, 
 the river Tolten pays its tribute to the fea, Token, 
 and is deep enough for great mips. About 
 eight leagues further the river ir^ueule does Qpeu!;. 
 the fame ; which, though fmall, yet re- 
 ceives barks in it, and is about nine leagues 
 upon a north and fouth line from the fa- 
 mous river of Valdivia. 
 
 CHAP. IX. 
 
 Of the famous Tort and River of Valdivia. 
 
 T 
 
 1 H E river and port of Valdivia, never 
 enough commended by foreign wri- 
 ters, and no lefs admired by thofe who have 
 feen it, had its name from Pedro de Valdi- 
 via, firft governor and conqueror of Chile. 
 It is, as it were, in the centre of the whole 
 kingdom, at almoft forty degrees latitude, 
 fouth-weft from Seville in Spain ; upon a 
 plain map one thoufand nine hundred and 
 feventy leagues, meafured by the heavens. 
 The fun is five hours, and a third part of 
 an hour, -in going from the meridian of Se- 
 villa, to the meridian of Valdivia ; fo that 
 when it is noon at Seville, 'tis in Valdivia 
 fix a-clock and forty minutes in the morn- 
 ing. Its longeft day is of fourteen hours, 
 or thereabouts. 
 Defcription This river has its opening to the north ; 
 of the river an d becaufe of the depth of its waters, great 
 o/Vaidivia. ^ jp S can g Q U p tQ t £ e yer y ^^ which is 
 
 two or three leagues from the fea : when 
 they are there, they can lie fo near the 
 fhoar, as with a plank to go in and out, 
 and take in and unlade their cargo, with- 
 out the help of boats. There is juft over- 
 againft the city, a fine illand, called the 
 IJland of Confiantine, with two little ones, 
 one before, and the other behind the ifland. 
 The river is navigable on both fides the 
 ifland •, but becaufe die foudi branch has 
 more depth, the great fhips come in that 
 way, and the lefier by the north branch. 
 
 There are two high points of land, like 
 rocks, which mark the entrance of this ri- 
 ver ; the biggeft is to the north, and is 
 called Bonifacio's Hill ; the fouth is lefier, 
 and is called Gonfalds Hill. When one is 
 entered fome way up the river, there is an- 
 other ftreighter pafiage, which is the key 
 of the port, or rather ports, becaufe there 
 are many harbours within. This entrance 
 has alio two hills, which come fo near each 
 other, that I have heard a captain, who 
 was fent to found the river, relate, That in 
 
 the middle he was within musket-fhot of 
 either hill; the fouth one is called Morro 
 de los Manfanos, and the oppofite Morro 
 de Niera : fo that, according to this ac- 
 count, diere might be an iron chain laid 
 from the one to the other, with which, and 
 two forts raifed on each fide, the entrance 
 would be made impenetrable. 
 
 As foon as this ftreight is palled, there The port. 
 is on the fouth fide a noble port •, for though 
 all the river may be called fo, for the quiet- 
 nefs of its water, yet this is more advanta- 
 gioufly fituated, by being covered with 
 the mountains of the land : 'tis called the 
 port of the Corral: it forms a bay capable 
 of receiving great fleets. When^you have 
 palled this port, there appears the firfl 
 ifland ; between which and the land on the 
 fouth-fide, there are many fhoals and finds ; 
 wherefore the fhips take the north-fide, and 
 go between this ifland and the great one ; 
 and then follow their courfe up to the city, 
 by the channel of the great ifland. The lefier 
 veflels may keep the other fide of the ifland. 
 Befides all thefe good qualities, this port 
 has other advantages from the land, by the 
 fertility of the country, which produces 
 corn, and fruits of all kinds, except grapes, 
 which do not ripen here fo well as in other 
 parts of Chile, from which wine is brought 
 to thefe parts : but it has great plenty of 
 beef and mutton, fowls and venifon. It has 
 alfo wood for the building of ihipping ; and 
 that which is above all, it has the richeft 
 mines of the fineft gold in Chile ; and in all 
 America there is none comes up to it, but 
 the gold of Carabaya. 
 
 This is the account of Antonio de Herre- 
 ra. He adds, That there was an Indian^ 
 who had every day a revenue of twenty five 
 or thirty Pefos of gold ■, which being ob- 
 ferved by the governor Valdivia, he fent 
 the Adelautado Hyeronimo de AMtfhte to 
 Spain, to inform his catholick majefty of 
 
 the 
 
20 
 
 OVALLE 
 1646. 
 
 Of the Nature and Properties of the Book I. 
 
 int. 
 
 Recloma, 
 a famous 
 Indian la- 
 
 Jy. 
 
 the great riches of the kingdom of Chile, 
 that his majefty might make the more ef- 
 teem of it ; and to invite foreigners to come 
 and people the country, and help him to 
 conquer it, he fent fome Spaniards by land, 
 whofe ftirrups, breaft-plates, and all that ufe 
 to be of iron about a horfe, were of fine 
 gold ; and that, not fatisfied with this, he 
 had refolved to go in perfon, to inform his 
 majefty, and obtain from him the confirma- 
 tion of his government : to which end he 
 employed twenty thoufand Indians to bring 
 him gold, defigning to embark and fail 
 through the ftreights of Magellan, if death 
 had not prevented him. 
 
 This city was founded by the governor 
 Valdivia in the year 1552. upon a high 
 rifing, but plain fide of a hill, and above 
 the reft of the country. 
 
 The famous Indian lady Recloma was ve- 
 ry inftrumental in helping towards its con- 
 queft and foundation. The ftory was thus : 
 The Spanijh forces were come to this river, 
 conquering the country all the way before 
 them ; but here the Indians not being wil- 
 ling to let foreigners fettle in their country, 
 took up arms, and making the river ferve 
 for their defence, hundred the progrefs of 
 Valdivia, and gave him great trouble. But 
 he being a man of great courage, was not 
 daunted by this refiftance, but endeavoured 
 to pafs the river to engage the enemy. 
 
 Upon this occafion, this brave Indian la- 
 dy, either infpired by heaven, or touched 
 by companion of fo much blood as muft be 
 Ihed on both fides, in the rencounter, of- 
 fered the governor, that fhe alone would 
 gain him the victory, without any other 
 force, than that of her eloquence and coura- 
 gious mind. Stay here, fays Ihe, and go no 
 further ; for I will put all this province into 
 thy hands, and will make thee this day, lord of 
 all that thy eyes can difcover. Stay for my 
 return here, and do not fuffer any of thy fol- 
 diers to pafs on a flep further. The gover- 
 nor promifed to do fo ; and, upon his word 
 and promife of good treatment to the In- 
 dians who fhould fubmit to his god and his 
 king, Ihe threw herfelf into the water, and, 
 in the prefence of them all, fwam the river. 
 When fhe was landed, fhe defired audience 
 of the general of the Indians : to whom fhe 
 delivered her mefiage with fo much force of 
 eloquence, that they fubmitting to her rea- 
 fons, promifed to accept of what terms 
 fhould be given them. With this the fa- 
 mous Recloma returned to the Spaniards, 
 finging victory, laying at their feet the 
 richeft prize they could wifh ; and fuch a 
 one, as after much time, expence, and blood- 
 fhed in the conqueft of it, they would have 
 thought themielves well paid to be mafiers 
 of fuch a country, whofe golden mines 
 they prefently began to work : by which 
 J 
 
 means the city increafed fo faft, that if the 
 devil had not troubled the peace, and caufed 
 the rebellion of the Indians, which ruined 
 it, it had been one of the firft and beft ci- 
 ties of the Indies. 
 
 The Hollanders, our enemies, are well in- 
 formed of the nature of the country, and 
 the excellency of the port, and do all they 
 can to get pofieffion of it ; but our faviour, 
 who by his grace has hitherto preferved 
 thofe countries free from herefy and its cor- 
 ruption, will not permit, that this H\ 
 of hell fhall infect that air with itsvenemous 
 breath, nor breed a contagion in the puri- 
 ty of its faith, which is propagated fo fin- 
 cere and true in the hearts of thole new 
 chriftians. 
 
 This has been proved by the fuccefs of a 164.5. 
 fleet of theirs in the year 1643. when thefe • 
 rebellious pirates pafied the ftreights of Ma- 
 gellan, with a defignto fettle at Valdivia ; 
 for though in effect they did people the 
 place, having firft palled by the ifiands of 
 Chiloe, where our company has fo many 
 glorious millions ; in which they threw 
 down the altars and the crolTes, and com- 
 mitted other enormities proper to their im- 
 piety and obftinacy, yet at laft they came 
 off no laughers, but had reafon to lament 
 rather. The fame befel another of their 
 generals, called Antonio Sivajlro, many of 
 his fleet being taken prifoners, and thirty 
 of them hung up by the feet, as is related 
 by their own authors, John and Theodore de 
 Brye. 
 
 But in this fecond occafion, they paid yet 
 more feverely for their attempt ; for in the 
 very fame ifland, where they had commit- 
 ted all thefe diforders, God took the life of 
 the general, punifhing his unhappy foul with 
 the due chaftifement of fuch an undertaking 
 They loft the fhip which carried their pro- 
 vifions, their ammunition, thirty pieces of 
 artillery, all the brick and lime, and other 
 materials for building three forts, which they 
 had orders to raife in the river of Valdivia, 
 and on the ifland of Conftantine in that river ; 
 and having afterwards got to Valdivia, and 
 begun to people, their new general, whofe 
 name was Elvis Ara?nans, was forced to fhut 
 up all his people in the ifland of Conftantine, 
 becaufe they run from him continually, and 
 forfook him j befides the prifoners made 
 in the iflands of Chiloe, and others deftroy- 
 ed by us, and the warlike Indians. 
 
 In fhort, God having efpouled this caufe 
 as his own, they were tormented witii hun- 
 ger ; and before the Spaniards, who were 
 on their way, could come up to them, their 
 own difeafes and lofles obliged them to 
 weigh anchor, and be gone. This was their 
 wifeft courfe ; for if they had ftaid till the 
 fleet from Peru had come up to them, and 
 the land forces from Chile had attacked 
 
 them, 
 
Chap. io. 
 
 Kingdom of CHILE. 
 
 21 
 
 them, they had not gone off fo well ; for 
 the marquis of Man/era being fo good 
 a foldier himfelf, and fo zealous for god 
 and his king, immediately, upon the firft 
 news of their arrival, had fet out ten fail, 
 which he provided with powder and am- 
 munition, and difpatched them to give 
 advice along the coaft ; then he prepared 
 a navy, which was to be of 1 6 galloons 
 and fhips, and 4000 Spaniards, refolving 
 to go in perfon, or at leaft to fend his fon. 
 
 The governor of Chile, the marquis of 
 Bayd'es, with his accuftomed vigilancy and 
 readinefs in things, where the fervice of 
 o-od and the king are concerned, and as a 
 captain of that valour and experience, 
 which he fliewed in Flanders, was ready to 
 enter by land, after having provided all 
 the ports of the kingdom with the army 
 kept on foot by his majefty •, fo that if 
 the Hollander had had yet more force 
 than he had, being fo hard preffed both 
 by fea and land, he muft either have 
 relinquished the port, or perifhed there 
 for ever. 
 
 It has been feen in this occafion, that 
 one man is as good as many in the defence 
 of the caufe of god and their country, 
 againft any invader whatfoever, every one 
 defpifing all dangers on fuch an account ; 
 but particularly colonel de Villa Nueva 
 Soberal fignalized himfelf at this time ; 
 for being general of the kingdom, and go- 
 vernor of the country of Aranco, he ven- 
 tured himfelf in a fmall bark in the midft 
 of winter, to follicite at Lima the neceflary 
 fuccours, and affift the vice-roy for a more 
 quick difpatch of all things. 
 
 He took with him father Domingo La- 
 zaro, of the company of Jefus, that he 
 might inform him as an eye-witnefs of all 
 that had paffed, he being at that time 
 employed in Cbiloe, in the apoftolical mif- 
 fions when the Hollanders landed : he, ne- 
 
 verthelefs, with undaunted courage, em-OvALLt. 
 barked in the midft of the winter in a tern- ,J^ 6 - 
 peftuous fea, as it is at that time ; and ^"^V > »- / 
 without apprehenfio'n of all thofe dangers, 
 and of being made a prifoner by the Hol- 
 landers, who lay in his way, and could 
 fcarce be avoided, he arrived at the city of 
 the Conception, where he gave an account of 
 all that had happened ; by which means 
 the country was immediately prepared, and 
 in arms for their defence. 
 
 There is another action which ought not 
 to be concealed, as well becaufe it Ihews 
 the great prudence of the marquis de Bay- 
 des, as the courage of 20 Spanijh foldiers. 
 It being uncertain whether the enemy were 
 ft ill at Valdivia, or whether he had aban- 
 doned it, they offered to go in a boat up 
 the river, as they did by the governor's 
 command ; and without being terrified by 
 the manifeft danger they expofed them- 
 felves to, they went as high as the town ; 
 and having difcovered the ill condition of 
 the enemy, and his defign of leaving the 
 place, they returned with that advice. This 
 moved the general not to attack them, as 
 was at firft refolved; but it did not hinder 
 his intention of peopling the place, (as I be- 
 lieve was done laft fummer ;) for I have 
 advice from Panama, that there is a gar- 
 rifon of 600 Spaniards left there ; to which 
 our Indian friends being joined, (and the 
 coaft Indians alfo,) diat poft will be hence- 
 forward inexpugnable, and by it the fouth- 
 fea will be fecured ; for it being already fo 
 dangerous to fail through the ftreights, and 
 fo eafy for us who are at home to defend this 
 poft of Valdivia, and having all the land our 
 friends, we receive fuccours both from the 
 Spaniards and Indians, who are fo friendly, 
 that their caciques fent to offer their afflf- 
 tance of their own accord againft the Hol- 
 landers ; I fay it will be very hard hencefor- 
 ward for anyone to give us any difturbance. 
 
 CHAP. X. 
 
 A Continuation of the 'Deftription of the Rivers ^Chile, and particularly 
 of thofe which run to the Eaji ; and of the 'Difference between the one and 
 the other Side of the Great Cordillera. 
 
 Chalbin. 
 
 TH] 
 the 
 
 [ E river next to that of Valdivia is 
 that which is called Chalbin ; it is deep, 
 i|and capable of great veffels. From this ri- 
 ^5*ver, to', a place called the Punta de Galera, 
 'tis about two leagues •, and from this to 
 Rio Bueno feven ; into which fall five rivers 
 more, and one which is beyond the bounds 
 of Valdivia. 
 £■> Ckfo. After this is the Rio Chico, which comes 
 from a lake at the foot of the Cordillera ; in 
 which lake are baths to cure leprofy and 
 other infirmities. Next to this is the Rio de 
 Vol. III. 
 
 la Ballena, which is clofe to the cape of that Ve fo Sal- 
 name, fo call'd becaufe of a whale of prodi-^» a - 
 gious bignefs, which died upon that coaft. 
 After this, you come to the Archipelago of 
 iflands, into which falls the river call'd De 
 los Rabudos, becaufe of an Indian nation of 
 that name, fo call'd, becaufe 'tis laid they are 
 born with tails, as father Gregory of Leon 
 defer ibes them in his map. More on to the The river 
 fouth is the river Delos Coronados, named fo De los o 
 by the company of afhip which put in there""""^ 
 on the day of the forty martyrs lb called. 
 
 G After 
 
22 Of the Nature and 'Properties of the Book I. 
 
 Ovalle. After thefe there are many rivers all 
 
 1646. a l on g the coaft; the firft is called De la 
 
 ^y^f Efperonfa, or of hope, becaufe of the 
 
 plronfa. wifhes, that one day the light of the gof- 
 
 pel may reach to thofe parts by means of 
 
 the minifters of it. The fecond is called 
 
 ■Rhfin Riofmfundo, or the river without a bot- 
 
 fundo. torn, becaufe of the great depth of it. 
 
 GaUegos. The third is called the Gallegos, from a 
 
 Spaniard of that name who fail'd along 
 
 thofe coafts, and like another Icarus, gave 
 
 his name to one of them, by being drown'd 
 
 in the fea hard by it, at a cape which has 
 
 the fame name. Then follow the rivers De 
 
 I>elos.Mar-l os Martyres, and De los Apoftoles ; and im- 
 
 DeUsApo- me diately after them two others : the firft 
 
 ftole/. has no name, the fecond is called De los 
 
 De los d- Gigantes, or of the Gyants, becaufe here 
 
 games. j-^gy were begun to be feen, and they 
 
 reach all along the Streights. The fa- 
 
 DelaCam- mous river call'd De la Campana, enters 
 
 fima. a t a place named El Ancon fin falida : this 
 
 name was given to the river, becaufe its 
 
 two arms feem to form the fhape of a bell. 
 
 There are two rivers more before you come 
 
 De los Pa- to the Streights, to wit, that of De los Pa- 
 
 xares. xaros, or of birds, by reafon of the vaft 
 
 quantity of them that were upon it, in 
 
 that part which comes towards the Streights ; 
 
 St. v\Bo- and the other, of St. Vitlorian, called fo 
 
 rim. f rorn the opening, to which the fame faint 
 
 gives its name. As for the other rivers 
 
 which run among the iflands, and thofe 
 
 which empty themfelves into the Streights, 
 
 they are many, and fhall be defcribed in 
 
 their proper places. 
 
 Hitherto we have defcribed the rivers of 
 moft renown of this long extended king- 
 dom, which run from eaft to weft, and 
 empty themfelves into the South-Sea: thofe 
 which run from the oppofite part of the 
 Cordillera, towards the north-fea, are not 
 fo well known, becaufe thofe parts are lefs 
 inhabited, at leaft, by fuch as can give us a 
 good account of them. The moft remark- 
 T . . able of them are thofe of St. John and of 
 of st.JohnMendoga, which are very large rivers, and 
 and Men- empty themfelves into the famous lake of 
 <%<*• Guanacache. 
 
 The governor Hieronimo Lewis de Ca- 
 brera, a gentleman of great valour and 
 merit, met with feveral great rivers in his 
 paffage over thofe vaft plains call'd the 
 Pampas, where, as at fea, people are fain 
 to travel by the compafs, not to lofe them- 
 felves : he was in queft of a nation call'd the 
 CeJJates, of whom we fhall treat hereafter in 
 its proper place. They were fore'd to pafs 
 many great rivers, and without doubt there 
 are many more as far as the Pole. 
 
 Neverthelefs I am perfuaded, that thefe 
 rivers do not equal thofe which run oppo- 
 fite, and enter the fea on the coaft of Chile ; 
 and this may be clearly gathered from the 
 J 
 
 difference which may be obferv'd in paffing 
 the Cordillera, between each fide of the 
 mountain, which is fo great, that they 
 feem two different worlds, the eaft and weft 
 parts ; and one would think heaven had 
 put thefe mountains to divide them as a 
 wall, and keep off from the weft, all the 
 ftorms and ill weather of the eaft, where 
 are the provinces of Cuyo and Tucmnoji, 
 not to difturb the ferenity and tranquility 
 of Chile and the weftern parts. Any one 
 that travels to the top of the high chain 
 of mountains, may experience this clear- 
 ly ; for there he difcovers both horizons, 
 and when he looks to the eaft, all is co- 
 ver'd with grofs vapours, which feem to 
 hinder the light, and fhadow all the coun- 
 try ; and at the fame time looking weft, 
 the heaven is fo chriftalline and bright, 
 that it caufes pleafure and joy to look on it. 
 The eaft fide is full of a cloudy, thick air, 
 which engenders ftorms and hail, with hor- 
 rible thunders and lightnings, which fright 
 all the inhabitants : on the other fide, in 
 the weft, there is not a cloud to be {ken, 
 but clear and bright, as if in the heavens 
 themfelves there were fuch a partition as 
 the Cordillera to divide the climates, as 
 that upon earth does produce a difference in 
 the trees, plants, and animals on each fide. 
 
 A curious obferver contemplating once, The vajl 
 from this heighth, this fo remarkable difference 
 difference, faid, That nature, in the fa-f"™™f* 
 brick of this part of the world, fcem'd to theeaft,and 
 have turn'd her back upon the eaftern pro- thofe on the 
 vinces, and look'd with her race only upon w ,fJ''\ / 
 Chile, giving bleffings with both hands tof^a c °lfi-~ 
 this laft, and leaving the other, as it were, dered. 
 difinherited, and grieving at the pre-emi- 
 nencies of its elder brother. In goin°- 
 down to the eaftward there are fewer 
 fountains and rivers, and thofe muddy, 
 the face of die land melancholy, widiout 
 fo much as one green tree to recreate the 
 fight, nor any pleafant verdure ; and 
 when at laft there is fome, as in the 
 valley of Ufpallata, the heats begin to be 
 fo intolerable, that all things feem af- 
 flicting and unkind. On the other fide, 
 when we go to the weft, 'tis quite con- 
 trary ; for as foon as we begin to defcend, 
 we meet with lovely fprings ; the trees are 
 green, the groves frequent and pleafant, and 
 the little valleys, which are like fo many 
 refting places in that great ftair-cafe, where 
 paffengers take breath, and are rqfrefh'd 
 with the verdure and flowers of them, the 
 air ftill grows purer and purer ; and 
 the more they come down, the more they 
 leave behind them all the inclemencies of 
 the climate of the other fide, enjoying 
 the advantages of the temperate Chile ; 
 for from the very foot of the mountains 
 one feels the mildnefs of the fea air, and 
 
 one 
 
Chap. ii. 
 
 Kingdom of C H I L E. 
 
 23 
 
 one is rejoic'd with the harmony of the 
 birds, and other delightful objects, fo as 
 to forget the trouble and danger of the 
 way one has pafs'd. 
 
 There is the fame difference in the very 
 land at the foot of the mountains ; for on 
 the eaft fide there are few fountains ; the 
 land is barren, and little cultivated ; nei- 
 ther are there flocks of any kind either fed 
 or bred, fo that the fields look like a ufe- 
 lefs barren ground, except it be that the 
 thinnefs of the people has not as yet given 
 way to try the fertility of the earth •, for 
 the plains below thefe are extreamly fertile, 
 where they are cultivated ; but at prefent 
 there is nothing but thorns and barren dry- 
 nefs in thole parts. 
 
 'Tis not fo to the weft, where fountains 
 break out continually, which in the winter 
 are temperate, and in the fummer as cold 
 as ice, and that fo much the more as the 
 weather grows hotter and hotter. The r e 
 fprings do fo fertilize the fields at the foot 
 of the mountains, that they keep the earth 
 frefh and green all the year, though it be 
 but a patch ; for moft of the ground is 
 woody, and there is fuch variety of wild 
 trees, that one would think they were ar- 
 bors and groves planted by the hand of 
 man : many of thefe are loaded with fruits 
 of the country, of which the Indians make 
 
 excellent drinks, and fome of them areOvALLE. 
 very good to eat. The valleys are full of I ^- 
 odoriferous beautiful flowers, brought forth ^V^ 
 by nature, without any human induftry: 
 there are alfo among them moft extraordi- 
 nary phyfical plants of a beautiful afpect. 
 The little hills and plains afford excellent 
 pafture for all forts of cattle and flocks ; 
 there are alfo admirable valleys for plant- 
 ing of olives and almond-trees, and all 
 forts of fruit-trees. At the lower part, 
 about a league in' the plain, there are vine- 
 yards, of which are made excellent wines, 
 particularly mufcadels, which are in great 
 efteem. 
 
 There are likewife in this defcent of the Excellent 
 mountain, admirable paftures, where great trfures. 
 flocks are bred, and do increafe wonder- 
 fully; their flelh is extream favory, and 
 the milk of the goats is fo fat, that by 
 only boiling and ftirring it gently over the 
 fire, I have feen it grow as thick as if flower 
 had been put into it ; and yet in other 
 parts this milk is of its nature very thin. 
 This may be faid particularly of the young 
 fhe-goats ; and the milk thus boil'd has a 
 fweetnefs and delicacy which paffes ordina- 
 ry milk, even with the things that are put 
 in to mend it ; all which are arguments 
 of the great fubftance and nourifhment of 
 that land. 
 
 CHAP. XI. 
 
 Of the Ejfefis produced by the great Snow of the Cordillera. 
 
 Great "\7^7" I T H the firft rains of die winter, 
 (rums. yV which are about the middle of .May, 
 
 the Cordillera begins to be cover'd with 
 fnow, and to put on, as it were, a white 
 armour, to hinder its being pafs'd, not on- 
 ly by men, but even by animals and birds, 
 which are fo driven out of it by the ri- 
 gour of that feafon, that there is not one 
 remaining in it. 
 intolerable Even the Silguerillos and Sorfales, birds 
 cold. which of their own nature are fo hot, that 
 in the very beginning of the fummer they 
 take to the mountain, as foon as they per- 
 ceive that the winter draws near, come in 
 flocks down to avoid its rigour in the 
 mountains ; and then it is that the taking 
 of them is eafy, and that as foon as the 
 cold pinches, the ground being almoft co- 
 ver'd with them, it proves the feafon of 
 moft pleafure for the youth of the country, 
 who going out, take fo many of them, ei- 
 ther with glue or nets, that they carry 
 loads of them home, referving thofe of the 
 fineft colours to put in cages, for their har- 
 mony is very fweet. The Cordillera is fhut 
 up five or fix months in the year ; fo that 
 till October orNovember,\t cannot be pafied 
 
 without manifeft danger of one's life ; and 
 in the midft of winter not at all, becaufe 
 all the paths and ways are cover'd with 
 fnow, to the heighth of many yards ; and 
 if any one fhould be rafh enough to attempt 
 it, he would after a little going, fink in 
 every where, fo that he would not be able 
 to go a ftep forward nor backward, as has 
 happened to feveral, who either for fome 
 very preffing concern and intereft, or flying 
 from a death which threaten'd them for 
 their crimes, have found it in thefe defarts 
 more certainly than perhaps they would 
 have done in the prifons where they fear'd it. 
 Thefe are buried, not in fepulchres 
 whitened on the outfide, nor under cold 
 marble, but in the very bofom of froft and 
 fnow, which preferves them without being 
 imbalm'd, and yet keeps them as incor- 
 ruptible and dry, for fo they have been 
 found after many years ; for fuch is the cold 
 of thofe mountains, that it dries up all the 
 moifture that can caufe corruption in dead 
 bodies, and fo preferves them. 
 
 This fo infuperable difficulty of paffing 
 the Cordillera, is lefs at the entrance, than 
 the end of the winter, becaufe the drifts of 
 
 fnow 
 
9 
 
 24 Of the Nature and Properties of the Book I. 
 
 OvAtLE.fnow are not then fo violent as to fhut up 
 1646. tne ways entirely ; fo in thofe feafons fome 
 V "'*Y^- / jo venture to pafs, though never but with 
 great danger, and upon urgent occafions : 
 if fometimes they are fo lucky as to get ofF 
 well, becaufe they meet with a clear sky, 
 yet at other times it cofts them dear ; and 
 always 'tis with infinite labour that they 
 get thorough. 
 
 I have feen others who efcaped with their 
 lives by god's mercy, becaufe the ftorm 
 catch'd them before they were too far en- 
 gaged in the mountain, and fo they could 
 yet make a retreat to the low countries ; 
 others have been forc'd to open their mules 
 bellies that they ride on, and hide them- 
 felves in them ; and by that warmth, and 
 other defence of cloaths, they make a fhift 
 to get over the ftorm of fnow, if it does 
 not laft long ; after which they gain the 
 plains on foot, if they are not too far en- 
 gaged, and fo avoid the danger, but not 
 the long-fufferings which follow generally 
 after fuch adventures. 
 
 In Ihort, every body has fome ftory to 
 tell of the mountain, and complain of it •, 
 for fome lofe their toes, others their fingers ; 
 fome their fight ; fome are benumm'd and 
 lam'd, and fo remain all their life with 
 great infirmities. And I do not wonder at 
 all at this, becaufe though one fhould pafs 
 without a ftorm, yet the cold is fo terrible, 
 that it cannot but injure nature extreamly 
 in that feafon, fince even in the midft of 
 fummer, when we pafs this mountain, and 
 in the lower part of it fweat with heat, 
 as foon as we come to pafs the top, we are 
 forced to put on double cloathing, and 
 prepare the rtomach with good warm things, 
 to withftand the lharpnefs of the cold, and 
 the fubtilenefs of the air, which penetrates 
 the body through and through, if it be not 
 well cover'd. 
 
 Among the feveral times that I have 
 pafs'd this mountain, one was in the begin- 
 ning of April, when autumn in thofe parts 
 is at an end, and the winter begins to threa- 
 ten, and I muft own that the cold was fo 
 intenfe, that it feem'd a different fpecies of 
 cold from all thofe I ever felt either in In- 
 dia or Europe ; though even then it had not 
 begun to fnow, the cold was fo fierce that 
 it made one's hands cleave ; nay, it had an 
 effect upon the very rocks, for I remember 
 the fun was reflected by them as by a look- 
 ing-glafs. When we come to treat of the 
 firft difcovery of this kingdom, I ihall re- 
 
 late what was endur'd by the Adelantado 
 Don Diego de Ahnagri with his army, and 
 by thofe who afterwards followed him, and 
 pafied this mountain, in which they were 
 fo ill handled, that fome were ftruck blind, 
 others lame ; fome loft their fingers with- 
 out feeling it, becaufe the exceffive cold 
 took away all fenfe •, fome were frozen to 
 death, and with them fome horfes, whom 
 fix months after fome other Spaniards 
 found fo frefh and well preferv'd, that they 
 eat of them ; and to fecure themfelves from 
 cold, made a defence of thofe dead bo- 
 dies; nay, fome got into them. About 
 fix years after, others going that way, 
 found a negro, who at that time was fro- 
 zen to death, leaning againft the fide of a 
 rock, with a lead horfe, and the reins in 
 his hand, though confumed with time. 
 They who have a mind to know more par- 
 ticulars, let them read Don Antonio de Her- 
 rera, Decade 5. Book 10. and Chap. 5. and 
 alfo Gareilajfo de la Vega, in his firft tome. 
 
 'Tis neceffary to underftand, that it is 
 of this cold of the mountain that authors 
 fpeak, when they fay, That the cold of 
 Chile is fo fevere, that the rivers are frozen 
 up, and men frozen to death in the fields : 
 for this is only true of thofe uninhabitable 
 mountains, where I believe at that feafon 
 the rivers do not run, but are turned into 
 chryftal ; and if any fprings do efcape, 
 they are very few, and that in the valleys 
 molt fecur'd and fhelter'd ; that appears 
 by the rivers which run in the plain coun- 
 try, which are almoft dried up, in compa- 
 nion of the quantity of water that they 
 carry with them in the fummer. 
 
 And thus the truth of what hiftorians re- 
 late may be faved from contradiction ; for 
 they not knowing the country, make no 
 diftinction between the mountain and the 
 plains, in which there never was feen any 
 fuch effect of cold in any part of them j 
 for the fea air, which is thick and moift, 
 tempers the lharpnefs of the blafts from the 
 Cordillera ; and for this reafon it is, that 
 the colds of the Pampas of Cuyo and Tucu- 
 man are fo infupportable ; as alfo thofe of 
 Buenos Aires, which being at fuch a dis- 
 tance from both feas, and not enjoying 
 the warmth of its vapours, the air in lum- 
 mer is intolerably fcorching, and in winter 
 fo cold, and for want of rain fo dry, that 
 'tis common for animals to be found dead 
 in the fields, as well as the men too fome- 
 times. 
 
 fountains 
 of Chile. 
 
 CHAP. XII. 
 
 Of the Fountains which rife in other Tarts of Chile, befides the Cordillera. 
 
 BESIDES the rivers and fprings of admirable properties. I fhall mention fome, 
 the Cordillera, there are others which for 'tis impoffible to rehearfe them all, nor 
 
 rife in the plains and valleys, 
 
 i 
 
 which have can I remember but a few. 
 
 Firft, that 
 which 
 
Chap, i 2. 
 
 Kingdom of CHILE. 
 
 *5 
 
 which rifes at the foot of the high volcano 
 of Villa Rica, fo famous in that kingdom 
 for its terrible effects, for which God Al- 
 mighty makes himfelf to be feared and re- 
 fpected by mankind ; rifes, I fay, at the 
 foot of this mount with fuch force, that 
 it fprings out of the earth in two fources, 
 each as big as a man, and fufficient to form 
 alone a good ftream, and runs into a lake 
 which is made by its waters. 
 Rio Chi- In another lake, out of which comes the 
 co - river call'd Rio Chico, there rifes alfo a 
 
 fountain of hot water, moil efficacious for 
 the cure of leprofies, and all contagious in- 
 firmities. There is another fprings up in 
 the Maguey, yet moft admirable •, for there 
 are two fources juft by one another, the 
 one of hot, the other of cold water ; the 
 hot one is fo hot, that no one can endure 
 his hand in it ; the cold one is let in to 
 temper the bath which is made for the 
 fick. The baths of Rancagua are alfo ve- 
 ry famous, and like thefe ; which, for be- 
 ing near St. J ago, and in the greateft inter- 
 courfe of the kingdom, are very ufeful, 
 and much frequented. There are others in 
 other parts ; but not remembering them 
 diftinctly, I can fay little of them. Among 
 Fountain of the. fountains, that of Ramon is very fa- 
 Ramon. mouSj as we u f or t he goodnefs, as abun- 
 dance of its waters •, which is fuch, that 
 they alone are fufficient to water many 
 fields : it is about two leagues eaftward of 
 St. J ago, and in that diftrict. There are 
 Caren. many others, among which that of Caren 
 is worth taking notice of : it fprings in a 
 beautiful meadow, of about five or fix 
 leagues in length, affording a delicious 
 profpecl ; its water is very fweet, and enters 
 into the meadow ; the earth of which is fo 
 porous, that whoever treads hard upon it, 
 feels it make under him : it is all the year 
 green •, and the grafs is a kind of fmall tre- 
 foil, called by the inhabitants Caren, and 
 is pleafant to eat. Neither ought I to pafs 
 over in filence another fountain between 
 thefe two, very plentifully furnifhed with 
 delicate fweet water, which is always fo 
 much the cooler, as the weadier is hotter ; 
 Mayten. j t j s call'd t he fountain of Mayten, by rea- 
 fon of a tree of that name, which grows at 
 the foot of a great fquare table of live rock, 
 where people ufe to go and eat their colla- 
 tions, the tree flickering them all the 
 while from the heat ; for 'tis a tree whofe 
 leaves are green all the year, fomething like 
 a mirtle, but much larger, and without 
 difpute of a more beautiful green: by its 
 foot runs this fountain, whofe fource is a 
 little higher in a valley, from whence it 
 comes murmuring upon pebble flones, and 
 among pleafant groves full of beautiful 
 herbs and flowers. 
 Vol. III. 
 
 The trees, though wild, yet bear veryOvAixE. 
 fivoury fruits of that foil ; and in them are ^£4^- 
 great variety of birds, who, with their < V > » / 
 harmony and fweet notes, make the enter- 
 tainment more delightful for thofe that fre- 
 quent the place. 'Tis not the leaft part of A deUght- 
 their enjoyment, to difcover at the end oif ul W h tSi - 
 thefe woods a profpecl: for many leagues 
 over plains, which being of fo great ex- 
 tent, many of them lie uncultivated ; fo 
 that among the vineyards and plowed lands, 
 the wild uncultivated part is fo beautiful, 
 particularly in the fpring, that one woald 
 think art had help'd nature. There are in 
 one place great fpots of yellow flowers, 
 which cover the earth, fo that for a great 
 fpace nothing elfe is to be ieen ; then you 
 have white, blue, fillemot fpots of the 
 fame proportion ; the green meadows min- 
 gle in this with the waters of the river 
 Mapocho, which is feen from this diftance Mapocho, 
 fometimes entire in its bed, then divided 
 into feveral arms, and at laft drained into 
 the fields of the neighbouring grounds, to 
 fertilize them. The profpedl is terminated 
 with feveral farms, which are called Cha- 
 cra's, with their churches ; and in the 
 midft of all, the city of St. J ago, the ca- 
 pital of Chile, which being not above two 
 leagues off, and the heavens fo ferene, the 
 towers of it are eafily diftinguiihed, and 
 the bells heard fometimes. 
 
 This diftrict is full of a great many more 
 fprings, all within the compafs of a mile 
 of each other ; and their waters are excel- 
 lent and healthy. 
 
 That which is to the north of the city of Conchalii. 
 St. Jago, called Conchalii, is likewife high- 
 ly commended ; it fprings in a little valley, 
 called the Salto, or Leap, becaufe of the 
 fall of the river Mapocho. This river comes 
 running in a plain to a certain place ; where 
 being divided (for it is the work of induf- 
 try) into two branches, the greateft of 
 which runs in its natural channel, the leffer is 
 derived to water this valley ; which towards 
 the weft is even ; but towards the eaft the 
 land is fo high, through which the river 
 runs, that it is two or three mile from the 
 bottom of the valley to the high grounds, 
 from whence the river falls. It is precipi- 
 tated with great noife, making lovely and 
 various cafcades by the rencounter of the 
 rocks and other obftacles, which by their 
 (freight paffages retard its courfe, till at laft 
 it comes entire to the valley, and is divided 
 into cuts and channels for the watering it ; 
 which is not ungrateful, to make a more 
 than ordinary return to thofe who cultivate 
 it, not only in corn, moft excellent wine, 
 and moft favoury fruits of all kinds, but 
 alfo it ripens them above a month before 
 any other place thereabouts; and it is very 
 H remarkable, 
 
26 
 
 Of the Nature and Properties of the 
 
 Book I. 
 
 Ovallk. remarkable, that in this valley,which is only 
 1646. half a league from the city of St. Jago, 
 
 VY*^' tne figs ufe to be ripe, when in the gar- 
 dens of the city, and all its neighbour- 
 hood, they fcarce begin to change colour : 
 therefore, as well for this as the game it 
 affords, of partridges on the hills, and 
 wild fowl in the waters and ponds of it, 
 it is the greateft entertainment all thofe 
 parts afford. 
 
 I fhall not dilate upon more of thefe 
 fountains, which are fo frequent ; for if I 
 were to mention them all, I mould never 
 have done ; for fince thofe alone of the Con- 
 ception, Arauco, and the country of the li- 
 mits upon the warlike Lilians, would re- 
 quire a large treatife, befides thofe of the 
 diftrift of St. Jago, what would it be dien 
 in the territories of the ancient cities, which 
 are yet farther in the country? for it abound- 
 ing extremely in rivers, it is to be prefumed 
 that it muft be fo in fountains and fprings •, 
 all which proceeds from the abundance of 
 moifture of the Cordillera. 
 
 Of thefe fprings, the moft agreeable for 
 their good waters are the fartheft off from 
 the Cordillera, becaufe they are more puri- 
 fied by a long motion, and refin'd by the 
 good qualities of the earth they run through, 
 particularly the mineral impregnations are 
 Angular : I cannot but mention one, which 
 is in the novitiate of the company of the 
 Jefuits of Bucalemo, whofe waters are not 
 to be match'd, at leaft I never met with 
 the like ; for without drinking them, one 
 may difcover by the touch their noblenefs, 
 their foftnefs being like that of new but- 
 ter •, and they do make the hands that are 
 wafh'd in them in a few days fmooth, and 
 thereby prove their vaft difference fiom 
 other waters. 
 
 Lakes. 
 
 This fountain fprings in a little valley, A medic 
 very pleafant, under fome hills, about a.""ff Mn ' 
 league from the fea ; and it bubbles up be-'*'"" 
 tween a white fand, in which there is gold, 
 as if it had a fire under it to make it boil. 
 It is wonderful to obferve, that if they 
 throw any bough or flowers upon it, it 
 feems to take it ill, and never is at reft till 
 it has fwallow'd it up, leaping up againft 
 it feveral times, till it has made it its own, ' 
 and hid it from our fight •, and this it will 
 do for a whole evening, if they continue 
 throwing' flowers or branches of trees into 
 it, without any body's being able to tell 
 what becomes of them all. 
 
 The effedts that this water caufes in the 
 ftomach are admirable : it helps to digeft 
 the meat with mare eafinefs ; it deftroys 
 crudities, diffolves phlegms and grofs hu- 
 mours, and evidently prolongs life, efpe- 
 cially to old men. This was moft parti- 
 cularly made clear in the perfon of that fa- 
 mous captain Sebaftian Garcia Caretto Chu- 
 mazero, the founder of that novitiate, who 
 lived there many years, and came to be 
 ninety years' old in good health, and fo vi- 
 gorous, that he did to the laft go on horic- 
 back through the woods and mountains, as 
 if he had been a young man. I heard him 
 fay many times, that this fountain was his 
 life ; for as foon as he found himfelf any 
 ways out of order, he fent immediately 
 for the water of it, and drinking it frefn 
 from the fpring, he ufed to go to bed up- 
 on it ; where falling afleep, he would after 
 fome time awake well difpofed : this I have 
 often been witnefs of. The old Indians 
 thereabouts experimented the fame, and 
 did attribute their good ftate of health to 
 this fpring, without uling any other phy- 
 fick or remedies. 
 
 CHAP. XIII. 
 
 Of the Lakes of Chile, and the Salt that is gathered from them. 
 
 A 
 
 FTER having treated of the foun- 
 tains and rivers, it feems natural to 
 treat of the lakes and Handing waters 
 form'd out of them, and by fome inunda- 
 tions of the fea in winter, when it fills 
 them, and leaves them provided for all the 
 fummer. Thofe made by rivers come firft 
 in rank •, and I wifh my memory would 
 ferve to place them here, with their feve- 
 ral qualities. Omitting then to repeat 
 what we have faid of thofe of Aculco and 
 Pudaguel, which being near St. Jago, make 
 the greateft diverfion of its inhabitants, we 
 lake of will begin with the lake of 'Tagataguas, 
 Tagata- about fourteen leagues from that city, and 
 guas. w hich once was more in efteem; for the 
 trouts catch'd there are of a larger fize, 
 and the game for wild fowl fo much more 
 diverting, that there is no comparifon be- 
 C 
 
 tween thefe waters and others. I do not 
 defcribe here particularly the variety ofwild 
 fowl, becaufe I intend to do it when I 
 treat of the variety of birds of this coun- 
 try. The lakes of Villa Rica are of great 
 renown, though I confefs I know little of 
 their properties. 
 
 The lake of Puren has been famous, ha- i a i ;e f 
 ving been an impregnable fortrefs for the Puren. 
 warlike Indians our enemies, by reafon of 
 the difpofition and qualities of its fituation ; 
 for from thence they have for many years 
 maintain'd a war with whole armies of Spa- 
 niards, without being fubdued: their advan- 
 tage lay in this, That upon any rout given 
 them by us, they had here a moft certain 
 and fife retreat, which when once they had 
 recovered, they were out of all danger ; for 
 none could hurt them either by fword or fire. 
 
 The 
 
Chap. 13. 
 
 Kingdom of C H I L E. 
 
 27 
 
 lake of 
 Rapel. 
 
 Sea lakes. The fea lakes are alfo many, and of great 
 profit to their owners ; for the fifheries in 
 them are much more certain than in the fea : 
 
 * for which reafon they furnifh the beft part 
 
 of the lenten fare, though the fea affords a 
 great deal too. Among the reft the lake 
 of Rapel brings a great revenue : it runs in 
 length above two leagues within the land. 
 In the winter time the fea is joined to it ; 
 for by its ftorms it forces an entrance, but 
 it leaves it full of all forts of fifh; which, 
 with thofe that are bred there, furnifh it for 
 the whole year, and enable it to fupply all 
 the neighbouring country ; and that not 
 only with fifh, but with fait too in abun- 
 dance : for, about January, the commu- 
 nication ceafing between it and the fea, 
 when the fun is at its hotteft in that cli- 
 mate, the water is congealed fo, that it 
 has a cruft of a foot, or more, thick of a 
 moft excellent white fait. This, indeed, 
 does not happen every year; for it requires 
 an extream heat to do it, the lake being 
 deep, and the climate there more enclining 
 to cold : but they provide themfelves in 
 one, for many others ; and the falt-pits 
 made by hand feldom fail ; for they not 
 being of great extent, the water that is let 
 into them turns to fait v/ith lefs heat, the 
 matter to be congealed being lefs in itfelf. 
 And fince we are mentioning fait, I cannot 
 omit to relate what I myfelf have feen in 
 the valley of "Lampa, which is about three 
 leagues from St. Jago ; and it is this, 
 There grows an herb, not unlike to 
 Sweet Bafil, only its green is upon an aih- 
 colour, and not fo gay ; it rifes about a 
 foot above ground : this plant, in the fum- 
 mer, is covered over with fmall grains of 
 fait, like pearl, which is congealed upon 
 its leaves, either from the dew of heaven, 
 or by feme vapour raifed by the fun from 
 
 Salt found 
 on an herb 
 growing in 
 the valUy 
 of Lampa. 
 
 that earth; or elfe the nature of the herbOvALLE. 
 itfelf is fuch, as to fweat out this humidi- 1646. 
 ty, which being afterwards congealed by ^"V"*'' 
 the heat of the fun, is turned into fait. Let 
 the caufe be what it will, the effecl: is (cm 
 no where but in this valley, and upon that 
 fpecies of herb ; which is therefore much 
 valued by the Indians, the fait of it being 
 more favoury, and of a finer flavour than 
 any other. 
 
 I cannot tell whether Johannes de Laet 
 means this in his defcription of the new 
 world ; for having mentioned the kingdom 
 of Chile, to which he gives the preference 
 for its excellent properties, he fays, That 
 in that kingdom, in fome of its valleys, 
 there falls, at certain times of the year, a 
 dew fo thick upon the leaves of the plants, 
 that it is like fugar, and ferves, being kept 
 fome time, for the fime ufe as manna. An- 
 tonio de Herrera reports the fame thing, in 
 his general hiftory of the Weft Indies ; and, 
 amongft other commendations he gives this 
 noble kingdom, he relates the fame thing 
 of this ftrange and admirable dew. I fay 
 upon this, that I know not whether they 
 allude to what I have reported of the valley 
 of Lampa by my own fight, and have no 
 knowledge of that other thing they men- 
 tion ; though one would think, fuch authors 
 fhould diftinguifh tilings fo different in their 
 effecls and favour, as fait and fugar. 'Tis 
 poffible, God may have done both, having 
 been'fo wonderfully liberal to that country, 
 where the fingularities are fo many and 
 wonderful ; and it would therefore be no 
 wonder fome of them fhould not be known, 
 efpecially, confidering that we, who are 
 there employed for the converfion of fouls, 
 have not the time to fearch after curiofities, 
 and fecrets of nature. 
 
 CHAP. XIV. 
 
 Wherein is treated of the Sea of the Kingdom of Chile, and of the Etimology 
 
 of its Name. 
 
 Sea of '""in 1 H E fountains, fprings, rivers, and 
 
 Chile. J_ brooks, carry us along with them 
 
 naturally to the fea, where their courfe ends, 
 
 and where there is room for my pen to ex- 
 
 ercife itfelf, if the brevity of this narration 
 
 did not confine my flight : I muft therefore 
 
 be content to fay fomething of this element, 
 
 that the nature of it may not be unknown 
 
 as to this new world. 
 
 ztimohgy Beginning therefore with the etimology 
 
 of the name { i ts name : 'Tis well known that all com- 
 
 "* e ' monly call it the South Sea, becaufe it is 
 
 towards the antartick pole, from whence 
 
 generally the fouth wind blows, in oppofi- 
 
 lion to the tramontana, pr north, which 
 
 reigns in the ocean as far as the artick pole. 
 But leaving thefe difputes to the fchools, or 
 rather to that abyfs of divine wifdom, qui 
 profert ventos de thefauris fuis, 'tis a known 
 truth, that the effects which the wind of the 
 artick pole caufes in its jurifdi&ion towards 
 the oppofite part, the fame is caufed by the 
 fouth wind in its motions from the antar- 
 tick towards thefe parts. 
 
 In Chile we look upon the fouth wind as The fouth 
 a favorable wind, as in Europe the north is w '"d m °fl 
 in the fame efteem. The north with us co-^^f 1 ' 
 vers the heavens with clouds, caufes tem- 
 pefts and ftorms at fea, and makes all the 
 land dark and fad : the fouth, on the 
 
 contrary, 
 
28 
 
 Of the Nature and Properties of the Book I. 
 
 Ovalle. contrary, clears the sky, ferenes the air, and 
 1646. makes the fea as calm as milk : on the con- 
 -^V^ trary, this fame fouth wind, in the north 
 fea, is ftormy, and covers the heavens with 
 clouds, and raifes thofe tempefts, which do 
 fo endanger fhips ; whereas the north, called 
 there tramontana, clears all again, and 
 makes the fine days. 
 
 From hence proceeds, that in America 
 the fouth wind reigns in fummer, when the 
 fea is calm, and the north in winter, when 
 it is tempeftuous : the north does moft cer- 
 tainly, bring with it the rains, particular- 
 ly from thirty fix degrees to the pole, and 
 that fo fuddenly, that fometimes, in the 
 moment the wind comes to the north, the 
 rain falls, and moft commonly 'tis within 
 half an hour after its change ; and when in 
 thofe parts in winter the fun is clear, and 
 the weather fair, 'tis when the fouth wind 
 overpowers the north ; for the fouth in thofe 
 parts is cold and dry, and fo drives away 
 the clouds, fo as it happens fometimes that 
 the heavens are dark ; and as foon as the 
 clouds are difcharged, if the fouth appears 
 a little the ftronger, 'tis an infallible fign 
 of calm weather, which generally follows in 
 a trice ; for this wind drives all the clouds 
 fo before it, that when it blows, it does not 
 leave one in the sky. 
 
 The contrary of this is feen in Europe, 
 where the fouth winds bring humidity, and 
 the north drives it away : the fouth re- 
 laxes the body, and affects the head ; but 
 the north ftrengthens the body, purifies the 
 air, and dries up fuperfluous humours. In 
 fhort, thefe two winds caufe quite different 
 effects in Europe and in America, that we 
 may call the Europeans fons of the north, 
 and thofe of South America children of the 
 fouth. 
 
 From this there follows another very no- 
 table and well-known difference, which is, 
 That as to go from Europe to the Indies, 
 the north is the proper wind, and carries 
 us before it, and by confequence is contrary 
 to our return ; fo in the South Sea, failing 
 from the pole towards thefe parts, the fouth 
 is the favourable wind, and contrary to our 
 return : from whence it proceeds, that the 
 voyage from Spain to Carthagena being by 
 the North Sea, and made in thirty, forty, 
 and fifty days, the return to Spain ufes to 
 laft fourfcore, and a hundred, and more 
 days. On the contrary, in the South Sea, 
 where the voyage from Chile to Lima is 
 but of about a fortnight, and as much more 
 to Panama, or thereabouts, the return on- 
 ly to Lima is of two months, and from 
 thence to Chile forty days. The South Sea 
 is alfo called the Pacifick Sea, to diftinguifh 
 it from the North Sea, whofe ftorms and 
 tempefts are fo frequent ; whereas in the 
 South Sea they are rare : but, in my opi- 
 C 
 
 nion the difference is for another reafon, 
 which I fhall alledge here. 
 
 The moft frequent navigations of the Remarkien 
 South Sea are from Peru to Panama, and< heni,v '£' , ~ 
 from thence to New Spain and die Phili-f^[^ 
 pinas ; and thofe from Peru to Chile are lefs 
 ufed : by which it appears, that the beft 
 part of the South Sea navigations are between 
 the tropicks ; and fo the fun has fo much 
 force, as to keep the winds from being fu- 
 rious, and making fuch lafting ftorms as 
 thofe which are raifed without the tropicks, 
 and in parts nearer the pole ; for this rea- 
 fon the failors in thefe warm climates, 
 where there never is any winter, called this 
 fea the Pacifick Sea, from the good effects Called alfo 
 they experiment in it. The contrary of thisj. , g^~ 
 is in the North Sea, where moft of the navi- 
 gations are out of the tropicks ; where the 
 fun having lefs force, the winter predomi- 
 nates, and raifes mighty ftorms. Now the 
 Europeans, who firft navigated the South 
 Sea, being fuch as were ufed to thofe dan- 
 gers, to which the navigators of the nor- 
 thern parts are moft commonly expofed, 
 when they found fo quiet a fea as that un- 
 der the line, and in thofe which particu- 
 larly are the feat of commerce with New 
 Spain, Panama, and Peru, they gave it the 
 name of Pacifick, widiout examining any 
 further the caufe of the difference of the 
 effects, which they experienced in both feas : 
 but if they had try a that very South Sea 
 beyond the tropick of Capricorn, they 
 would not fo eafily have named it Pacifick. 
 
 I know that this difcourfe will be ap- 
 proved by thofe who have had experience of 
 the hardships which are fuffered by the na- 
 vigators, from the twenty fixth degree of 
 latitude on the coaft of Chile, to fifty three 
 degrees -, for there, as foon as the winter be- 
 gins, the fea cannot be navigated without 
 manifeft danger, the ftorms being no ways 
 inferior to the greateft in the North Sea ; and 
 though at that feafon it is not fo dangerous 
 for fhips to fail from Chile to Lima, becaufe 
 they every day get into a lefs latitude, and 
 fo enjoy a quieter fea, yet from Peru to 
 Chile it is extream dangerous, not only be- 
 caufe they come into a greater latitude, and 
 go out further to fea, to avoid the fouth 
 winds oppofition, but alfo becaufe the va- 
 pours of the fea, and cold mifts of the earth 
 do raife fuch fogs and dark clouds, that they 
 cover the land fo, that when they make 
 their port, they are in great danger of 
 fplitting upon the rocks. 
 
 This, I fay, is only of thofe coafts 
 of Chile which are in the leaft latitude ; 
 for from the city of the Conception, towards 
 the pole, even in fummer, they are dan- 
 gerous ; and the fhips which are bound for 
 the iflands of Chiloe have not above two or 
 three months in the year to go in and out 
 
 con- 
 
Chap. 15. 
 
 Kingdom of CHILE. 
 
 29 
 
 conveniently, or they neither go in nor 
 out till the year following : this is under- 
 stood as far as forty four or forty five de- 
 grees, in which this archipelago of ifiands is 
 placed •, for from thence to the ftreights of 
 Magellan, thofe may relate the dangers who 
 have experienced them, and palled thofe 
 ftreights : all that I know of it, is, that 
 they all have matter enough to difcourfe of 
 at their return. 
 
 So that we may fay, that the name of 
 Pacifick does not abfolutely belong to the 
 South Sea, according to its whole extent, 
 but only as to thofe parts of greateft inter- 
 courfe, which, becaufe they are within the 
 tropicks, are the freeft from ftorms ; and yet 
 it cannot be deny'd, but that the South Sea 
 has an advantage over the North Sea, even 
 within the tropicks, which is, that it is 
 free from thofe great fands which are fo 
 common in the North Sea, about Carthage- 
 na, La Havana, and other ifiands, nay, 
 even in the canal of Bahama ; which indeed 
 are fo many, that let a ftorm be but mo- 
 derate, they make it ftill greater, and more 
 dangerous, by fhortening the fea-room, and 
 force the failors to be always heaving the 
 lead, or elfe to fplit upon the rocks, which 
 may be clearly feen and diftinguifhed from 
 the fhip's fide. 
 
 I find likewife, that the South Sea may 
 be called Pacifick for another reafon, which 
 is, becaufe of the extream quiet it enjoys 
 in its navigation, without disturbance from 
 any of its enemies, who are fo frequent on 
 all the fhores of the North Sea ; for there be- 
 
 ing no other entrance into the South Sea, Ovalle. 
 but by the ftreights of Magellan and St. ^^. 
 Vincent, which are at fuch diftance, and *****' 
 defended by nature itfelf, the enemies of 
 our quiet do not care to engage in fo ufelefs 
 and dangerous a defign, with fo manifeft 
 a deftruction, and fo little advantage, as 
 hath happened already to fome hereticks 
 who have attempted it ; for having no fet- 
 tlement, nor landing place in all that vaft 
 fea, they have been forced to fail to the 
 Pbilippinas : therefore the fhips of the 
 South Sea are free from any fear of enemies, 
 and go and come without any apprehenfion 
 of danger on that fide. Antonio de Her r era, 
 in the fifth Decade of his General Hijlory, 
 folio 319. relates the motive that Magellan 
 had to call this the Pacifick Sea, and that 
 is, Becaufe there is not in all that element 
 a more fpecious career for the winds and 
 tides, and becaufe there reigns between the 
 tropicks fo fteddy and ftrong a levant, that 
 in many days the feamen need not hand 
 their fails, nor the fteerfman his helm, fail- 
 ing through thofe vaft feas as if it were in 
 a canal or river. And the fame author 
 adds, That this motion of this wind pro- 
 ceeds from the courfe of the firft Mobile, 
 which is proved by its perpetual invariabili- 
 ty, and the increafe of its vehemence, as it 
 draws nearer the Equinox. Some difpute, 
 whether it ought to be called a wind, or 
 an impulfe which the air receives from fu - 
 perior orbs, communicated to them by the 
 firft fphere. So far this author. 
 
 CHAP. XV. 
 
 Of the Sea Coafts of Chile, and its 'Ports and Havens. 
 
 I 
 
 T would be too great an excurfion be- 
 yond my purpofe, to mention all the 
 ports and creeks along the coaft of Chile ; 
 Spilberg., for they are very numerous. George Spil- 
 ci/er-.ation berg, admiral of a fleet of fix fail, whofe 
 of twenty names were, the New Sun, the New Moon, 
 ^hllheighti t ^ ie H unter -> the Pole-Star, Eolus, and Luci- 
 tf Magel- fer, fays, he obferved twenty five ports in 
 Ian. the ftreights of Magellan alone, before he 
 
 entered the South Sea : he commends them 
 mightily, but particularly he is much plea- 
 f d with the twenty fifth •, for he ftaid in 
 it fome time, and gave it his own name : 
 he calls it a noble port, by reafon of its 
 fafenefs for fhipping, as alfo for the plea- 
 fantnefs of the fields, which, he fays, were 
 all covered with fruit ; which I fuppofe 
 were ftrawberries, according to the defcrip- 
 tion he makes of them. He found there 
 likewife abundance of excellent oyfters, at 
 the mouth of a river, which beautify'd that 
 port extremely, k falling into it from high 
 Vol. III. 
 
 mountains. But this retreat did not ferve 
 them long -, for having feen fome very fine 
 coloured birds, they purfued them on ihore, 
 and hunted them ; which they had no 
 fooner begun to do, but they were aflault- Spilberg 
 ed by a troop of Indians, with clubs in a S^ tld h 
 their hands, and fome of them were killed, 
 and the reft forced to retire to their fhips, 
 and fet fail in hafte ; which is a great mark 
 of the valour with which thofe people en- 
 gaged them ; for though they had fire-arms, 
 they could not withftand the charge. 
 
 The moft famous port in all the coaft, p ° rt °f Co * 
 befides that of Valdivia, which we have de- quim °" 
 fcribed already, is that of Coquimbo, men- 
 tioned in our Seventh chapter ; and it de- 
 ferves all forts of commendation, as well 
 for its lovely bay, where fhips ride as fafe 
 as can be, as alfo for the pleafantnefs of 
 the country about it •, which is one of the 
 moft delicious of all Chile. The products 
 of the countryare particularly gold and 
 I copper, 
 
30 Of the Nature and Properties of the 
 
 BookI. 
 
 Ovalle. copper, which is carried from thence to 
 1646. Peru; for the making of artillery, calling 
 ^V"^ 1 of bells, and other houfhold furniture. 
 Copiapo, The ports alfo of Copiapo and Guafco are 
 Guafeo, efteemed, and more defervedly that of Pa- 
 am/Pacu- cu ^ w hich is a private hidden bay, where 
 the fhips of Peru come to load with the 
 hides and tallow of Chuapa ; as alfo with 
 tar and tackling for fhips, which is made 
 in that valley, and is whiter and better than 
 any in Chile, by reafon of the excellent wa- 
 ters they make ufe of in its making. 
 Quintero. The next good port to thefe, is, that of 
 Quintero, where the general of the fix fhips 
 above named landed ; and it being a place 
 uninhabited, met with no oppofition, but 
 refrefhed his men with a large fifhing which 
 they made. They do fo commend the 
 place, that they cannot fufficiently (they 
 fay) extol the pleafantnefs of the land, the 
 fweetnefs of the water, the fecurity for 
 fhips, and, in fhort, all forts of conve- 
 niencies for human life ; and after thefe 
 many encomiums, the hiftorian concludes 
 thus, portus hie nulli fecundus, this port 
 yields to none ; and yet this port of Quin- 
 tero is none of the famous ones of Chile ; 
 by which it may be inferred, that he was 
 but little acquainted with the reft. He 
 could not land in them ; for he found them 
 all guarded by the militia, who expected 
 him ; and though coming to Val Paraifo, 
 he had begun to land fome men, yet, up- 
 on advice that the horfe of St. J ago were at 
 hand to hinder the defcent, he took them 
 on board again ; and failing at midnight, 
 caft anchor at Quintero, where they water- 
 ed, and cut wood, the admiral himfelf 
 landing with many foldiers to protect his 
 men : there they drew up a trench, with 
 a kind of half-moon, to fecure their retreat 
 againft the Spaniards, who began to appear 
 upon the hills ; but they did not ftay for 
 them, but embarking again, followed their 
 courfe towards Peru, not landing any where 
 elfe ; but yet they commend the land ex- 
 treamly. 
 Coucon.or After thefe follows the port of Coucon, or 
 Quillota, Quillota, which ferves to embark the pro- 
 mi Val ^y^ f r^Qfe valleys ; and hard by that, 
 the port of Val Paraifo, where are landed 
 all the goods brought for the city of St. 
 J ago : from whence they are diftributed all 
 over its territory, and as far as Cuyo, and 
 Tucuman : This port is every day more 
 and more inhabited ; and there is building 
 a convent of auftin friars, which will be of 
 great relief to the fouls of the inhabitants, 
 and of all thofe who go and come, who are 
 not a few ; for this is the port of the great- 
 eft commerce with Peru : 'tis diftant from 
 St- J ago twenty four leagues, all plain and 
 good way, fit for carriage ; and fo all the 
 .commodities of both kingdoms are convey- 
 led and exchanged by it. 
 
 Near the port of Val Paraifo is that of 
 St. Antonio, which is alfo very fafe and 
 good, and is at the mouth of the river 
 Maypo. There is a miftake in authors about 
 this ; for they place the port of Val Paraifo 
 at the mouth of a river, which they make 
 in their maps to come from St. J ago ; which 
 is a very great error, becaufe, at Val Pa- 
 raifo there is no river of any note, but only 
 fpringsand fountains, whi h rife out of the 
 rocks clofe by the fea, which are moft ex- 
 cellent waters. There are alfo others of a 
 coarfer nature, with which the fhips fill 
 their provifion, becaufe they having more 
 body, they refill better at fea againft cor- 
 ruption. 
 
 There ere feveral other ports between 
 that and the Conception, in the bays and 
 mouths of rivers •, but not much ufed, be- 
 caufe they are not neceflary •, all thofe val- 
 leys from Maule to Quillota fending their 
 commodities to Val Paraifo. I believe in 
 time other ports will be imployed, becaufe 
 the products of that kingdom multiply a- 
 pace, and fo people will be willing to feek 
 out the neareft ports for embarking their 
 goods. All the product from Maule up- 
 wards, is carried to the harbour of the Con- 
 ception, which is the bell bay in all thofe 
 coafts ; and it being a very large one, pro- 
 vidence placed at its entrance the ifland of 
 Quiriauina ; under which, asunder a mole, iflandof 
 fhips are fecured in foul weather. At theQuiriqui- 
 largeft entrance of this bay is the port of na - 
 la Herradura, or Horfe-Shoe, it being in La Herra- 
 that form ; and oppofite to that is that of ^cett', 
 St. Vincent ; and a little farther, that of and Carne- 
 Carnero, called fo for the refrefhment it af- ro. 
 forded to one of the fhips of the bifhop of 
 Palencia, who, by order of Charles V. paf- 
 fed the (freights of Magellan with fix fail, 
 and having loft theirPatache, were forced to 
 the Moluccas. 
 
 Next to thefe are the ports of Tirva undseveral 0- 
 Qnedal, La Baia Chica, that of Puralla,' her nm ' 
 the port of St. Cebrian, that of Santla Clara, 
 that of St. Domingo, St. Efleran, Los Reyes, 
 that of Baixas, that of the Innocents, and 
 many others lefs considerable, as tar as the 
 ftreights of Magellan. 
 
 Befides thefe ports which we have mark- 
 ed upon the terra firma, there are feveral 
 others, well known in the iflands of Juan 
 Fernandes, La Mocha, Santla Maria, in 
 the iflands of Chiloe, Alfie ; where the moft 
 frequented are that of Carelmapo, and that 
 called the Englifh Port, becaufe formerly an 
 Englifh fhip landed there, and the men and 
 fhip, with all its artillery, were made prize. 
 There are alfo feveral other ports in the ar- 
 chipelago of Chiloe, which I forbear mention- 
 ing, becaufe I have not a perfect account of 
 them. 
 
 c CHAP. 
 
Chap. 16. 
 
 Kingdom of C H I L E, 
 
 CHAP. XVI. 
 
 Of the Fertility of the whole Coafi of Chile. 
 
 3 1 
 
 OVALLE. 
 1646. 
 
 H E abundance and fertility of this 
 kingdom is not only perceived in its 
 valleys and fields, but likewife in its whole 
 coaft, even on the rocks, where the fea 
 beats. It will be hard to make this appear 
 by particulars, becaufe though in other 
 parts of the world the rocks produce fhell- 
 fifh, yet I do not know that it is in fuch 
 quantity, nor fo large any where as in Chile., 
 nor of fo many different fpecies. Firft, I 
 will fpeak of that which is mod common 
 and intelligible: There grows along the 
 The herb coaft every where an herb not unlike to 
 Luche. endive ; they call it Luche, which they pull 
 from the rocks : it is gadiered in the fpring, 
 when 'tis moft grown ; and being dried in 
 the fun, 'tis made into loaves, which are 
 look'd upon as a great delicacy far from the 
 fea, particularly in Peru, Cuyo, and Tucu- 
 man ; for it ferves for many fauces. It 
 grows upon the tops of rocks, fuch as are 
 above the water. At the foot of the rocks 
 are found certain roots, which bring forth 
 _, t a trunk as thick as one's wrift, called Ulte- 
 Ultecueile. cuefte : this they cut, and laying it before 
 the fire, they pare it like a lettice, or car- 
 doon, or thiftle, but it has a much diffe- 
 rent tafte. From thefe trunks fhoot out 
 certain long cods, of three or four yards 
 long, and fome of about fix or eight fin- 
 gers in breadth : thefe they call Coehauyo ; 
 and there are two forts of them, which, 
 though they refemble one another, yet the 
 Indians make a great difference between 
 them, referving the good, which they cut 
 and dry, and make provifion of them for 
 Lent; the others they leave to the fea, 
 which heaps them up upon the fhoar, where 
 they lie in heaps very ufelefs. So much 
 for the herbs. Now let us fpeak of the 
 fea fhell-fifh. The belt of this kind are 
 Oyfters. oyfters, both great and fmall, fo much 
 talked of by the Hollanders with great 
 commendations : they found them in the 
 {freights of Magellan ; but the greater! plen- 
 ty of them is on the coaft of Coquimbo, 
 where they are very large and delicious; 
 the lefier fort they call Tacas, very much 
 valued too, and taken all along that coaft. 
 But thofe of greateft renown are the oyfters 
 of Chuapa ; in the great ones are bred 
 pearls, as the Dutch lay, and, according 
 to John and "Theodore de Brye, they bought 
 fome of the Indians in the {freights very 
 finely wrought. 
 Choros. That which they call Choros is alfo a 
 fine fort of fhell-fifh, and in its fhell, as 
 Antonio de Herrera fays, there are pearl ve- 
 ry white. That fort which I have feen is 
 
 not fo big ; but fince they are to be found 
 every where, there may be of all forts of 
 them ; for they are caught in abundance, 
 both little, middle fize, and large ones, 
 fome as broad as my hand. The choiceft 
 of them are thofe which have the fifh of a 
 yellow colour, though the black ones are 
 good too. 
 
 There is another fhell-fifh, called Mane- Manegues. 
 gues, which is in two round fhells, fuch 
 as ferve for models in architecture •, the fifh 
 within is but coarfe meat, but of good 
 fuftenance. In one kind of thefe, which is 
 the little fort, in opening the fhell, which 
 in the infide is like mother of pearl, when 
 one takes out the meat, one may fee the 
 impreflion on die fhell, of a purple co- 
 lour, which reprefents the image of the 
 moft holy virgin, with her mantle, and her 
 child in her arms, which caufes great devo- 
 tiofl and comfort ; and, though they all 
 have this impreflion, yet fome have it fo 
 perfect, that it is wonderful. 
 
 A fifh they call Locos may alfo be rank- Locos, or 
 ed among the fhell-fifh : they call them al- j\ fss " 
 fo AJs s-Hoof, becaufe they are of that fhape: 
 They are very favoury, but hard and in- 
 digent; for which reafon they are to be 
 eaten fparingly, though in the drefiing of 
 them they macerate them between two 
 ftones, to foften them. I fhould never 
 have done, to go through all the kinds of 
 lhell-fifh ; as likewife of fnills, which are 
 alfo good to eat, and are produced on the 
 rocks. There are fome caft up by the fea, 
 in fuch quantity, that fliip loads may be 
 had of them, of fuch variety of figures and 
 colours, that I doubt not but the curious 
 in Europe would value them, and our ar- 
 tifts would make curiofities of them ; but 
 they, for want of fuch artificers, are good 
 for nothing in the Indies, but to make lime 
 of, by burning them in a furnace •, yet 
 they are in fuch vaft quantities, that the 
 fhore is covered with them, and they make 
 a fine fhew. 
 
 The fhell-fifh called Picas de Papagayos, Picos de 
 are another kind much efteemed : they are Papagayos. 
 fo called, becaufe for their fhape and big- 
 nefs, they are juft like parrots heads; and 
 as thefe birds build their nefts on fhoar, in 
 fome hollow rocks and caves, fo this fifh 
 breeds in a kind of ftone-work, hollow, 
 like little cells, where it grows till it comes 
 to be of the bignefs of thofe heads. They 
 drefs them in thofe very nefts, which ferve 
 for pots, and when they are enough, take 
 them out. They are excellent meat. 
 
 .Thofe 
 
£2 Of the Nature and Properties of the Book I. 
 
 OVALLE 
 1646. 
 
 Kericos. 
 
 Crabs, 
 Apavico- 
 ras, and 
 Praunes. 
 Lobfiers. 
 
 Thofe which they call Kericos, though 
 common in other parts, yet I never law 
 them fo large as in thofe parts •, and being 
 taken in the increafe of the moon, they 
 have very large tongues, fat, and of about 
 two fingers breadth. 
 
 The Crabs, Apavicoras, and Praunes, 
 are likewife very good, and of feveral 
 forts and fizes. The Lobfiers, and thofe of 
 that kind, are likewife much efteemed ; 
 they breed under the rocks, and are fifhed 
 for, as all the reft, not with nets, but on- 
 ly by the Indians going into the fea up to 
 their middle, and knocking them from the 
 rocks with flicks in their hands. So much 
 for this kind of eatables. There are others 
 which live a little more in the fea, which 
 are of a beautiful form v fome they call fea- 
 ftars -, fome the fun ; others the moon ; be- 
 caufe they are of the form of thofe planets, 
 as they are commonly painted. Thefe may 
 be eaten too •, but they have one very An- 
 gular propriety, which is, to cure the vice 
 of drunkennefs, being reduc'd to powder, 
 and given in wine to drink ; and this is of 
 
 fo certain an effect, that thofe, who before 
 they took it had no greater delight than 
 drinking of wine, did afterwards fo abhor 
 it, that they would not touch it, though 
 they were hir'd. This is a healthy remedy, 
 as well as fure ; and therefore us'd by the 
 Negroes to avoid taking another ; which, 
 though as certain, is very dangerous ; which 
 is, drinking the fweat of a horfe mingled 
 with wine. They fay, this puts thofe who 
 take it, in danger of lofing fome of their 
 fenfes ; though I knew pne, who being ex- 
 ceedingly given to drunkennefs, his wife 
 gave him this remedy without his know- 
 ledge, and it did him no other hurt than 
 to make him hate wine, fo that he could 
 not bear the fmell of it ; but, as I faid, the 
 Negroes ufe the powder of the ftar-fifh ; and 
 though I bave obferved, that with fome it 
 is not fo efficacious, but they long for wine 
 again after a while, yet it is but to repeat 
 the remedy as foon as that ill inclination 
 prevails again : and this is commonly fo 
 pra&ifed upon the Negroes, who are much 
 given to that vice. 
 
 CHAP. XVII. 
 
 Of the various Kinds of Fijb which are fflied on the Coaji of Chile. 
 
 The whaL 
 
 L 
 
 E T the whale appear firft, fince by 
 its bignefs it is a kind of king of the 
 fea ; and if where the king is, the court is, 
 we may give that title to the fea of Chile, 
 where there is fuch ftore of whales, that I 
 know not any place where they abound 
 more ; and they are accompanied by fuch a 
 court of little nfhes of all kinds, that thofe 
 who have navigated thofe leas, cannot but 
 mention it with admiration. Among the 
 reft, William Seerten, who came with a 
 fleet through the ftreights, fays, That they 
 met with fo many whales near certain 
 iflands, that they were forced to fail with 
 great care and attention to avoid them, 
 they being fo many, that they were almoft 
 always in the lhips way, and endangered 
 the lofs of them, being fo big, that they 
 look'd like rocks : they are all along the 
 coaft of Copiapo and Gaafco, and are of no 
 fmall profit, by the ambergreece they caft 
 on fhoar. The journals of thofe who have 
 pafied the ftreights do mention much of this 
 amber floating on the fea, and therefore no 
 doubt but a great deal of it is on fhoar ; 
 but it is loft, for the Indians having no va- 
 lue for it, know it not; and 'tis but with- 
 in thefe twelve years that the Araucanas 
 minded it ; by feeing fome Spanijh foldiers 
 look for it, they did fo too, and found a 
 great deal, and very good, on the coaft. 
 Of the grey fort, which is the beft, they 
 found great pieces of an afh colour, with a 
 nobler and more delicate fmell ; the ordi- 
 
 nary forts are yellow and black, and it has 
 a quicker, though not fo fweet a fmell as 
 the grey. I have heard the people of thofe 
 parts fay commonly, that the difference is 
 very accidental, and that it depends only 
 upon being more or lefs prepar'd by the 
 fun-beams : and experience feems to con- 
 firm this thought; for I have obferv'd that 
 the black does in time grow white, by be- 
 ing expos'd to the fun in a box ; but if it 
 be laid open, fo as both fun and rain come 
 upon it, the experiment will be more ma- 
 nifeft ; and as for the harfhnefs of the fmell, 
 it may be remedied by infufions in rofe 
 water, expofing it firft to the dews for 
 nine days, and then to the fire, by which 
 means it grows perfect. 
 
 Though 'tis known that amber is a thing 
 which the whales caft from them, there is 
 diverfity of opinion about the manner, be- 
 caufe fome think that this noble product is 
 form'd at the bottom of the fea, or upon 
 fome rocks ; and that the whales eat it for 
 food, and not being able to endure it in 
 their ftomachs, becaufe it is naturally ex- 
 tream hot, they get to the fhore to caft it 
 up: others fay, it is the whales excrements. 
 "Tis not my bufinefs to decide this difpute. 
 The other great advantage which the 
 whales are of to the country, is the oil 
 they afford after they are dead ; and it is a 
 great deal that one whale will yield : it 
 ferves for various ufes of life. We do not 
 know that thefe fifhes die of a violent 
 
 death, 
 
Chap. "17* 
 
 Kingdom of CHILE. 
 
 33 
 
 death, becaufe their vaft bulk defends them 
 both from men, and all other animals, that 
 may be their enemies ; but yet being fub- 
 jedt to pay the common debt of nature, 
 when they find themfelves near death, they 
 draw near the land, and are often caft on 
 fhore by the fea, which will not bear any 
 corruption in its waters; and 'tis ftrange 
 to fee how they are thrown up in great 
 numbers on thofe coafts. The oil is made 
 by the heat of the fun, and when the wea- 
 ther has confum'd the flefh, the ribs and 
 other bones remain white ; and the Indians 
 make ufe of them for feats : much more 
 conveniency and curiofity might be afforded 
 by them to other workmen. 
 
 There are another fort of fifh which are 
 
 found iroft on the coaft of Coquimbo, which 
 
 are not fo big as whales, but yet are very 
 
 large, and a good fifh to eat, which are 
 
 Tunny.fiJJ, t tne tunny-fifh, and the Albacoras, which 
 
 md Alba- tne j n fc am Y\\\ with great dexterity : they 
 
 coras. , » 1 j 
 
 go into the fea a good way upon floats or 
 
 feal-skins, well fowed together, and blown 
 
 up like a bladder ; they carry with them a 
 
 kind of trident with ftiarp tongues ; this is 
 
 fattened to a long, flender, but Itrong rope ; 
 
 the Indian guides his float near the fifh he 
 
 choofes, and then darts it with his trident ; 
 
 the tunny, as foon as wounded, goes out 
 
 to fea like lightening ; the Indian gives him 
 
 rope enough, and follows him the way that 
 
 he runs, till the fifh has fpent itfelf by lofs 
 
 of blood ; and then the Indian draws in his 
 
 rope, and the fjfti with it, either dead or 
 
 dying, and lays it on his float, and he 
 
 returns to port with his prey rejoicing. 
 
 There are many other forts of fifhes ; one 
 
 rly'mg-fijk.of the mod extraordinary is the flying- 
 fifh, which fly with wings, and follow a 
 
 Vm-fifi: fhip like birds. The lion-fifh is alfo ad- 
 mirable : they are found in great quantities 
 about the S freights of Magellan, near a 
 port, call'd Port Defire : they are very 
 good to cat, but very hard to take ; for 
 though they wound them with Ihot in ma- 
 ny places, yet if they do not hit them in 
 the head, or the ftomach, they do not 
 yield : they are as big as a colt, and have 
 a lion's head, with a perfect mane ; which 
 the females of them have not, neither are 
 they above half as big as the males, and 
 have a thinner skin. Thofe who have fail'd 
 through the S freights, talk much of thefe 
 
 fea-lions, and do alfo mention many otherOvALLE. 
 forts of fifhes which they took there, fome ^°4 6 - 
 of fixteen foot long, very favoury and good v **v^ / 
 to eat. Antonio de Herrera fays, That 
 there are fifhes taken in the ifland of Santla 
 Maria, out df whofc eyes they take a fort 
 of coarfe pearl, which have a glofs like 
 the true ones, and are worn by the women ; 
 and if, as they are foft, they were a little 
 hard, they would be better than pearls. 
 
 The fea wolves, or feals, which are found Sea-wives, 
 on all the coafts, are innumerable. I have 6r f 1 * 1 '- 
 feen whole rocks cover'd with them, and 
 they lay even one upon another, fo as fome 
 of them rolled down into the fea again, 
 there not being room for fo many : they 
 are as big as calves, and make a noife like 
 them. 
 
 Antonio de Herrera, in the voyage of 
 Magellan fays, That in the river of the 
 Crofs, in the Str eights, they took one fo 
 large, that without his head, skin, and fat, 
 he weighed nineteen Caftillan Arrobas. The An Arroba 
 Indians take them for their skins, which are" twent y 
 very hard and ftrong, and fome eat their 
 flefh. As to the plenty of the ordinary 
 fifh of thofe feas, the authors already cited 
 fpeak very advantageoufly of their kinds, 
 particularly IVilliam Scowten, who coming 
 with his fleet to the ifland of Juan Fernan- 
 des, in thirty three degrees^ and forty eight 
 minutes, the quantity of fifh they met with 
 was fo great, that in a very little time 
 they catch'd a great quantity of Robalos, 
 which is the beft and moft wholefome fifh 
 of all thofe parts. They did not take 
 them with nets, becaufe they had not time 
 to land, but with hooks at fea, by the 
 ftiip's fide, and that as faft as they could 
 throw in and pull up. 
 
 What I myfelf have feen, is in the great 
 lake of Rapel, all the fides of it cover'd 
 with Pejereges, by the vaft quantity ofPejereges. 
 them which came upon the coaft, as the 
 droves of pilchards by the bay of Concep- 
 tion, and in Chiloe, fo that they take them 
 with blankets. I have feen the fame droves 
 of tunny-fifh, which come leaping over 
 one another's backs, as if there were not 
 room for them ; and, indeed, that climate 
 being fo favourable to multiplication in all 
 animals on fhoar, as fhall be fhewed in its 
 proper place, it cannot well be otherwife 
 as to the fifties. 
 
 CHAP. XVIII. 
 
 Of the Birds of Chile. 
 
 TH E birds and fifhes feem to be bro- 
 thers of the fame venter, the author 
 of nature having created them both out of 
 the element of water •, and therefore, to 
 Vol. III. 
 
 difpatch all the creature's of this country, 
 having treated of the firft, it feems that the 
 chain of an orderly narration obliges us to 
 fay fomething of the others. To fpeak 
 K generally. 
 
34 
 
 OVALLE. 
 1646. 
 
 Of the Nature and Properties of the 
 
 Book I. 
 
 The eagle. 
 
 1640. 
 
 Tattkons. 
 
 Birds of 
 prey. 
 Singing- 
 birds. 
 
 Birds of 
 game. 
 
 Tame fowl 
 
 Swallows. 
 
 Owls and 
 bits. 
 
 generally, it may be truly faid of the air 
 of that hemifphere, that it has a great ad- 
 vantage over the earth, though fo fertile, 
 fo rich, and fo delicious, as we have repre- 
 fented it ; for though it is true, that it now 
 produces the animals and fruits of Europe, 
 with fuch an increafe as is wonderful, yet 
 it cannot be denied, that before the Spa- 
 niards carried thither the feeds and animals 
 which are now fo multiplied, (for they had 
 them not in any fort, though perhaps others 
 which fupplied the want of them,) the air, 
 without being at all enrich'd by the accef- 
 fion of foreigners, has maintain'd always 
 fuch an abundance of the volatile kind, that 
 it needed no fupplies from Europe, but ra- 
 ther has many to make up any one defect. 
 
 To begin with the king of them all, the 
 eagle : there are there abundance of them ; 
 thofe which are call'd royal or imperial 
 have been feen there only twice ; firft, 
 when the Spaniards firft enter'd that king- 
 dom i and the fecond time, in the year 
 1 640. when the Araucanos fubmitted their 
 untam'd necks to their God and the king, 
 they interpreting this as one of the figns of 
 God Almighty's will to incline them to 
 take that relblution which they then took. 
 As for the ordinary eagles, who do not dif- 
 fer much from the others, they have al- 
 ways been and are ftill in the country very 
 common. There are likewife bred faul- 
 cons, fo large and ftrong, that for their 
 beauty they have been carried from thence, 
 though fo far, as a prefent to the king of 
 Spain ; and they are commonly carried to 
 Peru, particularly that kind which are cal- 
 led frimas, or firft, though thofe call'd 
 fecond are very large too. There are befides, 
 all other birds of rapine and prey ; and of 
 the finging-birds, there are linnets, bul- 
 finches, nightingales, blackbirds, and ma- 
 ny others, who lorm fome a bafs, and fome 
 a tenor, with all the other parts of a har- 
 mony, beyond belief, particularly in fum- 
 mer, under the ftiades of trees. 
 
 The birds for game are, herons, par- 
 tridges, wild pigeons, thrufhes, turtles, par- 
 rots, wild ducks of a thoufand forts, fome 
 of one colour, and fome of another, and 
 . all very good. The domeftick tame fowls 
 are hens, ducks, geefe, turkeys; and that 
 nothing may be wanting, fwallows in rum- 
 mer, which go away in winter, as they do 
 in Europe, to warmer climates ; fcreech-owls, 
 and other night-birds -, as alfo bats. 
 
 Thefe are the birds of the European kind, 
 which are found in thofe parts, as well as 
 I can remember ; and there is hardly a bird 
 here in Europe, that I obferve in the fields, 
 that I have not oblerv'd the like fomewhere 
 in Chile, with very little difference. 
 
 Who now can defcribe the variety of 
 native birds of that climate ? who are in 
 
 fuch variety and abundance, that people are 
 fain to guard their vineyards from them as 
 foon as the grapes begin to ripen ; and yet 
 'tis impoffible to hinder them from doing a 
 great deal of mifchief, they being fo nim- 
 ble, and having fo fecure a retreat, though 
 all forts of inventions, fuch as guns, crofs- 
 bows, flings, fcare-crows, are put in ufe; 
 fo that if any are negligent, they may be 
 fure to find their vintage made to their hand. 
 And this mifchief is not only for their vine- 
 yards, but likewife for all feeds, which is 
 fain to be watched after 'tis fowed, 'till it 
 fprouts ; and as foon as the wheat and maiz 
 begin to ripen, the guards muft be renewed ; 
 for there comes whole armies of birds to 
 attack them, and do them as much mif- 
 chief as if they were Xerxes' s armies. 
 
 In particular, the parrots are fo voracious Parrots, 
 and greedy, and have a bill that cuts like 
 a razor ; they come in flocks of fuch an 
 extent, that when they rife they cover the 
 air, and fill it with fuch a confufion of cries, 
 that I cannot find any thing to compare it 
 to. This kind of birds is bred all over 
 Chile, in the mountains, and in the Cordil- 
 lera ; and 'tis wonderful to fee how exactly 
 they come to an hour, as if they were call'd 
 by a bell, or had fome notice where and 
 when the fruits are ripe, and in feafon for 
 them to enjoy them : they come down from 
 the mountains in the evening ; and die noife 
 they make in flying, though they fly high, 
 is fuch, that one would think them clofe 
 by : they have a fhrill clear voice, and they 
 fly all fcreaming at once, fo that their 
 noife is very loud : they are all green and 
 yellow, and have a blue circle about their 
 neck, and very good to eat, particularly 
 the young-ones. 
 
 Thofe years which are to prove rainy, 
 as the natives obferve, as foon as the wea- 
 ther grows cool, before the winter begins, 
 one may fee every evening, for many days, 
 great quantities of crows come down from 
 the Cordillera into the plains: they come 
 about an hour before fun-fet in fquadrons, 
 forming a triangle or pyramid, the point 
 of which is led by one fingle one, before 
 whom none dare go : the figure they make 
 is moft regular, with great correfpondency 
 to each other, as if they were fixed in the 
 air, and immoveable, fo equal and well- 
 concerted is their flight. 
 
 There is likewife a bird which we call Taltales, or 
 Taltales, or Galinafos : it is like a duck, but Gahnafos - 
 has bigger wings: they are either black or 
 brown, and very voracious of carrion. In 
 the time of flaughtering, which is every 
 year in Chile of moft beads, there is a 
 great deal of flefh loft ; then thefe birds 
 come, as if one had founded a charge 
 to them, and fall upon the carrion with 
 fo much greedinefs, that having eaten their 
 
 fill, 
 
Chap, i 9. 
 
 Kingdom of CHILE. 
 
 35 
 
 fill, they cannot rife again, and are eafily 
 knock'd on the head with flicks : the bones 
 of their legs are valued to make fcizers, and 
 their quills, which are as thick as ones fin- 
 ger, ferve for harpficals, and other curiofi- 
 ties. Out of this flaughtering-time they 
 die with hunger ; but among all the ways 
 they have of maintaining themfelves, their 
 way of hunting young goats and lambs is 
 admirable : they fit upon high trees, and 
 from thence fpy the flocks of iheep and 
 goats, watching till any of the young-ones 
 ftray from the guard of its dam, as they 
 often do, either flaying behind to feed, or 
 climbing fome rock : this the Taltale quick- 
 ly feeing ; and that the young-one is far 
 
 from the defence either of the fhepherd orOvALLE. 
 old-one, it leaps upon it, and the firft thing y^^ 
 it does, is to peck out its eyes, and eat its ^v^^ 
 brains ; which it does fo quick, that though 
 it cry, and the fhepherd or mother come to 
 its relief, 'tis too late. Very like to thefe are 
 another fort of bird, both as to bignefs, co- 
 lour, and fhape, and its difpofition to prey ; 
 they call them Peuques, only they are ibme- Peuques. 
 thing lefs, and of a nicer diet, being plcafed 
 with nothing but hens or chickens, which 
 they take very dexteroufly : they are g 
 bold and nimble, as to get into a hen- -o ft, 
 and carry away their prey, even in pi efeftce 
 of the owners, without being flopped or 
 prevented. 
 
 CHAP. XIX. 
 
 The fame Matter isflirfued, and the Flying of Hawks treated of. 
 
 Flamen- 
 cos. 
 
 The Child 
 Bird. 
 
 Herons- 
 feathers. 
 
 Gartjolas. 
 
 Voycas. 
 
 AMONGST the great number of 
 birds which are bred in lakes and 
 ponds, and on the fea-fide, which are of 
 great variety, none are more remarkable 
 than the birds called Flamencos : they are 
 white and fcarlet, bigger than turkeys, but 
 fo long legg'd that they walk through a 
 lake with great gravity, the water not 
 touching their feathers by a foot or two : 
 the Indians delight in making works of 
 their white and fcarlet feathers, for their 
 dances and their feafts. 
 
 There is another bird, called the Child- 
 bird, becaufe it looks like a fwadled child 
 with its arms at liberty : I have not feen 
 them any where but at fea ; perhaps they 
 are the fame, called Pinguins, of which fre- 
 quent mention is made by thofe who pafs 
 the Streights of Magellan : They are ge- 
 nerally painted in the maps ; and they fay, 
 there are abundance of them in thofe parts, 
 and that they are good meat. 
 
 There are other birds which furnifh the 
 tufts of feathers, called Herons-feathers, 
 which though lb narrow, yet are fo valued, 
 that formerly every feather was worth two 
 rials : thofe which grow under their wings 
 are larger and better, though thofe on their 
 heads, which they wear as aigrettes, are 
 very fine. There are but few of this kind 
 of birds ; for they do not increafe fo much 
 as others. There are more of that kind, 
 call'd Garcolas, which ferve for foldiers 
 feathers, and other ornament. There are 
 many others of great variety of colours, of 
 which the Indians ufe to make their orna- 
 ments, called Mallengues, which are made 
 for the head like a garland of moft fine co- 
 lours of wooll, and in that they flick a 
 plume of feathers, for their dances, and days 
 of rejoicing. 
 
 The birds called by the Indians Voycas, 
 
 are very famous among them, in whofe. 
 notes, at certain times and places, they find 
 great myfteries, prognofticating by them, 
 either their own, or their children, or their 
 friends death, or ficknefs, or other misfor- 
 tune ; and they remain with great appre- 
 henfion and fear. The Spaniards call thefe 
 birds Pedncolorados, that is, marked on the 
 breaft ; becaufe there is no fcarlet deeper, 
 nor brighter, than the red on their breaft : 
 the other feathers of their wings and body 
 are brown. There are other very little ones, 
 called Pinguedas, whofe body is not much Pinguedas. 
 bigger than an almond : thefe live upon 
 flowers ; and that they may come at the 
 honey of them, nature has given them a 
 bill, which, when 'tis fhut, is like a needle 
 to fow with ; and for this reafon they feed 
 flying, like bees, from flower to flower, 
 without lighting but very feldom on a 
 branch of it, and that very (lightly. Thefe 
 birds are of the greateft beauty imaginable ; 
 for if they were made of polifhed gold, they 
 could not fhine brighter: they have a green 
 mingled with this gold colour. The males 
 are diftinguifhed from the females, in that 
 they have on the head a lively orange co- 
 lour, which is like fire. Thofe on the 
 other fide of the Cordillera are yet more 
 beautiful, becaufe their tail is alfo of the 
 colour of their head ; and though they have 
 fo little a body, their tail is a foot long, 
 and two inches broad. 
 
 There is likewife a very odd bird, to 
 which the Spaniards have given the name of 
 Wood-Pecker ; becaufe though they are but Wood- Pec- 
 little, they have fo ftrong and fharp a bill, ker. 
 that they form their nefts with it in the 
 trees, forming a hollow place fit for them 
 as exactly, as if they had an inftrument to 
 do it. Of thefe I have feen but few ; but 
 there are great numbers of a kind of birds,, 
 
 called 
 
g6 
 
 Of the Nature and Properties of the Book I. 
 
 Ovalle. called Condores, which are as white as er- 
 1646. m \ n , and of their skins they make muffs, 
 
 v * r V > "-' it being of a very foft touch, and extream 
 warm ; but the bellies of the buzzards are 
 much more fo, being admirable to make 
 ftomachers to cover the pit of the ftomach, 
 and help digeftion. 
 
 I have not feen fuch variety of birds on 
 the other fide of the Cordillera ; and the 
 caufe, I believe, is the drynefs of the land, 
 and the want of that fhelter of woods and 
 groves which are on Chile fide ; but in thofe 
 plains, called the Pampas, there are Fran- 
 
 Francolins.^/m to be found, which are a fort of wild 
 hens, and as big •, but much better meat, 
 and of a higher relifh. There are likewife 
 
 Oftriches. Oftriches, who are a mighty bird, and very 
 numerous there. They often find their 
 nefts, and in them fuch a quantity of eggs, 
 as one neft will feed a great company ; one 
 of them alone being beaten and fry'd, 
 makes a pancake big enough to dine feve- 
 ral people : their feathers are employ'd for 
 umbrellos to keep off the fun, and other 
 good ufes. 
 
 variety of 'Tis a pleafant fight to fee the taking of 
 
 diverfwns tne Francolins : the Indian, with a firing 
 
 'Lwkin" S ' ma d e at one enc * i nto a running knot or 
 Sec noofe, at the other having a little piece of 
 
 fharp cane fattened to it, goes out to find 
 them, which when he has done, he draws 
 gently near, fo as not to fright his game s 
 when he is at a due diftance, he begins to 
 go round the bird, making with the cane 
 feveral circles over his head. The Franco- 
 lin is of its own nature a very fearful bird, 
 and fimple, and dares not rife, becaufe he 
 thinks he is encompafied round, but goes 
 into the middle of the circle •, where the 
 Indian leflening ftill his rounds, follows it, 
 fo that at laft it fquats down upon the 
 ground, and lets the Indian put the noofe 
 over its head ; which when he has done, 
 touching it on the wing with the fharp end 
 of the cane, the bird flies up, and draws 
 the noofe clofe, and fo is catch'd like the 
 fifhes by an angling-rod. 
 
 'Tis not fo eafy to catch the Oftriches ; 
 for though they do not fly, yet they have 
 fuch large wings, that though a greyhound 
 be very fwift, if the bird has law of him, 
 he will hardly overtake him ; but if by 
 chance he comes up with him by furprize, 
 or otherwife, 'tis wonderful to fee the art 
 the Oftrich ufes to avoid his teeth ; for 
 when the dog is juft going to feize, the Of- 
 trich lets down one of his wings, and fixes 
 it to the ground, covering with it its whole 
 body : the greyhound thinking he has him 
 fure, takes hold with open mouth ; but he 
 fills it only with feathers, and is cheated ; 
 for immediately the Oftrich, before the dog 
 can clear his mouth, fets a running, and 
 gets a good length before him ; and often 
 
 efcapes, if the greyhound does not make 
 extraordinary haft to overtake it. 
 
 This is a very diverting fport ; but that 
 which is ufed in Chile with Faulcons is much 
 more fo : not to fly partridges, for that is 
 a known fport every where ; but with an- 
 other fort of bird, which the Indians call 
 §>uulteu, from the found of its note when 
 it fings, which founds fo. Thefe are as big 
 as hens, and have very large wings, and 
 upon their wings they have, in the joining 
 place, provided by nature for their defence, 
 certain fharp points. The Spaniards call 
 thefe birds Friers, either becaufe they al- 
 ways go two and two, or three and three, 
 or becaufe the colour and order of their fea- 
 thers is fo, that one would really think they 
 have a hood and a frock. 
 
 For this fport 'tis not enough to have 
 one Faulcon,b\xt there muft be two, and thofe 
 very well taught, and dexterous to affift 
 one another. There ufes to be very good 
 company to fee the engagement, as we 
 may call it ; for it is worth feeing. Com- 
 ing then to the place that thefe birds haunt, 
 which is generally fome meadow or watery 
 ground, (for that they never forfake, their 
 laft defence being in the water, as foort as 
 they are fprung,) one at a time, the fportf- 
 man flies one Faulcon at them, who, as if 
 he minded not his game, endeavours to get 
 as high as he can, and get the wind of his 
 prey, who, at the fame time, does the fame 
 thing, and contends for place with his ene- 
 my ; fo that they both get almoft out of 
 fight ; but at laft the Faulcon having the bet- 
 ter wing prevails. When he has got advan- 
 tage enough over him, he comes down up- 
 on him like lightening -, but the Quulteu 
 defends himfelf, either by avoiding the 
 blow, or by oppofing the armed points of 
 his wings ; upon which often the unwary 
 hawk is wounded in the breaft. When the 
 fportfman fees the engagement laft too long, 
 fearing his hawk may tire, or be balked 
 before the victory declares for him, loofes 
 his other Faulcon to help the firft, who be- 
 ing frefh, foon joins his companion, and 
 both together fall upon theQuulteu, but not 
 at the fame time, left they friould hinder 
 one another : one gives him a blow, and 
 then the other another ; and fo, though he 
 make a good defence, he is forced to yield, 
 which he does, by making a way for the wa- 
 ter, where he has his laft retreat to defend 
 his life : here he expects his enemies upon 
 his back, with the points of his armed 
 wings turned towards them : the Faulcon 
 defpifing the danger, comes down with all 
 his force, and feizing her with one foot, 
 tears her to pieces ; but 'tis not without 
 receiving fometimes dangerous wounds. The 
 victory does not always coft fo dear ; for 
 that is according to the ftrength of the con- 
 tenders. 
 
LiHAP. 20. 
 
 Kingdom of CHILE. 
 
 37 
 
 tenders. I omit the mooting of wild-fowl 
 in the fens and waters, which is neverthelefs 
 very entertaining, as are likewife the In- 
 dians ways with nets, noofes, arrows, night- 
 lights ; nay, the manner of catching the 
 Faulcom themfelves is as diverting: 'tis done 
 
 with fine nets, in which they involve them, Ovall e> 
 that they may not hurt their wings. CrsrLj 
 
 This is fufficient about the birds •, and *^ 
 fince we are in the region of the air, fo near 
 heaven, let us fay fomething of it before we 
 come down to the earth again. 
 
 CHAP. XX. 
 
 Of the Heaven, and Stars j which are proper to the Kingdom and Region 
 
 of Chile. 
 
 V I s I S the common opinion of all thofe 
 1 J_ that have feen and dwelled in Chile, 
 that its foil and heaven, if they have 
 their equal, have not their fuperior in the 
 world ; and though fome fay the ftars of 
 the artick pole are larger than thofe of the 
 antarlick, yet as to their brightnefs and 
 beauty, and the light they give, and as to 
 their numbers, with the clearnefs of the 
 heavens where they are, there is none but 
 mull own the advantage on the fide of the 
 antartick. We may give, as a natural rea- 
 fon of this, the temper of the climate, both 
 as to air and earth ; for though there are 
 in it fo many rivers, as we have obferved, 
 yet they being rapid, and fwift in their 
 courfe, do not caufe overmuch humidity by 
 their flay, but afford only what is necefTa- 
 ry for its fertility ; and, of the two ex- 
 treams, the country is rather dry than moift, 
 particularly as far as thirty four or thirty 
 five degrees, as is manifeftly made out by 
 two experiments : firft, by the facility with 
 which all wounds are cured, which ufe to 
 be much longer in wet countries ; and, fe- 
 condly, 'tis proved from the habitations and 
 houfes, where the befl apartments are repu- 
 ted to be on the firft floor, they being look- 
 ed upon in fummer for cooleft, and in win- 
 ter for warmeft ; and, though they are wa- 
 tered every day in the year, and the floors 
 moft commonly but of earth, not at all up- 
 on vaults, yet they are never unhealthy ; 
 and there is no need of board -flooring or 
 mats, let the winter be never fo fharp. This 
 is a convincing argument, that the country 
 inclines to drynefs rather than to humidity ; 
 from whence it follows, that the fun raifes 
 fewer vapours ; and therefore the air being 
 clearer, the brightnefs of the ftars is more 
 confpicuous ; and for this reafon the fun fets 
 and rifes fo glorious, cafting out refplendent 
 beams of light, which is not fo on the other 
 fide of the Cordillera ; for there I have feen 
 the fun pretty high, and its whole body vi- 
 fible, and yet no ways dazzling, the vapours 
 of the earth taking away the radiant beauty 
 of its beams. 
 
 The experience of this is yet more ad- 
 mirable to thofe who fail from/Vra for Chile ; 
 for though they keep out a great way from 
 
 land, yet they know prefently by the hori- 
 zon when they come to the heighth of Chile •, 
 for they begin to fee it all difengaged from 
 clouds and ferene, gilded and glorious, 
 and its beauty increafing upon them every 
 day, as they gain more heighth towards 
 the pole. On the contrary, when they fail 
 for the line from Chile, the nearer they 
 grow to the tropick, that light and fplen- 
 dor grows duller and duller ; fo that in 
 my voyage for Panama, I faw all the ho- 
 rizon muddy, fad, and clouded, which con- 
 tinued till I got to the Havana ; where be- 
 ing in eighteen degrees north latitude, the 
 horizon cleared up and grew every day bet- 
 ter and better, till we got to Spain. 
 
 So much for the clearnefs and beauty of 
 the heavens and ftars, which may be con- 
 firmed by all thofe who have feen the place ; 
 but 'tis not fo of the bignefs of the ftars. 
 The aftrologers pretend, That the contem- 
 plation of them, and their meafure, be- 
 longs entirely to their art, as underftand- 
 ing beft the difpofition of the celeftial 
 fphere •, but, in my judgment, they who 
 can beft fpeak of this matter, are thofe who 
 have feen both poles, as is well obferved 
 by John and Theodore de Brye, in the 
 eighth and ninth part of their twelve cu- 
 rious books, where they relate variety of 
 hiftories, obfervations, and voyages, which 
 have been in the North and South America, 
 as far as the S freights of Magellan. They 
 report then the opinions of learned men, 
 who, in failing on the South Sea, obferved 
 what I fhall here produce, tranflated faith- 
 fully from their elegant Latin into our vul- 
 gar tongue, in thefe words : 
 
 The learned of our nation, who have fail- 1?. f"' 
 ed on the South Sea, do relate to us many de Q rye 
 things of that sky, and its ftars, as well of 
 their number, as beauty and bignefs ; and 
 my opinion is, that the ftars we fee here, are 
 no ways preferrable to the meridianal ones ; 
 but rather do affirm, without difpute, that 
 thofe ftars which are near the antartick pole 
 are more in number, and brighter and big- 
 ger. 
 
 He adds, befides, fpeaking of the ftars 
 
 of the conftellation of the Cruzero, that 
 
 their fplendors and beauty is extraordinary, 
 
 Vol. III. L and 
 
38 Of the Nature and Properties of the Book I. 
 
 OvALLE.and that the Via Laclea, or Milky-Way, 
 1646. ; s muc h brighter in thefe parts. This is 
 !**~ s f* Kj all from thofe authors. 
 The four- Peter Theodore, a moft skilful pilot and 
 teen conflel- aftronomer, relates in particular the ftars of 
 of'theHe- t ^ iat hemifphere, and the fourteen figures or 
 mifphere oyconftellations they make. The firft is the 
 Chile. Cameleon, which contains ten ftars ; the fecond 
 is the Indian Afpick, made up of four ftars ; 
 the third is tht Flying-Fifi, which is made up 
 of feven •, the fourth, called the Fijh Dorado, 
 is compofed of five ; the fifth is called the 
 Hydra, and is of fifteen ; the bird Toncan, 
 which is the fixth, has eight ftars ; and the 
 Phcenix, which is the feventh, has four- 
 teen j the Crane has thirteen, which is the 
 
 eighth •, in Noah's Dove, which is the ninth, 
 there appear eleven ; the Indian Sagittary, 
 which is the tenth, has twelve -, the Pea- 
 cock, which is the eleventh is compofed of 
 fixteen •, the Bird of Paradife, otherwife cal- 
 led Maaucodiata, has twelve •, the thir- 
 teenth is the "Triangle, and contains five ; 
 and the laft is the Cruzero, in which are. 
 four, which make a crofs, with a little 
 one clofe by it, which makes the foot of the 
 crofs. And though this Cruzero is the 
 guide of thofe who fail in the South Sea, as 
 the Cynofura is to thofe who navigate the 
 North Sea, yet it is not immediately at 
 the pole, but thirty degrees from it -, but 
 there being no ftars of that bignefs near 
 
Chap. 21 
 
 Kingdom of CHILE. 
 
 39 
 
 it, it is made ufe of for that effe<5b, but not 
 for the needle ; for that in either fea, whe- 
 ther fouth or north latitude, always turns 
 to the north ; though when one is in the 
 South Sea, the whole globe of the earth, or 
 the belt part of it, is between them and the 
 north, according to the circle that the 
 Cruzero makes. The fix'd point of the 
 pole feems to be between two, as it were, 
 great clouds, though they are not fuch, but 
 cluftersof ftars, not well diftinguifhable, 
 fuch as compofe the Via Latlea ; and they 
 are always fixed, without ftirring ; and when 
 
 the heavens are clear, they are brighter, and Ovalle 
 better feen. There are other ftars nearer /fj^L, 
 thefe clouds than the Cruzero ; but not be- ^"v^ 
 ing fo big, there is little notice taken of 
 them, but only of the Cruzero ftars, which 
 are indeed very beautiful, and fhine with 
 great livelinefs. I fuppofe that thofe who 
 have not feen them in their own place and 
 fituation, would be glad to fee a draught 
 of them ; which therefore I have placed 
 in the foregoing page, reprefenting them 
 as they are feen there. 
 
 CHAP. XXI. 
 
 Of the Animals , as well proper, as new Comers to the Kingdom of Chile . 
 
 and alfo of the Bezoar-Stones. 
 
 TILL the Spaniards came to thefe 
 American parts, there never had been 
 feen in them either cows, horfes, fheep, 
 hogs, houfe-cats, nor rabbits tame or wild : 
 nor dogs, except thofe called cur-dogs •, 
 but no hounds, greyhounds, nor other dogs 
 for game, either by land or water •, no maf- 
 tiffs, nor little dogs, which we call lap- 
 dogs •, no goats, nor affes : but as foon as 
 the Spaniards were fettled in Chile, and 
 found the land fo proper for the breed of 
 cattle and flocks, they nave increas'd them 
 to a degree of fuperfluity ; fo that there is 
 not only enough for the fupport of human 
 life, but alfo for thofe animals who are car- 
 •nivorous ; for, as we have feen above, in the 
 flaughtering time, much flefh lies wafte in 
 the fields, fo that 'tis neceffary to burn it, 
 and throw it into lakes and rivers, to hin- 
 der its corrupting the air. That which in 
 other parts is call'd a calamity and defola- 
 tion of the country, which is a murrain 
 among cattle, in Chile is thought a neceffa- 
 ry purge of the too great abundance of it. 
 This mayfeem a paradox ; but yet is found- 
 ed upon experience, becaufe the cattle in- 
 creasing as it does, and the land being fo 
 good, that it fattens them to a wonderful 
 degree, (there being often taken out of one 
 cow a hundred and fifty pounds weight of 
 tallow, each pound of fixteen ounces, J there 
 is enough to do to get a vent for it. The 
 fame may be faid of the hides •, for though 
 Peru, where the beft part of the consump- 
 tion is made, is fo great, yet fuch is the 
 product of Chile, that it wants another 
 Peru to confume it •, for this reafon 'tis a 
 gain to lofe the increafe of the cattle, for 
 then the profit is more, with lefs trouble 
 and coft of fervants. In the beginning of 
 the fettlement in Chile, Don Antonio de Her- 
 rera fays, That horfes were commonly fold 
 for a thoufand pieces of eight a horfe ; and 
 Gareilaffo fays, That at firft a horfe did 
 
 not ufe to be fold in Peru at all, except 
 upon the death of the owner, or upon his 
 returning to Spain ; and in that cafe they 
 were fold for four, five, or fix thoufand 
 pieces of eh ht a horfe. He fays, he hi.n- 
 ielf knew a foldier who had an exeellent 
 horfe, and that a negro going one day by 
 with him in his hand, a gentleman, who 
 faw them, fent to oiTer the foldier ten thou- 
 fand pieces of eight for the horfe and ne- 
 gro, which he refufed widi contempt : but 
 fince that time horfes have multiplied fo, 
 that there being not people enough to feed 
 and tend them, they are fallen extremely. 
 The cows too have increafed fo as to cover 
 the fields •, and 'tis a wonderful thing to 
 fee in thofe great plains of Tucuman and 
 Buenos Aires vaft herds of them feeding, 
 without any other mafter than the firft that 
 will take them, if he can. I have feen in 
 Chile, in the territory of St. J ago, horfe« 
 already drefs'd for war, fold for two 
 crowns a-piece, to fupply the army, and 
 yet for fhape, courage, and good qualities, 
 they yield to no Neapolitan horfe I ever faw ; 
 no, nor to the Andaluzes, from whom they 
 are defcended ; for they have had no rea- 
 fon to degenerate in fo good a land. The 
 cows too, which were at firft out of all 
 price, I have feen fold for a crown a-piece, 
 and the calves for half a crown : the fheep, 
 fuch as I have feen bought in flocks for 
 Cuyo and Tucuman, have been fold for three 
 pence, or three half-pence a-piece. 
 
 Theodore and John de Brye, do mention 
 fome author, who fays, That rats were like- 
 wife ftrangers to Chile, and were carried 
 thither by an Antwerp ftiip that paffed the 
 Str eights of Magellan : they muft not mean 
 the ordinary houfe-rats and mice, but thole 
 great ones which have a large tail, and 
 are about a foot long : they are called Pe- Pericotes, 
 ricotes, and are very mifchievous. This* < lar g e f° ri 
 Ihip, without doubt, took port in foms 
 
 of 
 
Oj we Mature ana rroperties oj iu* 
 
 £>00K 1. 
 
 OvALLE.of thofe of Chile, where it left thefe ani- 
 1646. ma i Sj fo prejudicial and hard to deftroy ; 
 
 ^V^ for they refift the cats, and 'tis a ftout one 
 that can kill them. But it is a wonderful 
 thing to obferve, that though in fea-towns 
 the magazines, fhops, and warehoufes, are 
 full of them, yet they never go further 
 into the land, which they might eafily do, 
 by fo much carriage as the commerce of 
 thofe parts requires. I believe the air of the 
 Cordillera does not agree with them, and fo 
 may have killed thofe which have been car- 
 ried by chance with goods ; for I do not 
 remember I ever faw one in St. J ago, nor 
 in any town far from the fea-fide. 
 
 Sheep, 
 
 Among the animals that are proper to 
 Chile, the firft may be reckoned thofe which 
 are called the fheep of that country : they 
 are of the fhape of camels, not fo big, nor 
 vaft, and without the bunch that camels 
 have : they are white, black, brown, and 
 fome are afh-coloured. The authors above 
 cited fay, That anciently they ferved to 
 plow the land in fome parts, before there 
 were oxen in it ; nay, in the relation of 
 George Splberg and his fleet, 'tis faid, the 
 Dutch palling by the ifland of Mocha, faw 
 the Indians ufe them in that work. 
 
 They are made ufe of at this time in 
 fome parts, for carriage of wine, wheat, 
 maize, and other provifions ; and I remem- 
 ber to have feen them about thirty years 
 ago ferve to carry water at St. J ago from 
 the river to the houfes, for the ufe of the 
 family ; but now they are not at all em- 
 ployed there in this kind of labour, there 
 being fuch quantities of mules and afTes for 
 all that fervice. Thefe fheep have their 
 upper lip flit, with which they do, as it 
 were, fpit at thofe who vex them ; and the 
 children, who ufe to do it, when they fee 
 them ready to fpit, run away ; for they 
 know, and 'tis a common truth, that where- 
 ever their fpitting falls, it caufes a fcab ; 
 and having a very long neck, about three 
 foot long, they ufe thefe defenfive arms the 
 better. Their wool is extreamly valued ; for 
 of it are woven cloaks, or mantles, fo fine, 
 that they look like camlet : they govern 
 them by a kind of bridle, which they put 
 through holes in their ears, and fo by pul- 
 ling the reins, turn them which way they 
 will : they kneel down to be loaded, and 
 when the loading is well fitted and faftened, 
 they rife and carry it very gravely. 
 Pegues, a There are likewife natural to that coun- 
 fmall /ort try a fort of little rabbits, called by the In- 
 cfwildmb- d\ am Pegues, which they eat with much 
 pleafure : they are wild. The taking of 
 them is very good fport : they carry wa- 
 ter in great tubs to their holes ; and though 
 they are very deep, and have fecret iffiies 
 and correfpondencies with each other under 
 ground, to avoid being purfued by the 
 
 as 
 
 hunters or their dogs, yet the water over- 
 comes them ; and while they fly from it, 
 the Indians watch for them at their other 
 hole^ and with their dogs take them 
 they come out to avoid the water. 
 
 There are another fort of .little rabbits, smaUtams 
 which are like thefe, but they are tame, and rabbits, 
 the Indians call them Cuyes, which are alfoSf^ 
 very good meat : they are of pretty colours, ayeS ' 
 and fpotted : they are very common every 
 where. 
 
 The fquirrels are not fo •, and 
 know they are to be found any 
 Chile, but in the valley of Guafco 
 
 grey, or afh-colour, and their 
 
 I do not Squirrels: 
 where in 
 they are 
 skins are 
 
 bits. 
 
 mightily valued for furs, for their warmth 
 and finenefs of the touch. 
 
 The animals called Guanacos, Chamois, WiU gouts. 
 or wild goats, are very like thefe country 
 fheep, as well in their fhape as motions i 
 but they are of a different colour ; for they 
 are red, of a clear colour : they never can 
 be tam'd, but go in flocks, feeding in the 
 fields j and 'tis as much as a very fwift horfe 
 can do to overtake them running-, and if 
 they have the leaft ftart of them, they feem 
 to play with them ; for by an eafy gallop, 
 they make the horfe ftrain ; in which they 
 are much help'd by their long legs, for by 
 them they gain more ground at every reach : 
 yet 'tis very eafy to catch the young-ones, 
 or thofe who are not us'd to be hunted ; be- 
 caufe being fo tall, and their bones, becaufe 
 of their youth, not well knit, they are ea- 
 fily tir'd ; fo that by following a flock of 
 them on horfeback with dogs, (and they go 
 three or four hundred in a flock,) the young- 
 ones are fbre'd to lag behind, and fome are 
 kill'd by the dogs, fome are knock'd on 
 the head with a ftick by the hunter. I have 
 feen them bring thus three or four dead at a 
 time. And this is not only a pleafant, but a 
 ufeful fport ; for the flefh of thefe young- 
 ones is like kid's flefh, and is eaten frefh ; 
 but that of the old-ones is not fb, but dried 
 and fmoak'd : 'tis the beft of that kind in 
 the world. 
 
 Thefe creatures breed, in a bag they have the beuw 
 under the belly, the bezoar-flones, which/"""' 
 are fo valued againff. poiibn and malignant 
 fevers, good to rejoice the heart, and other 
 admirable effects. The matter out of which 
 they are made, are herbs of 
 which thefe animals eat to 
 of any thing they ail, and preferve them- 
 felves from the poifon of any venomous 
 creature, as ferpents, or poifonous plants, 
 and other accidents. 
 
 Thefe Hones are found in the oldeft gua- 
 nacos ; and the reafon is, that their natural 
 heat not being altogether fo ftrong as the 
 heat of the young-ones, they cannot convert 
 into their fubftance all the humour of the 
 herb they take to remedy their indifpofition ; 
 
 and 
 
 great virtue, 
 :ure themfelves 
 
Chap. 22. 
 
 Kingdom of C H I L E. 
 
 4* 
 
 and fo nature has provided, that what re- 
 mains may be depofited in that bag, and 
 be made a ftone to cure in men the fame 
 infirmities: according to this notion one 
 may obferve, that the ftone is compos'd of 
 feveral coats, fome thicker, and fome thin- 
 ner, according to the quantity of matter 
 that is gathered together at each time, juft 
 as a wax candle is made by feveral coats 
 given at feveral times to form its bignefs. 
 
 'Tis likewife a thing well experienced, 
 that in thofe countries, where there are 
 moft vipers, and other poifonous animals, 
 thefe ftones are moft plentiful ; and the 
 caufe is manifeft, becaufe thefe animals, 
 and the deer-kind, do beat fo much ground 
 for their livelihood, they are more exposM 
 to venomous creatures, which, when trod 
 upon, wound them forely, and they run 
 naturally to their remedy in thefe herbs ; 
 and as they do this more frequently in thofe 
 parts where they receive moft damage, by 
 confequence there are more of thefe ftones 
 engender 'd. 
 
 From hence it happens, that in thofe 
 parts of Cuyo, there is a greater quantity of 
 thefe bezoar-ftones to be had, than in that 
 which we call properly Chile ; for there are 
 many vipers and poifonous creatures, of 
 which Chile is very free, as we have fa id ; 
 and yet there are taken fome ftones here, 
 but the greateft part come from Cuyo ; to 
 which likewife it is of fome confideration, 
 that there are bred more guanacos and flags 
 than in Chile ; for that country being not 
 fo populous, and having fuch vaft plains, 
 thefe animals have room enough for food 
 and for increaft ; but it is not fo towards 
 the fea-fide of Chile, for that being very 
 populous, and full of cattle and flocks, 
 there is no room for the wild ones, except 
 upon the edges of the Cordillera, from 
 whence they come down into the plains 
 fometimes. 
 
 The bignefs of thefe ftones is in propor- 
 tion to the animal that breeds them ; the 
 moft certain rule is, that if they are little, 
 
 there are many in the bag, and fewer ifOvALLE. 
 large -, and fometimes, when very large, 1646. 
 there is but one. I carried with me to Italy v " -r V , V. 
 one that weighed thirty two ounces ; and 
 yet that was not it which made it the moft 
 valuable, but its virtues and fhape, for it 
 was a perfect oval, as if it had been turn'd 
 by a turner : the Indian who found it had 
 feventy pieces of eight for it ; becaufe when 
 a great ftone is found, it is not fold by 
 weight, but according to the eftimation of 
 the owner, and the bigger the dearer. 
 
 The virtue of thefe bezoar-ftones is very 
 well known and experienced ; and people 
 of quality take them, not only in the time 
 of their ficknefs, but alfo in health, to pre- 
 ferveit: the way ofufing them is to put 
 them whole into the vefiel that holds either 
 the wine or water, or into the glafs out of 
 which one drinks, and the longer theyftay 
 in, the more virtue they communicate. 
 And if a perfon be not much indifpofed, 
 there is no need of ufing them any other 
 way ; but if any one mould be attack'd 
 by any diftemper of confequence, and be 
 fick at heart, or be affected with melan- 
 choly fits, it would have more virtue to 
 grate a little of the ftone to powder, and 
 drink it : whatfoever way 'tis taken, it 
 comforts the heart, purifies the blood ; and 
 the ufing of it is look'd upon as a prefer- 
 vative againft all infirmities. 
 
 There are alfo bred in the Pampas, or 
 the plains of Cuyo, many hares ; and one Hares] 
 fort, call'd Chirichinchos, whofe flefh taftes 
 like that of fucking pigs. But the greateft 
 increafers are the Guanacos, and the deer. 
 It has been faid already, that in Chile there 
 are but few, for the reafons alledged ; but 
 there are great quantity of wild cows and (MJeew. 
 wild mares, which came at firft from (bmewtj mtirt ,, 
 which went aftray, by the negligence of 
 the owners ; and being once in thofe moun- 
 tains, they have increafed fo wonderfully, 
 that they are become a game, and many go 
 to kill them, or take them for profit. 
 
 CHAP. XXII. 
 
 Of the Trees growing in Chile. 
 
 AMongft other obligations which the 
 land of America has to Spain, one is 
 the having enrich'd it with fo many noble 
 plants, trees, and feeds, which it wanted •, 
 for before the Spaniards conquer'd it, there 
 were not in all America either vines, fig- 
 trees, olive-trees, apple-trees, melicotoons, 
 peaches, auberges, quinces, pears, pome- 
 granates, cherries, apricots, plumbs, oran- 
 ges, lemons, citrons, nor almonds. As 
 for feeds, there was neither wheat, barley, 
 nor oats, anifeed, coriander- feed, cumin, 
 Vol. III. 
 
 nor oreganum, linfeed, flax, peafe, beans, 
 nor cabbage, lettice, radifhes, cardoons, 
 chicory, or indive, berenguenas, gourels, 
 melons, cucumbers, parfley, garlick, or 
 onion. But inftead of thefe trees, fruits, 
 and plants, the author of nature had pro- 
 vided them with others of great ufe and 
 good relifh, fuch as maize all over Ame- 
 rica : Frifoles, Las Papas el Madi, Los Ca- 
 pallos, and fome others, are proper only to 
 Peru, and the land within the tropicks ; 
 the Camotes, Guayabas, Mammeyes, Plan- 
 M tanoS) 
 
4 2 
 
 Of the Nature and Properties of the 
 
 Book I. 
 
 Ovallk. lanos, Zipitapotes, Anones, Nifperos, Aqua- 
 1646. cates, Pinnas, Guanabanas, Papayas, Pi- 
 
 ^^Y^S tabayas, and many others, which, though 
 highly commended, do not generally come 
 up to the relifh of the European fruits. 
 And the bread and wine has been a fingular 
 addition to them, fuch as the Indians va- 
 lue more than all their product, and parti- 
 cularly the wine, which is their chief de- 
 light; as for bread they value it, but not 
 fo much. 
 
 Though America is oblig'd to Europe 
 for all this addition, yet Chile much more, 
 as having the greateft advantage by it, and 
 with more plenty than any other part of 
 that new world ; for though all that we 
 have nam'd of European plants are to be 
 found lbmewhere, yet not all everywhere ; 
 for in fome there grows corn, and not wine ; 
 in others both thofe, and not oil ; in 
 others neither corn, wine, nor oil, but 
 other fruit-trees. The fame thing may be 
 faid of the animals to eat ; fome have beef, 
 others mutton, others pork, which on the 
 continent is a delicacy, and is given to the 
 fick ; fo that running over all America, we 
 may find that this communication of new 
 creatures has reach'd fome parts for one 
 thing, and fome for another. But as for 
 the kingdom of Chile, it may be faid to 
 have been totally oblig'd and enrich'd •, for 
 all the trees, feeds, plants, and all the ani- 
 mals, &c. of Europe, are to be found 
 there, and that almoft in every part of it, 
 for 'tis rare to fee any thing take in one 
 place, and not in another ; but if it does 
 they may eafily have it from their neigh- 
 bours, if it be not fo good, or not at all 
 with them. 
 
 In the third chapter of this book, we 
 have already mentioned how all thefe Eu- 
 ropean fruits and feeds take in Chile, but 
 we can never enough dilate upon that fub- 
 ject : It will hardly be believed by moft 
 people, particularly by thofe who never 
 having been out of their own country, are 
 fo in love with it, as not to imagine there 
 can be any equal to it, much lefs exceed it ; 
 and we relating things fo diftant, of which 
 we cannot bring ocular witnefles, we are 
 the more liable to contradiction •, but fince 
 we are writing a hiftory, we muft fpeak the 
 truth as we know it, and it really is. 
 Trees. Some trees do not exceed in bignefs thofe 
 
 of Europe of the fame kind, as cherry-trees, 
 quince-trees, almond, peach, and pome- 
 granate-trees, olive, orange, lemon, and 
 citron-trees, melicotoons, which laft in 2a- 
 cuman are neverthelefs very large, and to 
 that degree, that three or four men fome- 
 times cannot embrace the body of one of 
 thofe trees. I have feen fome apple-trees as 
 big as elm-trees ; the pear-trees are yet 
 bigger, and much more the mulberry-trees, 
 J 
 
 and walnut-trees, though as to their fruit, 
 it is not fo large as that of Europe, the nuts 
 having the fhell as thick again, and by 
 confequence lefs meat. This is as to the 
 garden-trees brought from Europe. 
 
 As for the trees natural to that country, 
 they are of two forts, the one is fruit-trees, 
 the other not : of the firft, I find only three 
 kinds of fpecies of thofe, which are like- 
 wife in Europe, which are the avellanos, 
 or hafel-nut, the pine-tree, and the algar- 
 rabos, or cod-tree. Of thofe which are 
 not properly fruit-trees, there are the lau- 
 rel, the oak, the willow, the cyprefs, 
 which are in great abundance, and very 
 large; out of thefe they have boards very 
 fit for boxes and trunks, which are no ways 
 pieced, but of one plank ; the doors and 
 coverings of the churches are alfo of this 
 cyprefs-wood. 
 
 Thefe trees grow moft commonly in the cyprefs- 
 precipices of the Cordillera, which being "■«• 
 veiy deep, the cypreffes are extream large 
 and tall, for they fhoot up till their tops 
 can be warm'd by the fun-beams ; fo that 
 they are as ftreight as a wax-candle, and of 
 fo fine a fmell and perfume, that though it 
 be fo plentiful, it bears a good price, and 
 a greater in Peru, to which 'tis carried, as 
 well as the cedar, which does not fell fo 
 well, becaufe there are more of them. 
 
 Thefe cedar-trees are without compari- Cedur-tne. 
 fon bigger, and have larger heads than the 
 cyprefs-trees, and of one of them are made 
 feveral planks ; but more of this when we 
 come to fpeak of the iflands of Chiloe, 
 for there they are larger than in any other 
 part. The colour of the wood is red when 
 it is firft work'd, but in time, and by de- 
 grees, it lofes that lively colour, and comes 
 to be of a kind of walnut-tree colour ; the 
 planks are of the fafhion of cedar planks, 
 not fo fubject to the worm, but more eafy 
 to work. 
 
 The oak alfo yields very large planks, The Oak. 
 for they thrive exceedingly, and grow very 
 thick ; fome of them are white, and the 
 wood of them is corruptible ; others are red, 
 and incorruptible. 
 
 The planks from the paragua-xxzz s.vep ar ^ua- 
 the moft in ufe, but lefs valuable. Them*, 
 tree is a handfome branching tree, keeping 
 its leaves green all the year : they are like 
 elms. 
 
 The moft common wood of all, and that Cinnamon- 
 of which there is moft plenty, which ferves"'^ 
 for the covering of houfes and roofs, is the 
 cinnamon-wood. Thefe are very large trees, 
 of a beautiful afpect; they keep their leaves 
 all the year, and are like that which in 
 Italy they call the laurel royal. The gua-Gtiayac^ 
 yac-tree is bred in the mountain or Cordil- tree, 
 lera, and from thence has its hardnefs and 
 heavinefs, which is fuch, that it is like iron ; 
 
 and 
 
Chap. 22. 
 
 Kingdom of CHILE. 
 
 43 
 
 and the balls made of it to play at billiards, 
 are almoft as hard as the ivory ones ; the 
 tree is no large tree, and the heart of the 
 wood is a yellow mix'd with green ; the 
 decoction of it is good for many infirmities. 
 sandal- The fmdal-tree is very odoriferous ; there 
 tree. are great quantities of them in the iflands 
 which are nam'd from Juan Fernandes; 'tis 
 a prefervative againfl the plague, and is 
 us'd by the confeilbrs, and others, who are 
 bound to approach infected people. There 
 are other trees and fhrubs of admirable vir- 
 tue for feveral infirmities, of which the 
 Indians have a particular knowledge, and 
 perform admirable cures with them. 
 
 The fruit-trees bred in the mountains are 
 many, and of great variety : let us firft treat 
 Palm-tree, of that which indeed carries the palm, not 
 only becaufe of its name, but that its 
 heighth, beauty, and abundance, and that 
 of its moft excellent fruit, challenges the 
 firft place among all the reft. 
 
 They grow generally upon the moun- 
 tains, and in precipices, fo thick together, 
 that feeing them at a diftance, one would 
 think they were a clump fet by hand ; they 
 are very thick and high, all the body of 
 the tree is naked till the top or firft fprout; 
 its nature is to lofe all its old branches as 
 the new ones come out, by which means 
 the body of the tree rifing free, and difen- 
 cumber'd from fuch boughs as ufe in other 
 trees to grow out of the fides of them, is 
 totally employed in feeding the top, and 
 the fruit which grows within it being, as it 
 were, a pyramid round it, to preferve it by 
 the admirable texture of its leaves and bran- 
 ches which encompafs it. 
 
 Thefe palm-trees have a wonderful pro- 
 perty, and moft certain, which is, that 
 none of them give their fruit, except they 
 are in fight of each other ; and if it hap- 
 pens that one comes up alone, without a 
 companion, though it thrive to a great 
 largenefs, yet it never bears, except another 
 be planted by it, and this they call the fe- 
 male; and as foon as the female is planted, 
 though never fo little a one, yet the great 
 ones bear, and the fecond in its time, when 
 it is big enough : I have feen the experience 
 of this ; and 'tis a thing well known to all. 
 The fruit of thefe trees is called Cocos, 
 and is like filberds, though bigger by half, 
 and the meat within the fhell is not folid, 
 but hollow, and is, round the edge, about 
 the thicknefs of a crown-piece, and in the 
 reft of the hollow is a kind of milk, or wa- 
 ter, of an excellent relifh; and fo is the 
 flefh of it, which is white, and ferves to 
 preferve the liquor like a viol, which ftays 
 in it till it be imbibed by the Coco, which 
 happens in lbme months -, and then they are 
 not fo good to eat as when they are frefh ; 
 but then they are good to preferve, as al- 
 
 monds are, and other kernels of that iu-Qvalle. 
 ture. V J^4<5- 
 
 Antonio de Herrera, and other authors, ^^V > *- / 
 fay, that thefe Cocos are good againfl poi- 
 fon ; and nature feems to fet a value upon 
 it, by the many covers in which it is in- 
 volved ; firft, the kernel is cover'd with a 
 fhell harder than that of the almond, then it 
 has another cover of a green colour, and 
 fometimes yellow, which is woven fo clofe 
 about it, and fo ftrongly, that when it is 
 green, 'tis eafier to break it than to peal it 
 off. The fruit grows clofe to a ftalk, 
 which fometimes will have above a thoufand 
 on it ; and this is environ'd by a great fhell, 
 which grows bigger and bigger with that 
 bunch it contains, till at laft the fruit makes 
 it burft and open into two parts, which are 
 like two boats, each of above half a yard 
 long, and two fpans diameter in the broad- 
 eft place, and the bunch within all of a fine 
 yellow, very beautiful to look on. It hangs 
 on the branches till it be ripe, and then falls 
 to the ground, where it is gather'd, and 
 great provifion is made of it for Peru ; for 
 befides their being made a fweetmeat, the 
 children rid the merchants of them for 
 play-things, it being one of their greateft 
 entertainments. 
 
 The palm-trees which bear dates, do not 
 feem to be natural to this country, but 
 brought from abroad ; for I never faw them, 
 as others, wild in the fields, but only in 
 gardens. 
 
 There are other fruit-trees wild, which 
 come in thefields, and are call'd Pengue; they Tbefengue. 
 have a red fruit, fomething bigger and more 
 oval than the filberds ; thefe the Indians eat 
 boil'd with other ingredients. There are 
 alfo trees call'd Magues, which are very TheMague . 
 beautiful and cooling ; the leaves are admi- 
 rable againft a burn ; the fruit is black like 
 a myrtle-berry ; 'tis very well relifh'd, ha- 
 ving a dulcepiquante very agreeable; it 
 blackens the mouth and hands when it is 
 eaten, and for that reafon the more civiliz'd 
 people do not ufe it fo much. There are 
 alfo fruits of which the Indians make their 
 fermented liquors, whofe names and proper- 
 ties I cannot call to mind ; only I know 
 there is great variety of them ; and I can 
 remember one call'd Quelu : the fruit is 
 very fweet and fmall, between red and 
 yellow ; of this they make a drink extra- 
 ordinary fweet. They make another drink 
 of that which they call Iluigan, and the 
 Spaniards Molle ; it is of the fhape and 
 colour like pepper ; the tree on which they 
 grow is but little, but a great bearer: this 
 drink is very agreeable, and coveted even 
 by the greateft ladies. The moft common 
 drink of the Indians is made ofmaiz, which 
 is the ordinary bread and fuftenance of the 
 Indians. 
 
 Let, 
 
44 Of the Nature and Properties of the Book L 
 
 The Mur 
 tilla. 
 
 Ant. it 
 Herrera. 
 
 Ovalle. Let us end with the tree called murtilla ; 
 1646. though, if we believe the authors who treat 
 
 y^C^ of it, it deferves to be ranked in the firft 
 place. Antonio de Herrera fpeaks fo well 
 of this tree in the ninth D«W<?ofhishifto- 
 ry of the Indies, Book IX. and Folio 247. 
 that I will relate only what he fays, and 
 that in his own words, which are as fol- 
 low : [There is a kind of fruit of trees that 
 grow on the mountains, which grow from 
 thirty feven degrees upwards, and in thofe 
 countries 'tis a common food \ the natives call 
 it Uni, and the Caftillans Murtilla. It is 
 red, and like a fmall grape, fomething bigger 
 than afwolen pea ; itsjhape and colour is like 
 the pomegranate grains, its fmell and tafte a- 
 greeable, and not unlike a grape. It has lit- 
 tle grains, like a fig, which are almoft imper- 
 ceptible to the tongue ; its temperature is hot 
 and dry : of this they make a wine, which 
 exceeds all other liquors, even that of the eaft- 
 india coco, or palm-tree : neither cyder, 
 mead, nor beer, nor all the other drinks de- 
 fcribed by Andres de Laquuna , are to be 
 preferred to it. This wine is clear, fine, 
 warm, and very agreeable to the tafte, as 
 well as profitable to the ftomach. It confumes 
 all vapours in the head, its heat wanning the 
 ears without going any further : it comforts 
 and cherifhes the ftomach, increafes appetite, 
 and never takes it away. It never offends 
 the head, or makes it heavy, or burthens the 
 ftomach ; and it bears as much water again 
 as wine will do. Thofe who have tafted it, 
 commend its colour and flavour, as much as 
 that of grapes. Its colour is golden, and migh- 
 ty bright ; and it is as fweet and good as the 
 wine e/Ciudad Real. There is little of it 
 made, and fo it lofts but eight months ; for 
 which reafon 'tis not known bow many years 
 it would keep. It takes up as much labour 
 and care as wine, in the making : if it be left 
 to itfelf, and without fire, 'tis forty days be- 
 
 fore it ferments. It cafts down a lee, and 
 works out the frothy part at the top of the vef- 
 fel; and for that reafon care is taken tofcum 
 it as it boils, and then 'tis drawn off into an- 
 other veffel. When 'tis turned to vinegar ■, 
 its vinegar has a better tafte and colour than 
 wine vinegar ; for it retains the colour of the 
 fruit, which is very odoriferous and fweet.'] 
 Thus far this author : from whence it may 
 be inferred, that this land had good wine 
 of its own ; and it had alio very good oil 
 made of a feed called Madi ; it is extream- 
 ly well relifhed ; but now 'tis not much in 
 ufe, becaufe that of olives is fo common. 
 
 It is not pofiible to defcribe particularly, 
 one by one, all the various forts of trees 
 that are bred in the woods and mountains 
 of Chile ; and it would take up a very large 
 treatife, which is not my purpofe ; yet 
 when we come to treat of the Streights of 
 Magellan, we will fpeak of the cinnamon- 
 tree, which is to be found there, and of the 
 barks of fome other trees of that foil, which 
 have the fame tafte as the eaft-india pepper. 
 All that I can fay at prefent, is, that there 
 are few of thefe trees that lofe their leaves 
 in winter, particularly thofe which grow 
 wild in the woods, which are generally aro- 
 matick, and of a very fragrant fmell ; and 
 of them, all the fineft of this kind are bred 
 in the territory of the Conception. I would 
 not have believed it, if I had not feen it i 
 for in travelling I met with lovely groves, 
 which bordered the highways, and caft out 
 fo rich a fmell from their leaves, that the 
 flowers of jafmin did not appear fweeter. 
 There are alfo abundance of myrtles and 
 laurels, which grow in great groves natu- 
 rally ; and yet among them there are trees 
 whofe leaves exceed them infinitely in the 
 perfume of their fmell ; infomuch that pal- 
 ling one's hand over them, one would think 
 one had amber gloves on. 
 
 BOOK 
 
Chap. i. 
 
 Kingdom of CHILE. 
 
 45 
 
 book n. 
 
 Treating of the fecond and third Part 
 of the Kingdom of Chile. 
 
 CHAP. I. 
 
 Of the IJlands of the Kingdom of Chile: 
 
 ' AV I N G, for the better defcrip- 
 tion of the kingdom of Chile, 
 divided it into three parts, we 
 have treated of the firfc and 
 principal one, which is that 
 which is properly called Chile, in which 
 many things are faid which are common to 
 all the three parts ; therefore in thefe two 
 which remain, we fhall take notice of that 
 only which fhall be peculiar to them, to 
 avoid repetition. 
 ijlmdi. We come now to the fecond part, which 
 are the iflands which are fpread all along 
 the coaft of the South Sea, as far as the 
 S '- -eights of Magellan; I fay, they are ma- 
 ny in number, and fome of them very large 
 ones ; as that of Santla Maria, La Mocha, 
 Juan Fernandes, and, above all, that of 
 Chiloe, in Avhich is founded the city of Caf- 
 tro. Some make thefe iflands fifty, fome 
 feventy leagues in length, and about fix or 
 feven leagues in breadth. In the fame fea, 
 or archipelago, there are many more, fome 
 of ten leagues, and others lefs •, and in all, 
 reckoning thofe that are within the Str eights 
 of Magellan, there are above two hundred 
 difcovered. 
 Del Sobo- Juft over-againft Coquimbo there are three, 
 
 ra il£s M De which are Called Del Sohoral > De Mux ' ill °- 
 los Paxa'ros, nes -> anc * De los Paxaros, in thirty degrees 
 und many latitude •, two more in thirty three and for- 
 worn. t , degrees : there eight fmall ones juft over- 
 againft Vol Paraifo, which are called the 
 iflands of Juan Fernandes ; who dying, left 
 them to die Jefuites. Then follows the 
 ifland Quinquina, which is in the bay of the 
 Conception. Juft over-againft Arauco is the 
 ifland cfc Santla Maria, in the thirty feventh 
 degree ; and in diirty eighth that of La 
 Mocha. Hard by Valdivia, about forty 
 three degrees, comes the archipelago of 
 Chiloe, which is compofed of forty iflands ; 
 and hard by it is the province of Calbuco, in 
 which there are twelve more. Thofe of 
 Los Chonos are as many, in forty five de- 
 grees ; and in fifty degrees are the eighty 
 
 iflands difcovered by Pedro Sarmiento, asQvALLE. 
 fhall be related hereafter. 1646. 
 
 The iflands of Chiloe are reputed barren; ^^y^/ 
 but their foil is not really fo, only the ex-V" */ 
 ceflive rains choak the feed, and do not let oe * 
 the corn thrive j fo that they are without 
 wheat, wine, or oil, or any other plants 
 which need much fun. The nature of the 
 climate of this archipelago is fuch, that it 
 rains almoft all the year, fo that only maiz, 
 or other fuch grains can ripen, that do not 
 want fo much fun. The nourifhment or 
 diet of the natives, is moftly of a root cal- 
 led Papas, well known over all die Weft, 
 Indies, of a good nourifhment ; and they 
 grow there bigger than in any other place. 
 They have befides fome maiz, fome fifh, 
 and particularly fhell-fifli, which is excel- 
 lent in thofe feas. They have few fheep, 
 but very good poultry, as well as hogs, 
 and fome beef ; with which, and what be- 
 fides is brought to them from St. J ago, and 
 the Conception, the Spaniards, both of the 
 garrifon and city of Caftro, make a good 
 fhift This city is the capital of the chief 
 ifland ; in which, and in the reft, there is 
 great quantity of honey and wax made. 
 And Herrera and other hiftorians fay, there 
 are mines of gold upon the fhore ; and they 
 remark it as an extraordinary thing, and 
 hardly heard of in any other place. 
 
 The manufactures of thefe iflands z.rtM*mf«c- 
 the cloathing for the Indians, who have a ture of the 
 kind of veft which they call Macun, and'-t 1 ""^- 
 it is without fleeves, becaufe their arms are 
 naked ; and over this they put a garment 
 called Choni, which ferves for a cloak, and 
 is like that which painters give to the apof- 
 tles in their pictures. They have another 
 commodity from their woods, particularly 
 of the plank they make of a tree, which is 
 a cedar, and of which they have vaft woods, 
 and in them trees of a prodigious fize ; for 
 frier Gregory of Leon, of the order of St. 
 Francis, in his map of Chile, which he de- 
 dicates to the prefident Don L:uis Fernandes 
 Vol. III. N de 
 
a.6 Of the Nature and Properties of the Book II. 
 
 Ovalle. de Cordoua, Senior del Carpio, fays, that 
 * 6 4 6 - fome of thefe trees are fo big that they 
 V-< V^ cannot be hardly encompafled by a rope of 
 fix yards long ; and out of the wood of the 
 boughs there has been made fix hundred 
 planks, of twenty five foot long, and two 
 foot broad ; and that which is confiderable, 
 is, that this plank is not fawed, but cut 
 with axes •, in which there is much more 
 lofs. This author deferves belief, as well 
 from the experience of forty two years that 
 he lived in Chile, as from having been de-. 
 finitor of his order. And what I have heard 
 from the mouth of a colonel, who was both 
 born and bred in that country, will ferve 
 to confirm this ; which is, That if two 
 men on horfeback are on each fide of the 
 tree, when it lies along, they cannot fee one 
 another ; for the body of the trunk hin- 
 ders them. Thefe planks are carried to 
 Chile and Peru ;.and in exchange they bring 
 back pr'ovifions to live on. The iflands of 
 
 l/les cf Chono are yet poorer than thefe ; becaufe, 
 no. that being nearer the pole, their fummer is 
 fhorter, and their rains more copious, info- 
 much that they drown the earth, and hin- 
 der it from producing. 
 
 ■ We have little knowledge of any other 
 iflands befides thefe of Chiloe ; becaufe the 
 continent being fo large, and yet not 
 throughly peopled, there has been little oc- 
 cafion of inhabiting any more than fome 
 few of the iflands ; by which means there 
 is but fmall difcovery made of their quali- 
 ties •, though 'tis reafonable to think they re- 
 femble the land over-againft which they lie. 
 
 Jf! ,. As for the iflands of Juan Fernandes, I 
 
 Fernandes. w ^ relate what I find writ about them in 
 Theodore and John de Brye, in their relation 
 of the voyage of John Scutten : they fay 
 then, that thefe two iflands are very high 
 land ; the leaft of the two, which is the 
 weftermofl, appeared to them barren, as 
 being covered with wood, and very moun- 
 tainous •, though not landing on it, they 
 could make no judgment of the infide of 
 the ifland. The bigger ifland, which is the 
 eaftermoft, is likewife mountainous, but has 
 great variety of trees, and much grafs, with 
 which are fed great herds of fwine and 
 goats, bred from fome few which were put 
 on fhore by John Fernandes, who began to 
 cultivate thefe iflands as his own ; but he 
 dying, and the Spaniards finding greater 
 advantages upon the continent, they for- 
 fook thofe iflands, which were out of all 
 trade, leaving their flocks of cattle behind 
 them, which now are infinitely multiplied. 
 
 Fmelfland. They fay befides, that coming to this, 
 which they call the Fine I/land, they found a 
 port very fafe for their fhips, having twenty 
 or thirty fathom depth, the fhore all. fandy 
 and even, with a delicate valley full of trees 
 of all forts, and wild boars, and other ani- 
 c 
 
 mals feeding in it ; but they could not dif-1 
 tinguifh them, by reafon of the diftance' 
 they were at. They extol particularly a 
 mofl beautiful fountain, which coming 
 down from high rocks, rowls into the fea 
 by different canals, which form a pleafant 
 profpec~t, and its water is very fweet and 
 agreeable. They law alfo great ltore of 
 feals, and other filh, which they caught in 
 great plenty. In fhort, they were fo in 
 love with this ifland, for the good qualities 
 they difcovered even. at. its. entrance, that 
 they were very unwilling to leave it, though 
 prefled in point of time. 
 
 I do not doubt, but this is a very plea- 
 fant fituation ; for in its temperature, and 
 other properties, it muft be very like Vol 
 Paraifo and St. Jago, becaufe 'tis almoft in 
 the fame degree weft' ; and without doubt 
 thefe iflands will be peopled in time;, when 
 the' continent grows populous, as fit does 
 everyday, for then people will beleeking 
 new habitations ; but at prefent they only 
 go thither fometimes to fifh, to fend it to 
 Peru, where they have it not fo plentifully. 
 
 The fame authors, giving an account of 
 the other Dutch fquadron under George Spil- 
 berg, fay, That they came to the ifland of 
 Mocha, and found the north fide of it plain 
 and low, but the fouth full of rocks : they 
 landed ; and the good reception they found 
 from the Indians, is an argument of the fer- 
 tility of the place. Thofe Indians are a 
 noble fort of people, and very good na- 
 tured. When they had refrefhed themfelves. 
 much at their eafe, they made provifion of 
 great flore of fheep, who are very large, 
 and in great plenty there, as likewife of 
 hens, eggs, fruit, and other provifions. 
 They treated the Indians on board, and 
 fhewed them their great guns, and their 
 men in order for fighting : they prefented 
 them alfo with european commodities, fuch 
 as hats, cloaths, axes, and things which 
 they valued. After this, they fet them 
 again on fhore ; and the Indians made figns 
 to them to go back to their fhips, as they did. 
 
 But they were very differently received in 
 the ifland of Santla Maria, where the vice- 
 admiral landed with fome of his men, 'and 
 were invited by the Indians to eat ; but from 
 the fhips they faw a great army coming 
 down upon them, as they were going to fit 
 down to table : whereupon they made figns 
 to them to retreat to the port ; which they 
 did, and had jufi time to embark. But they 
 likewife carried off about five hundred fheep, 
 and other refrefhments, having found the 
 ifland very fertile and well provided, as well 
 as very temperate, being about thirteen lea- 
 gues fouth-weft from the city of the Concep- 
 /w;;,about thirty feven degrees,and not above 
 three leagues from Arauco ; which makes 
 fome think, that formerly this ifland was 
 
 faftened 
 
Chap. 2. 
 
 Kingdom of CHILE. 
 
 47 
 
 fattened to the main land, and that the lea 
 had in length of time made the divifion 
 which now forms the bay of Aranco. 
 
 There is little to be faid that is particu- 
 lar of all the other iflands to the Streights 
 of Magellan, finceit has not pleafed God to 
 let them be peopled by Spaniards, and fo 
 give an entrance to the gofpel ; by which 
 means the product and nature of them might 
 be known, and many fouls faved which in- 
 habit them. 
 
 All that we know now of them, is, That 
 in the voyage of Pedro de Sarmiento to 
 Spain, being fent by the viceroy to chaftife 
 
 Francis Drake, for his boldnefs for infeft- Ovalle. 
 ing thofe coafts ; in his way, on this fide 1646. 
 the Streights of Magellan, he difcovered a ^V^r 
 great archipelago of iflands, which they 
 told to the number of eighty, which he 
 named by feveral names, and took poflef- 
 fion of them in the name of his king. He 
 alfo difcovered more iflands in fifty one de- 
 grees, to which he did the fame. 'Tis 
 known likewife, that in the Streights them- 
 felves there are many iflands, fome of which 
 we fhall mention when we treat of the 
 Streights of Magellan. 
 
 CHAP. II; 
 
 Of the Land called Tierra del Fuego. 
 
 TH E land called Tierra del Fuego, (fo 
 famous in the relations and maps we 
 have of the Streights of Magellan,) has de- 
 ceived many by its name, people believing 
 that it had been given it for fome Volcanos, 
 or burning mountains, or other fubterra- 
 neous fires ; but it is not fo, for this name 
 had no other occafion, than that the firit 
 navigators through the Streights difcovered 
 upon it many fires and great fmoaks, made, 
 as they fuppofed, by the numerous inhabi- 
 tants of it ; and fo they called it the Land 
 of Fire. There arofe likewife another mif- 
 take from its great extent ; for it was jud- 
 ged to be a great continent, of which in 
 time the world was undeceived, as we fhall 
 fee hereafter. 
 situation of This land, called Tierra del Fuego, is 
 Tierra del that which forms the fouth fide of the 
 Fuego. Streights of Magellan, extending itfelf the 
 whole length of the Streights, eaft and weft, 
 above one hundred and thirty leagues. For- 
 merly, before the Streights of St. Vincent, 
 otherwife call'd the Streights of Le Maire, 
 were difcover'd, this land was thought to 
 be joined to fome other great continent of 
 the Terra Auftralis, which was fuppofed to 
 join to New Guinea, or the iflands of Solo- 
 mon ; and Ortelius, in his Geography, is of 
 this opinion ; but upon the difcovery of the 
 other Streights of St. Vincent, that doubt has 
 been clear'd, feveral having gone through 
 them to the South Sea ; and among the reft, 
 two caravels, fet out by the king's command, 
 in the year 161 8. on purpofe to view thefe 
 Streights, which it was faid had been difco- 
 ver'd by James Le Maire, which caravels 
 were commanded by Don Juan de More. 
 16 1 8. Thefe two vefiels fet out from Lifbon in 
 the month of Oclohcr, 161 8. and being 
 come to the eaft entrance of the Streights of 
 Magellan, they pafTed by it, and run along 
 all that coaft, without finding any entrance, 
 till they came to that of Le Maire, which 
 they went through in lefs than one day's 
 
 time ; after which they turn'd to the fouth, 
 and afterwards to the weft : they went round 
 all the Tierra del Fuego, and failing north, 
 came to the weft entrance of the Streights 
 of Magellan, into which they enter'd, and 
 fail'd through them to the North Sea. Ha- 
 ving thus made a circle clear round the Ti- 
 erra del Fuego, they proved it demonftra- 
 tively to be an ifland feparate from all other 
 land. The fame was done by Sir Richard 
 Haukins, an Englijh gentleman, who having 
 pafs'd the St'reigbt of Le Maire, fail'd for 
 five and forty days to the fouth, without 
 finding any land contiguous to the Tierra. 
 del Fuego, but many iflands, as is related 
 by Antonio de Her r era, Chap. ij. of the 
 defcription of the Weft-Indies. The fame 
 has been confirm'd by feveral, who being 
 driven by ftorms from their intended courfe, 
 have been forc'd to run towards the fouth 
 pole j amongft the reft by Francis Drake, 
 who having pafs'd the Streights of Magellan, 
 the fixth of September, 1572. and being got 
 on the feventh, a degree from the Streights, 
 was carried by a ftorm two hundred leagues 
 to the fouth ; and coming to an anchor in 
 fome of thofe iflands, he there found that 
 the fun being eight degrees from the tro- 
 pick of Capricorn, the days were fo long, 
 that there was not above two hours night ; 
 from whence he inferr'd, that when the fun 
 came to the tropick, there muft be a per- 
 petual day of twenty four hours. The fame 
 was experimented about two year ago by 
 the fleet of general Henry Brum ; which ha- 
 ving pafs'd the Streights in April, were by 
 the force of ill weather carried into feventy 
 two degrees, and eaft anchor at the ifland 
 of St. Bernard, to which they gave the 
 name of Barnevelt ; and it being about the 
 entrance of winter, the days were not above .: 
 three hours long, fo that they expecled they ! 
 would ftill fhorten till June, when the fun " 
 being furtheft off from that hemifphere, 
 would leave them in a total night ; for this 
 
 reafon, 
 
 A r - 
 
48 
 
 Of the Nature and Properties of the Book IL 
 
 OvALLE.reafon, and becaufe of the hardnefs of the 
 1646. W eather, which increas'd every day, they 
 V^V^ durft not winter in that ifland, as they had 
 a mind, but after a fortnight's flay in it, 
 weigh'd anchor, and fail'd for Chile. In 
 which voyage they made but little advance, 
 having always the wind a-head, infomuch 
 that they were a whole month doubling 
 one cape, and loft in the endeavour their 
 'Tender, in which was the beft part of their 
 provifion. 
 
 So much for the iflands belonging to the 
 coaft of Chile ; but having alfo mention'd 
 the iflands of Solomon and New Guinea, to 
 which antiently it was thought that the 
 land of Tierra del Fuego was join'd, it will 
 be well to fay fomething of them. 
 
 The author who writes the beft of them, 
 is Antonio de Herrera, and from him is ta- 
 ken what John and Theodore de Brye fay of 
 them ; which is thus : 
 iflands of The iflands of New Guinea run from 
 New Gui- fomething more than one degree foudi of 
 Dea> the pole antartick, three hundred leagues 
 
 eaft to the fifth or fixth degree; according 
 to which reckoning, they fall about the 
 Ijlands of \veft of Paita. The iflands of Solomon fall 
 Solomon, to the weft of Peru, about eight hundred 
 leagues from its coaft, and extend them- 
 felves between the feventh and twelfth de- 
 gree : they are diftant from Luna about 
 fifteen hundred leagues : they are many, of 
 agoodfize: there are eighteen principal 
 ones, which are ibme three hundred, fome 
 two hundred, fome one hundred, fome fif- 
 ty leagues, and lefs in compafs. Between 
 them and Peru, inclining to the land of 
 Chile, there is another call'd the ifland of 
 IJU of St. Paul, about the latitude of fifteen cle- 
 St. Paul, grees, and about feven hundred leagues from 
 the terra fir ma. 
 
 The fleet of William Scowten having; run 
 
 along the coaft of Chile in the year 1615. ^6ij. 
 or 1 61 6. from the Streights of Magellan, 
 took their courfe to the weft, when they 
 were about the latitude of eighteen degrees, 
 to try to find out fome new ifland, and found 
 one in fifteen degrees ; which, according to 
 their computation, was diftant from the 
 coafts of Peru about nine hundred leagues. 
 After this they diicover'd two more, which 
 they call'd the Cocoa iflands, by reafon of^,. Cocoa 
 the great plenty of that fruit that was ijlumh. 
 there, that the inhabitants did ufe to drink 
 the fweet liquor that was bred within the 
 Cocoas, but when it was at an end, they 
 made a fhift with fait water ; to which, 
 being accufton'd from their youth, it did 
 not hurt them. They fay more, that the 
 inhabitants go naked, though not quite; 
 and that their way of being civil and falu- 
 ting, is to give diemfelves blows upon 
 their temples, which is the fame as with 
 us the pulling off the hat or cap. At firft 
 they laughed at the fire-arms, till they few 
 one fall much wounded, which undeceiv'd 
 them, and convinced them that it was not 
 only noife which proceeded from thofearms. 
 Thefe iflands are diftant from Peru, 1510 
 German leagues, which are longer than the 
 Spanifi leagues, though not fo long as the 
 Indian ones. There were found alfo other 
 iflands in the latitude of twenty nine de- 
 grees, which perhaps were thofe which at 
 firft they call'd the iflands of Solomon. 
 Others fay, that there are others more to 
 the weft, oppofite to Chile. Whofoever is 
 curious enough to know the particulars of 
 all thofe iflands, their temperature, inha- 
 bitants, their good and ill qualities, may 
 find them in the above-cited authors, who 
 treat of them more at large ; for my in- 
 tention, 'tis enough to fay what I have re- 
 ported. 
 
 CHAP. III. 
 
 Of the two Streights of Magellan and St. Vincent. 
 
 TH E Streight of Magellan receiv'd its 
 name from that man, who eternized 
 his own, by being the firft who difcover'd 
 and pafs'd it. This was that famous Por- 
 tuguese captain, Hernando de Magellanes, 
 whole intrepid foul going almoft beyond 
 the true limits of all ordinary valour, feems 
 to have border'd upon temerity and rafh- 
 nefs, by engaging himfelf to difcover a 
 pafTage altogether unknown, and fo narrow, 
 that it was very dangerous for fhips, being 
 befides in the fifty fourth degree, which 
 makes it very cold. This bold captain 
 begun to enter the Streight by the North Sea 
 the twenty feventh of November, in the 
 year 1520. and in twenty days, which was 
 a happy pafTage, he enter'd the South Sea ; 
 c 
 
 from thence he fail'd to the Philippine 
 iflands, where he was kill'd in one of thofe 
 iflands called Matan, to which he went from 
 anodier called Zebu, to fight againft the 
 king of the firft, becaufe he refufed to fub- 
 jecl: himfelf to one of thofe kings who had 
 turn'd chriftian; engaging him with more 
 courage than condudt, and fo he perifh'd 
 by the great number of his adverfaries. 
 His death was very much lamented, and he 
 much mifs'd in the difcoveries of that new 
 world ; for, without doubt, if he had 
 lived longer, he would have made great 
 difcoveries in the terra firma and iflands. 
 
 To give a more certain account of this 
 Streight of Magellan, I will make ufe of the 
 memoirs of thofe who have pafs'd it, and 
 
 left 
 
Chap. 3. 
 
 Kingdom of C H I L E. 
 
 49 
 
 left relations of it, who, as eye-witneffes, 
 were lefs fubjedt to miftake. And firft I 
 will give thofe fworn relations given in 
 Cajlilla by thofe who fet fail from the Co- 
 mma, by the emperor Charles the fifth's 
 order, in fix fhips under the command of 
 Fray Garcia Jofre de Loayfa, a knight of 
 Malta, and born at Civedad Real. 
 
 They fay in their report, That the faid 
 Streight is a hundred leagues in length, from 
 the cape of the Eleven Thoufand Virgins, 
 which is at the entrance of the North Sea 
 to the Cape of Defire, which is at the en- 
 trance of the South Sea ; and they fay more, 
 that they found in the Streight three great 
 bays, of about feven leagues wide from 
 land to land, but the entrances of them are 
 not much more than half a league over ; 
 the firft is about a league deep •, the fecond 
 about two leagues ; the third, they fay, is 
 encompafs'd with mountains of fuch a 
 heighth, that they feem to be in compe- 
 tition with the ftars, and the fun does not 
 enter within them in the whole year ; which 
 was the caufe of their enduring there an 
 extream cold ; for it fnows almoft conti- 
 nually, and the fnow never melting by the 
 fun-beams, it looked with a kind of bleuifti 
 colour. They fay, moreover, that the 
 nights were twenty hours long ; they met 
 with good water, and trees of feveral forts, 
 among which many cinnamon-trees; and 
 that the leaves and boughs of the trees, 
 though they appear'd green, yet burnt in 
 the fire as if they were dry ; that they found 
 many good fifhing-places, and faw many 
 whales, (fome mermaids,) many of the 
 tunny-fifti, fharks, cods, great ftore of 
 pilchards and anchovies, very great oyfters, 
 and other fhell-fifh. That there were alfo 
 very good harbours, with fifteen fathom 
 water ; and in the S freights itfelf above five 
 hundred fathom, and no where any fands 
 or ftioals. They obferv'd feveral pleafant 
 rivers and ftreams, and faw that the tides 
 of both feas came each of them above fifty 
 leagues up the Streight, and meet about the 
 middle of it with a prodigious noife and 
 formidable fhock. Though a Portuguefe 
 captain, who had pafs'd this Streight, told 
 me, That thefe tides were only fome high 
 floods, which laft a month, or thereabouts, 
 as the winds blow •, which makes the fea 
 fometimes rife to a great heighth, and at 
 other times fall as much, leaving the fhoar 
 dry for a gr^at way ; and the ebbing is 
 fometimes fo faft, that fhips are left dry, 
 as this captai' .'s fhip was, fo that he was 
 forc'd to dig nis way out to get into deep- 
 er water. They found feveral other entran- 
 ces in this Streight ; but for want of provi- 
 fion they could not ftay to fearch them : 
 they loft one fhip off the Virgins Cape; 
 and they had fcarce enter'd the Streights, 
 
 Vol. III. 
 
 when a ftorm blew them back to the river Ov all e. 
 of St. Ildefonfo, and to the port of Santla J^ 6 - 
 Croce, where they found ferpents of various ^V^. 
 colours, and ftones that were good for 
 ftanching of blood ; all this may be feen 
 in Antonio de Herrera, in the fecond tome, 
 Decade 3. and the ninth book, Fol. 335. 
 and it does not difagree with the other re- 
 lation of Magellan's voyage, though this 
 makes the ftreighteft part yet lefs, allow- 
 ing it not above a mufquet-fhot over, and 
 from one entrance to another it reckons 
 a hundred leagues, the land on both fides 
 being very rich and beautiful. 
 
 This is, in fhort, the relation given in 
 to the king. There are fome other authors, 
 who neither make the Streight fo long, nor 
 do they make the narroweft part fo ftreight ; 
 for fome allow but fourfcore and ten leagues, 
 or lefs, to its length ; but yet 'tis proba- 
 ble, that the firft give the moft credible 
 account, becaufe they examin'd it with 
 fuch care and punctuality, in order to in- 
 form his majefty. All agree in one thing, 
 which is, in the good qualities of the fea, 
 land, and iflands of the Streight, as well as 
 of the fhoar on both fides, and of the good 
 parts that are in it, and of fome particular- 
 ly fo fecure, that the fhips rid in them 
 without being fattened, being as fafe as if 
 they had been in a box. 
 
 Among the reft the Hollanders celebrate 
 much the twenty fifth port, call'd the Fa- 
 mous ; and it is fo much fo, that George 
 Spilberg, their general, gave it that name, 
 for the excellent reception they found there : 
 they faw the whole earth about cover'd 
 with various fruits of various colours, and 
 of excellent tafte. To delight them the 
 more, there was a fine brook of excellent 
 water that fell from a high rock, and wa- 
 ter'd all the valley entering into the port ; 
 and befides thefe five and twenty ports or 
 harbours, there were many others in the re- 
 maining part of the Streight, which might 
 be a third of it, all which were very remark- 
 able. 
 
 There is a harbour call'd De la Pimienta, Harbour 
 or the Pepper Harbour, for the fake of fome Dc la Pl " 
 trees they found in it, whofe barks had a 
 moft aromatick fmell, and a tafte of pep- 
 per, fomething more burning and quick 
 than that of the Eajl-hidies. When the 
 Nodales pafs'd this way, they gather'd a 
 great deal of this bark ; and authors fay, 
 that when they brought it to Seville, it was 
 fo valued there, that it was fold for fixteen 
 ryals, or two crowns a pound. 
 
 The fame authors report, that they found 
 cinnamon-trees, which bore good cinna- 
 mon; and in the fecond narrow pafiage 
 fome odiers, that bear a fort of black fruit, 
 of moft excellent tafte and favour. In 
 other places they faw moft beautiful w<$xls 
 O and 
 
 mient2. 
 
co Of the Nature and Properties of the Book II 
 
 OvALLE.and groves, pleafant plains, agreeable 
 1646. va lleys, and intervals. of great beauty, 
 V- 'Y X - / w ith high mountains •, fome cover'd with 
 fnow, from whence there defcended lovely 
 ftreams ; others all cloathed with greens of 
 various forts-, and in them they defcried 
 many animals going to and fro, fuch as 
 deer, oftriches, and others, as alfo great 
 variety of moft beautiful birds of all co- 
 lours ; and among the reft they kill'd one 
 fo large, that meafuring one of its wings, 
 they found it above a yard long •, and they 
 were fo tame that they flew to the fhips, 
 and fufFer'd themfelves to be handled : they 
 found alfo another fort of large birds, which 
 they call'd fea-geefe, every one of which, 
 after they had been plum'd and pull'd, 
 weigh'd eight pounds of Caftile ; and they 
 were fo numerous, that the ground was co- 
 ver'd with them, fo that they kill'd what 
 quantities they pleas'd. They faw another 
 fort of bird, much of the lhape of a pid- 
 geon, all white, only with red bills, and red 
 feet; all which were a great entertainment 
 to them as they fail'd along. They com- 
 mend alfo the harbour, which they call 
 Moft Beautiful, where the city of St. Phi- 
 lip was founded ; there they faw the traces 
 of feveral animals, which us'd to come to 
 drink in thofe chryftal fountains. After 
 the third ftreight place, there is to be feen 
 a moft excellent harbour, call'd the Shell- 
 Harbour, by reafon of the vaft quantities of 
 oyfters and other fhell-fifh that they found 
 there, which fufficed to feed the whole 
 fleet feveral days, carrying away with them 
 a good provifion likewife for their voyage, 
 all owning that they were better than thofe 
 of Europe. 
 
 There are found in the great canal of the 
 
 ftreight feveral iflands, which are as efti- 
 
 mable as the terra firma ; they are generally 
 
 in the wideft part, where the fea is feven 
 
 or eight leagues over ; the chief are thofe of 
 
 jjles of St. St. Lawrence and St. Stephen, otherwife 
 
 Lawrence called the ifland of Barnevelt. Before they 
 
 phcn St " Ste ' came to thefe, they found other iflands, 
 
 Pinguin which they call'd the Pinguin Iflands, for 
 
 Iflands. the great quantity of that fort of birds 
 
 that are bred there. There is another, 
 
 Holy King's call'd the Holy Kings Ifland, which is in a 
 
 Ifland. river, which enters into the ftreights, and 
 
 they faw in it many feals. Others of thefe 
 
 iJlescfSe- iflands are nam'd Sevaldo, from the name 
 
 valdo. of him that difcover'd them, near which 
 
 there were ftore of the pinguin birds, and 
 
 abundance of whales. After having pafs'd 
 
 the fecond ftreight, there are ftill more 
 
 iflands, the firft is call'd of the Angels, and i/ks of 
 is full of the birds we have mentioned. The Angels, 
 fecond is nam'd the ifland of the Patagoons, ijle of Pa- 
 or gyants, becaufe they faw there fome of ta g° 0DS > 
 them._ Near the fliell-port there are other "tfj iverjl 
 eight iflands •, and a litde before the en-" 
 trance into the fouth-fea, there are feveral 
 other iflands, which muft be very little, 
 for the ftreights are there very narrow. . 
 Some may defire to know, whether, befides 
 this entrance of the ftreight of Magellan, 
 there are any other, by which fhips may 
 fail from the north-fea to the fouth. Touch- 
 ing which, the relation of George Spilberg 
 fays, that there is one by the cape, which 
 they called Prouvaert. Some Englijh like- 
 wife, who have fail'd that way, are of the 
 fame opinion •, for which they cite father 
 Acofta, of our fociety, in his Oriental Hiftory, 
 tranflated by John-Hugh Lin/cot, Chap. 1 o. 
 in the end ; as may be ken in the already- 
 cited John and Theodore de Brye, who add, 
 that many other authors do agree in this 
 opinion; and that thofe of Spilberg' s fleet, 
 before they came to the ftreight, faw this 
 opening on the north-fide, but they did 
 not dare to go into it, becaufe they had 
 exprefs orders to pafs the ftreight of Ma- 
 gellan ; and befides, that which added to 
 this refolution, was the obfervation they 
 made of the great force with which the 
 waves met each other at this Opening, in- 
 fo much that the fea feem'd to boil. 
 
 This is all that I have met with in authors 
 about this opinion, which even John and 
 Theodore de Brye look upon as falfe ; be- 
 caufe neither the Spaniards nor Dutch ever 
 faw this fecond canal ; but rather that the 
 whole land of Fit ego is one great continued 
 ifland, which they prove by the relation of 
 the navigation made by the Nodales, who 
 were fent to fearch for the Streight of St. 
 Vincent, and who went round the Tierra 
 del Fuego, without finding any fuch opening, 
 or any other than that of Magellan and St. 
 Vincent ; and yet I am of another opinion, 
 and hold the firft for certain ; and this does 
 not contradict the opinion of Spilberg, who 
 does not fay, that the opening he faw was 
 on the fouth, but on the north fide, towards 
 the land of Chile ; and fo, though the land 
 of Fuego be an ifland, it does not follow 
 that there may not be an entrance on the 
 north fide. But let us leave that to time 
 to make out, and fay fomething of the 
 Streight of St. Vincent, which is the fecond 
 pafTage from the North to the South Sea. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
Chap. 4. 
 
 Kingdom of CHILE. 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 The fame Matter is continued,, and the Vfefulnefs of the Commerce between 
 Chile and the Philippine IJlands is made out. 
 
 51 
 
 OVALLE. 
 1646. 
 
 1619. yN the year 1619. the king fent, in the 
 X month of Oilober, the two caravels 
 which I mentioned above, to fearch the 
 Sireight of St. Vincent, becaufe about that 
 time it was reported in Spain, that James 
 Le Maire had difcovered it. Thefe two 
 fhips failed to the bay of St. Gregory, which 
 is near the eaft entrance of the Streight of 
 Magellan ; from whence they failed along 
 all that coaft, where they faw and conver- 
 fed with a fort of giants, who were at leaft 
 the head higher than any of the Europeans; 
 and they exchanged for fcizars and other 
 baubles gold, which it feems is the pro- 
 duct of that country : after which they 
 failed fouth-weft round the T'ierra del Fuego, 
 till they came to the mouth of this new 
 Streight, which they called the Streight 
 of St. Vincent ; and before they entered it, 
 they failed along the fhore of this new dif- 
 covered land, keeping it always on the 
 right hand, their courfe eaft-north-eaft, as 
 it tends. 
 
 They failed about thirty leagues; and not 
 having difcovered all that way, nor as far 
 as diey could fee, any opening or inlet, they 
 returned to the opening of the Streight of 
 St. Vincent ; and entering into it, went 
 through it in lefs than one day, it not be- 
 ing above feven leagues in length ; and be- 
 ing entered afterwards into the South Sea, 
 they followed the fame land to the eaft, 
 and fouth-weft thirty leagues more ; and fee- 
 ing it was one continued coaft, clofed up 
 with mountains of great heighth, they durft 
 not go any further, beginning to want pro- 
 vifions •, and fo thinking that this land 
 might reach as far as the Cape of Good- 
 Hope, they left it, and failed to the weft 
 entrance of the Streight of Magellan ; which 
 they entered, and went through to the 
 North Sea, returning that way to Spain, to 
 give an account of what they had difcover- 
 ed, having made a very fortunate voyage, 
 and not loft one man, nor had any ficknefs, 
 all that climate being very like that of Eu- 
 rope, and particularly to the cold part of 
 it.. This made the king give order for the 
 fetting out of eight fail more, to carry this 
 way to the Philippine iflands all the relief 
 neceffary of foldiers, artillery, and tackling 
 for fhips, refolving henceforward that they 
 fhould always go this way, as being fhor- 
 ter, eafier, and of lefs charge and danger. 
 This was the opinion of Michael de Cardoel, 
 and the other pilots chofen for this expedi- 
 tion, who obliged themfelves to fail to the 
 Vhilippinei (bating extraordinary accidents) 
 
 in eight or nine months ; for having once 
 pafled the Streights, if they had the wind 
 and currents favourable, they hoped to get 
 to the Philippines in two months ; becaufe 
 from Chile to thofe iflands, there is no rea- 
 fon, as in other navigations, to wait for 
 certain feafbns and times of the year ; for 
 all that voyage being to be made within 
 the tropicks, there is no danger of winter ; 
 but one may fail it at any time of the 
 yean 
 
 The Dutch authors already cited, treat- 
 ing of this fubject, add thefe words : [" In 
 " truth this is a great conveniency to man- 
 " kind, to be able to go from Europe to 
 " thefe iflands in fo lhort a time, with all 
 " the health and fafety of the failors; it 
 " being otherwife in going by the Cape of 
 " Good Hope, where the diverfity of winds 
 " is to be obferved, fome of them being 
 " fo contrary, as to hinder abfolutely the 
 " voyage •, fo that it lafts fometimes fif- 
 " teen or fixteen months. Befides, this 
 " courfe is fo fubjecl to difeafes, that of- 
 " ten they bury half their men in the fea, 
 " as happened to Girrard Reinft, who was 
 " fixteen months getting to Bantam, which 
 " is not above halfway to the Philippines, 
 " and yet loft a quarter of his men : Adrian 
 " Wreuter was nineteen months getting to 
 " Bantam, and loft out of the fhip, called 
 " the Fleffingue, one hundred and fixty 
 " three out of two hundred : the fame 
 " happened to the other three fhips of that 
 " fquadron."] Thus far thefe dutch au- 
 thors ; who add, That the fhip Concordia, 
 going the other way, arrived at the Moluc- 
 cas without lofing a man. And if they fay 
 true, and make out that it is better to fail 
 this way to their Batavia, how much better 
 is it for the Spaniards, who drive a trade 
 with Peru and Chile, the diftance being 
 much lefs, and having for friends all the 
 ports of Chile, if they won't go fo high as 
 Peru, which the Dutch have not ? Neither 
 would it be a fmall advantage to exchange 
 in thofe ports the merchandizes of Europe 
 with their product, which is fo wanting in 
 the Philippine IJlands, and all thofe parts of 
 the eaft. Every one may find their account 
 in this trade ; the Spaniards, without run- 
 ning the danger of ficknefs in thole un- 
 healthy climates of Carthagena, Panama, 
 and Puerto Bello, might find as much vent 
 for the european commodities ; Chile and 
 Peru would have all goods from Spain 
 much cheaper than they have them now by 
 the terra firma j the charges tiien would 
 
 be 
 
52 
 
 Of the Nature and Properties of the Book II. 
 
 OvALLE.be three times lefs; and, at the fame time, 
 
 1646. jj^y wou ld help off the produ<5l of thofe 
 
 .v^y^/ p arts . as £ rom p gru j^gy j-night; load corn, 
 
 wine, and oil ; and if they did not care to 
 go fo far, they might have the fame things 
 from Chile, and cheaper, befides copper, 
 hides, almonds, and other commodities pro- 
 per to Europe : fo that 'tis clear this would 
 be a very advantageous intercourfe for the 
 Philippines, who want all thefe commodi- 
 ties fo much. 
 
 Neither would the trade of New Spain 
 receive any damage at all from this ; for 
 thole countries could not have them from 
 Peru and Chile fo eafily as from Europe ; 
 and fo Spain would fend lefs, only fo much 
 as is carried to the Philippines from New 
 Spain, which cannot be much ; for the 
 charge of carrying thofe european commo- 
 dities from Vera Cruz, to be embarked a- 
 gain for the Philippines, is very confiderable, 
 it being at leaft one hundred and fixty 
 leagues by land from the Vera Cruz to Aca- 
 pulco, which is the port where they are to 
 be embarked ; after which they have a na- 
 vigation of three months ; and then there 
 being not always conveniencies of fhipping 
 in Acapulco, thofe commodities are kept fo 
 long that they are fpoiled •, and 'tis feen by 
 experience how little of this trade turns to 
 account : but it would be otherwife if thefe 
 commodities were carried from Chile, fince 
 in two or three months, always in a tempe- 
 rate climate, they might fail with a conftant 
 fouth wind, which blows all the fummer 
 infallibly, and fo bring the product of Chile 
 in a good condition to the Philippines. This 
 commerce, though it would accommodate 
 all parties, yet, it muft be confeffed, it would 
 be moft beneficial to Chile, which would 
 thereby have more vent for its producl:, and 
 acquire more people to cultivate its natural 
 fertility. 
 
 There has been two obftacles to this pro- 
 ject, which have hinder'd its taking : the 
 firft is, the difficulty of pafilng the Str eight 
 of Magellan, becaufe it being fo much ele- 
 vated towards the pole, it cannot be pafied 
 but in certain months of the year, which if 
 thofe who attempt it do not hit, they are 
 in danger of perifhing, as in effect it has 
 happened to fome fquadrons of fhips, as I 
 fhall relate in the next chapter ; though 
 others have paffed it very luckily in its pro- 
 per feafon, the Str eight ltfelf having, as we 
 have feen, many good harbours and fhel- 
 ters for fhips. 
 
 The fecond obftacle is the fame that 
 keeps the port of Buenos Aires from being 
 frequented, (for elfe all the treafure of Peru 
 
 might be fent that way ;) and it is, That 
 the courfe of trade is fettled the other way, 
 notwithftanding the great charge the crown 
 is at to have two fleets, the one in the South, 
 the other in the North Sea, only to fecure 
 this paffage ; and that with the lofs of fo 
 many Spaniards lives, that in the hofpital 
 of Panama only, there was buried, as they 
 told me when I went that way in the year 
 1630. above fourteen thoufand perfons ; 163c 
 and what muft we gucfs then in the ports 
 of Carthagena and Puerto Bello, which 
 have been the kpulchre of fo many Eu- 
 ropeans. 
 
 Notwithftanding all thefe mifchiefs, this 
 way is continued to maintain thofe cities 
 already founded in thofe parts ; though it 
 is moft certain, that the fame end of car- 
 rying the filver to Spain might be attained 
 by one only fleet with lefs danger of the lea. 
 By that courfe the galleons would fail al- 
 ways in deep water, and not run the ha- 
 zards they do between Carthagena and the 
 Havana, between which places they are 
 fain to found all the way, and keep the 
 lead going, to avoid the many fholes thac 
 are in thofe feas, and in the canal of Baha- 
 ma afterwards : befides that, the dangers of 
 ficknefs would be avoided ; for the Spa- 
 niards find by experience, that at Buenos 
 Aires they are healthy, that being in the 
 temperate climate correfponding to that 
 of Europe. 
 
 And for the fame reafon the navigation 
 between Chile and the Philippines is not put 
 in ufe ; becaufe the courfe of things being 
 once fettled one way, 'tis very hard to 
 change them, though to a better. I fhall 
 not purfue this matter any further, becaufe 
 it feems to touch the ftate and government, 
 which is not my defign : perhaps time will 
 bring all things to pafs ; and that thofe of 
 Chile themfelves will venture to find out 
 this vent for their product. All confifts in 
 trying •, for the advantages on both fides 
 would be fo manifeft, that the fweet of 
 them would foon make the way eafy, and 
 that trade would wonderfully enrich Chile 
 and Peru, fince they might bring back to 
 thofe kingdoms all the commodities of China- 
 arid Japan ; and that without carrying any 
 gold or filver, which might be preferved 
 all for Europe. Thus the greateft part of 
 this new world being enriched by its own 
 product, the king's revenue will be the 
 greater, as well as the returns in gold and 
 filver the greater ; and all things thus well 
 accommodated, the fervice of god, and the 
 divine cult and worfhip would be better 
 carried on. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
Chap. 5. 
 
 Kingdom of C H I L E. 
 
 CHAP. V. 
 
 53 
 
 OVALLE. 
 1646. 
 
 Of the Fleets ; fome of which have been loft, and fime have happily faffed 
 
 the Streight of Magellan. 
 
 Tour of the A MONG the fleets *hich have been 
 it/hop of jT\ loft in the Streight of Magellan, the 
 Placemia'j £ r fl. was t h at of four fhips fet out by the 
 ?»' P tbe kJl bifhop of Placentia for the Molucca iflands ; 
 Streight «/which having got to the Streight with good 
 Magellan, weather, and being enter'd into it about 
 twenty leagues, there rife from the weft a 
 ftorm, which blowing dire&ly a-head, for- 
 ced three of the fhips afhoar, they not ha- 
 ving room to turn or run before it •, but all 
 the men were faved. The fourth had bet- 
 ter fortune ; for going before the ftorm, fhe 
 got out of the Streight ; and when the foul 
 weather was over, came into the Streight 
 again, where the other fhips were loft, and 
 found the men ; who had faved themfelves 
 
 there has been heard the found of bells, 
 and they have founded cities where they 
 live ; but, in fine, there is no certainty of all 
 this. A gentleman born in Chiloe, and 
 who has been a colonel in thofe parts, gave 
 me in writing a relation of feveral tradi- 
 tions and informations of great numbers of 
 people that inhabit the land within, and 
 who have much gold. There has been 
 made feveral attempts to difcover them, 
 though all have mifcarried for want of pro- 
 vifions, or by other accidents, which in 
 time may be remedied when it pleafes God. 
 And at this very time I have receiv'd let- 
 ters, which acquaint me, That father Hie- 
 roriuno de Montemayor, apoftolical miflio- 
 
 on fhoar ; who prefently made figns and nary of that archipelago of Cbiloe, had en- 
 
 cries to be taken on board ; but they with 
 hearts full of grief anfwered them, What 
 would you have? We cannot relieve you, for 
 the provifions we have on board are not fuffi- 
 cient for us, and fo we may fear toperifh all 
 of us together. They could not fay to them 
 the other words of the gofpel, Go rather to 
 thofe who fell, becaufe they were in a defart 
 country, where they had no remedy, but 
 to fend fighs to heaven, accompanied with 
 inconfolable tears and cries, capable of mo- 
 ving the ftones themfelves. Thus they left 
 them, purfuing their voyage, much afflicl:- 
 ed to be forced to forfake them, and not 
 be able to do any thing for them ; but thefe 
 are accidents and hard cafes belonging to 
 the fea-faring men. 
 
 'Tis not known to this day what has be- 
 come of thefe men; only there is a tradi- 
 tion, that a great way within land, on the 
 continent of Chile, near the Streight, there 
 The Cefla-is a nation call'd Ceffares, who wereendea- 
 res, Juppe- vour'd to be difcover'd by Don Hieronimo 
 fed to be j^ u - u j e Q a h rera ^ governor of Tucuman, 
 
 twenty years ago, with a 
 
 army rais'd at his own charge ; but 
 
 his diligence was in vain, as we have mark- 
 
 Spaniards 
 originally. 
 
 about eight and 
 good 
 
 ter'd into the terra firma in company of 
 captain Navarro, a man very famous in 
 thofe parts ; and that they difcover'd a na- 
 tion, which 'tis thought are thefe Ceffares, 
 becaufe they are a nation of white com- 
 plexion, and frefh cherry cheeks, and who 
 in their fhape and difpofition of body, feem 
 to be men of mettle; and that they had 
 brought fome of them along with them, 
 to endeavour to inform themfelves of that 
 which they fo much defire. This is all the 
 father writ at that time, becaufe the fliip 
 could not ftay, and there is but one ihip 
 every year bound for thofe parts ; fo he 
 was forced to refer himfelf to the next con- 
 veniency, to inform me more particularly 
 of the original and defcent of this nation ; 
 fo that this is all that at prefent we can fay 
 of this nation of the Ceffares, which 'tis 
 poflible may come from thefe fhipwreck'd 
 men ; or elfe they may defcend from fome 
 Dutch, who may have been fhipwreck'd in 
 the fame place, or thereabouts ; and their 
 complexion feems to fortify this conjecture ; 
 befides, that they fpeak a language which no 
 body then prefent could underftand ; or 
 there may be both Spaniards and Flemings. 
 
 ed already, and told the caufe of his mil- 'Tis thought we lhall not be long without 
 
 carrying. Tis thought, and 'tis very pro 
 bable, thefe Ceffares may be defcended from 
 thofe Spaniards who were faved in this fhip- 
 wreck ; becaufe it was poflible, that feeing 
 themfelves without any other recourfe, they 
 might go on into the terra firma, where 
 contracting alliance with fome Indian na- 
 tion, they may have multiplied, and the 
 fame of them may have reached the neigh- 
 bouring nations, and fo on to others. This 
 is certain, that this tradition is much kept 
 up, that there is in thofe parts an European 
 nation called Ceffares. Some fay, that 
 Vol. III. 
 
 knowing the truth, and fo I continue my 
 narration. The fecond fleet which mifcar-^ Spanifh 
 ried in the Streight, was that which was kt fleet loft 
 out about two and twenty years ago, under'" th ' 
 general Ayala, a gentleman of high birth re '^ 
 and valour ; who going from Spain to Chile, 
 dealt with his majefty for a relief of men, 
 wltkh he was to carry through the Streight 
 of Magellan, without landing any where 
 elfe ; but juft as they were entering it, they 
 were all caft away, fo as to this day there 
 has not been any account of them, except 
 of the vice-admiral's fliip, under the cora- 
 P mand 
 
54 
 
 Of the Nature and Properties of the Book II. 
 
 OvALLE.mand of Francifco de Mandujava ; for ha- 
 1646. v i n g loft fight of the admiral in the ftorm, 
 
 \*y~**/ ^ e was carr j ec j afore the wind to the port 
 of Buenos Aires, where he landed the men, 
 and marched them over land to Chile. I 
 heard fome of the men talk of this matter ; 
 and they ufed to blame the general very- 
 much, for having gone about to enter the 
 Streigbt when the time of the year was fo far 
 advanc'd, particularly having been advifed 
 in Brafil, where he touched to winter there, 
 which he refufed to do, for fear his people 
 fhould defert him, and fo he and they all 
 perifhed. 
 
 Thefe accidents feem to have made this 
 pafiage lefs practicable ; but yet we know 
 that many have pafied this Streigbt with 
 little danger, and fome with great felicity. 
 Eight fleets are mentioned by John and 
 Theodore de Brye, as well Spaniards as fo» 
 reigners, who have pafled this Streigbt ; and 
 though fome have had bad weather, yet 
 there is no doubt but time and good obfer- 
 vations may make it more feafible ; parti- 
 cularly there being fo many good harbours 
 and bays in this Streight, where mips may 
 fhelter themfelves, and let the ftorms blow 
 over. 
 
 CHAP. VI. 
 
 Of the Province of Cuyo. 
 
 Cuyo, the A 
 third pre- j \^ 
 vine* of 
 
 Chile. " 
 
 'Remarks 
 on Cuyo. 
 
 F T E R having treated of the two 
 firft parts of the kingdom of Chile, 
 we muft fay fomething now of the third, 
 which contains thofe large provinces of 
 Cuyo, which are on the other fide of the Cor- 
 dillera, towards the eaft. We have already 
 defcribed their fituation and extent, let us 
 treat now of the nature of them. And to 
 begin with their ill qualities ; 'Tis a won- 
 derful thing to confider that there being 
 nothing between them and Chile, but the 
 high mountains of the Cordillera, yet they 
 are fo different in their qualities. We have 
 already mention'd fome ; but we may fay, 
 that as to their temperature, they are in 
 every thing entirely oppofite •, for firft the 
 heats are exceflive and intolerable in fum- 
 mer ; and for that, as well as for the vaft 
 quantity of bugs, or punaifes, which are 
 there, fome very fmall, and others as big 
 as bees, one can hardly fleep a-nights in the 
 houies, and therefore the people all fleep in 
 their gardens and court-yards. There are 
 almoft perpetual thunders and lightenings, 
 and many poifonous reptiles and infects, 
 though not lb many as in Tucuman and Pa- 
 raguay. There are likewife a fpecies ofMof- 
 aaitos, or gnats, no bigger than the points 
 of needles, and as fharp in their fting, 
 though themfelves arealmoft imperceptible; 
 they get into the hair of one's beard, and 
 one cannot be rid of them any other way, 
 than by killing diem. 
 
 Thefe are the evil qualities of the land 
 of Cuyo ; let us now mention the good ones. 
 The land is fo fertile, that in many things 
 it exceeds even the richeft foil of Chile ; the 
 crops are better, the fruits larger, and of 
 better tafte, by reafon of the great heat, 
 which ripens them more : there is good ftore 
 of corn, wine, flefli, all forts of fruits, roots, 
 and herbs of Europe ; as alfo great quanti- 
 ties of olive-yards and almond-grounds ; fo 
 that the only eflential difference between it 
 and Chile, is the many venomous animals, 
 and the thunders and rains in fummer ; 
 j 
 
 though to make fome amends, if Chile ex- 
 ceeds in fummer, Cuyo has the advantage 
 in winter ; for though the cold is fharp, 
 yet it is not with fuch clouds, nor fuch fnow 
 and rains, as in Chile ; but rather the wea- 
 ther is ferene, and the fun beautiful and 
 clear, without any dark weather, which 
 makes it very temperate. 
 
 There is no fea-fifh in this province, it Cuyo, an 
 being very far from any fea •, but it has'"'" 5 '* 
 ponds, which are called the ponds of Gua- 
 nacache, where they catch great quantities 
 of trouts, as they call them, which are very 
 big, like the Savalos of Seville, but much 
 better without companion ; for they have 
 no fmall bones, and are of a higher relifh, 
 and a very healthy food. 
 
 Befides the fruits of Europe, this country 
 has feveral very good of its own. The firft 
 is called Chanales, which are like filberts or 
 fmall nuts ; only the difference is, diat that 
 which is to be eaten is not within, but on 
 the outfide of the fhell : the other is the 
 Algaroba, of which they make bread fo 
 fweet, that it naufeates thofe who are not 
 ufed to it. All Tucuman, as far as Buenos 
 Aires andParagudy, are provided from hence 
 with figs, pomegranates, dried peaches, and 
 dried grapes, apples, oil, and excellent wine, 
 of which they have abundance, which they 
 carry over thofe vaft plains, called the Pam- 
 pas, (where for many leagues together there 
 is not a tree, nor a ftone to be found J in large 
 carts, fuch as they ufe here in Rome ; and they 
 are a caravan of them together, to defend 
 themfelves from certain Indians, who are 
 enemies, and often attack them by the way. 
 
 Some years ago they began to difcover 
 here rich mines of filver, the fame of which 
 drew people from Pot oft when I left Chile, 
 becaule they were reputed to be richer, and 
 of more profit than thofe of Potofi, all 
 provifions being more abounding and cheap- 
 er too. Thefe mines were alfo laid to be in 
 a plain country,where carts might comeea- 
 fily. They write me word likewife, That 
 
 there 
 
Chap. 6. 
 
 Kingdom of CHILE. 
 
 5S 
 
 there has fince been difcover'd gold mines of 
 a prodigious richnefs. 'Tis true indeed, 
 that in this matter of mines, there is a great 
 difference between allaying of them in little 
 parcels, or in great ones ; for often the oar 
 that promifes much, yields but little, when 
 the affay comes to be made in great. This 
 is a common obfervation in mines ; and if 
 thefe of Cuyo do not prove extraordinary 
 rich, there will hardly come any people from 
 abroad to them, particularly from Chile, 
 where they have already fo many and good 
 ones, of fuch a known profit, and yet they 
 do not work them, the people being more 
 profitably employed in husbandry, which 
 
 turns to greater account. 
 
 I will give here an extract of a letter 
 which I received in Rome this year from fa- 
 ther Juan del Poco of our company, a perfon 
 of great piety, and worthy of credit, who 
 is at prefent in the college of Mendoca, the 
 chief of all thofe of the province of Cuyo, 
 and it is thus : [" The greater! news here, 
 " is about the mines which are begun to be 
 " difcovered, which if it holds as they re- 
 " late, it will be the greateft thing in the 
 " world : they are of gold, which is feen 
 " among the filver oar : there are come very 
 " understanding miners from Potofi, who 
 " cannot give over commending them. 
 " There come people from St. J ago, to 
 " work them, and captain Lorenzo Soares is^ 
 " named for Alcalde Mayor of thefe mines."] 
 There are others who write the fame thing ; 
 and there is no doubt to be made, but that if 
 they can have people, that country will be 
 one of the richefl of all the Indies ; for its 
 great fertility wants nothing but people to 
 cultivate and confume its producl:. This 
 will make the three cities of that province, 
 which are that of Mendoca, that ofSt.Juan, 
 and that of St. Luis of Loiola, increafe 
 mightily, which fince their firft foundation 
 have been at a ftand, by reafon of the neigh- 
 bourhood of Chile, which has kept them 
 down ; many of the firft inhabitants of Cuyo 
 having left it to go to Chile, as being more 
 temperate, and more abounding with the 
 conveniencies of life ; for the fame reafon 
 that we fee in other parts moft people flock 
 to the capitals of a kingdom, as is evident 
 in Naples and other great cities. But if 
 the SpaniJIo inhabitants increafe as they have 
 done hitherto, there will be enough for all 
 thefe parts-, and already fome of St. J ago 
 have fettled, and married at St. Juan and 
 Mendoca; neither can it be otherwife, for 
 the people of Chile are beginning to be fo 
 ftreighten'd, that they cannot have all the 
 conveniencies of being at large, and fo are 
 forced to leek them abroad. 
 
 And 'tis moft certain, that the conveni- 
 encies of this province are very great ; and 
 their not appearing fo, is owing only to their 
 neighbourhood to Chile, in comparifon of 
 
 which thefe countries appear a place of ba-OvALLE. 
 nifhment, and is look'd upon as the moft ri- l *£4<5- 
 gorous that can be given any one in Chile ; *"V"V, 
 becaufe, to fay truth, the difference is very 
 great, confidering the proprieties of each 
 place ; but if we confider Cuyo, without 
 comparing it, it is not only a good place, 
 but furpafies many others, where neverthe- 
 lefs the inhabitants think themfelves very 
 happy, though wanting the abundance of 
 Cuyo, where the flefh is very fubftantial and 
 favoury, and great abundance of game, as 
 alfo of pork, turkeys, ducks, hens, and 
 other tame fowl. 
 
 The wines are very generous, and of fb 
 much ftrength, that though they be carried 
 three or foyr hundred leagues over thofe 
 plains, and the intolerable heats of the Pam- 
 pas, and that by oxen, yet they come good 
 to Buenos Aires and other places, and are 
 preferved with the fame facility, as long as 
 one pleafes, without fpoiling ; and they are 
 in fuch quantity, that all the provinces 
 round are fupplied with them, nay, as fir 
 as Paraguay, which is three or four hundred 
 leagues more. The bread is excellent, fo is 
 the oil, and all forts of pulfe and garden- 
 ing; the fifh better than the fea-fiih; the 
 flax and hemp as good as that of Chile ; the 
 materials for tanning very good ; and, in 
 fhort, it has all necefiaries for life, with as 
 much advantage as any other country. 
 
 This being thus, and even more than I 
 relate, what is there wanting to this land, or 
 what are its blots ? punaifes, thu?ider, light- 
 ening, hail. And what other country has not 
 fome of thefe ? Shall we fay, becaufe God 
 has exempted Chile by a Angular providence 
 from thefe things, that therefore Cuyo is an 
 ill country ? No ; for then we muft condemn 
 moft countries where thefe afflicting circum- 
 ftances are found. And though it muft be 
 own'd, that in the fummer the heats are 
 great, yet they do not exceed thofe of Tucu- 
 man, Buenos Aires, and Paraguay; and they 
 are inferior to thofe of Brajil, and thofe of 
 Ca'rajas, Carthagena, Puerto Bello, and Pana- 
 ma, as I myfelf have experienced in fome of 
 thofe places. And thefe parts of Cuyo have 
 fome amends made them from the neigh- 
 bourhood of the fnow ; for the city of Men- 
 doca is not above a league from the Cordille- 
 ra, which is full of it ; and likewife the 
 good qualities of the air do fomething 
 moderate the heat •, for it is fo healthy, 
 that it never hurts any body by being in 
 it, which makes them fleep in their gar- 
 dens abroad, without any apprehenfion, 
 except it be of fome fudden fhower which 
 does often happen in fummer ; for on a 
 fudden, though die heavens be clear and 
 bright, it grows cloudy, and falls a raining 
 with great fury ; but this may be eafily re- 
 medied ; and likewife the thunders and 
 thunderbolts might be avoided, which are 
 
 the 
 
# 
 
 Of the Nature and Properties of the Book II. 
 
 OvALLE-the things which fright thofe of Chile moft, 
 1646. j-hey being £b little ufed to them ; and 
 
 ^V^ therefore at the very name of Cuyo, they 
 think the heavens are falling upon their 
 heads, or that the punaifes, and other nau- 
 feous vermin are never to leave them ; lb 
 that no greater mortification can be propo- 
 fed to an inhabitant of Chile, than to go to 
 live in Cuyo. And befides all this, the vaft 
 fnows which fall on the mountains, fhut up 
 the pafies, and hinder all communication 
 or intercourfe ; fo that in five or fix months 
 
 one cannot receive a letter, though thofe 
 two provinces are not above thirty or forty 
 leagues afunder, that is, the breadth of 
 that chain of mountains called the Cordil- 
 lera. This therefore is that which dis- 
 credits Cuyo ; and if it had been further off" 
 from Chile, it would have had a better 
 name ; but it is with that, as with two 
 loaves, which though both good, yet if 
 one be whiter and better, no body will 
 touch the other, the beft being always moft 
 pleafing. 
 
 CHAP. VII. 
 
 Of the Confines of the ^Province of Cuyo, and particularly of its Eaflerly 
 Bounds j the Pampas, and of the River 0/Tlata. 
 
 situMtion of fry h E confines of this province of Cuyo 
 , 1 to the weft, are Chile ; and to the eaft, 
 the Pampas, or vaft plains of the Rio de la 
 Plata, and part of Tucuman ; which reach- 
 ing as far as thofe of Rioca, and the moun- 
 tains of St. Michael, with all the reft as far 
 as Salta and Jujuy, make the north fide of 
 it ; and to the fouth, it has the Streights of 
 Magellan. All that lies within thefe bounds 
 are open plains, reaching fo far, that there 
 is not fo much as any flop to the eye ; but 
 it is like a fea, and the fun feems to rile and 
 let out of the earth ; and at its rifing, it 
 is fometime that it gives but little light ; 
 as alfo it lofes fome of its beams before it 
 be quite out of fight when it fets. The 
 Manner of way of travelling in thofe plains is with 
 travelling. ver y high carts, which they cover over 
 neatly with hoops, over which are cow- 
 hides, with doors to go in and out ; and 
 thefe are drawn by oxen : there are alfo 
 windows to give a free pafTage to the air, 
 and on the bottom one makes one's bed 
 with fo much conveniency, that often tra- 
 vellers deep out the whole journey, and feel 
 not any of the inconveniencies which attend 
 it. Generally they fet out about two hours 
 before fun-fet, and travel all night, till 
 it be an hour or two after fun-rifing ; fo 
 that a traveller juft wakes when he comes 
 to the baiting-place. This muft be owned 
 to be a great conveniency ; becaufe one may 
 alfo walk on foot fometimes, in the cool, 
 before one lies down, and fo one comes mer- 
 rily and eafily to one's journey's end. 
 Hunting. There is alio another entertainment which 
 helps to pafs the time pleafantly, and that 
 is hunting : and for this end fome carry 
 horfes empty, and dogs on purpofe ; and 
 there is game enough both ol hare and ve- 
 nifon : for there are herds of Guanacos, of 
 two or three hundred. The dog follows 
 them ; and the young-ones, not able to 
 follow, are left behind, which the hunter 
 knocks on the head with a club he carries, 
 j 
 
 without lighting from his horfe, and re- 
 turns to the carts loaden with venifon, 
 which ferve for provifion as well as en- 
 tertainment. At other times they follow 
 the partridges, francolins, or the bird called 
 Quiriquincho. But to all this there are 
 abatements and mixtures of trouble : the 
 firft is, the mighty heat in fummer ; for 
 which reafon, left the oxen fhould be ftifled 
 with it, they travel in the night ; and when 
 they come to halt, or bait in the day time, 
 'tis in places where there is not fo much as 
 a tree, under whofe fhade one may reft ; 
 nor is there any other fhade than that of 
 the cart, and fome coverlet upon it ; for to 
 go into it, is like going into an oven. But 
 this is not all the way, there being fome 
 pleafant running ftreams and rivers border- 
 ed with green willow-trees, which very much 
 mitigate the fury of the heat. The great- 
 eft inconvenience that I perceived in that 
 journey, was the want of water ; which is 
 fo great, that we were forced to provide 
 ourfelves, when we arrived at any of thefe 
 rivers, for many days journey ; for there 
 is no other, except fometimes fome plafhes 
 remaining of rain-water ; rand that is all 
 green, and can ferve only for the oxen : 
 and yet this is rare too ; for thefe are often 
 dried up to mud, and then one is forced to 
 double the day's journey, and march as far 
 again ; fo that the cattle is almoft dead 
 with thirft. I have feen fometimes, on 
 thefe occafions, the oxen take a run as if 
 they were mad or poflefled ; for they know 
 by inftincl, a league or two before they 
 come at it, the places where it is, as if they 
 fmelled it ; fo there is no flopping thofe 
 that are loofe ; and even thofe who are at 
 the yoke, make what hafte they can •, and 
 when they get to the water, they raife the 
 mud fo by their hafte, that they drink as 
 much mud as water. 
 
 When this happens, while there is any 
 of the water left that was taken at the river, 
 
 and 
 
Chap. 21. 
 
 Kingdom of CHILE. 
 
 57 
 
 and carried in carts, the misfortune is the 
 lefs ; but when that water is already fpent, 
 the people fuffer extreamly : for though 
 moft commonly fome one man is fent before 
 to take up fome water of the cleareft, be- 
 fore the oxen trouble it, yet they make fuch 
 hafte, that that prevention moft commonly 
 mifcarries ; and then we are fain to flop 
 our nofes, and ihut our eyes to drink, and 
 divert even our imagination, if we can. 
 And to all this there is no remedy, but from 
 heaven, as it happened to me once, that 
 it pleafed god to fend us a fhower in our 
 greateft extremity, which filled feveral wells, 
 and there was enough for us and our cat- 
 tle, as alfo to carry away ; for which we 
 thanked the divine majefty, acknowledging 
 his great mercy to us in fo preffing circum- 
 ftances. 
 
 This fuffering would not be fo great, if 
 there were any towns and villages in the 
 way ; for there are little lakes, by which 
 they might fettle, which though fome years 
 they yield no water, yet it is to be come at 
 by a little digging, and that not very deep ; 
 and if there were people in thofe defarts, 
 wells might be made, or the rain-water 
 gathered in cifterns, as it is practifed in fe- 
 veral other places. But thefe plains are fo 
 vaft, that they can hardly be peopled, be- 
 ing extended for feveral hundred leagues ; 
 and befides, there being no trade fettled of 
 any importance in thofe parts, there can- 
 not be inns nor places of fhelter fettled ; and 
 fo at prefent, whoever travels that way, mull 
 carry every thing -, for when once one is fet 
 out, diere is no addition to be made ; and 
 
 therefore all is to be provided, more or lefs,OvALLE. 
 according to one's ability ; and that muft ^"^~\ 
 be at leaft a fortnight's allowance, and fome 
 times twenty or thirty days, till one comes 
 to fome inhabited place. This is the man- 
 ner of travelling in the plains of Cnyo, and 
 'Tucutnan, and the Rio Plata, where in ma- 
 ny leagues one does not fee a hill, nor a 
 ftone, nor a tree, but continual plains ; and 
 if, to drefs your victuals, you have not the 
 forefight to carry fome wood, all the reme- 
 dy is to gather the cow-dung, which ferves 
 the turn very ill. In fome places of this 
 province of Cuyo, there are woods near the 
 rivers, from whence may be had materials 
 for building ; and hard by the Cordillera 
 there is a fort of tree that breeds incenfe. I 
 brought fome of it to Rome, and the drug- 
 gifts told me, that it was finer than the or- 
 dinary, confumed in churches. There grows 
 there alfo the herb called Xarilla, which is 
 very hot, and a good medicine, as we have 
 faid already. There are many others, of 
 which I cannot give fo particular an ac- 
 count, as not having made any ftay in thofe 
 parts •, neither am I in a place where I can 
 advantage myfelf of thofe relations, that 
 others might give me ; and which may 
 ferve for larger hiftories than mine, I pre- 
 tending only to brevity. Therefore let this 
 fuffice for an account of the fituation, foil, 
 heavens, proprieties, trees, plants, fruits, 
 metals, flocks, fountains, rivers, fea -fifties, 
 and birds, in all the three parts or divfions 
 of the kingdom of Chile. Let us now fay 
 a word of its inhabitants, the old Indians, 
 who have poflefied it all formerly. 
 
 Vol. III. 
 
 <L 
 
 BOOK 
 
$8 Of the Nature and Properties of the Book III, 
 
 BOOK III 
 
 Of the Inhabitants of the Kingdom of 
 
 Chile. 
 
 CHAP. I. 
 
 Ofthefirji that peopled America, and their Antiquity. 
 
 OVALLE 
 
 1646. 
 
 THE knowledge of the firfl inhabi- 
 tants of the kingdom of Chile, de- 
 pends necefTarily upon that of the firft in- 
 habitants of America, which is not eafy to 
 be made out. If we fhould take the opi- 
 nion of the indian Guancas, near the valley 
 of Xavia, they would certainly affirm, that 
 which is a conftant tradition among the na- 
 tives of Peru, and before they had any 
 knowledge of our faith, and is, That many 
 years before there were Ingas, who were the 
 kings of thofe parts, the country being very 
 populous, there was a great deluge : (thus 
 far 'tis well.) But then they add, That in 
 the hollow rocks of the higheft mountains, 
 there remained fome alive, who returned 
 and peopled the earth afrelh ; and the fame 
 tradition is received by the Indians of Quito 
 in Collao. If this were fo, the Indians of 
 Chile might lay claim to the new peopling 
 of America ; for if any, their mountains 
 were moft capable of refilling the deluge, 
 they being the higheft that are yet difcover- 
 ed. There are other indian mountaineers, 
 who are lefs miftaken ; for they affirm, 
 That none could be faved in the mountains, 
 becaufe they were all covered with water ; 
 but that fix were faved in a float they made. 
 If they had faid eight, they would have 
 hit upon the number which the apoftle St. 
 Peter fays efcaped with Noah in the ark 
 which he built. 
 
 Antonio de Herrera, in the Third Tome of 
 the General Hiftory of the Indias, excufes 
 thefe errors of the Indians, faying, 'Tis 
 probable there was fome particular deluge 
 in thofe parts, to which they might allude, 
 becaufe all the nations of that world are 
 agreed in this tradition. The true and na- 
 tural excufe is, that thefe poor wretches 
 have not had the good fortune to fee the 
 chapter of Exodus, where they would have 
 been undeceived •, for there 'tis faid, That 
 out of the ark o/Noah there was not left any 
 living thing upon the earth, and that the wa- 
 ter was fifteen cubits over the tops of the high- 
 
 eft mountains. The other Indians, who talk 
 of the fix men faved on the float, may have 
 had fome tradition from their forefathers, 
 who were nearer the time of Noah, about 
 the ark ; and as they are a people who have 
 no books, becaufe they cannot read, what- 
 foever they might learn from their ancef- 
 tors, and retain in their memories, might 
 by degrees be loft, or diminifhed ; and lb 
 the defendants came to have the tale of the 
 float and the fix perfons, not examining 
 how it could poffibly be, that upon fo flight. 
 a contrivance, which can hardly laft three 
 or four days in the water, thofe people 
 lhould maintain themfelves for fo long as 
 the deluge lafted. As for the manner and 
 time, how and when the defendants of 
 Noah pafled to people this new world, or 
 how their generations have been extended 
 fo far, 'tis a moft difficult thing to make 
 out ; for the Indians being without written 
 records, as other nations have, there is no 
 diving by their memories into their anti- 
 quities, which even when they are commit- 
 ted to writing, ufe to produce variety of 
 opinions about the origin and beginning of 
 things. Befides, there was in Europe, even 
 among the moft learned, fo great an ig- 
 norance of all that regarded America, that 
 it was judged fcarce inhabitable, if it was 
 at all ; and fo they could give us no light 
 of a thing they had no notion of, or which 
 they thought impoffible ; but after the dif- 
 covery of this new world, people began to 
 reafon, and every one made his guefles or 
 reafonings as well as he could. Some have 
 faid, with reference to what is hinted by 
 Plato, in his Tima'us, fas is related by our 
 father Acofta, in his firft book of the New 
 World, in the twenty-fecond chapter,) that 
 people pafled from Europe and Africa, to 
 certain iflands ; and fo from one to another, 
 till they came to the terra firma of Ame- 
 rica. 
 
 The fame author advances fomething^^: 
 more probable, in his nineteenth chapter ; 
 
 where 
 
Chap. r. 
 
 Kingdom of CHILE. 
 
 '59 
 
 where he fays, That fuppofing we all came 
 from the firft man Adam, and that the pro- 
 pagation of the fpecies of mankind, after 
 the deluge, was made by thofe only who 
 were faved out of the ark of Noah, 'tis not 
 improbable, that the firft inhabitants of 
 America came to thofe parts, not with de- 
 fign, or by their own induftry, becaufe of 
 the little ufe of navigation that was in 
 thofe days, and particularly through fo 
 great a fea ; but that they were caft by 
 fome ftorm on thofe coafts, as it happened 
 fince in its firft difcovery, as we fhall fee 
 hereafter in its proper place. He brings, to 
 prove this, the example of feveral fhips, 
 which, contrary to their courfe, have been 
 driven to very remote fhores. This is every 
 day's experience, and will not furprize thofe 
 who know any thing of the ftrength of the 
 winds and currents in thofe feas ; and diat 
 which the fame father Acqfta alledges of 
 himfelf, That he had fuch a paffage, that 
 in fourteen days he came within fight of 
 the firft iflands of the gulph of Mexico, 
 going from Spain. 
 
 This, though probable, has yet a ftrong 
 objection againft it, which is about the 
 wild beafts, fuch as tygers, lions, wolves, 
 and others of that nature, which could not 
 be carried in fhips, becaufe they were of 
 no ufe to mankind, but rather mifchievous : 
 and though fome may anfwer with St. Auf- 
 Aug.de Ci-/^ \ n n i s fixteenth book Be Chit ate Dei, 
 vit. Dei. Q ja p_ y t when he folves the difficulty how 
 thefe animals came into iflands, and fays, 
 That thej might either fwim thither, or be 
 carried by hunters, or that they might be 
 created a-new by God Almighty, as they 
 were in the beginning of the world ; which 
 is the beft folution, if it were as probable 
 as it is eafy to fay. But, firft, there is a- 
 gainft it the opinions of philofophers, who 
 will not allow any great animals to be pro- 
 pagated any other way than by generation. 
 And, befides, if God, as without doubt he 
 might, had created them a-new, what ne- 
 ceffity was there for him to command Noah 
 to take fo many pairs of all living creatures, 
 all male and female ? which care feems fu- 
 perfluous, if God refolved to make a fecond 
 creation of all thofe fpecies after the deluge. 
 'Tis more probable, thefe creatures might 
 arrive at the iflands fwimming, and the 
 birds flying, particularly to the neareft 
 iflands ; but this does not prove, that they 
 could arrive to thofe remote parts of Ame- 
 rica, there being fuch a vaft ocean, that 
 'tis not poffible that either beafts or birds 
 fhould have fo much ftrength as to fwim or 
 fly over it ; for this reafon he concludes in 
 the end of the one and twentieth chapter, 
 that the men, as well as animals, pafled ei- 
 ther by land or water to America, near 
 fame part where it joins to the other parts 
 
 of the world, either by the Tierra de Baca-OvALtE. 
 laos, or the Str eight of Magellan, that is not ^646. 
 feparated but by ordinary little feparations V "^V >!9 ' 
 of water and lea, which might be eafily 
 pafs'd in finall vefiels, fuch as were in ufe 
 in thofe ancient times. 
 
 This is the author's opinion ; which, as 
 to the Tierra de Bacalaos, carries with it 
 only the probability of an ingenious con- 
 jecture ; becaufe as yet that part of the world 
 has not been difcovered ; but if in time it 
 proves like the conjecture about the Streights 
 of Magellan, 'tis all without any grounds j 
 for, as we have already related, 'tis now 
 made plain, that America on that fide is 
 entirely divided from the other parts of the 
 world by a vaft fea. 'Tis true, that to the 
 eaft 'tis not known yet how far that land 
 runs, which is over-againft the Tierra del 
 Fuego, and is on the eaft fide of the Streight 
 of St. Vincent, otherwife called the Streight 
 of Li? Maire ; for fome think that it may 
 run as far as the Cape of Good Hope, and fo 
 be fo near that part of Africa, that men 
 might pafs in fmall vefiels from the one to 
 the other. 'Tis likewife uncertain, that 
 the continent of America ever was nearer 
 than it now is to any other continent, or 
 that the fea has fince broke away part of 
 either, to make the feparation wider, as we 
 have obferved it did in the ifland of Sancla. 
 Maria, which is fuppofed to have former- 
 ly been all of one continued piece with the 
 firm land of Arauco -, but thefe are all 
 conjectures, and he alone knows the truth 
 who created thefe men, and other animals 
 of America, and by whofe providence they 
 pafled to thofe parts, for the great ends of 
 his hidden fecrets •, to whom, with all ve- 
 neration for his councils, we muft fubmit 
 the enquiry, why he has been pleafed that 
 that part of the world fhould remain un- 
 difcovered for fo many ages, without any 
 communication with thofe parts where his 
 divine light has appeared fooner. Thefe 
 are confiderations for the good to make ufe 
 of with thanks, for having been admitted to 
 it ; and confufion of the wicked, who at 
 noon day are as much in the dark, as if it 
 had never dawned. 
 
 Peter Bereius, in his geography, as John Bereius; 
 and Theodore de Brye do relate, collects the 
 antiquity of thofe nations of America, from 
 their moft ancient kings and lords, and from 
 the ruins of ancient edifices, and other me- 
 morable things ; for this argues the large- 
 nefs of time, in which all this was done. 
 Amongft other things, he mentions the re- 
 port of one of their gardens belonging to 
 fome king, (which muft be of Peru, who 
 were always the richeft,) in which all the 
 herbs, and plants, and fhrubs, with their 
 trunks, leaves, and flowers of the natural 
 proportion, were of mafly gold ; and in 
 
 the 
 
6o 
 
 Of the Nature and Properties of the Book III. 
 
 Ovalle. the houfes of recreation, there were all forts 
 1646. f an i m als made of precious ftones, and 
 
 ■V"V"*" / fome of feathers of various colours. They 
 fay befides, that the Ingas, who were the 
 emperors of Peru, were the richeft princes 
 in the world ; and that they had fo much 
 gold, that not only the plate they eat in 
 were of that metal, but all their houlhold 
 fluff and furniture were of the fame, to 
 their tables, benches, cupboards, nay, to 
 the ftatues themfelves ; a great deal of 
 which fell to the Spaniards fhare when they 
 conquered thofe parts ; but the belt part was 
 hid and concealed by the Indians, which to 
 this day they keep undifcovered, being in 
 that way of fecret intractable and extream 
 clofe. Neither is it any wonder that thofe 
 princes fhould ufe fo much gold, fince they 
 were mafters of more of that metal than 
 any others ; being fo beloved by their fub- 
 jedts, that whatever they had that was pre- 
 cious, they prefented it to them ; and they 
 were fo inclined to hoard it, that whoever 
 fucceeded in the monarchy, made it a point 
 of ftate not to touch, but rather to increafe 
 the treafure of his father ; of which a great 
 proof was the vaft fum which Atahualpa 
 offered for his ranfom, and paid to the Spa- 
 niards for it, as we lhall fee hereafter. 
 
 Amongft other precious pieces of gold 
 work, authors make particular mention, 
 and admire with reafon, that chain which 
 the king Guaynacapa, the eleventh king of 
 Peru, caufed to be made at the birth of his 
 ion Guafcar, who was to inherit his crown ; 
 for each link of it was as big as the wrift 
 of a man, (as is reported by GareilaJJo de la 
 Vega, who had it from an uncle of his, an 
 Inga alfo, who told him, when he asked 
 the bignefs, as big as this, (fhewing his 
 wrift,) and as long as twice the length of 
 the great place of Cufco, which in all might 
 
 be above feven hundred foot long. And 
 the contador, Augitftin de Far ate, in his firft 
 book, Chap. 14. treating of the incredible 
 riches of that Inga, fays thefe words : 
 [Guaynacapa, at the birth of his/on, caufed 
 a great cable of gold to be made (as is atteft- 
 ed by feveral Indians yet alive) of fo much 
 weight, that two hundred Indians could but 
 jttft lift it up from the ground ; for memory 
 of which they gave the name of Guafcar Inga 
 to the new born prince ; for Gvafcafignifes a 
 cable ; and the firname of Inga was added, 
 as that of Auguftus to the Roman emperors.] 
 Thus far this author : but diis name, or 
 word Guafca, not being fo decent in its 
 fignification for a prince, they added the r 
 to it, and neverthelefs eterniz'd the memo- 
 ry of that rich chain. 
 
 The chiefeft motive the king had to or- 
 der this chain to be made, was, that the 
 dances which were to be made at his birth, 
 might be more folemn, and worthy of his 
 royal perfon ; becaufe the manner of dan- 
 cing of the Indians, is to take one another 
 by the hands, and make a circle ; and fo 
 moving two fteps forward, and one back- 
 ward, draw clofer and cloler to the kins, 
 to make their obeifances ; and the king 
 caufed this chain to be made, for them to 
 take hold of, inftead of taking hold of one 
 another. 
 
 A great proof likewife of this antiquity 
 of the empire of Peru, is thofe two high- 
 ways mentioned by Herrera ; for being of 
 that vaft length, and work'd with all thofe 
 conveniencies for travellers, they could not 
 be made but by length of time, and with 
 a long continued labour. This is what I 
 find of the antiquity of the firft inhabitants 
 of America, in which we may comprehend 
 the Indians of Chile, 
 
 CHAP. II. 
 
 Of the great Courage and Boldnefs of the Indians of Chile. 
 
 TH E Indians of Chile are famed by all 
 who have writ of them, for the boldeft 
 and moft valiant warriors of all the vaft ex- 
 tent of the new world : it were to be wifhed 
 by us, that this had not been confirmed by 
 woful experience, for then the kingdom of 
 Chile would have been one of the moft flou- 
 rifhing kingdoms of the Indies, without the 
 continual wars which it has maintained for 
 about an hundred years, without ever cea- 
 fing, or laying down its arms. This is the 
 more confiderable, if we reflect, that the 
 Spaniards having fubjected, in fo little a 
 time, thofe vaft empires of Mexico and Pe- 
 ru, have neverthelefs not been able, in fo 
 great a time, to conquer the Indians of 
 Chile, fons of the great Cordillera, from 
 
 whofe rocks they feem to borrow their un- 
 tameable ftrength and fiercenefs. Except 
 we fhould fay with fryer Gregory of Leon, 
 That this bravery comes from the fertility 
 of the earth, which, as he fays, and is 
 true, does not need any thing from abroad. 
 To which he adds, the birth of thefe peo- 
 ple, who all their life tread upon fo much 
 gold, and drink the water which runs over 
 thefe rich minerals, by which they partici- 
 pate of its good and generous qualities, as 
 it is obferved of thofe who live at Potofi, 
 near that vaft mountain of filver, who are 
 fo ftout and haughty, as has appeared in the 
 many revolutions that have happened there. 
 Let this be as it will all authors agree, 
 that they are the top nauon of America, 
 
 though 
 
Chap. 2. 
 
 Kingdom of CHILE, 
 
 61 
 
 though hitherto no one has treated pur- 
 pofely of this matter. There are now two 
 hiftories in the prefs, which will make out, 
 by particulars, all that has been faid of this 
 nation. Don Alonzo de Ereilla fays enough, 
 in his famous poem, call'd the Araucana ; 
 but becaufe it is in verfe, it feems to leflen 
 fomething the real truth ; and yet abftracT:- 
 ing from the hyperboles and enlargings of 
 poetry, all the hiftorical part is very con- 
 formable to truth, he being a gentleman of 
 great quality, and an eye-witnefs of what 
 he affirms ; for what he writ, was not by 
 hearfay, but upon the very fpot where the 
 things happened ; fo that he might have 
 had as many contradictors as he had witnef- 
 fes, who were prcfent as well as he at what 
 pafs'd. 
 
 He dedicated his book to the moft ca- 
 tholick king, his lord and mafter ; and pre- 
 fenting it to him with his own hand, when 
 he came from Chile to Spain, 'tis to be pre- 
 fum'd he would not have dared to fail in 
 the exactnefs of truth, for fear of receiving 
 a chaftifement, inftead of a reward, which 
 he obtain'd for it. Let any read his pro- 
 logue, in which, in a very good ftile, and 
 in profe, he gives a noble account of the 
 valour of the Indians, and concludes his 
 preface with thefe words : [/ have faid" all 
 this, as a proof and clear demonjlration of the 
 valour of thefe nations, worthy of all the en- 
 comiums I can give them in my verfes ; and 
 befides, there are now in Spain feveral per- 
 fons who were prefent at many of the atlions 
 which I here defcribe y and refer to them the 
 defence of my work on that fide.'] Thus far 
 this author, worthy of immortal praife for 
 his incomparable book, which, though pub- 
 lished above fifty years ago, and printed in 
 Spain and Flanders, is yet continually re- 
 printed ; which fhews the value the curious 
 and the learned have for it. The Arauca- 
 nos are indeed the chief fubject of it ; and 
 yet what is faid of them may be extended 
 to all the Indians of Chile, as we fhall fee 
 in its proper place, when we fhall treat of 
 the wars they had with the Spaniards. 
 
 But before ever the Spaniards fet their 
 feet on their ground, they had given fuffi- 
 cient proof of their bravery, which was in- 
 vincible, to the Ingas, emperors of Peru, 
 fince with all their power they could never 
 conquer them, though they endeavour'd it, 
 as being extreamly inclin'd to enlarge their 
 dominions ; and they defir'd it the more, 
 for the fame of Chile, to which they lent a 
 powerful army, and which made fome pro- 
 grefs at firft, fubjeding fome nations to ex- 
 traordinary tributes. But as they purfued 
 their point, and came to the valley of 
 Maule, they met with the Promocaes, to 
 whofe fuccour the Chilenos, who inhabited 
 more within the country, were come, and 
 
 Vol. III. 
 
 forc'd the army of the Ingas to retire inOvALLE. 
 hafte. Gareilajfo de la Vega relating this ^^O 
 more particularly, fays, »~y r ^ ,/ 
 
 That the Ingayn Pangue, the tenth king Car. Je I* 
 of Peru, came to the confines of his own Ve &*< 
 kingdom, to a place call'd Atacama, to be 
 nearer at hand to attend the conqueft of 
 Chile; and from thence firft fent his fcouts 
 through the fourfcore leagues of uncultiva- 
 ted country, which was between his king- 
 dom and Chile, with orders to difpatch a 
 man, every two leagues, with an account 
 of what they difcover'd ; which they did, 
 one meflenger following another, and lea- 
 ving in the way certain marks, whereby they 
 that came laft might guide themfelves. 
 He firft fent ten thoufand men, under the 
 command of general Sinchiruca, and two 
 other colonels of his own kindred, not be- 
 ing willing to commit to any others care 
 fo great an enterprize. They came with- 
 in fight of the valley of Copiapo, which is 
 the firft inhabited valley of Chile ; with the 
 inhabitants of which, the Peruvians began 
 to skirmifh, becaufe they had not admitted 
 the embafTy which they fent them as from 
 the Inga, to own him for their lord •, and 
 withal, having given notice of the refil 
 tance they found to the Inga, he fent them 
 ten thoufand men more, with a new fum- 
 mons, afTuring them, That his defign was 
 not to take their country from them, but 
 only that they fhould own him as fon of 
 the fun, and lord of all that was warm'd 
 and enlighten'd by him. Thofe of Copiapo 
 feeing this new relief to their enemies, and 
 knowing that it would not be the laft, be- 
 caufe the Inga yn Pangue was preparing 
 another fuccour, and being convinced that 
 this acknowledgment would coft them lefs 
 than the blood that muft be fpilt in a long 
 refiftance, they agreed to own the Inga as 
 he defir'd. 
 
 This was the firft entrance of the Peru- 
 vians as far as Maule, which is one of the 
 rivers of Chile, as has been faid already. 
 By this time, the army of the Peruvians 
 was fifty thoufand men, and defiring to pro- 
 fecute their conqueft, they fent their ordi- 
 nary embafTy to the nation of the Promo- 
 caes, who having already been inform'd of 
 their invading their neighbours, were in 
 arms to defend their country. The am- 
 bafTadors of the Inga deliver'd their accuf- 
 tom'd meffage, protefting, that their lord 
 defir'd nothing more, than to be acknow- 
 ledge as fon of the fun, and honour'd ac- 
 cordingly by their fubmiffion. The Pro- 
 mocaes, who were refolv'd to defend their 
 liberties, made anfwer, That the conquerors 
 fhould be the lords and majlers ; and fo uni- 
 ting all their forces, came on the fourtli 
 day, and prefented battle to the Peruvians. 
 The Inga's generals, furpriz'd at fuch a cou- 
 R ragious 
 
62 
 
 Of the Nature and "Properties of the Eook III. 
 
 OvALLE-ragious refolution, fent them new fummons, 
 ,*£ 4 ^* defirmg their friendfhip and peace, calling 
 L w*yw/ t ^ e ^ un an( j moon to vvitnefs, that they 
 
 came not to fpoil them of their lands or 
 goods, but only to oblige them to own the 
 fun for their God, and the Inga for his fon 
 and their lord. To which they receiv'd 
 anfwer, That they came not to fpend time 
 in talking, or vain difcourfes, but to fight 
 manfully till they fhould conquer or die ; 
 adding, that they might prepare them- 
 felves for battle the next day, as it hap- 
 pen'd ; and the Promocaes overcame that 
 powerful army of the Ingas, fo that they 
 had no mind to try their fortune any more, 
 but made their retreat, leaving the Promo- 
 caes in peace, and full poffeffion of their 
 lands, which they had fo bravely defended. 
 Antonio de Herrera, in his third tome, and 
 fifth decade, treating of the reafon why 
 thofe of Chile refus'd to fubmit to thofe mo- 
 narchs the Ingas, fays, That it was becaufe 
 of the great reverence with which they 
 made their fubjecls treat them, as if they 
 "Were Gods, and approach them as if they 
 were of another fpecies ; which the Chile- 
 mans could not bear, their mind being too 
 lofty and generous to fubmit to fuch a tyran- 
 ny, which they conftantly oppos'd ; info- 
 much, that though the Ingas had conquer'd 
 the belt part of that continent, yet the Chi- 
 lenians never did yield to their power. Per- 
 haps the neareft provinces to Peru, fuch as 
 thofe of Guafco, Coquhnbo, and Copiapo, did 
 in fome meafure acknowledge their power, 
 fince they paid a tribute in gold ; and for 
 that reafon, thefe provinces alone in all the 
 kingdom of Chile, do fpeak the common 
 language of Peru, which is a very ftrong 
 proof of what I here fay. 
 
 For the fame reafon that they refilled the 
 Ingas, they did not care to have any king 
 of their own nation, the love of their li- 
 berty prevailing againft all the reafons of 
 ftate, which might move them to have one 
 monarch ; neither did they fall into any 
 popular form of government, or common- 
 wealth ; for their warlike temper did not 
 afford patience enough for the flegmatick 
 debates, neceffary for the union of fo ma- 
 
 ny minds. Thus every family chofe one 
 among them to govern them. From this 
 arofe the Caciques, who are the fovereigns 
 among them, and by degrees had that 
 power hereditary, and their children after 
 them enjoy it, with all its rights. 
 
 But though every one governs indepen- 
 dently his own diftricl: or jurifdiftion, yet 
 when the occafion offers, that the fafety of 
 all is concern'd, there is an affembly of therheftate- 
 Caciques, and fome of the elders of thc#"»^" J - 
 people, who are men of experience, and are 
 fummon'd after their way by particular 
 meflengers. In thefe councils they relulve 
 what they think moft convenient ; which, if 
 it be a cafe of war, either defenfive or of- 
 fenfive, they chufe the general, not one ot'Cbokeofa 
 the moft noble of the Caciques, or the moA'"' c " era ' 
 powerful, but he who has the fame of moft 
 valiant, and has beft behav'd himfelf on 
 the like occafion againft their enemies ; 
 and when he is juftly chofen, all the other 
 Caciques obey him punctaally. 'Tis after 
 this manner that they have preferv'd them- 
 felves fo many years againft all the ftrength 
 that has been brought againft them. To 
 make thefe afiemblies, they chofe out fome 
 very pleafant place, field, or meadow ; Manner of 
 and thither they bring great ftore of pro- 'f e P** e ~ 
 vifion, and ftrong drink, call'd Chicha, 
 which is inftead of wine. Being all afiem- 
 bled, and well warm'd with this liquor, 
 and excited in their martial temper, there 
 rifes up fome one of the moft antient, to 
 whofe lot it falls, to propofe the bufinefs of 
 that meeting ; who with great eloquence 
 (for in that they are very famous) opens the 
 matter, and brings all the reafons and mo- 
 tives of perfuafion that he can. All are 
 oblig'd to yield to the majority of opinion ; 
 and when the refult is made, 'tis publifh'd 
 with the found of drums and trumpets, and 
 a mighty noife ; but yet allowing every one 
 the term of three days, to rerleft and con- 
 fider on what has been refolv'd ; after which, 
 if they find no inconveniency, the execu- 
 tion is infallible, and they think of the 
 means of bringing the bufinefs about by 
 the moft proper methods. 
 
 CHAP. Ill; 
 
 The fame Subjett is ptrfued^ and the Nobility of the Indians of Chile 
 
 examined. 
 
 ANtonio de Herrera, in the place alrea- 
 dy cited in the laft chapter, fays, 
 That there are fome of the Indians reputed 
 above the reft as gentlemen ; and then he 
 adds thefe words, [Of this fort have been, 
 and areftill the Indians of Chile.] In which 
 he fays well ; for if valour and the glory of 
 arms makes gentlemen, as may be feen in 
 
 Andreas 'Tiraquello, in his book de Nobili- 
 tate & jure Primogenitor urn; and if many 
 noble families do to this day derive them- 
 felves from fome great captain or famous 
 foldier, the Chilean Indians having fo often 
 fignalized their valour in fights, they may 
 very juftly be diftinguifh'd from all the 
 other Indians, and reputed more noble. 
 
 In 
 
Chap. 3. 
 
 Kingdom of CHILE. 
 
 63 
 
 In fliort, they are the untam'd Cantabri of 
 America, who, like thole of Europe, de- 
 fended themfelves, when all the reft of it 
 was enflaved ; and repulied the conquering 
 monarchs of Peru to the extream confines 
 of their provinces. 
 
 And there is one circumftance more par- 
 ticular than under the Cantabrians, becaufe 
 they had the advantage of their mountains, 
 x and the barreryiefs of their country, not lb 
 
 inviting to a conqueror ; but in Chile it was 
 otherwife : the richneis of its mines, and 
 its foil full of delicious valleys, and a clear 
 and rich territory, having been always well 
 known, the only valour and bravery of its 
 inhabitants was then the defence of the 
 country : thefe were the fortrefies and walls 
 of it •, for without a bit of fortification of 
 any fort, or lb much as one fire-arm, they 
 oblig'd their powerful enemy to a fhame- 
 ful retreat. Indeed, this is a thing worthy 
 of great admiration •, yet not lb much to 
 thoie who know how thefe Indians value 
 themklves upon being good foldiers, ufing 
 themfelves to arms, even from their child- 
 hood ; of which it will not be amiis to 
 fpeak a little. 
 The educa- When a child is ftrong enough, they 
 tion of the ma ke i t run U p the rocky fide of a hill, gi- 
 
 Cbile. v ' n S hi m th^ ^ oes lt ^ e ^' 1 " ome P r ' ze or 
 reward: this makes them very nimble and 
 
 light ; and I have feen them, in their feafts 
 and entertainments, run two and two for 
 wagers with wonderful fwiftnefs •, and thofe 
 who fhew little difpofition to this exercife, 
 are applied to follow day-labour, but die 
 others they referve for war, not fufiering 
 them to take to any other employments, 
 but mind their arms and their horfes, that 
 they may be perfect in all their exercifes. 
 To thefe they aflign their poft upon occa- 
 fion, according as each has behav'd himfelf 
 in thofe which he has been in before •, and 
 they have in this ho confideration of gen- 
 tility, intercefiion of others, or other mo- 
 tives, but that alone ot a good performance, 
 and the- many proofs given by them of their 
 courage and conduit in war. 
 Their arms -ph e arms t h e y u f e ^ are pikes, halberts, 
 m war. i aunceSj hatchets, maces of arms, bars, 
 darts, arrows, and clubs ; as alfo ftrong 
 noofes to throw upon a horfeman, and 
 flings. Their horfe fight with launce and 
 buckler, which they have learn'd from the 
 Spaniards, and from them they have had 
 their horfes ; for before their time, they had 
 neither horfe nor iron, but they have a hard 
 wood, which grows yet harder by being 
 turn'd in the fire, and is almoft as ufeful as 
 Their zr- fteel. They have hard and ftrong corfe- 
 mtur. i etS) back and breaft, and thighs, arms, 
 bracelets, gauntlets," helmets, morions; all 
 thefe of a hardened leather, fo prepared 
 when raw, that it becomes by drying as im- 
 
 penetrable as any fteel •, and they are fome-'.OvALLE. 
 thing better, becaufe more manageable, and .\r*r, 
 do embarrafs the body lefs, as being ligh- ^^v** 
 ter ; and fo the man is, more at his eafe, and 
 better difpos'd in fight. Among them the 
 pikeman may not be an archer ; neither 
 can any that ufes the mace of arms, ufe 
 other arms ; fo every one beftirs himfelf 
 with the arms he is us'd to. 
 
 In forming their battalions, every file »x&«r order 
 of above an hundred men, and between °f bMtle - 
 every pikeman an archer, who are defend- 
 ed by the pikemen, who clofe their lho.il- 
 ders together ; and if their firft battalion is 
 broken, the fecond relieves them with fo 
 much readinefs, that there feems not that 
 any have fail'd ; and fo by the third and 
 fourth following each other, like waves of 
 the fea, without any interruption ; and no 
 man forfakes his rank, but by death. They 
 always endeavour to have fome bog or lake 
 not far off" for a retreat ; for there they 
 are more in lafety than in the ftrongeft 
 caftle. Their volunteers go before the batta- 
 lion, trailing their pikes with fo much ftate, 
 and are themfelves fo haughty, that, like. 
 Goliab, they challenge their enemy to meet 
 them body to body ; and they do the fame 
 to the Spaniards, giving themfelves great 
 airs of pride. They march to the found: Their war- 
 of their drums and trumpets, having their l,ke orm - 
 arms garniin d with all variety of beauti- 
 ful colours, and themfelves adorn'd with 
 great plumes of rich feathers, fo that they 
 appear very handfome and fighrly. 
 
 When they make any forts for their de- Their forts. 
 fence, it is of great trees interwoven with 
 each other, and leaving in the middle a 
 place of arms ; and formerly within this fort 
 they us'd to make another of thick planks. 
 Behind this, they make a great ditch, co- 
 ver'd over with plants and flowers, but 
 underneath them fharp ftakes to lame the 
 enemy's horfes •, fome they make deeper, 
 that the horfes may remain there ftak'd 
 thorough. 
 
 Many of them are fubject to great fuper- 
 ftitions and auguries, obferving the omens, 
 both before and at the time of their under- 
 taking •, but many of them laugh at thofe 
 obfervations, faying, there are no better 
 omens than good blows, and ftout laying 
 about them, without fear of either fteel, 
 fire, or any fort of death ; and it is certain- 
 ly fo, that their firft encounter is terrible, 
 and as if they fear'd no one thing in the 
 world. When they are drawn up, and 
 ready to engage, there is filence made, and 
 the general raifing his voice, begins an ha- 
 rangue, fo full of fpirit, fill'd with fuch 
 warm incitations, and fuch a lively action, 
 that the cowardlieft among them become 
 like lions and tygers againft their enemies. 
 He lays before them the glory of victory, 
 
 and 
 
6 4 
 
 Of the Nature and Properties of the Book III. 
 
 OvALLE.and the fliame of being overcome, and made 
 1646. captives and flaves to their adverfaries. 
 ^f^*7 > " Take notice, fays he, that there is now 
 toy txfor-" no medium between thofe two extreams: 
 tatiotu. " are not you the fons and grandchildren 
 " of thofe brave men, who have fought 
 " fo many battles, and ventur'd all to de- 
 " fend that country and liberty, for which 
 ' ' we now fight ? Shall we own that they 
 " exceed us in bravery, or that the ene- 
 " mies we encounter are fuperior to thofe 
 " whom they overcame? Had they lefs 
 " motives than we have ? or do we hope 
 '-' for lefs glory ? We muft all die •, and 
 " in the equality of that common fate, 
 " the only difference is dying nobly for our 
 " dear country, and the liberty of our wives 
 " and children ; therefore rouze up that 
 " courage which you have inherited from 
 " your anceftors, who never could endure 
 " the thoughts of that infamous yoke of 
 " flavery upon their necks. Courage then 
 " brave men, as brave as any the fun fees •, 
 *•* courage, for in that lies vi&ory." 
 
 With thefe, and other fuch words, and 
 calling to mind fome of their victories, they 
 grow fo warm, that raifing a cry of war, 
 they drive away all fear, and exprefs great 
 defire of engaging their enemies ; which 
 they do with fo much fury and refolution, 
 that a battalion that ftands their firft fh j k 
 is a very firm one. But we will treat fur- 
 ther of this when we fhall fpe;ik of the 
 battles they have had with the Spaniards, 
 whole valour has fet theirs in its luftre, obli- 
 ging them to give fuch proofs as are wor- 
 thy to be recorded in hiflory. Let us purfue 
 now the account of their natural qualities, 
 independently from the refiftance which they 
 have made to his catholick majefty's arms. 
 Their m- The warlike fpirit of this nation proceeds 
 tural xwfrom their natural temper, which is chole- 
 * ir ' rick and impatient, proud, arrogant, and 
 
 fierce, very cruel in their revenge, cutting 
 their enemies (when in their power) inhu- 
 manly to pieces, and wallowing in their 
 blood. We fhall relate a cafe hereafter, in 
 which fomething of this will be feen. They 
 Their are ftrong and robuft of body, well pro- 
 tnake. portion'd, large moulders, high chefts, 
 well fet in their members, nimble, aftive, 
 vigorous, and nervous, couragious and 
 undertaking, enduring hunger, thirft, heat, 
 cold ; defpifing all conveniencies of life, even 
 their own fmall ones, having little value for 
 their very lives, when 'tis necefiary to ha- 
 zard them, either for glory or liberty ; con- 
 ftant in their refolutions, and perfifting in a 
 thing once begun with incredible fteadinefs. 
 GooAhorfe- They are excellent horfemen, and upon 
 men. a fingle faddle-cloth, or without one, they 
 are as firm as others in war-faddles: they'll 
 ride down the fide of a hill, or a precipice, 
 as if they were goats, with their bodies as 
 
 ftreight and as firm on horfeback, as if they 
 were nail'd to the horfe : they have no trou- 
 ble with the baggage they want, for they 
 carry but little with them; not but that 
 when they march they have th=ir little pack 
 of flower of maiz, a lictle fait, fome Pi- 
 mientos, or Guinea Pepper, and dried flefh ; 
 and this is enough to maintain them a good 
 while. They need no other kitchen uten- 
 fils than a gourd or calabajh, with which, 
 when they come to a river or fpring, they 
 open their flower-bag, and wet a little with 
 the water, and that ferves them for drink ; 
 and for meat, when they put more of it with 
 a little fait and pepper, this they call Ru- 
 bul\ and fometimes they eat their meal dry, 
 with flices of dried flefh. 
 
 The great numbers of people which that Their mm- 
 country has maintain'd, may be collected ier * and 
 from the people that the Spaniards found ""'' 
 
 there at their firft coming, which was about 
 2 00000, more or lefs, according to the great- 
 nefs of the diftrifts or territories, and their 
 habitations, which never were in form of a 
 city or town •, for the Indians cannot endure 
 any formal conftraint, but love to live free 
 in the fields ; and every Cacique, or lord, 
 govern'd his own vaflals, who placed them- 
 felves according to 'their conveniencies, fome 
 in one valley, and fome in another ; fome 
 at the foot of mountains, others on the fide 
 of rivers •, fome by the fea-fide, or on the 
 top of mountains ; but all under no other 
 form of government, than the will of their 
 lord, the Cacique, to whom they yielded a 
 ready and prompt obedience with joy. 
 Their houfes are generally of wood, with- xheir how 
 out any ftories, not very large, nor all of a/«. 
 piece, but each room fram'd by itfelf, fo 
 that when they have a mind to remove and 
 chufe another fituation, they carry away the 
 houfe by pieces, or rooms, which ten or 
 twenty men can eafily carry. When they 
 take it up, they clear the ground about it, 
 and then at one cry, lifting all together, 
 they get it up, and carry it chearfully away, 
 every one taking hold by its pillars ; and 
 when they are weary they reft awhile, and 
 fo on again. Their doors are of the fame 72*i> /im- 
 material, and they have neither hinges, locks l "y ',' on * 
 
 1 l- j 1 1 another. 
 
 nor keys, nor any thing under a lock or 
 
 key, their fecurity confuting in each other's 
 fidelity, which they obferve facredly to- 
 wards one another. 
 
 Their furniture is very mean, they being their fur- 
 a people that defpife all conveniencies and nimrt. 
 fuperfluities ; infomuch, that that which 
 is their natural way of living, would be 
 high penance with any European na- 
 tions : For firft, as to their beds, they 
 have neither quilts, nor fheets, nor pillows, 
 much lefs do they need curtains, pavil- 
 lions, or alcoves. The hard ground is their 
 couch, upon which they lay fome poor 
 
 skins > 
 
Chap. 4- 
 
 Kingdom of CHILE. 
 
 ^ 
 
 skins ; and for boulfter, they lay a ftone, 
 or a piece of wood, and double their cloaks 
 to lay on it •, and that is their higheft con- 
 trivance of eafe : they have one or two very 
 coarfe coverlets, which they weave of a fort 
 of thread as thick as one's little finger. 
 People that ufe fo little about their perfons, 
 may eafily be prefumed to have no hangings, 
 nor other ornament to their walls ; they 
 have no utenfil of gold or filver, though 
 they have lb much in their country ; their 
 plate is four or five dilhes, and fome fpoons 
 of wood, or a (hell from the fea fide ; a ca- 
 labafh or gourd to drink in ; a leaf of a 
 tree, or of maiz, for a faltfeller. This is 
 all the apparatus of their table, which is the 
 ground, or at beft a little bench, without 
 any cloth or napkins, but only a little 
 broom, upon which they wipe their hands. 
 Their food Their meats are the mod fimple, and 
 andditt. eafily dreft, without any incitements to 
 o-luttony, as in other nations ; but yet they 
 are tafteful enough, and fuch as many of our 
 Europeans like very well. They eat little 
 flefh ; and before the Spaniards came among 
 them, they had neither fheep, goats, nor 
 cows, no, nor hens : they ufe thefe only at 
 their great feafts. Their ordinary diet is of 
 maiz, variety of fruits and herbs, and mod 
 commonly gourds, or a fort of beans, which 
 we call frizoles. They did eat fifth ; and the 
 game they hunted, particularly a fort of 
 lmall rabbits, which they call Degus ; and 
 fince the coming in of the Spaniards, they 
 eat beef and mutton, of which there is great 
 abundance. 
 
 Inftead of wheat bread, which they had 
 not before the Spaniards brought it, they 
 eat maiz boiled in water, juft as rice in the 
 
 &hiz. 
 
 Eaji Indias. This maiz is, and always hasOvALLE. 
 been the general nourifhment of the Indians ,*f 4<5- 
 of America ; and is not only their meat, W "V^' 
 but their drink, which they make of the 
 fame maiz, toafted and fteeped in water, 
 and then boiled, and fet by ; and that is 
 their Chicha, or wine, which they make al- 
 fo of the fruit of other trees. 
 
 Their way of making flower is very dif- Their 
 ferent from ours : they firft toaft their maiz ir "" 1 - 
 in great platters of earth ; thefe they fet 
 upon the fire full of fand, which when it 
 is very hot, they take off; and putting the 
 grains of maiz to it, ftir them about very 
 faft with a kind of broom : it is foon toaft- 
 ed. When done, they take it out, and 
 put in more, till they have done enough to 
 make flower. This they grind between two 
 ftones thus ; They have a ftone fixed in the 
 ground, of about the fhape and bignefs of 
 a fheet of paper, and fo hollowed, as ano- 
 ther ftone of an oval figure may play upon 
 it : this the indian woman takes with both The women 
 hands, and being upon her knees, makes it make •'• 
 play upon the other, putting, from time to 
 time, with her left hand, the maiz between 
 the two ftones, fo as to fupply what falls 
 away, and that the mill do not ftand ftill. 
 The flower falls forward into a fort of box, 
 as it does in our mills, and almoft as faft, 
 comparing the ftrength of a woman to that 
 of a ftream of water. She can do enough 
 at once for the maintenance of her family ; 
 and make a provifion too for a journey or 
 a voyage of her husband or fon to the wars. 
 This is the proper bufinefs of the women ; 
 and it would be a fhame for a man to em- 
 ploy himfelf in it, or in any other houfhold 
 bufinefs. 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 Of the fame SubjeEl. 
 
 w 
 
 HEN the Indians are fick, they 
 
 change little of their ordinary way 
 
 of living, and they never have a better bed. 
 
 indianphle- Their way of letting blood is fafer than 
 
 htomy. ours . f or -,. j s nQt w - lt ^ a l ancetj w hich 
 
 may either fail to draw blood, or go too 
 deep, and lame the arm, if the furgeon be 
 not very skilful ; but with a fharp flint, 
 fixed at the end of a little piece of wood, 
 fo faft, that there is juft enough left out to 
 cut the vein, and no more : this they apply 
 to the vein after they have made a bandage, 
 as we do, and ftriking a little ftroke upon 
 it, the blood never fails to come, in greater 
 abundance than our bleedings are. This is 
 all they need a furgeon or barber for, they 
 themfelves having no beards to fhave, and 
 the little hair they have, every one pulls out ; 
 and they take it for an affront to look hairy. 
 
 They have pinchers, which they make of 
 cockle-fhells, and always have them about 
 them, ufing them from time to time in 
 converfation ; they thinking it as honoura- 
 ble to be without that, which other people 
 nourifh, comb, and take care of; which is 
 a good convidlion of the variety of opinions 
 of mankind, about what is, and is not ho- 
 nourable. As for their hair, they let it 
 grow juft below their ears, and no lower, 
 and fo need no barber to cut it, but do 
 every one help the other to keep the ends of 
 it even. 
 
 Their manner of cloathing themfelves, Their man- 
 (though of various, and very beautiful co-w °f 
 lours, which they give to the wooll that clo " thm S- 
 they weave their cloaths of,) is very plain 
 and fimple : they have no lining to any of 
 their cloaths, neither do they wear one un- 
 
 Vot. Ill, S der 
 
66 
 
 Of the Nature and Properties of the Book III. 
 
 OvALLE-der another : their drawers comedown to 
 1646. tne j r k n ees, open and loofe, and it is upon 
 ■^*v v '^ their naked body ; for they ufe no ftiirts : 
 they have a fort of waiftcoat, which they 
 call Macun, and it is made of about a yard 
 and a half of fome woollen fluff, which they 
 leave open, fo as to put it over their heads, 
 and then they gird it with a girdle : they 
 have alfo a kind of cloak or mantle, which 
 they call Chomi, which they put on when 
 they go abroad : they have their arms and 
 legs naked, and on their feet they have a 
 fort of fhoe, which they call Ojota, and is 
 like the rope Ihoes the Spaniards wear : they 
 wear nothing on their heads, but a kind of 
 circle of wooll, of various colours, with its 
 fringes hanging down like a cap ; which 
 they ftir or pull off in fhew of refpecl:, as 
 we do our hats. 
 Their fine- In their feafts, balls, and rejoicings, 
 V' though they do not change the form of 
 
 their cloaths, yet they have a richer fort, 
 of finer wooll, and richer colours : they 
 put about their necks fome chains of fhells, 
 which they gather by the fea-fide ; thefe 
 they call Nancas : others put fnail-fhells, 
 fining upon a firing, about their necks •, 
 and thofe of the ftreights of Magellan have 
 pearls very well wrought, and of great ar- 
 tifice, as is affirmed by the authors already 
 cited ; and on their heads they put a kind 
 of garland, not of flowers, but of wooll, 
 dy'd of feveral beautiful colours, to which 
 they hang fine little birds, which they ef- 
 teem, and on each fide they have a plume 
 of high feathers, either white, red, or blue, 
 and about half a yard high. 
 ibtir dan- Their way of dancing is with little jumps, 
 ""&• and a ftep or two, not rifing much from 
 ground, and without any capers, fuch as 
 the Spaniards ufe : they dance all together 
 in a ring, round a may-pole or ftandard, 
 which one of them holds in the middle as 
 an enfign ; and near it are all the bottles of 
 their wine, of which they take now and 
 then a fup while they dance, drinking to 
 one another ; for it is a cuftom among 
 them never to drink alone any thing that is 
 given them : he that begins takes a fup, and 
 then he that he drinks to pledges him, and 
 gives the cup to another, and fo to a fourth, 
 till it be empty ; and yet one has not more 
 than the other ; for what this man does for 
 that, that man does for this ; and fo at laft 
 they come to be fo equally fhared, that at 
 the end of the entertainment, they are all 
 alike drunk, and laid down ; for they drink 
 as long as they can ftand. But this is not 
 eafily brought to pafs -, for befides what 
 they drink in the day-time, they will of- 
 ten pafs all night at it, without leaving 
 off, finging and dancing to their drums 
 and flutes. The women, as more bafhful, 
 do not enter into thefe dances, except fome 
 
 one or two, when the wine has got into T*»""w»» 
 their heads, and then too they do not en- Mm f' mr 
 ter into the ring with the men, but dance/ f «/?,. 
 by themfelves. Few of them get drunk, fo 
 as to lofe their judgment ; fo they are up- Their care 
 on their guard more, to mind that thc { f' / ' eir 
 men do not quarrel, and hurt one another in 
 their drink. Their flutes, which they play Their mr.d 
 upon in thefe dances, are made of the bones '"firumems 
 of the Spaniards, and other enemies, whom ^"J' *f 
 they have overcome in war. This they mies b ones , 
 do by way of triumph and glory for their 
 victory : they make them likewife of bones 
 of other animals ; but die Indians of war 
 dance only to thefe of their enemies. 
 
 Their way of finging is, all together rai- 
 fing their voices upon the fame note, with- 
 out any difference of parts or meafure ; and 
 at the end of every fong they play on their 
 flutes, and a fort of trumpets, juft as we 
 do on our guittars in the Paffacalles. This 
 they repeat fo often, and fo loud, that one 
 may hear them at a great diftance ; for in 
 thefe feafts, they are very numerous. Thofe 
 who are not engaged in dancing, fit to°-e- 
 ther in feveral companies, talking together 
 upon paft occurrences, and ftill warming 
 themfelves with their wine ; and then they 
 begin to recollect the injuries they have re- 
 ceived from one another, and fo refrefh- 
 ing the memory of old contefts and enmities 
 not revenged ; and this makes them break 
 out into new animofities, and fometimes 
 kill one another upon little provocation. 
 
 The women as well as the men have The womni 
 their arms naked, but no other part about ''' 
 them ; for though they go barefoot, yet 
 their cloaths, which are very long, cover 
 them from head to foot, though in fome 
 places they wear them ftiorter : this is a 
 plain fort of mantle, clofe to their bodies, 
 without any linnen underneath ; this they 
 let fall to their feet, and having faftened 
 it on their fhoulders, gather it in plaits 
 and fwath themfelves from their wafte to 
 the breads with fome fine coloured-woollen 
 fcarf, of about four fingers broad, and fo 
 long, that it takes fo many turns about 
 their wafte, as to keep their bodies as 
 ftreight as any : this is all their drefs with- 
 in doors. 
 
 The indian women of the better fort, that 
 live in towns among die Spaniards, have 
 learned the ufe of fmocks and waiftcoats un- 
 der their mantles, but of no other thing ; 
 and one cannot affront an indian woman Trie mme 
 more, than to offer to put her on head- hate head- 
 cloaths, or necklaces, or fleeves, or gloves, drejfes, 
 or any of thofe ornaments which the Spa- 
 nifi women ufe ; and much more if they 
 oblige them to put any paint upon their »ndpai»t.' 
 faces ; nothing of this kind could ever pre- 
 vail upon them, though born and bred 
 among the Spanijh women ; and to talk to 
 
 them 
 
Chap. 4. 
 
 Kingdom of CHILE. 
 
 6 7 
 
 them of it, even to thofe among them who 
 love to be fine, would be like giving them 
 a cut over the face, fo great a horror they 
 have for any thing that is fo very contrary 
 / to their antient cuftoms. They wear no- 
 thing on their heads but their hair plaited 
 behind their moulders, and divided hand- 
 fomely upon their forehead over their eye- 
 brows, and have locks which cover part of 
 their cheeks ; fo their face is handfomely 
 and fimply adorned, without any artifice. 
 When they go abroad, they put upon their 
 moulders another half mantle, fquare, and 
 fattened before with a bodkin, or crochet, 
 which anfwers the two others on the fhoul- 
 ders -, and thus they go abroad with their 
 eyes fixed upon the ground ; for they are 
 naturally very modeft honeft women. 
 
 This manner of cloathing themfelves, 
 with fo much fimplicity and plainnefs, as 
 well in the women as the men, with fo lit- 
 tle pride and vanity in their houfes, does 
 Tewartifi- not much encourage artificers, who have 
 cen ■, all little to do ; and by that means there are 
 foUiers. ^ m0 re men of war, which is the thing 
 in which thefe men place their honour and 
 felicity, as other nations do in the fump- 
 tuoufnefs of palaces and furniture, or in 
 other riches and eminencies, either of arts 
 or learning : of all which thefe Indians ne- 
 ver had any notion ; and yet they learn 
 them eafily, when they are taught them, 
 Their way and to a great perfection. They can nei- 
 ef keeping tner reac } nor wr Jt; e among themfelves ; but 
 as to their way of remembering and keeping 
 account, they have their Quipoes, which is 
 a fort offerings of different bignefs, in which 
 they make knots of feveral colours, by 
 which they remember, and can give an ac- 
 count of the things committed to their 
 charge. With thefe they will give an ac- 
 count of a great flock, and tell which have 
 died of ficknefs or other accidents, and 
 which have been fpent in the family, and 
 for the fhepherds ; and they will tell every 
 particular that happened in fuch and fuch 
 occafions, and of what they did and faid. 
 When they go to confefs, thefe Quipoes 
 ferve them to remember their fins, and tell 
 them with diftinction and clearnefs : they 
 have befides excellent memories of their own, 
 and do remember things of very antient 
 date, juft as if they had happened but a 
 little while before ; and when they begin 
 to talk them over, (which happens general- 
 ly when they drink, and begin to be warm- 
 ed with wine,) 'tis wonderful how they will 
 repeat things paft, with all their circum- 
 ftances, and particularly affronts and inju- 
 ries that have been done them, or their an- 
 ceftors, refrelhing the memory of things 
 that feemed to be quite forgotten. For 
 proof of the care they take to keep the me- 
 mory of remarkable paflages, I muft relate 
 
 account. 
 
 here what I learned from father Diego Torres Ovalle. 
 Bollo, a very extraordinary man, both for yjjrj^", 
 holinefs of life, and skill in government, v^*^ 
 
 This great man returning from Rome 
 (whither he had been fent as procurator of 
 the province of Peru) to found the pro- 
 vince of Quito, he faw in a place where four 
 ways met an Indian, who, to the found A f m &f* r 
 
 c j r ■ -u • T ' a y "J re- 
 
 cti a drum, was finging a great many things M r m g 
 
 all alone in his own tongue: the father cal- events. 
 led one in his company, who underftood it, 
 and ask'd him what that Indian meant by 
 that action ; who told the father, that that 
 Indian was, as it were, the regifter of that 
 country, who, to keep up the memory of 
 what had palled in/ it from the deluge to 
 that time, was bound every holiday to re- 
 peat it by the found of a drum, and fing- 
 ing, as he was then doing. He was more- 
 over obliged to inftruct others in the fame 
 way, that there might be a fucceflion of 
 men to do the fame thing after he was gone ; 
 and that which he at this time is finging 
 is, That in fuch a year there had been there An adJi- 
 a white man called Thomas, who did great""" */"■" 
 wonders, preaching a new law, which in '^"Z If 
 time was loft and forgotten, &c. And thus the jefait . 
 we may fee the manner by which the In- 
 dians fupply the want of books and writings. 
 The women of Chile are fo bold and 
 manly in their courage, that when it is ne- 
 cefiary, and that there is want of men, they 
 take arms, and behave themfelves as if they 
 were men. They play likewife at a very 
 active game called La Chueca, wherein the 
 men fhew their greateft agility and nimble- 
 nefs, each fide ftriving to get a ball from 
 the other, and carry it to the mark with 
 crooked bandy fticks. They are about for- 
 ty or fifty on a fide, who place themfelves 
 in different polls, fo as to be ufeful one to 
 another, and drive away the ball from the 
 other party ; and when it happens that two 
 of different fides are at it together, 'tis a 
 pleafure to' fee them run, the one to forward 
 it with another ftroke, and the other to get 
 before him and hinder him from ftriking it, 
 that he may drive it back to his own fide. 
 This is a fport much to be feen, and gene- 
 rally it has many fpectators to fee the end 
 of the play, which often lafts a whole even- 
 ing, and fometimes is forced to be put off" 
 to another day, fuch contention there is to 
 win thefe prizes they play for. 
 
 The ftrength and boldnefs of the women rhehtrJ 
 comes from the little tendernefs they are»<&««'«» 
 bred with, for they avoid neither heat nor°f the m ~ 
 cold ; and in the coldeft winters, when m 
 birds are killed with cold, they wafh their 
 heads in cold water, and never dry their 
 hair, but let it remain wet, and dry itfclf 
 in the air ; and as for their children, they 
 wafh them in the rivers, when they are yet 
 very young 5 and when they are brought to 
 
 bed, 
 
68 
 
 Of the Nature and Properties of the Book III. 
 
 OVALLE.in a very little time they are about the 
 
 1646. houfe, as if it were not they, but fome other 
 
 ^*~V^-' woman that had lain in. 
 
 The Indian If the women behave themfelves thus, 
 
 menshardt- w hat may we expe6t from the men? 'Tis a 
 
 m fi'*ffi wonderful thing how little they fear wea- 
 
 co ld. ther, though in the midft of winter ; and 
 
 to fee 'an Indian, with that fimple habit we 
 
 have defcribed, his head bare, without hat, 
 
 or any other covering. I have feen them 
 
 in this condition endure mighty mowers, 
 
 which wet them all over, and came out at 
 
 their breeches, and yet laugh and not value 
 
 that, which to others would have been in- 
 
 fupportable. 
 
 I remember, upon this occafion, what 
 was faid by a Spanijh gentleman, of a merry 
 humour, to one newly come from Europe, 
 who, with great charity, was pitying thefe 
 poor Indians for their fufferings in winter, 
 which in that country is very fevere. The 
 gentleman asked the good father what he 
 had to keep his face from the cold ? To 
 which he anfwered, Nothing, becaufe every 
 body's face was ufed to the weather.To which 
 
 the gentleman replied, Thefe Indians are all 
 face ; for from their infancy they have no 
 defence againft the cold. Who is it that 
 pities a trout, or other fifh, for being in the 
 water, becaufe they are bred in that ele- 
 ment ? The fame may be faid of thefe In- 
 dians, who are like fifties, and are bred to 
 all that hardfhip ; and fo we need not won- 
 der at it. By thefe means they are fo har- Bear their 
 dened, that a wound which' the braved wo " r > d < *«- 
 Spaniard would take his bed for, does give Zlt\?£ 
 them fo little trouble, that I have feen them 
 go about without minding it. I have known 
 them have a broken head by accident at 
 play, and all they do is to warn it in cold 
 watef , never leaving their employment or 
 bufinefs ; and with this, and the application 
 of their own herbs, which, indeed, are of 
 great virtue, they are foon well ; but the 
 excellency of their own conftitution helps 
 not a little to their cure in wounds, as well 
 as all other diftempers, out of which they 
 get well with a great deal lefs time and 
 care than the Spaniards. 
 
 CHAP. V. 
 
 Of other Qualities proper to the Natives of Chile. 
 
 The people 
 »/ Chile 
 ■very pa- 
 tient. 
 
 A good 
 ftory. 
 
 'Tis the 
 cuftom in 
 Spain to 
 dance at 
 
 procejjions. 
 
 The corn- 
 flexion of 
 the Chile- 
 nians. 
 
 FROM this ftrong conftitution, comes 
 the admirable patience of their minds, 
 and the little fenfe they fhew of that which 
 amongft us Europeans would be a great mor- 
 tification. That which happened between 
 an Indian and father Lewis ofValdivia is ad- 
 mirable upon this fubjecf. The Indian came 
 to confefs to the father ; who, to make him 
 enter into a penance for his fins, ordered 
 him to wear a Cilice, or hair-cloth upon his 
 skin : it was a very hard one, and fuch as 
 would have punifhed one of us feverely. 
 The Indian put it on, and about a year af- 
 ter, there was a procefiion of the holy fa- 
 crament, at which he danced, e and feeing 
 his confefibr in the church, he left his dan- 
 cing, and came to him, flying, Look here 
 how I have preferved what thou gav eft me a 
 year ago, and fhewed it him upon his na- 
 ked skin. The father was aftonifhed to fee, 
 that what he gave him to mortify him, was 
 turned to an ornament •, and asking him 
 how long he had worn it, was anfwered by 
 him, I have never left it off one minute fine e 
 thou gav eft it me ; and fo returned to his 
 dancing, fhewing his companions the pre- 
 fent the father had made him, as pleafed 
 with it, as if it had been a gold or filver 
 brocade •, and fo far he was from taking it 
 for mortification, or feeling its roughnefs, 
 that he wore it for a favour given him by 
 his father-confefior. 
 
 Thefe Indians of Chile are the faireft com- 
 plexioned, and whiteft of all America ; and 
 thofe of the coldeft countries are the whiteft, 
 
 as we fee in Europe ; but the very antipodes 
 of Flanders never come to be fo white as the 
 Flemmings ; and among all the Cbilenians, 
 I do not remember a red-hair'd one ; for $„ re j 
 they all, both men and women, have black hair. 
 hair, and that very rough, and hard, and 
 thick ; infomuch that the meftitos, or mun- 
 grel breed of a Spani/h man and Indian wo- 
 man, are known and diftinguifhed by that 
 from the children of a Spanijh man and Spa- 
 nijh woman ; and this will laft to the fecond 
 and third generation before it foftens. There 
 is little difference in any thing die, either 
 of fhape, feature, or difpofition ; nor in the 
 manner of fpeaking, or found of the voice : 
 and as for the language, not only the 
 meftitos, but the Indians bred among the 
 Spaniards, are as ready at the phrafe and turn Theyfpeak 
 of the Spanijh tongue, as any Spaniard. iSpanidi 
 have made experience of this often in con-^^ *" 
 felling them ; for the confeffionary is fo turn- 
 ed, as the father-confefior cannot fee the wo- 
 man that enters to confefs. It happen'd to 
 me often to have an Indian woman come in 
 after a Spanijh woman, and I could not find 
 any difference, till fhe herfelf, finding I ufed 
 her with that diftinction and civility due to 
 Spanijh ladies, would humbly tell me fhe 
 was but an Indian. 
 
 The conftitution of thefe people is xhnxhif Bear 
 caufe that time does not make fo ftrong an their years 
 impreffion on them, as on us ; and they bear™'? velim 
 their years mighty well, turning grey very 
 late, at threefcore, or thereabouts ; and till 
 then they look like young men. When 
 
 they 
 
Chap. 5. 
 
 Kingdom of CHILE. 
 
 6 9 
 
 they are over white, or have any baldnefs, 
 you may guefs them at about a hundred : 
 Live brig, they all live long, and particularly the wo- 
 men •, and when by age they lofe their judg- 
 ment, they ieldom falter in their memory, 
 which lafts them to their dying day, even 
 to remember all the particulars of their 
 young days from their infancy. Their 
 Good teeth, teeth and eyes are fo good, that they fel- 
 dom lofe either; and, in fhort, all the in- 
 firmities of old men, which are the fore- 
 runners of death, come to them later than 
 Cannct s». to other nations. But yet, if they happen 
 dwe to to go out of their own country, they lofe 
 ieave the,r all their vigour, as we experience daily in 
 /r „ our pnion rs or war; who being lold to 
 
 Peru, as foon as they feel the heat of t!:e 
 tiOj ick, they fall fick, and moft of them 
 die ; and tills is no more than what hap- 
 pens to the Spaniards, when they come from 
 th ir own climate to Porto Bella, or Pan.i- 
 ma ; nay, the Sp,:ni rds born in Chile, ven- 
 ture their lives that go to thofe countries 
 that are between the tropicks. 
 
 From this experi nee the Indians have of 
 the hot countries, comes the great reluc- 
 tancy they fhew to go out of their own, 
 and the refentment they exprefs againft thofe 
 who carry or fend them abroid ; and 'tis 
 not to be imagin'd the Orange and rafh 
 contrivances they have to make their efcapes 
 from Lima; for though they have above 
 five hundred leagues to go to their own 
 home from Peru, yet they undertake it, 
 and moft commonly compafs it, through a 
 vaft number of dangers and inconvenien- 
 cies. For firft, they are forced to go all 
 along by the fea -fide, by which one may 
 guefs how much they go about, fince they 
 fetch the compaf, of all the bays and nooks, 
 and double all the capes. 
 
 The next inconvenience which they meet 
 with, is want of food ; for they dare not 
 enter any town, or inhabited place ; fo they 
 are redue'd to feed on cockles and other 
 fhell-fifh on the fea-fide, which is no very 
 good nourifhment. The third difficulty 
 is the paffing of fo many, and fuch fwift 
 rivers. 
 
 The fourth inconvenience is the want of 
 water to drink ; for 'tis not poffible, that 
 in fo great a journey, they fhould not fome- 
 times mifs of frefh water to quench their 
 thirft. All thefe difficulties, and many 
 others, which are obvious to travellers, are 
 overcome by thefe Indians by length of 
 time and patience ; and they get at laft to 
 their own country, and are out of flavery, 
 not by the means of gold or filver, but by 
 the bravery of their minds. 
 The bold- The boldnefs of fome other Indians was 
 nefsofiome vet more remarkable : thefe were carried in 
 
 to avoid a mi P t0 be 1o1l ' as "laves at Lima, by a 
 fimtry. Porlugv.efe gentlema n of the Habit of Chrill, 
 Vol. III. 
 
 who was going about things belonging toOvALLE. 
 war, at the time that I went the lame voy- y J^ 1°- 
 age : this navigation is made commonly ^1** 
 in fight of the coaft, more or lefs, accord- 
 ing as the winds ferve; but ftill they keep 
 a good way out at fea, for fear of the ro^ks. 
 Thefe Indians refolv'd among themfelves to 
 throw themf Ives i.ito the fea, to avoid this 
 flavery ; and one day, when they found 
 the ffiip in a proportionable diftance to the 
 fhoar, fo as they durft venture to truft to 
 their fwimming, they got loofe very dex- 
 teroufly from tneir fetters, ani Aid, with- 
 out being perceiv'd, ' down by the fhip's 
 fide into the fea ; and when they mifs'd 
 them they were out of fight, and ib it was 
 in vain to follow them. Among thefe pri- An odt 
 foners there was an old man, who zitherftory. 
 becaufe he was not trufted by the others, 
 or b caufe they had not the opportunity of 
 acqu Leting him wi h che defign, he not be- 
 ing fhut up with them, but having the li- 
 berty of the (hip as an old man, remain'd 
 behind after they were gone. This Indian 
 began to think of the thing, and to weigh 
 with himfelf how i.i- companions had un- 
 dertaken and perform'd an extraordinary 
 aft ion -, he rtfl.ft d how they had arrived 
 at their own land, and among their friends, 
 who perhaps were enquiring about him, 
 and that every body defpis'd him as a 
 coward, and a man of little fpirit, fince he 
 had not been able to overcome the adverfe 
 fortune wl.ich the others had conquer'd, 
 but had fubmilted to it : he reprefented to 
 himfelf the welcomes and joys which their 
 frknds exprefs'd, and the feafts and enter- 
 tainments made for their return, and the 
 embraces and careflts which they receiv'd 
 from their relations. All this, I fay, made 
 fuch an impreffon in his mind, and rais'd 
 fuch an emulation, that he could not bear 
 the reproaches he made himfelf, particular- 
 ly feeing himfelf without a remedy. At 
 laft, after much thought and penfivenefs, 
 he came to a refolution, which was, to do 
 fomethirg which fhould be bolder than 
 what his companions had perform'd, and 
 that in the manner of doing it ; for he re- 
 folv'd to do it by day, in the fight of all 
 the Spaniards ; and for a beginning, he de- 
 fign'd to kill his mafter, not in the night, 
 and without witnefles, as he might eiiWy 4 defpe- 
 have done, but upon the deck, in the fight™' 1 
 of all thofe in the fhip, to get himfelf a 
 greater name of bravery. To this end, he 
 took one day, a great knife in his hand, 
 and fell upon the captain ; and having 
 wounded him in feveral places, with as 
 much precipitation as he could, leap'd over- 
 board with fo much fuddennefs, that he 
 flipp'd away from thofe who endeavour'd to 
 feize him. 'T is to be imagin'd, they were 
 all wonderfully furpriz'd at the relbluteneis 
 T of 
 
 Indian. 
 
7o Of the Nature and Properties of the Book III. 
 
 OvALLEof the action: they immediately brought 
 1646. the fhip too, and put out the boat in all 
 V"V" > "' the hate that could be to follow the Indian, 
 who fwimming like a fifh, was already al- 
 moft out of fight ; but they overtook him, 
 and bid him yield himfelf a prifoner, fince 
 he could not efcape ; and finding him ftill 
 endeavour to get away, they (truck at him 
 with their launces, but he dexteroufly avoid- 
 ed all their ftrokes with great prefence of 
 mind, diving and appearing again where 
 they leaft expected him. Upon this they 
 fir'd upon him, and wounded him in feve- 
 ral places; but neither then did he yield, 
 nor would ever had a thought of it, but 
 the lofs of blood taking away his ftrength, 
 had made him unable to get away, fo they 
 brought him almoft expiring to the fhip, 
 having more valued death with the reputa- 
 tion of a brave man, than life with the in- 
 famy of a coward, and the lofs of reputa- 
 tion among his own people. This fact 
 does not only fhew the bravery of the na- 
 tion, but likewife their great averfion to 
 go out of their own country, and how hea- 
 vy a yoke they think fubjection to be ; and 
 we fhall fee hereafter how much they have 
 done to defend their beloved liberty. 
 Now let us fpeak of fome other ctiftoms 
 Their mar- thefe Indians have. They lblemnize their 
 riages. marriages their own way, and in a very 
 contrary manner to that of the Europeans ; 
 for as to the portion, the woman does not 
 provide it, but the man ; and neither of 
 them enjoy it, but it pafies to the pro- 
 priety and ufe ol the father of the young 
 woman •, fo that the husband has a charge 
 upon him of maintaining his wife without 
 Daughters any help ; nay, rather with lefs ability, for 
 are no km- ne p ar ts with fome of his fubftance to pur- 
 
 rttbtrri. c ^ al " e ^ er ' *~° t * iat * n r ^ s countI T 'tis no 
 <he$ to a charge at all to have many daughters, but 
 father. rather a part of their eftate and fubftance. 
 They take many wives ; and the greateft 
 obftacle they have to be converted to our 
 religion, is this vice of Poligamy, which 
 they embrace with great fenfuality, though 
 'tis chargeable, becaufe at the fame time 
 'tis a figure of power and riches. The firft 
 H«w they wife has fome preheminence over the others, 
 mana S e and has the ordering of them, yet they all 
 look upon themfelves as lawful wives, and 
 their children as legitimate ; yet the fon of 
 the firft inherits the eftate and the honour 
 1 of Cacique, and has a power over his other 
 brothers. 
 Natural ^he Objects obey their lord with great 
 obedience punctuality, love, and refpect ; and for this 
 to their reafon they have no prifons nor ftrong places 
 Cacique. to i 10 id t jiem in ; for their natural love and 
 refpect they bear their Cacique, is a law in- 
 violable in their hearts, and a reward of 
 their obedience, which they (hew in all re- 
 gards that may pleafe him. 
 
 When a Cacique has a mind to make war, 3 *'"" """■* 
 he need not make provifion of money for^^ W / y, 
 pay, without which, amongft us, men vriWpay. 
 not fight, even for their king : he need only 
 give out his orders, and they all come with 
 arms and hories, bearing their own charges 
 during the enterprize ; and this is the rea- 
 fon that they can aflemble fo powerful an 
 army in fo little time, they all looking up- 
 on the common caufe as their own ; and as 
 they make the good of their country the 
 motive of their arms, every one thinks him- 
 felf fufficiently rewarded if they can defend 
 that from their enemies. The found of the 
 drum and trumpet is only to fliew them 
 the neceffity of their meeting in arms ; at 
 which they immediately leave wife and 
 children, and all that is dear to them, with 
 the hazard of never feeing them more, as 
 it often happens. 
 
 In the diftribution of the booty and 
 fiaves taken in war, there is no other me- 
 thod, than that every one has what he can 
 get, fo that the braveft and molt diligent 
 are the beft provided, without any obliga- 
 tion of giving any part of it to their cap- 
 tains or general ; for in this they are all 
 equal, and valour alone makes the did inc- Very irave. 
 tion, which they lhew in an eminent de- 
 gree, being very defirous to recover fome 
 of our arms, fuch as guns, fwords, laun- 
 ces; for they have no iron of their own. want iron. 
 When they return from war, and find what 
 men they have loft, 'tis incredible what la- 
 mentations, cries, and tears, proceed from 
 the widows and children of thofe who are 
 dead •, and though this be a common fenti- 
 ment of humanity, pradtifed amongft all 
 nations who value fociety and proximity of 
 blood, which are the foundation of friend- 
 ftiip, yet the Indian women feem to furpafs 
 all others ; for they do not cry in fecrec, 
 but fet up their notes, fo that when any one 
 hears them at a diftance, it provokes more 
 to laughter than moves to com pa (Tion. 
 When a man dies at home, the manner of The -mo* 
 their exprefijng their forrow is more remark- mem raj "»* 
 able •, for the women all get about the dead™^- . 
 body, and the eldeft beginning, the others 
 follow all in the fame tone •, and thus they 
 continue a great while, fo that they never 
 give over as long as they can hold out ; and 
 this cuftom they preferve, even after they 
 are baptiz'd, and live among chriftians ; 
 but not that which they had of opening the 
 dead bodies, to know of what difeafe they 
 died, and to put meat, and drink, and 
 cloaths in dieir graves with them, as alfo 
 jewels and things of value •, neither do they 
 cover their graves with pyramids of (tones, 
 nor ufe other ceremonies practifed by the 
 gentiles of thofe parts. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
Chap. 6. 
 
 Kingdom of CHILE. 
 
 7 1 
 
 CHAP. VI. 
 
 Of the Chilenian Indians, who inhabit the IJlands of Chile: 
 
 OVALLE. 
 
 1646. 
 
 W 
 
 E divided the kingdom of Chile in- 
 to three parts, and the IJlands made 
 one : thefe are very well peopled : thofe who 
 live in the fertile IJlands, which are capa- 
 ble of producing corn, and feeding flocks, 
 pais their lives as the Indians of terra firma 
 do, eating flefh and feveral fruits, the pro- 
 duct of their IJlands. Thofe who inhabit 
 the barren or lefs fertile IJlands, eat fifh of 
 the fea, and Ihell-fifh, as alfo Potatoes; 
 and fome, who cannot have any wooll, 
 cloith themfelves with the barks of trees. 
 Their Some go ftark-naked, though their climate 
 coa j.ng. j s fpjgj.jj.y- coJj^ anc j D y cuftom do not feel 
 
 the hardnefs of the weather overmuch. 
 Very Jingu- Others have a ftrange way of cloathing 
 themfelves, which is to gather a certain 
 earth with roots about ir, to give it a con- 
 fiftency ; and others cloath themfelves with 
 feathers, as brother Gregory of Leon reports 
 in his map. They are all tall men, and in 
 Giants. f om e places there are giants, as the Dutch 
 relate, who fay, they found skuls that 
 would contain within them fome of their 
 heads ; for they us'd to put them on like 
 helmets : they found alfo dead mens bones 
 of ten and eleven foot long, whofe bodies 
 by confequence muft have been thirty foot 
 high, which is a prodigious thing. Thofe 
 whom they faw alive, were generally tal- 
 ler by the head and fhoulders than the 
 Dutch. This appears by the relation of 
 general Schcivten ; and from that of George 
 Spilberg we learn, that when they were in 
 the Str eights of Magellan, they came to an 
 IJland, which they call'd the IJland of Pa- 
 tagoons, or giants, becaufe of fome they 
 faw there, and on the Tierra del Fuego. 
 Among the reft, they fiw one who was up- 
 on a rock, to fee the fhips go by, an.l they 
 fay of him, that he was immanis admodum, 
 & horrendce longiiudinis. 
 
 Likewile we know, from the fleet com- 
 manded by Don Fray Gareia, Jo/re de Loai- 
 fa, a knight of St. John's order, that at 
 the cape of the Eleven thoufand Virgins they 
 found the footfteps of men of a large fta- 
 ture, and met two canoos of favages, whom, 
 becaufe of their ftrength and ftature, they 
 Good row- call'd giants: they came near the fhips, 
 ers - and feem'd to threaten them •, but thofe of" 
 
 the fhip endeavouring to follow them, they 
 could not come up with them, for they 
 rowed fo fwiftly, they feem'd to fly. 'Tis 
 Canoos cf probable thefe canoos were made of the 
 vhuUbone. ribs of whales, which are there in abun- 
 dance •, and they found one before with the 
 fides and fteerage of whalebone. 
 
 In another voyage, made by Thomas 
 
 Candijh, an Englijh gentleman, they found 
 in a port, (in a very inacceffible place,) a 
 company of Indians, very lufty men, who 
 notwithstanding the prodigious cold of that 
 country, lived in the woods like fatyrs, and 
 fhewed fo much ftrength, that they would 
 throw ftones of three or four pound weight 
 a great way. We read likewife in the re- 
 lation of the voyage of Magellan, that as 
 he winter'd in the bay and river of St.John y 
 there came to the fhip fix Indians fo tall, 
 that the loweft of them was taller than the 
 talleft Spaniard aboard •, that having made 
 a great kettle of the fweepings of the bif- 
 ket for them, enough for twenty men, thofe 
 fix eat it up entirely, without leaving a 
 crum of it. Magellan gave them a fort of 
 coats of red wooll, with which they were 
 much pleas'd, never having feen any before} 
 their ordinary wear being deer skins. They 
 learn'd from them, that in the fummer they 
 us'd to come down to the fea-fide to live, 
 but in the winter they withdrew more into 
 the heart of the country. We know like- 
 wife by thefe fame authors, that the num- 
 ber of the Indians that inhabit thofe coafts, 
 is confiJerable, particularly in the port cal- 
 led the port of Shell Jijh ; where as foon as 
 they landed great numbers of Indians, with 
 their wives and children, came to them, 
 and exchanged with them great quantities 
 of pearl, ready wrought in points, like dia- 
 monds, very artfully, for fcifTars, knives, 
 and other baubles ; as alfo for Spanijh wine, 
 which pleas'd them extreamly ; but they 
 came no more, for they were frighted with 
 feeing the Spaniards fhoot fome game. 
 
 The fleet of George Spilberg found alfo 
 great numbers of inhabitants in the land, on 
 the other fide of the Streigh' ; and when the 
 captains, call'd th€H4c dales, were by the 
 king's order to view the Streight of St. Vin- 
 cent, they found, upon a point of land of 
 that Streight, great ftore of people. The 
 fame is faid by the Saballas, and others, who 
 went from Peru to fearch the Tierra del 
 Fuego ; and all thofe who have pafs'd the 
 Str eights, have conftantly feen men and in- 
 habitants on the flioars in feveral places; 
 and at one place fome of Spilberg's men 
 landing to purfue fome birds of a very fine 
 colour, which they faw on fhoar, had 
 fcarce begun to fhoot them, but they were 
 environed with Indians, who attacked them 
 fo furioufly with clubs, that happy was 
 he that could make his efcape to the fhip j 
 and many of them were knocked on the 
 head, 
 
 The 
 
7 2 
 
 Of the Nature and Properties of the Book III. 
 
 Ovalle. 
 1646. 
 
 W^ 
 
 The Iflands 
 
 and 
 
 Streights 
 
 are well- 
 peopled by 
 javages. 
 
 Naked pea 
 fie in a ve 
 ry cold 
 tountry. 
 
 The Noddies likewife faw in the bay of 
 St. Gregory great numbers of inhabitants, 
 with whom the feamen drove a trade, by 
 exchanging fome Spanifh trifles for gold. 
 By all which 'tis apparent how well peopled 
 all that coaft and the Iflands are •, yet we do 
 not know what fort of people inhabit the 
 fourfcore Iflands difcovered by Pedro Sar- 
 mienlo, for no body landed out of that 
 fleet ; but we know that the IJlanders of 
 Mccha, are a peaceable civil nation, fevenil 
 fhips having touch'd there, and at Sanila 
 Maria. As for the nation call'd the Cbonos, 
 they are a poor people, but good natur'd, 
 as has been feen by the Chiknians, in whom 
 the Spaniards have found great docility, and 
 a good underftanding. 
 
 In the IJlan ds difcovered by Francis Drake, 
 in about five and fifty degrees, of which we 
 have already made mention, they met with 
 •canoos of men and women ftark naked, 
 which is the more remarkable, becaufe of 
 the exceffive cold of thofe parts, where 
 there is a continual night, without any ap- 
 pearance of day, when the fun coming to 
 the tropick of Cancer, m.ikes our fummer ; 
 and on the contrary, when he draws near 
 the tropick of Capricorn, there is conti- 
 nual day, without any fhadow of night. 
 
 And now lately, in the year forty three, 
 the Dutch having fent a fleet under the com- 
 mand of Anthony Brun, which pafs'd the 
 Streights with a defign to fettle at Valdivia, 
 as they endeavour'd ; they fail'd afrerwar 's 
 into feventy degrees, where they difcover'd 
 an Ifland, which they call'd Barnevelt, in 
 which they faw the footfteps of men of 
 large ftature, and obferv'd great fmoaks : 
 this place was fo cold, that the Dutch could 
 not endure the rigour of the weather, which 
 was nothing but froft and fnow, it being 
 then June or July, which is the depth of 
 their winter; and a perpetual night, with- 
 out feeing the fun one hour in a day. 'Tis 
 a wonder how thofe IJlanders pafs their time 
 in fo much cold and darknefs, without any 
 thing to cover their nakednefs •, for want- 
 ing commerce with Chile, or other parts in 
 Europe, they have neither fheep, nor goats, 
 
 nor any thing that produces wooll fit to 
 make them garments. It muft be own'd, Mankind 
 that men are quite other creatures than the naturally ■ 
 nice imagination of fome effeminate nations '*' *' 
 takes them to be ; and human nature by 
 cuftom accommodates itfelf to the place 
 where 'tis bred, fo that very often men will 
 not leave that place for any other more full 
 of conveniency. 'Tis for this that thefe 
 Indians fhew fuch an averfion to leave their 
 country where they were born and bred ; 
 and though it be a miferable one, and thofe 
 they go to more delicious, yet there is no 
 fweetnefs in any one like that of their own 
 country. 
 
 There is a report likewife, that in the a 'report tf 
 Streights of Magellan there are pigmi-s, but Plgtnies * 
 I know not upon what it is founded; for 
 all rhe authors that relate the voyages made 
 into thofe parts, fpeak always ol giants, 
 or men of a giganiick form, who exceed 
 us in ftrength and llature ; and 'tis faid in 
 one of theie relations, That the fhip's men, 
 in a certain place, beginning to fignt with 
 thefe Indians, they pull'd up great trees by 
 the roots, to ufc them as a retrcnehment, 
 as we may fee in a picture in Theodore and 
 Jean de Brie ; but I cannot imagine how 
 this report of pigmies was invented ; and 
 it feems to me a jeftor irony, or, perhaps, 
 among thefe giants there are fome dw. 
 
 That whijh was feen by the vice-aJmiral 
 of George Spilberg's fleet, was. a body of 
 about two foot and a halt high, which was 
 buried with another of an ordinary ftature 
 in a grave of very little depth, and cover'd 
 after the Indian way, with a pyramid of 
 ftones, in an Ifland call'd the Great Ifland, 
 about the fecond mouth of the Streights ; 
 and from hence, perhaps, or from having 
 feen fome of that littlenefs alive, diis re- 
 port of Pigmies took its rife. 
 
 This is all the account I can give of the 
 inhabitants of the Streights, and Iflands 
 about it. Time will, perhaps, enable us 
 to be more particular, when by commerce 
 we are better acquainted with them ; and 
 then without doubt there will not be want- 
 ing authors to write about them. 
 
 CHAP. VII. 
 
 Of the Indians of Cuyo, who are on the other Side of the Cordillera, to the 
 
 Eajl of Chile. 
 
 'HE Indians of the province of Cuyo, 
 
 though in many things they are like 
 
 the inhabitants of Chile, yet in many others 
 
 rtelndiansthey are not fo. For firft, they are not fo 
 
 are Xr- re ' but more copper-coloured, which 
 
 taleurd. ma y ** at tributed to the great heat they 
 
 endure in fummer. Secondly, they are not 
 
 fo cleanly, nor do not build fuch neat houfes 
 
 to live in ; but their habitations are wretch- 
 ed ; nay, fome, who live in the marihes, 
 make themfelves holes in the fand, into 
 which they go like wild beafts. Thirdly, 
 they are not fo laborious to cultivate their 
 land, and fo have not fuch variety of pro- 
 duel as thofe of Chile. Fourthly, they 
 are not fo brave, nor warlike as the Indians 
 
 of 
 
Chap. 7. 
 
 Kingdom of CHILE. 
 
 73 
 
 of Chile : their language is likewife diffe- 
 rent, and fo different, that I do not know- 
 one word of the one, that is in the other ; 
 but yet the language of Chile being fo uni- 
 verfal, that it is the fame all over the king- 
 dom, to the foot of the Cordillera ; thofe of 
 Cuyo learn'd it too, and that very perfectly ; 
 but I never obferv'd that a Chile Indian 
 fpoke the language of Cuyo, which mews 
 the advantage that the language of Chile 
 has over the other. 
 
 In return of thefe advantages which the 
 Chilenians have, thofe at Cuyo have fome 
 over them. And the firft is in the ftature, 
 which is taller, but not fo ftrong and well- 
 fet as the Chilenians, but rather raw-bon'd, 
 without flefh. I do not remember I ever 
 faw a fat Cuyian among fo many as I have 
 feen. They are likewife better workmen 
 in fome things which require patience and 
 Basket- length of time, fuch as basket-work of fe- 
 vork that vera j figures, all of ftraw ; and yet i'o clofe 
 tUtn. 4 work'd, that they will hold water ; for 
 which reafon they make their drinking vef- 
 fels of them •, and as they cannot break by 
 a fall upon the ground, they are very kill- 
 ing, and the curiofuies of this kind, which 
 they make, very much valued for their work 
 and colours. 
 
 Likewife they prepare feveral firs of ani- 
 mals, which they hunt ; and they are very 
 foft and warm for winter: they hunt and 
 catch oftriches likewife, and make many 
 works of their feathers, with which they 
 adorn themfelves on their feftivals, mingled 
 with the feathers of other birds. They like- 
 wife hunt the wild goats and deer, and are 
 the mailers of all the Bezoar-Stones, which 
 they fell to the Spaniards fo dear, that any 
 one who mould buy them to get by them, 
 would make but a fmall profit in Europe. 
 TheCuyi- Thefe Cuyians are alfo more hairy, and 
 hairy than have more beard than the Chilenians, though 
 the Chile- they pull their hair as the others do, but 
 nians. with more trouble ; and they never look fo 
 fmooth as thofe of Chile. They are all 
 well-fhap'd, and nimble, and have a good 
 air : they have alfo good underftandings. 
 The women are tall and {lender, and I do 
 not know that I ever faw taller : they paint 
 The women t h e ir faces green, which is fo well fettled in 
 
 £«!ir««. their skin ' that there is no g ettin S ic out: 
 'moft commonly they paint only their nof- 
 
 trils, fome their whole faces, and the men 
 their beards and lips. Their habit is decent 
 in both fexes : the women let their hair 
 grow as long as they can, but the men on- 
 ly below their ears. In all other things are 
 like the Chilenians. 
 
 They are very nimble, and good travel- 
 lers, without tiring. I have feen them run 
 up the {tiffed and ftreighteft hills of the 
 great Cordillera, like fo many goats •, and 
 this the women will do as well as the men i 
 
 Vol. III. 
 
 nay, the little children too. The women Ovalle. 
 will run with their children in a cradle faf- i^ 6, 
 tened to their backs by a (trap that comes w v^ ,/ 
 over their forehead; and with all this weight 
 they follow their husbands with fo much 
 eafe and agility, that 'tis wonderful. 
 
 For a proof of the admirable difpofition^prw/'o/ 
 of thefe people, in walking and running, the ' r "gili- 
 a corrigidor and captain-general of tint'^' 
 province told me a ftory about their hunt- 
 ing their venifon, which is very fingular : 
 He told me, That as foon as they find their 
 game out, they draw near them, and follow 
 them upon a half trot, keeping them Mill 
 in fight, without leaving them fo much as 
 to eat ; and in a day or two they begin to 
 tire them fo as they can come up with them, 
 and kill them, and return home loaded 
 with them, where they feaft upon them, 
 with their families, till they have made an 
 end : for thefe Indians are fuch gluttons 
 naturally, that a few of them will eat up a 
 calf, or a young heifer in a meeting: but 
 they are as good at filling, when they have 
 nothing to eat ; for they will pais feveral 
 days with a litde maize and fome roots, 
 which grow wild : they are alfo very dex- 
 terous archers, and often kill with their ar- 
 rows the game they fee. 
 
 I fhall not omit a particular favour be-They pre- 
 ftowed on thefe Indians by God Almighty/^'" "* 
 which is a fingular inftinct of tracing and^jj /^ 
 following any loft thing.- Of which I fh\\\ t hingt. 
 give two examples whicli happened in the 
 city of St. J ago. 
 
 Our college had a cart belonging to it, 
 which flood at the gate of a garden, to 
 which our Seminarijls did ufe to go to re- 
 frefh themfelves: it was ftole one night, and 
 being mifs'd in the morning by one of our 
 lay-brothers, he immediately went to find 
 out a Guarpe, (for that is the name they 
 give thofe finding Indians ;) he prefently 
 fell upon the fcent or pilte, and followed it, 
 taking with him the lay- brother, till he 
 came to a river, where it fiil'd him : but 
 he loft no: the hopes of finding it ; he crof- 
 fed the river, and recrofs'd it again, once 
 and twice, by fo many different fords, (the 
 man that ftole it, as he fince confefs'd, had 
 crofs'd fo many times to break the pifte to 
 the follower.) After this he went four 
 leagues outright, and there he found it, when 
 the man that had it, believ'd himfelf moft 
 fafe from being difcover'd. 
 
 Another time, a certain perfon having 
 loft a parcel of oranges, he employed a 
 Guarpe, who having led him through many 
 ftreets and turnings, brought him at laft to 
 a houfe ; where finding the door fhut, he 
 bid him knock, and go in, for there, faid 
 he, are thy oranges : he did fo, and found 
 them. There are every day experiments of 
 this kind made by them to admiration : 
 U they 
 
7+ 
 
 Of the Nature and Properties of the Book III. 
 
 Ovaile. they are likewife ftout workers, very ftrong, 
 1646. an d lafting in labour. 
 
 V/yV Next to thefe Indians of Cuyo, are the 
 Indians Pampas, call'd fo becaufe they inha- 
 bit thofe vaft plains, which are extended for 
 about four hundred leagues to the eaft, and 
 reach to the north fea. Thofe of the point 
 of Los Venados are the neareft the kingdom 
 of Chile, and are much of the fame kind. 
 
 tuiU no Thek Pampas have no houfes, in which 
 9U J"' j-^gy differ from all mankind ; for the firft 
 thing men generally do, is to cover them- 
 felves from the inclemency of the air : and 
 this is the thing which thefe Pampas do the 
 leaft care for ; perhaps, they are of opinion, 
 that 'tis an injury to the author of man- 
 kind, to look for more fhelter than he af- 
 forded men at firft, which is the earth, with 
 the heavens for vault or cover ; and that to 
 defend themfelves from rain, it was enough 
 to make any little cover, which might ea- 
 lily be taken away, and fet up in another 
 place. 
 
 This they obferve ; and look upon it as 
 a fort of prifon or captivity, to be tied to 
 one place: for this reafon they will neither 
 have houfe, nor gardens, nor plantations, 
 or poflefiions, which are like chains to hin- 
 der their removal to other places ; for they 
 
 Zevt inde- judge that the greateft of all earthly feli- 
 
 pendency. c j t j es j s t p h ave tne a bf i utej entire, and in- 
 dependent ufe of their own free will ; to 
 live to day in one place, to morrow in an- 
 other. Sometimes, fay they, I have a mind 
 to enjoy the frefhnefs of a river fide ; and 
 being weary of that, I pafs to another. 
 Otherwhile I have a mind to live in woods 
 and folitudes ; and when I am weary of their 
 Ihades, I go to the open air of plains and 
 meadows. In one place I hunt, in another 
 I fifh: here I enjoy the fruits of one terri- 
 tory ; and when they fail, I feek out an- 
 other, where they are beginning to ripen. 
 In lhort, I go where I will, without lea- 
 ving behind me any thing I regret or de- 
 fire, which ufes to be the torment of thofe 
 who are fixed. I fear no ill news, for I for- 
 fake nothing I can lofe; and with the com- 
 pany of my wife and children, which I al- 
 ways have, I want for nothing. 
 
 This is the account that thefe people give 
 of themfelves ; and thus they pafs a life with- 
 out cares ; here to day, to morrow in an- 
 other place ; making in an inftant, with four 
 little pofts, a hut cover'd with boughs, or 
 fome hide of a beaft. Their incomes are 
 their bow and arrows, with which they pro- 
 vide them with flefh, with which they drink 
 water; only fometimes they make their 
 drink, call'd Chicha, of fruits of the trees, 
 as they do in Chile. Their cloaths are fome 
 leaves for decency, and a skin, which is 
 like a cloak, to cover them in other parts. 
 They make holes in their lips, and put fome 
 
 glafs or brafs pendants in them, and fome- 
 times filver ones. The men let their hair 
 grow to their fhoulders, and the women as 
 long as it will. There feems to be one 
 thing wanting to this nation, which all other 
 Indian nations have, which is the bread they 
 make of maiz, or wheat, and fome of rice : 
 bat yet they do not want a fupply of this 
 kind ; for becaufe they have not thefe gra ins, 
 they make bread of the cods of a tree,which 
 we in Spain call Algaroba ; an J becaufe that 
 does not laft long, they have invented a 
 ftrange fort of bread made of locufts, (nay, Breadoflih 
 I have heard of Mofquitcs;) but the locufts CU P- 
 ufe to be in fuch vaft qu ntities in thofe 
 great plains call'd the Pampas, that as I 
 travell'd over them, I often faw the fun in- 
 tercepted, and the air darkened with flights 
 of them. 
 
 The Indians obferve where they lite to 
 reft ; and thofe plains bt ing h.re and there 
 full of thickets, they reft in thera, and ciwfe 
 the higheft for fhelter. This the Indians 
 know; and approaching fofcly in the night, 
 they fet fire to the thicket, which, widi the 
 high winds that reign in thofe plains, is foon 
 redue'd to afhes, and the loculls with them. 
 Of thefe they make great heaps; and as 
 they are ready roafted, they have nothing 
 more to do, but to grind them to powder ; 
 of the flower of which they make a fort of 
 bread, which maintains them. To the 
 fame end they ufe an herb call'd Cibil, which, The Imb 
 either by pact with the devil, or by natural Clbi,i in 
 virtue, affords them a fuftenance for feveral w ""' 
 days, only by keeping it in their mouths, 
 where it makes a white foam, which ap- 
 pears upon their lips: it is a very dilagree- 
 able fight, and made me very fick to fee it. 
 
 Though thefe people are not fo warlike 
 as the Chile Indians, yet they are coura- 
 geous, and have fhewed it upon feveral oc- 
 cafions. They are very dexterous at their 
 bows and arrows, with which they make 
 incredible fhots. But befides thefe, they 
 have a very extraordinary fort of weapon a flrangt 
 of a new kind, which is made up of two fin ofwt*- 
 bowls ; the one bigger, and is a ftone per- t m ' 
 fe&ly well rounded, about the bignefs of an 
 ordinary orange; the other i^ of a bladder 
 or hard leather, which they fill with fome 
 matter of lefs weight than the ftone: thefe 
 two balls are tied ftrongly to each end of a 
 ftrong whipcord, which they twill: of a 
 bull's pizzle : the Indian ftanding on a high 
 ground, takes the lefTer ball in his hand, 
 and lets the other fly, holding it like a 
 fling over his head to take aim, and hit 
 his adverlary with the heavy ball, which 
 they direct, to the head, or legs of their 
 enemy ; and thus they entangle him fo, as 
 to bring him to the ground, and then the 
 Indian leaps from the height where he was, 
 and without giving him time to difembarafs 
 
 himfelf, 
 
Chap. 7. 
 
 Kingdom of CHILE. 
 
 75 
 
 himfelf, they kill him ; and this inftrument 
 is fo powerful in their hands, that it not 
 only brings a man to the ground, but a 
 horfe or a wild bull, which are very fre- 
 quent in thofe parts, fince the coming of 
 the Spaniards among them. 
 
 At this time they have no wars with any ; 
 for though they do not own a subjection, 
 yet they carry themfelves to the Spaniards 
 very friendly ; and the reafon is, becaufe 
 they fee their towns fo populous and ftrong, 
 that it would be in vain for them to ftir, 
 or make any attempt againft them : they 
 have the liberty of going in and out as they 
 pleafe ; and when they have taken a kind- 
 nefs for a Spaniard, there will come a troop 
 
 VyV. 
 
 of them in harveft time to help him to get Ovalle. 
 it in, and when it is over, they return to . l 
 their own way of living: but there are 
 others who come in troops to the high- 
 way, and if the Spaniards are not well ar- 
 med, attack them in their waggons; for 
 which reafon they feldom fet out but a 
 great many together, and well provided for 
 an encounter ; but moft commonly tiiey 
 are well pleas'd with fome little prefent, 
 which they ask very boldly, as if they were 
 mafters of all the goods in the vvagjons : 
 they generally are content with a little bif- 
 ket or wine ; but if the travellers are too 
 niggardly, they are in danger all the way, 
 and mult owe their fafety to their fire-arms. 
 
 BOOK IV. 
 
 Of the firft Entrance of the Spaniards 
 into the Kingdom of Chile. 
 
 CHAP. L 
 
 The Introduction to this Book. 
 
 F"tJT WING hitherto treated of thofe 
 1 three parts, into which at firft 
 **^ we d ivided the kingdom of Chile ; 
 M. of its foil and climate ; of its 
 temperature and properties ; of 
 its inhabitants, and their antiquity, nobili- 
 ty, and cuftoms ; the order of this hiftory 
 requires we fhould now treat of the entrance 
 of the Spaniards into their country ; fince 
 by that it has been changed much for the 
 better in many things : and although what 
 we have already mentioned about the flocks, 
 fruit, bread, wine, oil, &c. of which they 
 had no idea before the Spaniards came 
 among them; yet this is nothing in compa- 
 rifon-with the advantages they receive by 
 the light of the gofpel, which by the means 
 of the fame Spaniards, was, and is com- 
 municated to them. Upon this considera- 
 tion, we may well excufe fome milita- 
 ry excefies of covetoufnefs in fome of the 
 firft difcoverers and their foldiers, who as 
 fuch, and men who are bred in diforder and 
 confufion, and ufed to imbrue their hands 
 in blood where they find refiftance, had lefs 
 regard to the ftrict rules of juftice towards 
 the Indians. But this was againft all the 
 orders of their catholick majefties, who from 
 
 the beginning recommended moft ftrictly 
 the prefervation of the privileges of thofe 
 poor people, charging all their governors, 
 captains, conquerors, and royal minifters, 
 that they fhould always have before their 
 eyes, in the conqueft of this new world, not 
 fo much the dilatation of their royal power 
 and monarchy, as the propagation of the 
 gofpel, and the kind ufage of the Indians, 
 their converfion being the principal motive 
 of the undertaking, as we fhall fee in its 
 proper place. 
 
 But how is it poffible, morally fpeaking, 
 that human actions, though never fo well 
 defign'd upon high motives, fhould not 
 have a mixture of the incoveniencies which 
 pafiion, not overcome by reafon, produces ? 
 And fo 'tis no wonder, that in the begin- 
 ning of thofe difcoveries fome diforders 
 fhould happen, though they never were fo 
 exorbitant as fome authors make them ; and 
 particularly in Chile they were much lefs, 
 becaufe the inhabitants of thofe parts made 
 the Spaniards feel their valour at their very 
 firft entrance, where they found their pro- 
 grefs oppofed with greater vigour than they 
 imagined. 
 
 Buc 
 
7 6 
 
 Of the Nature and Properties of the Book IV. 
 
 Ovalle. But fince this kingdom is one of the con- 
 1646. fiderable parts of America, it will be necef- 
 
 U*Y"W fary firft to fay fomething of the difcovery 
 of the new world •, for this being the re- 
 moter!: part of it towards the fouth, it was 
 necefTary to pafs all the reft before it could 
 be difcovered ; and therefore, though I have 
 not a defign to make any relation but of 
 the kingdom of Chile, I ihall neverthelef 
 
 touch upon the other difcoveries, and fol- 
 low the fteps of the conquerors in order, as 
 the hiftories of them do relate ; fo the iub- 
 ject of this book will be better underftood, 
 by opening the manner of the finding them, 
 and the order of time in which this progrefs 
 was made •, and fo place each kingdom ac- 
 cording to its antiquity. 
 
 CHAP. II. 
 
 Of America in general; and what Light may be found of it among the 
 
 Antient Thilofophers. 
 
 A M 
 
 called otherwife the 
 ./~\ New World, becaufe of its late dif- 
 covery, is now as well known as it was for- 
 merly hid for fo many pafled ages, not on- 
 ly to the vulgar, but to thofe piercing wits 
 among the pagans, Arijlotle, Parmenides, 
 Pliny ; and among the chriftian philofo- 
 phers, to St. Auftin, Latlantius, and others, 
 who judged all that climate to be inhabi- 
 table that lay between the tropicks, found- 
 ing their opinion upon a point of their philo- 
 fophy, which was* That the prefervation of 
 the animal demanded by its temper the juft 
 proportion of the firft four qualities, which 
 they fuppofed could not be found under the 
 torrid zone ; for fo they called it, becaufe 
 of the force of the fun upon it, it being all 
 the year almoft perpendicular to it ; and 
 having obierved its effects on this fide the 
 tropicks, how it dries the earth in fummer, 
 confumes the fountains, thinking that if it 
 did not withdraw to the other tropick, it 
 would have entirely fired the earth, though 
 refrefhed by the nights, 'tis no wonder, if 
 they were perfuaded that where its beams 
 were continual, there could be no habitation 
 for man. 
 
 But experience, which is the touch-ftone 
 of all philofophical difcourfes, has difcover- 
 ed that not only there is a plain paffage, 
 though troublefome, from one pole to the 
 other, but alio that thofe regions contain- 
 ed under the Zodiack have been, and are 
 inhabited by innumerable nations ; and 
 that there are even under the equinotJial line, 
 Quito tern- fome places, as that of Quito, fo temperate 
 pirate, and healthful, that they are manifeftly pre- 
 titrable to feveral in the temperate Zone. 
 This new world has, by common confent, 
 been called America unjuftly enough, as 
 Herrera complains in the firft book of his 
 fifth Decade, by the crafty ufurpation of this 
 difcovery appropriated to Americo Vefpu- 
 Jjo, inftead of Columbus, who by this means 
 is deprived of his true glory. | 
 
 It is not eafy to make out v what know- 
 ledge the antients have had of this new 
 world : Marinco Siculo pretends, in his Spa- 
 viffj Chronicles, that the Romans had known 
 it, and made fome conquefts in it ; and his 
 
 foundation is, That in one of the gold mines 
 of America, there was found a medal, or 
 antient coin, with the figure of Auguflus 
 Cafar ; which, he fays, was fent to the 
 pope by Joannes Rufo, archbifhop of Co- 
 zenfa : but this is refuted, as ridiculous, by 
 Pedro Bercio in his Geography ; and 'tis not 
 very probable, that that coin alone, and no 
 other, ftiould have been found in all this 
 length of time, fince the mines are working 
 in the JVefl Indies. But, befides, if the Ro- 
 mans had been once in pofledion of thofe 
 parts, it would not have been eafy to have 
 loll all commerce with them, confiderinsc 
 the great riches that communication pro- 
 duces ; for the nations would have called 
 in one another, as we fee they have done 
 fince the difcovery made by their ca- 
 tholick majefties, and their poffefling of 
 thofe parts, to which there goes every year 
 fo much people from Europe. 
 
 As to the Roman coin, 'tis probable, that 
 fome who pafled from Europe with the firft 
 conquerors of the Indies, and out of a hu- 
 mour of fpreading novelties, (which though 
 little worth, are generally applauded by the 
 vulgar,) feign'd he had found it in the 
 mines ; or it might fall from him, and be 
 found by another, who carried it as a rarity 
 to the bifhop, who is faid to have fent it to 
 the pope. I am not ignorant that there are 
 many arguments and conjectures, and thofe 
 not contemptible, of fome knowledge that 
 the antients had of this fo principal a part 
 of our globe, which are related by Abra- 
 ham Ortelius Gorofio, father Acofta of our 
 company, in his firft book of the Hiftory 
 of the Indies, Chap, n, 12, ci? 13. Tlmnas 
 Bofius, Book XX. Chap. 3. Malvenda, frier 
 Gregory Garcia, in the firft book of the 
 Origin of the Indians, taking their hints from 
 Plato, Seneca, Lucian, Arrian, Clemens, 
 Romanus, Origen, St. Jerom, and others, 
 who feem to have had fome knowledge of 
 this new world. There may be feen in fa- 
 ther Pineda, of our fociety, in the fourth 
 book about Solomon s Court, Chap. 1 6. the 
 words of Abraham Ortelius, which make 
 very much to this purpofe. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
Chap. 3. 
 
 Kingdom of CHILE. 
 
 CHAP. III. 
 
 What Light may be had from Scripture about this New Region. 
 
 77 
 
 OVALLE. 
 1646. 
 
 THERE is another queftion which 
 feems to be better founded, than the 
 firft ; and that is, What light may be had 
 from fcripture about thefe remote regions ? 
 becaufe there are many authors, who from 
 thefe words of the fecond of Chronicles, 
 Chap. iv. The fervants of Hiram brought, 
 with the fervants of Solomon, gold from Ophir, 
 infer, that the fcripture here fpeaks of the 
 Weft Indies, and interpret Ophir to bcPeru, 
 or all America ; and as the moft famous 
 Chriftopher Columbus was the firft who dif- 
 covered it, fo he feems to have been the firft 
 that ufed that expreffion ; for they fay, that 
 when he was in the ifland of Hifpaniola, he 
 often faid, that at laft he was come to the 
 defired land of Ophir, as is related by Peter 
 Martyr, in his firft book of the Decade of 
 the Ocean. But he who firft fet out this 
 opinion in form, was Francis Vctable, who 
 upon the third book of Kings, in the ninth 
 Ophir faid chapter, and lb on, makes Ophir to be the 
 to h Hit ifland of Hifpaniola, and the continents of 
 pamola. J> eru an d Mexico. He was feconded in his 
 opinion by Pojlel Goropio, Arias Montano, 
 Antonio Pcffevino, Rcdrigo Tepes, Bofius, 
 Manuel de Sa, and other authors, reported 
 by Pineda, in his treaty de rebus Solomonis ; 
 which makes father Martin del Rio, of the 
 company of Jefus, fay, that this opinion is 
 not without good grounds ; but he who de- 
 fends it moft vigouroufly, is lather Gregory 
 Garcia, of the order of St. Dominick, in his 
 book De Indorum Occidentalium Origine, 
 where he ftrives mightily to clear this opi- 
 nion from all objections and oppofition. 
 
 The things faid by thefe authors are not 
 of fmall weight, though thofe who would 
 make an inference from the word Peru's 
 having a nearnefs to Pharvim, which is 
 ufed by the feptuagint in 2 Chron. iii. 
 where fpeaking of the gold with which So- 
 lomon adorned his temple, they fay, that 
 it was of gold of Pharvim, which in the 
 vulgate is translated Aurum Probatiffimum, 
 or moft pure gold, have againft them a 
 powerful adverfary, to wit, Gareilaffo de la 
 Vega, who affirms, that the name Peru is 
 not the name of the land, but that the Spa- 
 niards, endeavouring to inform themfelves 
 of the country, took an Indian, whofe name 
 Peru how was Beru ; and that asking him what coun- 
 namtd. tr y diey were in, and he imagining they 
 asked him his name, he anfwered Beru ; 
 and the Spaniards thought he had faid Peru, 
 and that that was the name of the country, 
 which ever after was called fo. That which, 
 in my opinion, confirms moft the belief of 
 Ophir, is, that which Solomon fays of him- 
 
 VOL, III. 
 
 felf in the book of IVtfdom, That he knew 
 the difpofition of the earth ; with which it 
 feems that ignorance was incompatible •, and 
 that he could not but be informed of that 
 great and principal part of the world ; fo 
 that we may conclude he knew how to fend 
 his fleets thither, and bring home the riches 
 of thofe parts : and this may be more pro- 
 bable, if we confider the great defire he had 
 of gathering together all the precious things 
 from feveral parts of the earth, and the 
 pureft gold, for the ornament of the temple 
 and houfe of God -, for the gold of Valdi- 
 via and Carabay being the pureft in the 
 world, and the precious woods of odours 
 that are in thofe kingdoms, and Paraguay 
 and Brafd the fineft, it appears hard he 
 fhould not ufe all diligence to have them, 
 they making fo much to his end, which was 
 to gather treafure and precious things. 
 
 That he could do it, there feems no rea-R^M ff 
 fon to doubt, fince we know he had a great k °°™° a ' 
 and powerful fleet; and if this fleet fpent ,h e u»d of 
 always three years from the time of its fet- America, 
 ting out in the Red Sea, to the time of its 
 return, as the interpreters of the fcripture 
 all fiy, in what could they fpend fo much 
 time, but in going to the utmoft bounds of 
 the eaft and weft ? and, 'tis pofiible, went 
 round the world, as the fhip Viclory did 
 fince, in the fame time ; in which, the great 
 Captain Magellan difcovered and paffed the 
 Str eights of his name •, and fince we know, 
 that the fleets of the catholick kings do, 
 in our days, penetrate to the utmoft parts 
 of the eaft and weft in lefs than a year's 
 time, why could not the fame be done by 
 thofe of fo powerful and fo wife a king as 
 Solomon, who may be fuppofed to have 
 underftood himfelf, and inftrufted his cap- 
 tains and pilots in the art of navigation ? 
 Neither is it improbable, but he might 
 know the ufe of the loadftone, and the lea 
 compafs, as fome authors do affirm he did. 
 This is yet more confirmed by what we 
 have obferved already about the knowledge 
 and conjectures which the ancients had of 
 this new world, of which he likewife could 
 not be ignorant, but rather have a more 
 particular infight into them, being himfelf 
 fo perfect in the fciences of cofmography 
 and geography, as well as hydrography ; 
 all which he had by infufion from God Al- 
 mighty, that he might fee into the errors 
 of thofe who believed there were no anti- 
 podes, nor that the torrid zone could be 
 inhabited, denying the roundnefs of the 
 earth, and other fuch miftakes. 
 
 X Laftly, 
 
78 Of the Nature and Properties of the Book IV. 
 
 Ovalle. Laftly, we know, that his fleets came to 
 1646. Syria, Phoenicia, Africa, and Europa ; and 
 ^~^V to come to thofe coafts, 'tis certain, that 
 c/Solo- if they fet out at the Red Sea, it was necef- 
 moris fary for them to fail fouthward to double 
 fleets. the cape of Good Hope, and then north, and 
 pafs the equinoctial line a fecond time, 
 as the Portuguefe do now in their voyages 
 from India to Portugal. This being fup- 
 pofed, and that Solomon had the knowledge 
 of America, 'tis probable he was not unac- 
 quainted with the communication of the 
 North and South Seas by the Streights of 
 Magellan and St. Vincent ; for Solomon being 
 fo powerful, both by lea and land -, and fo 
 well inftructed in all things, 'tis probable 
 he caufed thofe fhores to be fearched, to find 
 the communication of both feas, as it was 
 fince done by men much inferior to him in 
 every thing, which were Magellan, and Ja- 
 cob le Maire ; or, it might be difcovered 
 by fome fhips driven by ftorms into thofe 
 parts, as fome fay it befel the firft difco- 
 verers of America. 
 
 This once fuppofed, thofe who under- 
 ftand any thing of navigation, and the art 
 of the fea, cannot but know how much 
 more eafily a fleet, being placed at the cape 
 of Good Hope in thirty fix, may fail fouth 
 to the fifty fourth degree, where the Streights 
 of Magellan lie, than to fail to the north 
 above feventy two degrees, which it muft 
 do from the cape to Europe : from whence 
 may be inferred what I fay, that if it was 
 true that his fleet came to Africa and Eu- 
 rope, and entered the mediterranean fea, it 
 was much eafier to go to Chile and Peru -, 
 for from the Streights it might run before 
 the wind all along that coaft ; and having 
 taken in the gold, precious woods, filver, 
 and other commodities, it might return by 
 ihe fame Streights, as Pedro Sarmiento, and 
 others, have done to the North Sea, and fo 
 to the cape of Good Hope and the Red Sea : 
 or, the fleet being in the South Sea, might 
 fail weft to the Philippine iflands ; and from 
 thence coafting along thofe parts we call 
 the Ea.fi Indies, it might take in all the 
 eaftern commodities ; and fo having gone 
 round the world, return loaden with all 
 the riches of eaft and weft, with pearls, 
 diamonds, rubies, and other fine ftones, as 
 alfo musk, amber, ivory, and other va- 
 luable eaftern commodities -, and from the 
 weft, with gold, filver, odoriferous woods, 
 pearls, emeralds, fine dyes, rich and fine 
 woolls, amber, and other riches, which 
 were wanting to make up the opulency of 
 Solomon. 
 
 Neither ought this to be thought imprac- 
 ticable, fince 'tis made out already in thefe 
 books, how eafy the navigation would be 
 from Chile to the Philippine iflands in two 
 or three months : the conveniences of which 
 
 navigation have been fet out in the fourth 
 chapter of the fecond book ; and we do 
 know how the fhip Vitlory did return that 
 way, and fo have many others fince : by all 
 which the poffibility of Solomon % naviga- 
 tion is made out, and that within the com- 
 pafs of the three years, in which they ufed 
 to return to their port in the Red Sea ; and 
 if it did not do this, it can hardly be ima- 
 gined, how it could employ fuch a fpace 
 of time. 
 
 For thefe, and many more reafons of this 
 nature, our moft learned Pineda retracts the 
 contrary opinion, which he had publiihed 
 in his commentaries upon Job ; becaufe, 
 when he writ them, he had not lb well ex- 
 amined, the grounds of the laft opinion, 
 nor weighed all the authority and ftrength 
 of conjectures that attend it ; and, indeed, 
 fo far every prudent man would go, as not 
 to defpife and contemn an opinion of 
 which he believed the contrary, if it were 
 maintained with probability, and by per- 
 fons worthy to be hearkened to. Though, Reafons *- 
 to fay truth, if I muft fpeak what I think, ^'"fl Solo-; 
 that one reafon which I gave above againft™""^,-,^ 
 the Romans having had knowledge of thofe vered Ame- 
 parts, [which is,That it appears incredible, rica - 
 that having once made the difcovery, and 
 enjoy'd thofe mines, not only the commu- 
 nication with them, but the very memory 
 of them fhould be loft,] feems, in my opi- 
 nion, to be as ftrong an argument againft 
 Solomons fleet ; for if that did once over- 
 come all the difficulties of that navigation, 
 what caufe k could interrupt that commerce 
 in fuch a manner, as that the total re- 
 membrance of it fhould be abolifhed ? 'Tis 
 true, that as to the Jews, they were a peo- 
 ple who did not care to live in foreign parts, 
 nor fettle among other nations, nor inhabit 
 the fea coafts ; for God Almighty was un- 
 willing, that by the communication with 
 the gentiles, they fhould contract any of 
 their cuftoms ; and therefore we do not 
 know, that of all the race of their kings, 
 any more than three went about any fuch 
 thing, which were Solomon, who compaf- 
 fed it, and Jofophat and Ochofias, whofe un- 
 dertakings had no fuccefs. By which it 
 may be inferr'd, that when Solomon died, 
 and the temple was finifhed, this naviga- 
 tion was neglected, till at laft it was quite 
 forgot ; befides, that it appears from the 
 Chronicles, and other places of fcripture, 
 that in thofe times filver and gold were but 
 little valued, the covetoufnefs of mankind 
 not being arrived to the heighth it is at 
 now a days : they did not think it worth 
 leaving their houfes, to endure labour in the 
 fearch of them, and run all thofe hazards 
 which the voyagers to thofe parts do un- 
 dergo. This therefore might take off the 
 edge and defire which we fee in the Euro- 
 peans, 
 
Chap. 4. 
 
 Kingdom of CHILE. 
 
 79 
 
 peans, of continuing thofe voyages ; neither 
 would they defire to fettle in thofe parts ; 
 or if they did, the memory of them might 
 be loft. See Padre Pineda, particularly in 
 the fifth feftion of the fixteenth chapter, 
 where he anfwers the arguments of the ne- 
 gative opinion ; to which he gives very 
 handfome folutions ; and in particular, to 
 thofe who fay, that Solomon's fleet could 
 bring nothing but gold and filver, as if this 
 were nothing, or like ballaft ; and that this 
 were not motive enough for him to fend 
 his fleets, for a thing of which it appears 
 he made fuch ufe, both for the temple and 
 
 his own palaces ; fo that it does not feemOvALLg. 
 poflible he could have it all from the eaft, l6 4£- 
 but muft have recourfe to the weft, where v ^V > »o 
 there was fuch a mafs of it, as is made out 
 by what we have faid of the mines of Chile, 
 and thofe of the Inga, with thofe trees, 
 fruits, and plants of mafiy gold, and fta- 
 tues of the fame metal in his gardens ; be- 
 fides what they call Guafcas, where to this 
 day they keep concealed a vaft ftore of thofe 
 riches gathered together for the liberty of 
 the Inga, when the Spaniards had him pri- 
 foner ; all which may be feen in what has 
 been faid already in feveral chapters. 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 Of the c Di/covery of America : And by what means it was performed. 
 
 A 
 
 M O N G the hidden and wonderful 
 fecrets of nature, we may reckon the 
 Angular virtue of the loadftone, which has 
 produced fuch wonderful effects, as they 
 feem more the object of our eyes than of 
 our faith, as men ; for who, if they did not 
 fee it, could believe the experiments made 
 every day, which furpafs all imagination ? 
 See the curious and elaborate treatife of fa- 
 ther Athanafius, Kirker, of our company, 
 de arte magnetica ; for there the mod afpi- 
 ring mind after curiofities will find all he 
 can wifh about this matter, as well what 
 is ancient, as what is modern, the whole 
 treated with fo much erudition and clear- 
 nefs, that the ftudy of it is not lcfs delight- 
 ful than profitable. The fame fubject is 
 alfo treated of excellently by father Nicholas 
 Cabeo, of our company, in his book of mag- 
 netica! philofophy. 
 
 Among all the virtues of this rare ftone, 
 I think that its quality of taking up iron is 
 not fo admirable as that which it has had 
 of drawing gold and filver to Europe from 
 The mafs l n & a '■> tne ma ^ s °f which has been fo great, 
 of filver that fome curious perfons having made a 
 brought calculation in this matter, which they un- 
 from Ame -derftood very well, and reckoning the mil- 
 lions brought by the galleons and flotas, 
 from the difcovery of the Indies to their 
 time ; and having alfo computed the dif- 
 tance between Europe and thofe parts, have 
 found that there might have been made, 
 from the one to the other, of bars of fil- 
 ver, a bridge of a yard and a half wide ; 
 fo that if all that metal could be found 
 now a-days in any one place, it would 
 make a mountain like that of Potofi, from 
 which the greateft quantity has been fetch- 
 ed ; and for that reafon it appears hollow, 
 and bored through in fo many places. We 
 may therefore fay of the loadftone, that 
 gold has given it a virtue like that of faith, 
 to tranfport mountains, not only from one 
 place to another, but from one world to 
 
 another, through thofe immenfe feas which 
 feparate them. 
 
 Who the firft man was that applied this 
 virtue to facilitate navigation, it is hard to 
 prove by authors ; for though we know that 
 this ftone was known to the Jews, and to 
 the Egyptians, yet who firft made ufe of the 
 fea-needle and compafs, is very hard to find 
 out. Some fay it came from China to Eu- 
 rope : others, that it was found by the in- 
 habitants of the cape of Good-Hope ; and 
 that Vafca de Gama, met with fome of their 
 veflels, when he made the difcovery of the 
 cape, who ufed this inftrument : others 
 give the glory of it to the Spaniards and 
 Portuguefe : others to a man of the king- The invert 
 dom of Naples, called John Goyas, of the tor 'f tht 
 city of Amalfi, who was rather the man that ^ 
 perfected this invention, being himfelf an 
 experienced feaman. But let every one have 
 his opinion, it is not my bufinefs to de- 
 cide ; I only fay, that to this admirable 
 virtue of the loadftone we owe the difco- 
 very of America : for though fome authors 
 fay, that Solomon's fleet failed by the obfer- 
 vation of the ftars, the winds, the flight 
 of birds, and other figns, with which they 
 fupplied the want of this ufeful invention, 
 not then known according to the common 
 opinion, (though the contrary is not alto- 
 gether improbable,) yet it muft be owned 
 that the ufe of this fea-needle has been the 
 thing that has facilitated the navigation, fo 
 as the firft difcoverers, trufting to this, durft 
 venture into vaft feas, and pafs the gulph 
 which leads to that remote and unknown 
 world, fo as to land in it ; which was a per- 
 formance worthy of immortal memory to 
 the man who undertook and executed it. 
 
 This man was the moft famous captain 
 Don Chriftopher Columbus, a Genoefe, whom 
 the Spaniards in their language call Colon, 
 who, though he were not, as he was, nobly 
 defcended, might have given by himfelf 
 nobility and fame to his defendants, and 
 
 to 
 
8« 
 
 Of tie Nature and Properties of the Book IV. 
 
 OvALLE.to his noble and illuflxious country ; for* if 
 1646. (his commonwealth had had only this fon, 
 \^y>*> - lt m igh t draw fame enough from him alone, 
 fince his generous and bold mind was ca- 
 pable of overcoming all the difficulties 
 which he met with in the project and exe- 
 cution of this enterprize, the more to be 
 efteemed by the great advantages procured 
 by it to both worlds : to this, by that vaft 
 increafe of riches, of which a great deal is 
 confecrated upon the altars in churches, be- 
 fides what is employed in the furniture of 
 princes and great men : and to the other 
 world, the benefit of the light of the gof- 
 pel, by which it is fo much more poliihed 
 and meliorated in all fenfes. 
 
 Neither does that which GareilaJJb de la 
 Vega, and others, do relate, any ways affect 
 the glory of this great man, when they 
 fay, that he undertook this defign upon the 
 knowledge communicated to him by a man 
 whom he entertained, and who died in his 
 houfe as his gueft ; for we mull own that 
 his chief praife does not come from what he 
 knew of this new world before he under- 
 took to find and conquer it, but from his 
 generous mind and conftancy in purfuing 
 his enterprize ; and this is all his own,which 
 puts juftly the laurels upon his head, and 
 makes his memory immortal in fpite of 
 time and envy, though one would think no 
 body Ihould have any for the common be- 
 nefactor of two worlds. That which thefe 
 T^7o/ autnors re i ate about this hiftory, is, That a 
 who Me din pil°t, an inhabitant and native of the town 
 tut houfe of of Guelva, in the county of Niebla, in An- 
 Columbus. dalufia, called Alonfo Sanches de Hualva, or 
 as others fay, Buxula, ufed to trade with a 
 fmall vefTel to the Canaries ; and that one 
 time, in his return to Spain, he met with 
 a mighty ftrong Levant, which was fo 
 powerful, that in twenty days he found him- 
 felf in one of the iflands of the Weft-Indies, 
 one of thofe which we call the Iflands of 
 Barlovento, or the Windward I/lands, and 
 'tis judged it was Hifpaniola ; from whence, 
 fearing to perifh for want of provifion, he 
 returned to the Ifland of Madera, having 
 endured fo much, that almoft all his com- 
 pany died, and himfelf came in fuch a con- 
 dition, that though Columbus, who loved 
 fea-faring men, and for that reafon had cho- 
 fen that iftand to live in, received him, in- 
 to his houfe, and took great care of him, 
 
 yet he died •, but before he died, being wil- 
 ling to make fome return for the kindnefs 
 received, he called Columbus to him, and 
 left him, as an inheritance, the journal he 
 had made, with the rhumbs of wind both 
 going and coming, and all others his ob- 
 fervations in the voyage, and about the 
 place where he landed. 
 
 This is thus related by GareilaJJo de la 
 Vega, and father Jofeph d'Acofta, who fays, 
 he does not know the name of this pilot 
 who left this legacy to Columbus : and this 
 he attributes to the particular providence of 
 God, who would not have the honour of 
 this difcovery be owing to any human in- 
 duftry, but immediately and entirely to the 
 divine majefty,to whofe difpofition we ought 
 to attribute, fo much as appears contingent 
 and cafual in this fhip's mifcarriage, from 
 its courfe and all the other accidents attend- 
 ing that ftorm, till the pilot was brought 
 to die in the houfe of him whom God had 
 chofen for a fecond caufe and chief inftru- 
 ment of this enterprize ; who being of him- 
 felf a great philofopher and cofmographer, 
 compared thefe notions which he had from 
 his dying gueft, with his own fpeculations 
 which he had long had upon the fame fub- 
 ject ; and this made him refolve to under- 
 take what he afterwards accomplifhed. In 
 order to this he began to confider of thofe 
 who were likelieft to affift him ; and firft Columbus 
 of all, he offered it to his own country, who^ffers his 
 took it for a dream ; after this, to the kings ^fiovery u 
 of Portugal, France, and England; and at p r ™°*" 
 laft he addrefled this rich offer to their ca- Portugal, 
 tholick majefties, for whom it was defign- *»d Eng- 
 ed, from the beginning, by him who had re- la jJ d, )T. , 
 refolved, in his providence, to amplify their Mr °M t,t ' 
 monarchy by the addition of fo many rich 
 and powerful kingdoms, as they have ac- 
 quired in this new world. 
 
 Ferdinand and Ifabella, who are worthy Ferdinand 
 of immortal glory, having examin'd theWIfabei- 
 grounds Columbus went upon, and the ho- la Mct f *• 
 nour might be done to the crofs of chrift, 
 and to the preaching of his gofpel, if this 
 enterprize Ihould take effecl:, having fe- 
 rioufly confidered of it for eight years to- 
 gether, they commanded all necefiary pro- 
 visions to be made, without fparing any 
 charge, or minding the contingency of a 
 defign fo new, fo difficult, and fo much 
 without example. 
 
 CHAP. V. 
 
 Don Chriftopher Columbus fails from Spain in fear cb of the Nezv IVorld, 
 
 IN the year of the birth of our faviour being the beginning of their greateft felici- 
 1492. upon the third of Auguft, about ties,) Bon Chriftopher Columbus, the moft 
 half an hour before fun-rife, (the happieft famous Genoefe that ever was, failed from 
 day that ever fhined upon our antipodes, as Spain, with_the title which he had received 
 
 from 
 
Chap. 5. 
 
 Kingdom of CHILE. 
 
 8c 
 
 from Ferdinand and Ifabella, of admiral of 
 the feas of all thole countries he fhould dif- 
 cover and conquer ; fo leaving behind him 
 the famous herculean Streigbts, as difdain- 
 ing their Non-plus-ultra, and laughing at 
 their pillars, he launch'd into the vaft ocean, 
 and begun his navigation with no lefs con- 
 fidence than admiration of thofe who faw 
 him leave the fhore and fleer a courfe never 
 before attempted, by new rhumbs of winds. 
 Having touch'd at the ifland of Gran Ca- 
 naria, he again failed from thence the firft 
 Columbus of September, with ninety in company and 
 h«d but provifions for a year. After fome days of 
 ninety m navigation he began to find himfelf near the 
 twejhipi. jpQpj^ f cancer, and under the torrid 
 zone ; whereupon his men who had been 
 bred in the temperate climates of Europe, 
 being impatient of heats, which they never 
 before had experienced, and wearied with 
 feeing nothing but a vaft ocean without 
 land, began to enter into diftruft of difco- 
 vering any. 'At firft they murmured only 
 between their teeth ; but at laft, fpeaking 
 out boldly, they came to their captain Co- 
 lumhits, and endeavoured by all means to 
 difiuade him from purfuing his difcovery, 
 as vain and without hopes of fuccefs ; and 
 that it would be much better to return back 
 to Spain ; but he with a generous mind be- 
 ing deaf to all their perfwafions, purfued 
 his voyage with conftancy. His men per- 
 ceiving ftill how he went further from 
 Spain, and that they had almoft worn out 
 their eyes with looking out from the top- 
 moft-head of the ftiip, without finding any 
 appearance of land, renewed their inftances 
 and reafons ; and that the more earneftly, 
 by how much they perceived every day the 
 confumption of their water and provifions ; 
 calling now that temerity, which before 
 they laid might be conftancy : for they al- 
 ledged that the time was increafed, their 
 provifions lefiened, the winds fcarce, and 
 calms to be feared ; no land in view, its 
 diftance not to be known nor guefied at ; 
 that the danger was certain, and no avoid- 
 ing to perifh, if. they ftaid any longer; 
 therefore, faid they, let us fecure our lives, 
 except we intend to be a fable and laughing- 
 flock to all mankind, and looked upon as 
 our own murderers. 
 
 To fay truth, it cannot be denied but 
 this was an urgent danger, and greater per- 
 haps than can be imagined by thofe who 
 never were in the like trials •, for when no 
 lefs then life is at ftake, all dangers appear 
 great, and particularly at fea: befides, thefe 
 allegations were of themfelves of great con- 
 fideration, and capable of fhaking the great- 
 eft conftancy and valour ; yet the courage 
 of the great Columbus was fuch, and fo Angu- 
 lar his prudence, that fometimes diffem- 
 bling, and fometimes taking no notice of 
 
 •V-OL. III. 
 
 what he heard, but talking to this marrOvALLE: 
 and the other in private, and then comfort- I ^4 6> 
 ing them all up in general, and giving them ^ %; . 
 fome account of his well-grounded fpecula- 
 tions, he fo fed them with hopes and expec- 
 tations, (he himfelf fhewing no diftruft of 
 fuccefs,) that he brought at laft his project 
 to a happy iftue. They were following their 
 voyage thus, through all the inconveniencies 
 of heat, ready to ftifle them, when on a 
 fudden a voice was heard crying Land, 
 Land : they all flew to the prow and fides 
 of the fhip, and fixed their eyes on the ho- 
 rizon like fo many Argus's, to find out the 
 land which feemed to appear like a cloud 
 upon the fea. The defire of getting to it 
 made fome doubt, if it were land or clouds ; 
 but others were more confident : fome af- 
 fure it to be low land ; others think they 
 fee rocks, and a large extended fhore ; and 
 all was but guefs, occafioned by the great 
 diftance they were at fea from any land ; 
 for in truth it was not land but clouds. And 
 this was an invention of Columbus, their ad- 
 miral, who feeing them almoft ready to 
 mutiny, made ufe of this artifice to prevent 
 the ill effects of their defpair, caufing this 
 voice to be heard to give them a fhort joy, 
 and amufe them. 
 
 This fucceeded well for that time : he 
 fleered his courfe towards this pretended 
 land till night ; and when they were afleep 
 he fet his prow to the weft, in fearch of the 
 true land : but in the morning when it was 
 day, feeing thofe clouds, which they took 
 for land, vanifhed as it often happens in 
 long navigations, they began to afflict 
 themfelves a-new, and remonftrate to the ad- 
 miral boldly to his face which I do not won- 
 der at ; for befides the danger of perifhing 
 with hunger, they found themfelves in a cli- 
 mate fo fcorchingand fiery, that in the third 
 voyage that the admiral made, they being 
 becalmed eight days, about the fame place, 
 were afraid the fun would have fet fire to 
 their ihips •, for all his casks flew under 
 decks, the hoops fmoaking as if they had 
 been fet on fire, and the wheat was all in a 
 ferment ; and the fait flefh was, as it were, 
 boiled again, and flunk fo, that, to avoid 
 infection, they were forced to throw it over- 
 board. 
 
 The admiral was thus purfuing his 
 voyage, in which patience was his moft ne- 
 ceffary habit, to endure the terrible perfec- 
 tion of his own people •, when on the nth 
 day of Otlober, of the fame year, it pleafed 
 God to crown all his invincible fufterings, 
 and the confidence he had in him, firft, by Signs of 
 manifeft figns of land, which in fuch oc- '• 
 cafions do generally put a flop to all com- 
 plaints and afflictions, and are the begin- 
 ning of joy and content, which ls followed 
 with forgetting all paft fufferings. The 
 ' Y firft 
 
 s 
 
82 
 
 Of the Nature and Properties of the Book IV. 
 
 OvALLE.firft thing they faw was" a bough of a tree 
 1646. new cu t, with its fruit on it, which though 
 
 yY^ a kind of thorn, was a branch of olive to 
 the inhabitants of this new ark ; another 
 had feen green fifh, and fome pieces of wood 
 floating ; all which were clear marks of 
 land not far off, as to the navigators from 
 India are the quantity of fea-weeds which 
 meet them about ten leagues from the coaft 
 of Spain. The joys which failors and paf- 
 fengers fhew generally at the figns of land, 
 the capers they cut, and embraces they 
 make each other, with their congratula- 
 tions to the pilot, their thanks to heaven, 
 nay, the tears they flied, and devout prayers 
 they make to God and the virgin Mary, in 
 acknowledgment of their protection ; all 
 thefe are not fo much matter for my pen, 
 as for fight and fenfe. All this happened to 
 the admiral's company, which not only for- 
 got their fufferings, and the hatred they 
 bore to the author of them, but they run 
 and threw themfelves at his feet, as admi- 
 ring and congratulating his conftancy, and 
 begging his pardon for fo many hard 
 thoughts, and as hard words, they had enter- 
 tained, and let fly againft him : he received 
 them all with embraces and marks of benig- 
 nity, afluring them that by the end of that 
 day they Ihould be within fight of land, and 
 
 ^ , having faid this, he went upon the higheft 
 
 part of the fhip's ftern, as being defirous to 
 be the firft, that Ihould give them the good 
 news of difcovering land. 
 
 There was a rent of ten thoufand Mara- 
 •vedies a year for the firft difcoverer, which 
 made them all look out with great atten- 
 tion ; fome on one fide, and fome on the 
 other fide of the fhip, fixing their eyes 
 where they thought it was moft probable 
 to find land ; but it was about two hours 
 before midnight, when admiral Columbus 
 difcover'd a light, and calling to two offi- 
 cers, Ihewed it them ; and prefently he per- 
 ceiv'd that the light chang'd place, for it 
 was a light carried from one houfe to an- 
 other, as was known afterwards when they 
 landed : they fail'd on towards that light, 
 and about two hours after midnight they 
 difcover'd land, which was at the fame time 
 made by the other fhips in company,where- 
 upon there were many claims for -the Albri- 
 cias ; but at laft they agreed that the Al- 
 bricias belong'd to the admiral, becaufe he 
 firft difcover'd the light: this was confirm- 
 ed by Ferdinand and Ifabella, king and queen 
 of Spain, and fettled upon the fhambles of 
 Seville, as the bell fund for the admiral. 
 
 Herrera, the chronologifi, makes his re- 
 flections upon this light, and moralizes up- 
 on it, that it fignified the fpiritual light, 
 which thofe nations wanted, and which was 
 now brought to them from Europe by thefe 
 difcoverers > as a proof likewife of the piety 
 
 of the catholick kings, who having made 
 war upon the Moon for three hundred and 
 twenty years, had hardly finifh'd it ; but 
 they put their fhoulders to this new con- 
 queft, to fpread by their means the glory 
 of the gofpel, and make the voice of it to 
 be heard to the utmoft limits of the earth, 
 making out by this manifeft proof, how 
 firm fupports they were to the faith, fince 
 they were conftantly employed in propaga- 
 ting of it. Thus far Herrera : to which I 
 may add, that the light Columbus faw in 
 the middle of the night, was the tacit work- 
 ing of reafon, which being buried in pro- 
 found errors, did yet throw out fome fparks 
 from under thofe afhes, and cry to heaven 
 for the enlivening fpirit to deliver it, and 
 by the means of Chrift revive it, fo as to 
 enlighten that gentilifm, fo long over- 
 whelm'd in darknefs, and for fo many ages 
 paft buried, as it were, in the lhadow of 
 death. 
 
 Thus it was ; and as foon as day broke Columbus 
 they landed : the admiral carried with him'"*'''' ani 
 the royal ftandard fpread, the other captainsl^ po f~ ' 
 having in theirs the banners of this con- 
 queft, which were prepared, and had in 
 them a green crofs crown'd, and round 
 about the names of Fernando and Ifabella, 
 to fignify the hopes that thofe princes had 
 entertain'd to make fubjeft, and lay at the 
 feet of the crucified Jefus, the crowns and 
 fcepters of thofe powerful monarchs of that 
 -new world; they themfelves having firft 
 fubmitted their own, that there might be 
 no crown, command, nor lordfhip, but 
 that of the exaltation of the crofs. 
 
 To this end, as foon as the admiral land- 
 ed, kneeling down with all his company, 
 he killed it once, and twice ; and lifting 
 up his eyes to heaven, all in tears, he ador'd 
 our Lord God of all things, who had 
 brought him thither, thanking him for his 
 favour, and doing homage to him in the 
 name of thofe people,who were to be brought 
 to his knowledge ; in fign of all which, and 
 the pofieffion he then took, he call'd that 
 ifland Saint Salvador : he.raifed alio a moft ° ne °f <** 
 beautiful crofs, which was a declaring war )^ n ^ s cal ~ 
 to hell, to make it renounce the pofieffion ick. 
 of that land, which for fo many ages it had 
 tyranniz'd over. 
 
 The admiral being rofe up, they all ap- 
 proach'd, and not only embrac'd him, but 
 carried him upon their fhoulders in tri- 
 umph, as having perform'd the greateft work 
 that ever man attempted, or brought to 
 pafs. Immediately after this, the admiral, 
 in prefence of a notary, took pofieffion of 
 that land in the name of their catholick 
 majefties, and caus'd himfelf to be own'd 
 as viceroy, and as luch they began to own 
 him, and obey him in all things. 
 
 This 
 
Chap. 6. 
 
 Kingdom of CHILE. 
 
 83 
 
 This ifland, which we fhall call Saint 
 Salvador,wa.sa.hout fifteen leagues in length, 
 very woody, and having good water, with 
 a lake of frefh water in the middle of it, 
 and well inhabited by the Indians, who 
 
 call'd it in their tongue Guanaani; and itOvAtt-E. 
 is one of thofe which fince have been call'd 1646- 
 the Lucaicks. It is nine hundred and fifty Vw ^V^ / 
 leagues from the Canaries. 
 
 CHAP. VI. 
 
 W 
 
 HEN the Indians faw fuch great 
 bulks in the fea, with great fails, 
 and the whole unlike their canoos, and they 
 were drawn near the lhore, they remain' d 
 aflonifh'd and befide themfelves, becaufe tho' 
 by their motion they guefs'd them to be li- 
 ving things, yet for their bignefs they took 
 them for fome flrange fea-monfters, never 
 feen before on thofe coafts. The fhips 
 came to an anchor clofe by the fhore, and 
 the admiration of the Indians increas'd ftill 
 fo much the more, feeing white men come 
 out of them with beards and cloaths j yet 
 they didjiot run away, but drew near with- 
 out fear, the rather when they faw that the 
 Spaniards began to prefent them with bells, 
 needles, and other things of Europe, which 
 pleas'd them extremely, as being new to 
 them: in return they gave the. Spaniards 
 Cold, Provifions, and other things of their 
 country : they came fome in their canoos, 
 and fome fwimming to the fhips, where it 
 was wonderful to fee how they valued every 
 thing, even to the bits of glazed difhes, 
 or broken earthen ware, that lay about the 
 fhips, which they gather'd up as jewels 
 which they had never feen. And to fay 
 truth, mofl things borrow their value from 
 their rarity ; and for this reafon they had as 
 little value for gold and pearls, which were 
 things very common among them, they ex- 
 changing whole firings of pearls, and fome 
 of them as big as peafe and fmall nuts, for 
 needles and bells, as happened in the I/lands 
 of the Margarita ; fo great is the difference 
 in the eflimation of things common, or rare 
 ones. The admiral having here got an ac- 
 count of fome other IJlands, went out to 
 difcover them •, and the fecond he found he 
 nam'd Santa Maria de la Conception, dedi- 
 cating it to the queen of heaven : the third 
 he call'd Fernandina, of the king Don Fer- 
 nando : the fourth he nam'd Ifabella, in 
 confideration of his miftrefs queen Ifabella. 
 Of all thefe he took pofTeffion in the name 
 of their majefties, by letting up their royal 
 ftandard before a publick notary, with the 
 fame folemnity and ceremonies obferv'd in 
 the taking poffeffion of the firfl IJland. 
 Cuba iif- On a Saturday, the 29th of Otlober, they 
 difcover'd the famous IJland of Cuba, where 
 the Havana is : there the Indians, frighted 
 to fee the Spaniards, whom they thought 
 defcended from heaven, went to them kif- 
 fing their hands and feet. The admiral's 
 laft difcovery was of the IJland call'd Hif- 
 
 paniola, where he met with a great deal of 
 gold, and fome birds and fifhes, like thofe 
 of Cajlile. Here the cacique Guacanagari 
 received him with much humanity ; and in 
 his land he made the firfl Colony, or fettle- 
 ment of Spaniards, which he nam'd the city 
 of the Nativity. 
 
 The Spaniards generally were receiv'd in 
 thefe and other the Barlovento IJlands, and 
 on the coafls of terra Jirma, with much 
 love and kindnefs, very few of the Indians 
 offering to refill them. On the -contrary, 
 they all were pleafed with their coming up- 
 on their lands, furnifhing them with all 
 that the country afforded, and prefenting 
 them with gold, pearls, parrots ; content- 
 ing themfelves with a return of a very fmall 
 value. Of the European things, thofe they 
 feem'd mofl to mind, were needles ; and 
 at firfl they could not imagine what they 
 were good for •, but being told they were 
 to few, they anfwered they had nothing to The fimplh 
 few ; but yet they kept them, becaufe they cit yf ,f " 
 had never feen any thing of iron or fleel. ndians ' 
 They were much furprized at the ufe of 
 fwords, and particularly when they had ex- 
 perienced their fharpnefs ; for at firfl they 
 us'd to take hold of them by the edge with 
 great fimplicity. 
 
 The admiral, as viceroy of thofe new 
 kingdoms, began to govern, as he difco- 
 ver'd them ; and that he might regulate 
 them the better, by confulting their majef- 
 ties in his doubts and difficulties, he made 
 two voyages backwards and forwards to 
 Spain, flill making in his returns difcovery 
 of fome new IJlands, and amplifying the 
 monarchy, as hiflorians do relate at large, 
 to whom I refer myfelf, not to engage in 
 matters which are far from my fubjecli 
 but I cannot but make fome reflection up- 
 on what happen'd to this great man. Who 
 would not have thought, confidering the 
 happinefs with which he had executed all 
 that he defign'd, in the mofl difficult fub- 
 jec~l in the world, that he was eternizing 
 his felicity, and putting fortune under his 
 feet ? But that no one may flrive to do it, 
 but that all may know how conftant is her 
 volubility, and how perpetual the motion 
 of her wheel, and that there is no human 
 power, nor liar, can fix it, I will relate 
 here briefly what befel him. 
 
 Let him who governs be undeceiv'd once 
 for all, and know, That to fit upon a throne, 
 and take poffeffion of power, is to be a 
 
 mark 
 
84 Of the Nature and Properties of the Book IV. 
 
 OvALLE-mark for the cenfure of the good and bad 
 1646.' to aim at; 'tis juft putting himfelf into the 
 
 y^Y^ hands of anatomifts, to be taken in pieces, 
 and examin'd to the very bones •, and very 
 often envy opprefles innocence by feigned 
 accufations: this is not the place to examine 
 that of the admiral; 1 only know that 
 there were fo many complaints, and fuch 
 appearances of mifdemeanors alledg'd at 
 court againft him ; as, that he did not ad- 
 vance the converfion of the Indians, but 
 make them work to get gold, defiring more 
 to make them (laves than chriflians ; and 
 taking no care to maintain them, and fuch 
 other imputations, as mov'd their catho- 
 lick majefties to fend the commander De 
 Bobadilla to examine the truth of what was 
 alledg'd, and to do juftice in requifite cafes; 
 writing at the fame time a kind letter to 
 the admiral, that he mould let the com- 
 mander execute their orders. 
 
 But he exceeding his commifiion, and the 
 intention of their majefties, took all the 
 informations againft the admiral and his 
 brothers, and without hearing them, made 
 himfelf be own'd for judge and governor, 
 giving rewards, and publifhing, that he 
 came to relieve the oppreiied, and to pay 
 their falaries, and put all things in good 
 order. This drew over to him all thofewho 
 had any grudge to the admiral, and mod 
 of the common fort fided with him ; fo he 
 entered into the houfes of the admiral and 
 his brothers, feized their goods and their 
 papers; all which he might fafely do, with- 
 out any refiftance, for the admiral was away : 
 he fent to feize him and his brothers, put- 
 ting irons upon their feet, and fo fhipping 
 them into a vefiel, call'd a Caravel, he 
 fent them away for Spain, to give an ac- 
 count of themfelves. 
 
 When they came to put irons upon the 
 admiral, there was none fo bold as to do it, 
 
 Columbus out of the refpect that all had for him ; and 
 
 in irons, jf ne had not had in his family a rogue of 
 a cook, who was villain enough to do it, 
 they had not found any one to execute fo 
 barbarous a command. When Columbus 
 faw himfelf put in chains by his own fer- 
 vant, 'tis faid, that fhaking his head, he 
 pronounced thefe words, full of refentment 
 for his ufage ; [Thus the world rewards thofe 
 
 who ferve it ; this is the recompence that men 
 give to thofe who trujl in them. Have the 
 utmoft endeavours of my fervices ended in this ? His fingu- 
 Have all my dangers and fujferings deferv' d !«* *xp r 'f- 
 no more ? Let me be buried with thefe irons J'"" s J° r "' 
 tofhew that God alone knows how to reward 
 and be/low favours, of which he does never 
 repent ; for the world pays in words and pro- 
 mifes, and at laft deceives and lies.'} 
 
 Having faid this, the fhip fet fail -, and 
 as foon as he came to Spain, their majefties, 
 when they were inform'd of the prifon 
 of the admiral, were much concern'd ; for 
 by no means, had that been their inten- 
 tion. They fent for him to come before 
 them ; but his tears and fighs were fuch, 
 that in a great while he could not fpeak ; 
 at laft he faid, alluring their majefties of 
 his great zeal for their royal fervice, which 
 had always been his guide, that if he had 
 fail'd in any thing, it was not out of ma- 
 lice, nor on purpofe, but becaufe he knew 
 no better. 
 
 Their majefties comforted him, and par- 
 ticularly the queen, who favour'd him 
 moft ; and after fome time, in which the 
 truth of the matter was made out, they or- 
 der'd, That all that the commander Boba- 
 dilla had confifcated of the eftate of the ad- 
 miral and his brothers, Ihould be reftor'd 
 to them •, as alfo, that the capitulation with 
 them fhould be obferv'd, as to their privi- 
 leges and exemptions. After this, the ad- 
 miral return'd a fourth time to the Indies, 
 in an honourable way ; and employing him- 
 felf in new difcoveries, he arriv'd upon the 
 coaft of the terra frma of America, the fe- 
 cond of November, 1502. and coafting along 
 by Cubija, arriv'd at the port ; which, be- 
 caufe it appear'd fo good a one, and the 
 country fo beautiful, well cultivated, and 
 full of houfes, that it look'd like a garden, 
 he call'd Puerto Bella, or the Fine Port, 
 having difcover'd other iflands in the way, 
 and endur'd very bad ftorms. At laft re- 
 turning back by fome of thole places which 
 he had difcover'd, taking, as it were, his 
 leave of them, and returning to Spain, to 
 order there a better fettlement of affairs, 
 he died at Valladolid, where the court was, Columbus 
 
 making a very chriftian end, and 
 great figns of his predeftination. 
 
 Jiving 
 
 dies at Val- 
 ladolid. 
 
 CHAP. VII. 
 
 After the 'Death of Columbus, the Caftillians pirfue the 'Difcovery and 
 
 Conqueft of the new World. 
 
 AMONG thofe who accompanied the 
 admiral in his firft difcovery, there 
 was one Vincent Tanes Pinzon, who being a 
 rich man, fet out four veflels at his own 
 charge. He, at his return to Spain, fet 
 fail from the fame port of Balos upon new 
 
 difcoveries : he firft came to the ifland of 
 St. J ago, which is one of the Cape Verd 
 iflands: he fet fail from thence the thir- 
 teenth of January, in the year 1500. and 
 was the firft who pafs'd the equinotlial line, 
 by the north fea, and difcover'd Cape St. 
 
 Auguftin, 
 
Chap. 7. 
 
 Kingdom of C H I L E. 
 
 85 
 
 ■Auguftin, which he call'd the Cape of Con : 
 folation, taking pofTeffion of it for the crown 
 of Caftile ; from thence he found the river 
 Maraguon, which is thirty leagues over, and 
 fome fay more at its entrance, the frefh wa- 
 ter running forty leagues into the fea ; then 
 coafting towards Paria, he found another 
 river very large, though not fo broad as 
 Maragnon : they took up frefh Water out 
 of it, twenty leagues at fea. He difcover'd 
 in all a coaft of fix hundred leagues to Pa- 
 ria, and loft two fhips in a terrible ftorni 
 that he endur'd. We have feen alfo in the 
 laft chapter, that Columbus had difcover'd 
 the ifland of Cuba, though he could never 
 fail round it, being hinder 'd by the ftorms 
 and ill weather ; fo he died without know- 
 ing whether it was an ifland, or no, for he 
 judged it to be rather a point of fome con- 
 tinent ; but it is a very large ifland, with 
 many fair ports, and mountains full of pre- 
 cious odoriferous woods of cedar, ebony, 
 and many others ; and there are in it feve- 
 ral cities of Spaniards, and among the reft 
 Tbt Hava-the ftrong fortrefs of the Havana, which is 
 na - a Scala or rendezvous for the galleons and 
 
 flotas, loaded with filver from the Wefi 
 Indies : this is one of the beft fortifications 
 the king of Spain has in all his dominions. 
 But. in my opinion, that which makes this 
 ifland moft valuable, is, the good nature 
 and docility of thofe who are born in it ; 
 which was a product of that foil before 
 ever the Spaniards trod it, as they fhewed 
 to Columbus, and thofe who came after 
 him, receiving them with all kindnefs and 
 humanity. 
 
 To further what the admiral Columbus 
 had begun, God raifed an inftrument in the 
 perfon of Vafco Nunnes de Balboa, one of the 
 firft difcoverers of this new world ; a man 
 of a good underftanding, as he fhewed up- 
 on the occafion which I fhall now relate. 
 He was, with others, upon the difcovery 
 with general Encifo, the governor: they 
 came to a place call'd Uraba, and as they 
 enter'd the port, by negligence of thefteerf- 
 man, the governor's fhip ftruck upon a fand, 
 and was loft, nothing being faved out of her 
 but the lives of the men, who got into the 
 boats, but naked, and in danger of perifh- 
 ing for want of provifion. Vafco de Nunnes 
 faid, That he remember'd there was not far 
 off a river, the banks of which were inha- 
 bited by much people: he guided them thi- 
 ther ; and the thing being found to be as he 
 had faid, he gain'd great reputation among 
 them all. They came thidier, and found the 
 Indians in arms againft the Caftilians, whofe 
 name was already become odious to thofe 
 nations : they made a vow to our lady, to 
 dedicate to her the firft fettlement and 
 church to the honour of her image, under 
 the title of Sancla Maria la Antigua, or the 
 Vol. III. 
 
 ancient Si. Mary, which to this day is ve- Ovalle, 
 nerated in Seville ; and to fend her many J^^-, 
 rich gifts of gold and filver, which one of 
 them, as a pilgrim, fhould carry in the 
 name of the reft. Being encourag'd by this 
 vow, they fell upon the Indians, and ob- 
 tain'd the victory. 
 
 Prefently they made a fettlement, and 
 built a town, dedicated to the virgin, cal- 
 ling it Sancla Maria el Antigua of D air en, 
 becaufe that was the name of that river. 
 After this, to accompli fh their vow, they 
 fent the promis'd prefents to the devout 
 image of the virgin. 
 
 The good Opinion of Vafco de Nunnes in- 
 creating thus daily, and having cunningly 
 order'd it fo, that Encifo refign'd his go- 
 vernment, they chofe Vafco Nunnes in his 
 room: at firft, with ah afibciate; but he 
 found means in time to be alone, as it was 
 neceffary he fhould, in point of command, 
 being to overcome fuch difficulties as were 
 to be met with at every turn : and, indeed, 
 he knew how to make himfelf be both 
 fear'd and belov'd, having a very good fpi- 
 rit of government. In the new difcoveries 
 he undertook, he came firft to the lands of 
 the Cacique Ponea, and not finding him at 
 home, he deftroy'd them : he pafs'd on to 
 the lands of the Cacique Careta, who not 
 caring to enter into war, receiv'd him peace- 
 fully, and treated him as a friend. This 
 Cacique Careta had a kinfman, who was a 
 lord, diat liv'd further in the country, and 
 his name was Suran; who perfuaded another 
 neighbouring prince, call'd Comagre, to 
 make a friendfhip with the Caftilians : this 
 prince had a very fine palace, which afto- 
 nilh'd them; and particularly when they 
 faw, in a kind of chapel or oratory, fome 
 dead bodies lying cover'd with rich man- 
 tles, and many jewels of gold and pearls ; 
 and being ask'd whofe bodies thofe were, 
 they anfwer'd, of their predecefibrs ; and 
 that to preferve them from corruption, they 
 had dried them with fire. The king ca- 
 refs'd the Caftilians, and gave them great 
 prefents: he had feven ions, and one of 
 them, more liberal, gave the Spaniards a 
 prefent of near four thoufand Pefos of fine 
 gold, and fome pieces of rare workman- 
 ihip : they weigh'd it, and taking the king's 
 fifths, they began to divide the remainder. 
 In the divifion, two foldiers fell out about 
 their fhare : the Cacique's fon, who had 
 made the prefent, hearing the noife, could 
 not bear it, but coming to them ftruck the 
 balance where the gold was weighing, and 
 threw it all upon the ground, faying, " hjimUtre- 
 " it poffible you fhould value fo much a/"™/*/ 
 " thing that fo little deferves your efteem?^ j pa " 
 " and that you fhould leave the repofe of V etonf»efi. 
 " your houfes, and pafs fo many feas, ex- 
 " pos'd to fuch dangers, to trouble thofe 
 Z * who 
 
 
86 Of tie Nature and Properties of the Book IV, 
 
 Ovaixe." who live quiet in their own country? 
 1646. '* Have fome fhame, chriftians, and do not 
 ^*y~*J « value thefe things : but if you are refol- 
 " ved to fearch gold, I'll fhew you a coun- 
 " try where you may fatisfy yourfelves." 
 And pointing with his finger to the fouth, 
 he told them they mould fee there another 
 fea, when they had pafs'd over certain high 
 mountains, where they mould fee other peo- 
 ple who could go with fails and oars as they 
 did ; and that pafiing that fea, they mould 
 meet with vaft quantities of gold, whereof 
 the natives made all their utenfils; and that 
 he would be their guide, and conduct them 
 with his father's vaflals ; but that it would 
 be requifite they fhould be more in number, 
 becaufe there were powerful kings, who 
 could hinder their paflage : giving them by 
 this the firft notice of Peru and its riches. 
 Thefirft This was the firft knowledge and light 
 notice of which the Spaniards got of the South Sea, and 
 tht South Q f t ^e gold and riches of its coafts, which 
 
 rkhes! " S ave mem a H g reat )°Y > f° tnat tnev were 
 impatient to fee the hour of breaking tho- 
 rough all obftacles, to fee that fea never be- 
 fore heard of, and enjoy the riches of it. Vaf- 
 co Nunnes immediately difpofed all things, 
 and went out of Dairen, in the beginning 
 of September, in the year 151 3. and going 
 along the fea-fide, to the habitation of the 
 friendly Cacique Careta, he went towards the 
 mountains by the lands of the Cacique Ponea ; 
 who, though at firft he endeavour'd to op- 
 pofe their paflage, yet being advis'd by the 
 Indians of Careta, who accompanied the 
 Caftilians, he prefented them with gold and 
 provifions, and gave them guides ; they, in 
 return, giving him looking-glafles, needles, 
 knives, and other baubles, which they va- 
 lued very much. Then they began to 
 mount the mountain through the country 
 of a Cacique, call'd §uareca, who appear a 
 in arms, and attack'd the Spaniards : he 
 had a long robe of cotton, but all his men 
 were naked. They began to skirmifh,and 
 threaten by their actions, to hinder the paf- 
 fage ; but no fooner did they hear thenoife, 
 and feel the effects of the muskets, and find 
 fome to fall, but they turn'd their backs, 
 flying like a herd of deer, frighted to fee 
 the fire, and hear the found of the vollies, 
 which appear'd thunder to them, and 
 thought the Spaniards had thunderbolts at 
 their command ; fo they left the paflage free 
 for them. The Indians of Careta had faid, 
 that from their country to the top of the 
 higheft mountain, there was the time of fix 
 funs ; for by that they meant fo many days 
 journey •, but the ways were fo bad, that 
 they employed five and twenty days to get 
 to the top. A little before they were at the 
 higheft, Vafco Nunnes de Balboa caus'd a 
 halt to be made, defiring to have the glory 
 of having himfelf been the firft man that 
 J 
 
 ever faw the South Sea. And fo it was : he Va fa> 
 goes alone, difcovers that vaft ocean, and ^ unn '"' 
 the large bays of the South Sea, call'd Pa-Jgd "if tht 
 cifick; and upon his knees, with tears in his South Sea, 
 eyes, lifts up his eyes to heaven, giving 
 thanks to the great creator of all things, for 
 having brought him from fuch remote parts 
 to contemplate that which none of his an- 
 ceftors had ever feen : he made a fign after 
 this to his companions to come up, and fo 
 they all run in hafte, pufhing one another 
 on ; and when they were on the top, where 
 there is a full profpect of the fea, 'tis not 
 to be imagin'd the content they all receiv'd 
 in admiring that vaft and fmooth liquid 
 chryftal, which not being animated, did 
 not on its fide give leaps of joy, nor go 
 out of its bed to the tops of the moun- 
 tains to welcome thofe who came to deli- 
 ver it from the tyranny the devil exercis'd 
 over it, by infefting it with ftorms and tem- 
 pefts, and infecting the air with the breath 
 of idolatry, which was breath'd in all thofe 
 parts, both eaft, weft, north, and fouth. 
 Oh ! if all the creatures of that world could 
 have come one by one to fee the good that 
 was coming to them by means of the gof- 
 pel, which dawned in thofe mountains; or, 
 if the predeftinated of that new world could 
 have viewed from their cottages, and poor 
 habitations, or rather from the deep nighr. 
 of their errors and fins, the fun that was 
 beginning to enlighten them from that high 
 mountain, and the virtue and efficacy of 
 grace, which then began to appear to re- 
 concile them with God, and the blood of 
 Chrift, which like a great river was falling 
 through thofe precipices, till it fhould bath 
 the utmoft parts of the earth, and give life 
 to thofe, who, being fallen and cover 'd with 
 the dark lhadow, did not only not hope 
 for life, but not fo much as know it ; how 
 would the children have leap'd out of their 
 cradles, who, to go into paradife, expected 
 nothing but baptifm, as has happened to 
 great numbers, who juft expired when they 
 were made an end of baptizing ? and the 
 old men, who wanted only the knowledge 
 of the gofpel to ftmt their eyes, and being 
 reconciled to God, fly into his glory, how 
 they would open them, and lying upon the 
 ground, fly, at leaft, with their fpirit if 
 they could not with their body, to receive 
 the preachers of the gofpel, who brought 
 peace and a general pardon for their fins ? 
 All the other predeftinated, every one ac- 
 cording to his ftate, who have by this 
 means been faved, (which are infinite,) how 
 they would melt and cry with joy, to hear 
 this news, which is as welcome to them, 
 as that of the coming of Chrift to the holy 
 fathers in limbo, who were expecting ic 
 with fuch languifhing defires. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
Chap. 8. 
 
 Kingdom of CHILE, 
 
 87 
 
 CHAP. VIIL OVALLE. 
 
 . 1646. 
 
 Bafco Nunnes de Balboa purfues the 'Diftovery of the South Sea, and dies, W-y^ 
 
 BAfco Nunnes de Balboa, having perform- 
 ed his devotion, and thanked our 
 Lord, with all his companions, for fo great 
 a favour done them, as to bring them to 
 that place, and for the favour he was about 
 to fhew to that new world, by the means 
 of the preachers of the gofpel, to whom he 
 thus opened a way to publifh it ; he then 
 bethought himfelf of his fecond obligation, 
 which was to his king ; in conformity to 
 which, he took poffeffion, in his majefty's 
 name, for the crowns of Caftile and Leon, 
 of the place where he was, and of the fea 
 which he difcover'd from thence ; cutting 
 for this purpoie many trees, and making 
 great croifes, which he fet up, and writ 
 upon them the names of their majefties. 
 
 After this they began to go down from 
 the mountain, marching always prepar'd for 
 any encounter that they might have with 
 the Caciques in their way ; fo, though the 
 Cacique Chiapes oppos'd them with his peo- 
 ple, who were flout and many, yet by fet- 
 ting the dogs at them, and beginning to 
 fire their muskets, they were foon routed. 
 This made the Cacique offer terms of peace, 
 and receive and make much of the Cafti- 
 lians, prefenting them with gold ; and he 
 prov'd fo good a friend, that he pacified 
 many other Caciques, who were in arms, to 
 hinder the paffage, who likewife made their 
 prefents of gold. 
 
 From the town of Chiapes, Bafco Nunnes 
 fent out, todifcover the coafts of the South 
 Sea, the captains Francifco Pizarro, Juan 
 ie Efcara, and Alonfo Martin, each to a 
 different place : this lafl found two canoes 
 dry on the fhoar, and the fea below them 
 above half a league : he wonder'd to fee 
 them fo far from the fea ; and as he was 
 confidering it, he perceiv'd the fea coming 
 very faft in, and did not ftay long before 
 it fet the canoes on float : he enter'd into 
 one of them, and took witnefs that he was 
 the firft European that had ever been upon 
 The tUes tnat f ea . The tides on that coaft ebb and 
 
 wry r*Mfl ow eyery fix nourSj fo as g reat fhips will 
 
 be left on fhoar, the water retiring fo faft, 
 that it gives great admiration when it re- 
 turns, to fee fo great a fpace cover'd fo faft, 
 that it appears an inundation. 
 
 Bafco Nunnes having advice of this, came 
 down alfo to the coaft ; and going into 
 the fea up to the mid-leg, with a naked 
 fword in his hand, faid, That he took pof- 
 fefTion of it, and all the coafts and bays of 
 it, for the crowns of Cajlile and Leon ; and 
 that he was ready with that fword, as of- 
 ten as it fhould be neceffary, to make good 
 that claim, againft all that fhould oppofe 
 him. The Indians were in great amaze at 
 
 this new ceremony, and they were more 
 furpriz'd, when they faw him, againft their 
 advice, and that of the Caciques, venture 
 to crofs the gulph of Pearls, to difcover 
 the riches of it in that commodity ; though 
 it had like to have coft him dear, for he 
 was near perifhing in croffing that arm of 
 the fea. Now let us fee (in order to un- 
 deceive thofewho fhall read this J how lit- 
 tle this courage and boldnefs avail'd this 
 generous conqueror of the new world, and 
 the great things his invincible mind had 
 brought to pafs. All his military prudence 
 and cunning, by which he made himfelf be 
 refpeclred by unknown nations, avail'd him 
 little ; for this fo fortunate a great captain 
 had a tragical end : he loft his life in Dairen 
 at his return, finding there the governor 
 Pedrarias, who came to fucceed him. The 
 king in fending this man had recommended 
 to him the perfon of Bafco Nunnes de Bal- 
 boa, and order'd him to make ufe of his 
 council, as of one who had honour'd him Tf " l*rb&, 
 by his bold undertakings, and to whom for s^ia'ds 
 a reward he order'd the governments of Pa- one to <w- 
 nama and Coiba, and the admiralfhip of the«'^»: 
 South Sea, which he had difcover'd, and 
 on which he had already built four mips, 
 and got together three hundred men to go 
 upon the difcovery of Peru. But the faid 
 Pedrarias commanded him on fhoar, and 
 there feizing him, caus'd him to be behead- v *k° 
 ed publickly as a tray tor. The crier went ^™" 4f ' 
 before him, crying, as is cuftomary, that 
 he was a traytor ; which, when Vafco Nunnes 
 heard, he faid it was a lie, and that no 
 man had ferv'd the king with more zeal, 
 nor more fidelity than he, nor more defir'd 
 to extend his monarchy ; but all his com- 
 plaints were like voices in the defart,which 
 were of no force againft envy and emula- 
 tion, which had prevail'd in his enemies, 
 and which can never fail againft thofe who 
 govern. His death was much relented, and 
 appear'd very unjuft in Spain, becaufe, in- 
 deed, the king loft one of his braveft cap- 
 tains, and one who would have difcovered 
 Peru with more facility, and without all 
 thofe tumults, which fince happened ; for 
 his prudence, valour, and zeal, were above 
 the ordinary fize. 
 
 It cannot be denied, but that the fentence 
 may be juftified according to the depofi- 
 tions of witneffes ; but yet it was a great 
 argument of his innocency, that which he 
 himfelf faid to the governor Pedrarias, 
 which was, That if he had in his heart to 
 make himfelf matter, and independent, as 
 they accus'd him, he would not have obey- 
 ed his call as he did, and leave his fhip 
 without any difficulty; for he had then 
 
 three 
 
88 
 
 Of the Nature and Properties of the Book IV; 
 
 Ovalle. three hundred men all at his devotion, and 
 1646. f our vefTels, with which he might have been 
 
 \r\r*+s £^ anc j g one U p 0n new difcoveries, if his 
 confcience had accufed him. They add 
 here,That an aftrologer had told him, That 
 that year he mould fee fomething extraor- 
 dinary in the heavens, he Ihould be in guard 
 
 againft fome great misfortune that threaten- 
 ed him ; and that if he efcap'd from it, he 
 mould be the moft powerful and happy 
 man in the whole Indias. And that accor- 
 dingly he did fee this fign, but laughed at 
 it, as thinking himfelf in fo high a ftate. 
 
 CHAP. IX. 
 
 The Difcovery of the South Sea ; its Torts and IJlands is continued. 
 
 IT is a common pafilon in thofe who go- 
 vern, either to oppofe the defigns of 
 their predecefibrs, or at leaft not to execute 
 them by their means, nor by their creatures, 
 that their affiftance may not lefTen the glo- 
 ry, which they pretend by making them- 
 felves the authoss of the enterprizes. As 
 we have already faid, Pedr arias fucceeded 
 Vafc-o Ntinnes de Balboa in the government, 
 juft as he had made the difcovery of the 
 South Sea ; and though the king had re- 
 commended the perfon of Nunnes to him, 
 yet he could not be brought to grant him 
 leave to follow his difcovery, though the bi- 
 fhopof Daireii zdv'ifed it very earneftly; but 
 he had refolved to give this good morfel to 
 a creature of his, called captain Gafpar Mo- 
 rales ; to whom he added, as companion, 
 captain Francifco Pizarro, becaufe of the 
 experience he had, having been already em- 
 ployed in the difcovery. 
 
 They fet out from Dairen, and got to 
 the South Sea, and embarking there in ca- 
 noes, they came to the IJle of Pearls, which 
 the Indians called Tarargui. Thefe by this 
 time began to endeavour to hinder the Spa- 
 niards from fettling in their lands ; but they 
 were not able to do it, their forces being fo 
 much inferior to thofe of the Cajlilians, who, 
 paffing from one iiland to another, came at 
 laft to the largeft, where was the king of ah 
 moft all thoie nations, who took arms a- 
 gainft the Spaniards, having a brave num- 
 ber of men, and well chofen ; but they not 
 being ufed to fire-arms, they foon yielded 
 and came to compofition : to which they 
 were brought alfo by the fear of a famous 
 
 Jotfrfhts ^°S> tnat was ' n tne chriftian camp, who 
 the poor In- ufed to tall upon them like a lion; and 
 dians. they having never feen an animal of that 
 fort, did flee him as a devil, becaufe of the 
 mifchief he did amongft them ; for they 
 being naked, he could faften any where 
 without danger. The Chiapefes, our friends, 
 prefently interpofed ; and telling the king 
 what dangerous enemies the Spaniards were, 
 and of what importance their friendihip 
 was, they being invincible, he at laft was 
 prevailed upon to grant them peace. They 
 came to his palace, which was very fump- 
 tuous, and, as they judged, better than any 
 they had feen yet. The king received them 
 1 
 
 with marks of friendihip ; and, as a token * earlj "f * 
 of it, caufed a basket of rufhes full of pearls, ^T 
 which weigh'd five marks, to be given ' 
 them ; amongft which, there was one which 
 had but few fellows in the world, (for it 
 weighed fix and twenty carats, and was as 
 big as a fmall walnut,) and another as big 
 as a mufcat-pear, perfect and oriental, and 
 of a fine colour, weighing ten half fcruples. 
 The firft came from hand to hand, till it 
 was in the emprefs's, who valued it as it de- 
 ferved, as is told by Antonio de Herrera 
 and others. They prefented the king, in 
 return, with the ufual prelents of pins and 
 needles, bells, knives, and other baubles 
 of Europe, which the Indians valued much. 
 The Spaniards not being able to forbear 
 laughing, to fee the value they put upon 
 them, the king faid to them, What do you A wife n3 
 laugh at ? And having heard what it was, f rtee °f an 
 he faid, We might more jujlly laugh at you, m * mkm& ' 
 for "valuing things fo much which are of no 
 ufe in life, and for which you pafs fo many 
 feas. As for thefe knives and hatchets you give, 
 us, they are very ufeful inflruments to men. 
 This was not the only return the king had 
 for his pearls •, for he had the precious pearl 
 of faith by their means : for growing very 
 fond of them, and being by them inftruc- 
 ted, he and all his family received the chrif- 
 tian religion, which was the principal end 
 to which the Caflilians directed all their en- 
 terprizes. They made a folemnchriftening; 
 and the king, to treat his fpiritual fathers, 
 who had engendered him in the gofpel, car- 
 ried them to fee the pearl-fifhing, which 
 was in this manner : The Indians dived The pearl' 
 to the bottom, having about their necksA/^'^- 
 a bag full of ftones, that they may fink the 
 fafter ; and it ferved them for a ballaft to 
 keep them fteady while they gathered the 
 oyfters, that the water might not buoy 
 them up. The greateft oyfters are about 
 ten fathom deep ; for when they do not go 
 to feed, they keep as low as they can, and 
 ftick fo faft to the rocks, and to one ano- 
 ther, that it is very hard to loofen them ; 
 nay, it happens ibmetimes, that while they 
 fpend too much time in doing it, their 
 breath fails them, and they are drowned : 
 but, generally fpeaking, they are not in 
 danger, becaufe, as they gather the oyfters, 
 
 they 
 
Chap. 
 
 io. 
 
 Kingdom of CHILE. 
 
 8 9 
 
 they put them in their bag, and lighten it 
 of the ftones, and before their breath fails 
 they come up again with their fifh. They 
 open the oyfters, and take out the pearls, 
 which ufe to be many if they are fmall, and 
 few if they are large. They fay that among 
 thofe they prefented die C aft ilia ns at this 
 
 rime, were feveral of the bignefs of large Ovalle. 
 peafe and hazle-nuts ; with which they re- J^"^ - 
 turned very well pleafed to have made a ^^V^" 
 difcovery of fo rich a treafure, as well as of 
 the rich one they had given in exchange to 
 the king and his people, by making them 
 chriftians. 
 
 CHAP. X. 
 
 Of the T)ifcovery of the River of Plata, and the Coafls of Chile, by the 
 
 Streights of Magellan. 
 
 w 
 
 E have hitherto gone by the north 
 fea to the terra jirma, and the dif- 
 covery of the South Sea, with intent to fol- 
 low the difcoveries or this new world to its 
 utmoft bounds, which is the kingdom of 
 Chile, to which all this narrative is directed. 
 "We fhall follow this order by the fame 
 fteps that the firft conquerors went •, but 
 while they are difpofing all things for this 
 great enterprize, it will not be amifs to leave 
 the South Sea, and follow thofe who endea- 
 voured to difcover the coafts of Chile by 
 the North Sea. The firft we fhall follow is 
 captain Juan Diasde Solis, who failing from 
 Spain the eighth of Otlober, 1515. run along 
 the coafts of Brafil, till he difcovered the 
 T»eRio def amous river of Plata, which was fo nam'd, 
 la Plata Aif- not from any filver that is found near it, or 
 severed on i ts banks, but from fome plates of that 
 ***' metal which the Indians gave the Spa- 
 niards ; which filver they had brought from 
 the country about Potofi, with which they 
 had communication by the means of the 
 Tucuman Indians, who are the neareft on 
 that fide to Peru. Solis entered that migh- 
 ty river, which, if I am not miftaken, is 
 threefcore or feventy leagues over at its firft 
 entrance, and is known at fea by its frefh 
 water, at firft, till being further in, they 
 can fee the mountains and lands that bound 
 it. This river is one of the moft famous 
 in the world, of fweet and excellent wa- 
 The virtue ter » being obferved to clear the voice and 
 of the we- lungs, and is good againft all rheums and 
 R °Q' J \ defluftions > ar >d all the nations of the Pa- 
 Plata. raguays, who drink this water, have admi- 
 rable voices, fo tunable, that when they 
 fing they appear organs •, and therefore they 
 are all inclined to mufick ; and thofe who 
 come from abroad mend their voices by 
 living there. I knew one who was born in 
 Chile, and had naturally a good voice, 
 which he mended extremely by living in 
 Paraguay ; but when he left that country, 
 and came to Tucuman, he loft his improve- 
 ment, as he himfelf told me. This river 
 has another property, which is, that it pe- 
 trifies the branches of trees which fall in- 
 to it. The governor Hernan Darias, born 
 in Paraguay, a gentleman of a lingular ta- 
 
 V'OL.III. 
 
 lent for government, had in his houfe a 
 whole tree all of ftone, which had been ta- 
 ken out of this river. Likewife there are 
 formed naturally of the fand of this river, 
 certain veflels of various figures, which have 
 the property of cooling water. There are 
 alio certain cocos de terra, which contain 
 ftones in them, which at a certain time are, 
 as it were, ripe, and burft, difcovering 
 amethyfts within them ; they burft open 
 with a great noife. 
 
 There are alfo bred upon its banks moft 
 beautiful birds of feveral kinds ; and in its 
 ftreams great variety of fifhes, very dainty, 
 and in great quantity. The river is navi- 
 gable every where in canoes, but not with 
 the fame canoes , becaufe of the prodi- 
 gious fall that is in the midftof it, the whole/,, £,#, 
 river precipitating itfelf into a deep gulph, 
 from whence it runs many leagues, till it 
 empties itfelf into the fea. The noife that 
 this fall makes, the foam that it raifes, the 
 whirlpools it caufes, by the rencounter of 
 its waters, is not to be imagin'd. The 
 land on both fides this river is very fertile : 
 on the weft fide, which is the Tucuman 
 fide, correfponding to Buenos Ayres, there 
 are feveral cities, as St. J ago de EJlero Cor- 
 doua, St. Michael la Rioga, and Efteco Juzuy 
 and Salt a, which border upon Peru : thefe 
 cities are not very populous, becaufe they 
 are in the midft of the land, and far from 
 commerce with both feas ; but they do in- 
 creafe very much, particularly Cordoua, 
 which, amongft other properties, has that of 
 producing rare wits in the univerfity govern- ^» univer . 
 ed by the Jefuits, who may match their x^xo-fity, and 
 fefibrs and fcholars with thofe of any other rare v " ts 
 part, as I myfelfhave experienced. There IJdiln ' 
 are likewife in this diftricf. many houfes and Cordoua. 
 families of men of quality and antient no- 
 bility. Higher up the river to the weft, 
 are alfo the cities of the Ajjiunption, Santa 
 Fee de las Corrientes del Guayta, and others. 
 The city of the AJfumption is the chief, 
 and was peopled by gentlemen that came 
 firft to the Indies, and is fince much in- 
 creafed in people, but not in riches ; be- 
 caufe it being fo far within the land, can- 
 not have fufficient vent for its commodities, 
 A a which, 
 
po Of the Nature and Properties of the Book IV. 
 
 the au 
 war's. 
 
 Ovalle. which are chiefly Sugar, and preferved 
 1646. fruits ; among the reft they are famous for 
 
 v ^ r V" s -'' a dried fweat-meat, called Ladrillos, which 
 are dices of cetron, done up in Sugar, in 
 the form of a tile : but the beft fweet-meat 
 they have they will give in great abundance 
 for an apple, or any European fruit. In all 
 this tract of land there are three govern- 
 ments, which are alfo bifliopricks, to wit, 
 Paraguay, Rio de la Plata, and c Tucuman. 
 
 Higher yet on the eaft fide are many 
 heathen nations, who have others that an- 
 fwer them on the weft ; and among thefe 
 are difixibuted thofe famous millions which 
 our fathers of the fociety of Jefus have 
 founded . 
 
 A religious I am forry I am infenfibly engaged in 
 
 digreJT'-M "/this matter ; and I muft own I have men- 
 tioned that which I cannot well explain. 
 This is not a place for panegyricks, nor does 
 the thread of my hiftory admit of fuch large 
 digreflions ; yet I cannot but flop a little, 
 and give fome confideration to that we may 
 call miracles of grace, which are perform'd 
 in thofe defarts, of which I myfelf have 
 been an eye-witnefs, having lived fome 
 time in that holy province, to which I owe 
 all that I am. But who can explain what 
 thofe apoftolical men deferve in the fight of 
 God, who feem to have nothing of man 
 but what is neceffary to make their life more 
 admirable, which they lead like angels in 
 human bodies ? 
 
 Who would not wonder to fee in thofe 
 mountains and folitudes men ill fed, worfe 
 lodged, naked, painful, and in anguifh for 
 the fouls of others, when they might five 
 their own with lefs trouble, enjoying the 
 good rr.orfels and merry days, which, with- 
 out fin, and fometimes meritorioufly, they 
 might have in their own country among 
 their friends, and in the beft of Europe ? 
 Who can but admire to fee fo many youths 
 banifh themfelves, and renouncing all pre- 
 ferment, refolve to pafs all their lives like 
 hermits, for the love of God, and zeal of 
 the fiilvation of fouls ? Is this a work of 
 nature ? and can human force arrive to this 
 of itfelr ? Let us go out from this confide- 
 ration, left it be like a load-ftone to draw 
 us in further •, and yet let me fly as fir as I 
 will, I cannot hinder my heart from being 
 with them, and defiring to end my days in 
 this imployment. They who defire to fee 
 the fruit of thefe millions of our company, 
 the numbers of the gentiles which they have 
 brought from folitudes to live in cities, the 
 great progrefs of the faith, and the num- 
 bers of martyrs they have confecrated to 
 God, let him read the book made of 
 all this by that apoftolical man Antonio 
 Ruiz de Moutoya ; and then he will be ex- 
 tremely edified, and admire the work, as 
 well as the author. And fo I return to the 
 thread of my hiftory. 
 
 Juan de Solis being landed here, found 
 little refiftance from the Indians, who are 
 not lb cruel nor warlike as in other parts ; 
 fo he took poflefiion of all that tract, in 
 the name of their majefties, for the crowns 
 of Cajlile and Leon, as was always the cuf- 
 tom of the firft difcoverers. And he for 
 himfelf took poffefiion of thofe feven foot 
 of earth which death allows to thofe he 
 feizes, let them be never fo ambitious, 
 though while they are alive a whole world 
 will not furnce them. He lies buried there; 
 and an end was put to his difcovcries. 
 
 Much about the fame time, there were 
 at his catholick majefty's court the two fa- 
 mous captains Ferdinand Magellan and Magellan 
 Ruy Falero, offering; their perlbns, valour, e f e ". h ' s 
 
 i • , „ ' ,. ,- , r • 1 1 ervtce to 
 
 and lndultry, for to find out, either towards ^fenerthe 
 the fouth or weft, an end to Ameriea, or iomz flreight. 
 canal or ftreight by which both feas might 
 communicate with each other ; and fo the 
 navigation from Europe might be made in 
 the lame fhips, in which they might go 
 round all its coafts. They were treating up- 
 on this fubject ; and the Portugal embafla- 
 dor made it his bufinefs to oppofe Magellan, 
 becaufe being fallen out with his king about 
 this difcovery, he defired he might not 
 make it for the crown of Cajlile ; but at 
 laft the king having heard at Saragoca, in 
 prefence of his council, the reaibns and 
 grounds that Magellan and Falero went up- 
 on, he accepted their fervice, and honoured 
 them with the habits of St. J ago ; and ha- 
 ving fettled the capitulation with them, his 
 majefty commanded the fquadron to be 
 made ready, and named the captains and 
 officers of it ; and having heard that there 
 was a difpute rifen between Magellan and 
 Falero, about who fhould carry the royal 
 ftandard or flag, and the like, he order- 
 ed Falero, as not yet well recovered of a dif- 
 temper he lay under, to flay at home, and 
 mind his health ; and, in the mean time, 
 that another fquadron fhould be got ready, 
 in which Falero fhould follow. 
 
 The firft fquadron being ready, his ma- 
 jefty commanded the alfiftant of Seville, that 
 he fhould deliver the royal ftandard to Ma- 
 gellan in the great church of Santa Maria, 
 of victory of Triana, taking at the fame 
 time from him an oath of fidelity, or ho- 
 mage, according to the cuftom of Cajlile, 
 that he fhould perform the voyage with all 
 fidelity, as a good and loyal vaflal of his 
 majefty. The captains took likewife an 
 oath to obey Magellan in all things. He, 
 after many vows, having recommended 
 himfelf and his voyage to our lord, went 
 on board the ihip called the Trinity, and 
 the treafurer-general in the Viclory, (fo fa- 
 mous for being the firft that went round 
 the world.) The other fhips were the Con- 
 ception, St. J ago, and St. Antony. 
 
 They 
 
Chap. io. 
 
 Kingdom of CHILE. 
 
 9* 
 
 Magellan They fet fail the tenth of Augujl, in the 
 
 { his mJ" y car 1 5 1 9 - The y took the ifle oi Tenerif, 
 ■Jtry. " then made the coaft of Guinea, and arrived 
 at Rio Gennciro ; from whence they failed 
 on St. Stephens day, and having had a great 
 ftorm, they entered into the river of Plata : 
 here they ftay'd eight days ; and then fol- 
 lowing their voyage, they had another ter- 
 rible tempeft, which carried away their 
 forecaftle, and forced them to cut away 
 their poop. They made vows to our lady 
 of Guadalupe and Mpnferrat, and to St. 
 J ago of Gallicia. It pleafed God to hear 
 them, and they took Jhelter in the river of 
 St. Julian, but not all ; for one of their 
 fhips was loft : the men got on more, but 
 endured fo much by land to port St. Julian 
 by hunger, that they feemed skeletons when 
 they came to their companions. 
 xi o 11 ' While they were wintering in this river, 
 menmuti- either idlenefs, or the great fufferings they 
 ny. had undergone, and thofe which they fear- 
 
 ed, made them mutiny againft Ferdinand 
 Magellan. There were fome of his fhips 
 that revolted ; but he with great boldnefs, 
 and no lefs art, made himfelf mafter of 
 them, punifhing fome of the guilty, and 
 Sets fome pardoning others ; and for Juan de Cartha- 
 mutmeers g ena an d his companion in rebellion, he 
 enjhore, ^ xhem afhore when he fet fail, leaving 
 
 mid the* b , 7 , o 
 
 lewe s them a good provifion of bread and wine. It 
 them. was never known whether this were fuffi- 
 cient to fuftain them, till they fhould meet 
 with fome of thofe giants which had been 
 with the fhips, and had been treated by 
 Magellan, who perhaps received them. 
 Palfes the Magellan feeing the winter over, as he 
 fireight of thought, fet lail the ftventh of November, 
 f> unam ' m which is when the fummer begins in thofe 
 nen j j p arts . anc j having by land obferved what 
 he could of the Streight, they palled with 
 great good fortune in twenty days, and then 
 fteering north, they coafted along Chile, 
 which they left fomething at large, as ha- 
 ving no knowledge of that land, Peru be- 
 ing not yet difcovered. After this, they 
 came to the Philippine Ijlands, in one of 
 which this moft couragious captain, and fa- 
 Magellan mous Portuguefe, Magellan, died by the 
 killed. hands of the natives, or to fay better, by 
 his own ralhnefs and overboldnefs. 
 
 Some years after, which was that of 1534. 
 Simon of Alcazova, a Portuguefe gentleman 
 of the habit of St. J ago, and gentleman of 
 the chamber of the king, a great cofmogra- 
 pher, and one very expert in navigation, 
 having been employ'd many years for the 
 crown of Cajlile, made an agreement with 
 the king to difcover and people two hun- 
 dred leagues from the place where Almagro's 
 government fhould end, which was in Chile. 
 He failed from 67. Lucar on the 21ft of 
 September, 1534. with five good fhips, and 
 two hundred and fifty men ; and without 
 
 if34- 
 
 feeing land from the Comer a to the StreighiOs alt.e. 
 of Magellan, only having touched at cape 1.64& 
 Abre Ojos, and the Rio de Gallegos, about ^V"^ 
 twenty five leagues from the Streigbts 
 mouth, he entered them on the 17th of 
 January, 1535. having endured fo much 
 thirft, that the cats and dogs were come to 
 drink wine, and the people were ready to 
 perifh. They found a great crofs erected 
 hy Magellan, and the wreck of the fhip which 
 he loft there. There appeared about twenty 
 Indians, who gave figns of much joy to fee 
 the Spaniards. They followed their courfe, 
 •keeping ftill the right hand, as the fafeft ; 
 but yet they had fo furious a ftorm, that it 
 carried away half their fails : it blew fo, 
 that they thought the fhips would have been 
 carried away through the air. They took 
 fhelter into a port ; and becaufe the feafon 
 was fo far advanced, they perfwaded their 
 general Alcazova to go out of the Streigbts, 
 which he did, and return to the port of 
 Lions, or of Wolves, which was a very 
 good one. 
 
 While they were wintering in thofe parts, 
 they refolved to enter further into the coun- 
 try, and make difcovery of thofe riches 
 which the Indians told them were there ; fo 
 having celebrated mafs, they blefTed the 
 banners, and the captains took a new oath 
 of fidelity and obedience ; and with this 
 they fet out about 225 men, having fifty 
 arcabufes, feventy crofs-boivs, four charges 
 of powder and ball, which every one car- 
 ried with his bread, which was about twen- 
 ty fix pound weight. Thus they marched a- 
 bout fourteen leagues ; and there Alcazova, 
 being a heavy man, could go no further, 
 which was his ruin : he named a lieutenant, 
 againft whom the men mutined ; for ha- 
 ving gone ninety leagues, and their provi- 
 fion failing, they refolved to go back, as 
 they did, though they had met with a river 
 full of fifti ; and that their guides told them 
 that a little further they fhould come to a 
 great town, where there was a great deal of 
 gold ; for the inhabitants wore plates of it 
 in their ears, and upon their arms : but no- 
 thing could move them ; and as one mif- 
 chief feldom comes alone, they refolved to 
 make themfelves mafters of the fhips at 
 their return, and to kill all that fhould oppofe 
 them ; and fo they executed it. But God 
 Almighty punifhed them immediately ; for 
 as they were going out of port, they loft 
 their admiral ; and then having but one 
 fhip, durft not venture for Spain, but put 
 in at Hifpaniola, where doctor Saravia, of 
 the audience of St. Domingo, chaftiz'd the 
 moft guilty. And thus the difcovery of 
 Chile, for that time, and that way, was dif- 
 appointed ; for God referved that honour 
 for another, 
 
 CHAP. 
 
02 
 
 Of the Nature and Properties of the Book IV. 
 
 OVALLE. 
 T646. 
 
 CHAP. XI. 
 
 Of the e DiJcovery of other Tarts of America before that of Chile. 
 
 w 
 
 H I L E the fhips are making ready 
 to go to the difcovery of Peru, it 
 will not be amifs to touch upon the difco- 
 very of fome other parts of America by- 
 thc-by, that at lead the order of time, with 
 which the difcoveries proceeded each other, 
 may be underftood ; and what we are to fay 
 afterwards about Chile will be made plain- 
 er, that being our chief defign. 
 
 It has been laid already, in its proper 
 place, how the admiral Columbus difcover'd 
 the terra finna, or continent of America, 
 in his fourth voyage from Spain to the In- 
 dies, and found the port of Puerto Bello the 
 
 >j-oi. fecond of November, 1502. We have alfo 
 faid how Vafco Nunnes de Balboa having 
 founded Santla Maria la Antigua of Dai- 
 ren, difcover'd the South Sea, and took pof- 
 fefiion of it in the month of September or 
 
 1/13- Otlober, in the year 151 3. as alfo that in 
 
 icie. the year 1515. Juan Dias de Solis difco- 
 ver'd the river of Plata the firfl of all dis- 
 coverers. 
 
 Now we will add what is known about 
 the difcovery of other lands ; amongfl the 
 which, one of the firfl was that of Yucatan, 
 which was undertaken by captain Francifco 
 
 1^17. Hernandes de Cordoua, in the year 151 7. 
 and the Adelaniado of it is at this day Don 
 Chrifloval Soares de Solis, a gentleman of an 
 antient and noble family in Salamanca. This 
 fame year other Caftilians difcover'd the 
 land of Ca?npeche, where, in a chapel of 
 the Indians, full of their idols, they found 
 painted crofles, of which they were not lefs 
 aftonifh'd than rejoiced, feeinglight indark- 
 nefs, and the trophies of Chrift by the fide 
 of Belial; which, at Lift, by the Spaniards 
 arrival in thofe parts, were better known to 
 Tanama thofe barbarous people. In the year 151 8. 
 f th"t J J n the licentiado Efpinofa, who was nam'd de- 
 ij-iS. puty to the governor Pedrarias, founded 
 the city of Panama, which is the canal 
 by which all the treafure of Peru pafles to 
 Spain in the galleons. This city has not 
 increafed fo much as many others of the 
 Indies, becaufe being fituated near the equi- 
 noctial line, its temperature does not agree 
 with thofe born in Europe ; but yet there 
 are many conftitutions that do very well 
 there, becaufe of the great riches that are 
 eiifily acquir'd there ; and thofe who feek 
 them, think no air bad. There are a great 
 many people of quality ; for there is a 
 bifhoprick, a royal Audiencia, or court of 
 judicature ; a tribunal of royal officers, and 
 a chapter of canons, feculars and regulars. 
 But that which in my judgment is molt 
 
 commendable in it, is the piety, mercy, and 
 liberality of its inhabitants. I have this 
 year receiv'd advice, that by the negligence 
 of a female Have, the greateft part of the 
 city was burnt ; for the houfes being of 
 wood, if one take fire, 'tis hard to (top the 
 flames : there was loft in this a great mafs 
 of riches, a great part of the lofs falling 
 on the cathedral ; and a little after, there 
 being a gathering made, though this mif- 
 fortune had concern'd almoft every body, 
 who for that reafon were lefs in a condition 
 to contribute by way of alms, which fome 
 of them wanted, yet they gave above twenty 
 thoufand pieces of eight, and went on con- 
 tributing. This was an extraordinary mark 
 of their charity -, but the ordinary ones, in 
 which they conftantly fhew their generofity, 
 are to ftrangers and pafiengers who pafs 
 from Spain to the Indies, who moil of them 
 are at a lofs till they meet with fome patron, 
 or friend, or countryman, to affift them ; 
 and they would often be reduced to great 
 extremity, if this were not, as it is, a com- 
 mon inn for all thofe people ; for in the col- 
 lege of our company alone, though it is 
 not yet founded, but lives upon alms, I 
 law, when I was there, a cloth laid at the 
 porters chambers, where every day they 
 provided for, and fed about fifty or fixty 
 pafTengers, with bread and flefh in abun- 
 dance. The fame is done by other con- 
 vents ; and the feculars, I law, gave them 
 money and other necefiaries. This, as to the 
 city of Panama, founded in the year 151 8. 
 in which year the religious friers of St. Do- 
 ?ninick and St. Francis pafs'd from the ifland 
 of Hifpaniola, and began to found convents 
 in terra finna, and the Pearl coaft ; from 
 whence thefe two holy orders purfued their 
 million through all the land, enlightening 
 it with their doctrine and holy examples ; 
 by which they have made fuch a progrefs 
 among the Indians, that the prefent flourifh- 
 ing of the faith is owing to them, to the 
 great faving of the Indian fouls. The year 
 1519. Ferdinand Magellan made the difco- , ^'9- 
 very of the coaft of Chile ; and the fame 
 year Hernando Cortes went from the point 
 of St. Antonnc la Havana to Corocha, which 
 is the firfl point of Yucatan eaft, to begin 
 the conqueft of the great empire of Mexico ; 
 of which, and the noble actions of that 
 great man, 'tis better to be filent than to 
 touch upon them, only by-the-by, as we 
 fhould be forc'd to do ; this being not a 
 place to explain the ftate and grandeur of 
 that mighty monarch Montefuma, who was 
 
 fove- 
 
Chap, i r. 
 
 Kingdom 
 
 of CHILE. 
 
 93 
 
 fovereignly obeyed in fo many and fuch great 
 provinces. Who can exprefs in few words 
 all this, and the felicity that accompanied 
 Cortes in all his undertakings, which were 
 fuch as they appear'd poffible only after 
 they were done, feeming otherwife fo high 
 and difficult, as to be inacceffible to the ex- 
 treameft boldnefs ? Indeed, it cannot be 
 denied, but that he was aflifted by heaven, 
 whofe inftrument he was in planting the chrif- 
 tian faith among thofe gentiles, and fhew- 
 ing fuch reverence to the preachers of it, as 
 might ferve the Indians for an example ; a 
 quality which will always give reputation 
 to princes, both before God and men. 
 Buenos In the year 1528. the king fent a colony 
 Aires to the Rio de la Plata, having agreed with 
 
 founded, n ^ merchjmts of fl^ for that p urp ofe. 
 
 The city they founded was that of Buenos 
 Aires, which is on the fide of that river, 
 in that part of it where it grows narrow 
 from its large entrance at fea ; and the ri- 
 ver there is not above nine leagues over. 
 Cartb2genaln the year 1532. Cedro de Heredia of Ma- 
 founded in drid fail'd from Spain, and founded the ci- 
 'H 1 - ty of Carthagena, which is the firft Scala 
 which the Spanijh galleons make coming 
 from Spain for the Indies, to fetch filver. 
 It was fo call'd, becaufe its port was like 
 that of Carthagena in Spain ; for the old 
 name of the Indians was Calamari. He 
 had at firft an engagement with the Indians ; 
 and though they fliewed themfclves very 
 brave, yet he beat them, and founded the 
 city, which is at prefent one of the beft of 
 the Indies, being wall'd with ftone, and fo 
 Ibong, that we may name it as an impreg- 
 nable fbrtrefs. 
 The fit u»- It i s fituated in an ifland, divided from 
 iion of the continent by a fmall arm of the fea, 
 Cartha- which ebbs and flows, and comes to the 
 ' bog of Canapole : there is a bridge or caufe- 
 way there, that goes to the terra firma. 
 The port is very fafe, and good fhips go 
 into it by two mouths or entrances, a great- 
 er and a lefs ; the great is fandy ; and the 
 year that I was there, they told me it was 
 almoft fhut up by the fand which a river 
 cafts up againft it ; and now they write me 
 word, that it is quite fill'd up, fo that there 
 is no going in, but by the lefier entrance, 
 which makes it fo much die ftronger, and 
 it is defended by a good caftle ; befides 
 which, the city is well garnifhed with ar- 
 tillery, fo as not to fear an invafion. The 
 Well built, plot of the city is very beautiful, all the 
 ftreets being handfomely difpos'd, the houfes 
 of free-ftone, high and noble ; fo are the 
 churches and convents, particularly that of 
 the iefuits, which makes a beautiful profpecl: 
 to the fea. Here is a cuftom-houfe for the 
 king, and a houfe call'd of the Rigimienio, 
 with other publick buildings : it is very po- 
 pulous, and of a great trade, by reafon of 
 Vol. III. 
 
 the coming of the galleons ; and from themO VA tLE. 
 they have wine and oil ; corn they have in yj°* 
 their own territory : there refides a bifhop, ^^ % " / 
 and there is a tribunal of the holy inqui- 
 fition. The governor hath both the civil 
 and military command : it increafes every 
 day in riches, being fo fituated, that it 
 fhares all the riches of Peru, Mexico, and 
 Spain. 
 
 In the year 1 540. captain Francifco de The river 
 Orellana difcover'd the great river of the 'f'heAmi- 
 Amazones, which is call'd alfo Orellana, and^°" e e r ^ /" 
 by a common miftake Maragnon ; and went captain 
 from it to Spain, where, upon the relation Orellana, 
 he gave of its greatnefs, the emperor'" I * 4 °* 
 Charles V. order'd him three fhips, with 
 people, and all things neceffary to make a 
 fettlement. But this had no effecl:, becaufe 
 having loft half his men at the Canaries 
 and Cape Vert, he was too weak when he 
 got thither ; yet he attempted to go up the 
 river in two large boats, to which his fleet 
 was reduc'd ; but finding his wants of every . 
 thing, he came out again, and went by the 
 coaft of Caracas to the Margarita, where 
 he and his people are faid to have died. 
 About twenty years after, the viceroy of 
 Peru fent a good fleet under Pedro de Or- 
 fua ; but this mifcarried alfo, becaufe he 
 was killed treacheroufly by Lopes de Aguirre, 
 who rebell'd with the fleet ; but having 
 mifs'd the entrance of the river, he landed 
 on the continent, near the ifland of Trini- 
 dado, where he was executed by order from 
 court. Some years after diis the ferjeant 
 genera], Vincente de los Reyes Villalobos, 
 Alonfo de Miranda, and the general Jofepb 
 de Villa Mayor Maldonado, undertook the 
 fame defign, but with the fame fortune, 
 death taking them away ; fo that they gave 
 over at that time all attempts on Peru and 
 Quito fide. But ftill the fame of this river 
 continuing,5e;///o Maciel, general of Paria, 
 and fince that governor of Maragnon, and 
 Fran.ifco Coello de Caravallo, governor like- 
 wife of Maragnon and Paria, attempted its 
 difcovery up the river ; and though they 
 were back'd by the king's royal commands, 
 yet there were many crofs accidents as to 
 hinder the execution of their enterprize. 
 
 The fathers of our company of Jefus at--?" iheyear 
 tempted likewife this difcovery, by the mo- l f°7- 
 tive of faving fo many fouls ; but begin- 
 ning with a nation call'd the Cofanes, their 
 progrefs was ftopp'd by the cruel death gi- 
 ven to father Raphael Fernandes, who was 
 preaching the faith to them. Thirty years 
 after, which was 1537. fome friers of the 
 order of St. Francis, mov'd by the zeal of 
 amplifying the glory of the gofpel, and 
 by order of their fuperiors,went from Quito, 
 in company of captain 'Juan de Palacios, 
 and fome foldiers : they began to fail down 
 this river, and came to the Encabellados, or 
 B b people 
 
94 
 
 OvALLE 
 1646. 
 
 Of the Nature and Properties of the Book IV. 
 
 The river 
 of Ovella- 
 na tiKviga 
 ted from 
 the fex to 
 Quito. 
 
 people with long hair •, but not finding the 
 liarveft ready, they return'd to Quito, ex- 
 cept only two of their lay-brethren, which 
 were Domingo de Brieva, and frier Andres 
 de Toledo, who with fix foldiers more fail'd 
 down as far as the city of Paria, a fettle- 
 ment of the Portuguefe, about forty leagues 
 from the fea. They pafs'd by the city of 
 St. Luis de Maragnon, where the governor 
 Jacomo Reymondo dc Moronna, by the in- 
 formation he had from thefe friers, caus'd 
 feven and forty canoes to be got ready, and 
 embark'd upon them feventy Spaniards, 
 with 1200 Indians, fome of war, and fome 
 to help to row, under the command of cap- 
 tain Pedro Texeira, who having fpent a 
 whole year in his voyage, came at laft to 
 the city of Quito, having difcover'd and 
 navigated the whole river of the Amazones, 
 from its entrance into the fea to its fource 
 or rife. 
 
 The viceroy of Peru, who at that time 
 was the count de Chinchon, being inform'd 
 of this voyage of captain Pedro Texeira, re- 
 folv'd to fend two perfons back with him 
 for the crown of Caftile, who might give 
 a perfect relation of the difcovery. 
 
 At this time the city of Quito was go- 
 vern'd by Don Juan Vafques de Acunna, as 
 corregidor for his majefty over both Spa- 
 niards and Indians, and who at prefent is 
 corregidor of Potofi, who very zealoufly 
 ofFer'd his perfon for one, and his fortune 
 to raife people at his own charges, and pro- 
 vide them with all necefiaries; but the 
 royal Audientia, confidering how much he 
 would be wanted in his office, where his 
 prudence, experience, and zeal, had fhew- 
 ed themfelves, refus'd to let him go, and 
 chofe a brother of his, that they might not 
 totally deprive his illuftrious family of that 
 glory. This brother was a father of our 
 company di'Jefus, and nam'd father Cbrif- 
 
 loval de Acunna, who was rector of the col- 
 lege of Cuenfa, and gave him for compa- 
 nion, father Andres de Arrieda of the fame 
 company, who was profefibr of divinity in 
 the fame college. 
 
 They fet out from Quito, in the year And buk 
 1539. an d having navigated the whole r\-"& a " 1 "> 
 ver, which, according to their account, is •*'*• 
 thirteen hundred and fifty fix leagues long, 
 (though Orellana makes it eighteen hundred 
 leagues,) obferv'd exadly the rife of this 
 great river, its fituation, its courfe, lati- 
 tude, and depth, the iflands it makes, the 
 arms into which it is divided, the rivers it 
 receives, the riches, quantities, temperature, 
 and climate of its fhores, the cuftoms and 
 manners of that multitude of people that 
 inhabit it, and particularly of thofe famous 
 Amazones. All which may be feen in a 
 treatife made of it by father Chriftoval de 
 Acunna, printed in Madrid ; and it is a 
 relation that deferves credit, he being an 
 eye-witnefs, and having examin'd various 
 nations as he went. 
 
 Thefe informations were well receiv'd in 
 Madrid; but the revolutions which fuc- 
 ceeded in thofe kingdoms, hinder'd all fur- 
 ther progrefs, and prevented thofe holy 
 defigns for the converfion of that great part 
 of America. There are infinite numbers of 
 Indians that inhabit the iflands, and other 
 parts of this river. 'Tis faid they have one 
 fettlement, that is, a town above a league 
 in length. And now omitting many other 
 conquefts, made much about the fame time 
 in the iflands and coafts of the North Sea, 
 and that which was made in the South Sea 
 by Xil Goncales de Avila, in the land of 
 Nicaragua, in the year 1522. let us attend 
 (for it is high time) to the difcovery of 
 Peru, of which we fhall treat more at 
 large, becaufe it has a connexion to that 
 of Chile. 
 
 CHAP. XII. 
 
 The 'Difcovery of Peru is given to c Don Francifco Pifarro, and Don Diego 
 d'Almagro, and Hernando Loque; and how much they endured in it-. 
 
 TH E captains Don Francifco Pifarro, 
 and Don Diego Almagro, in compa- 
 ny with the fcholaftick of the cathedral 
 church ofDairen, call'd Hernando de Loque, 
 came to the governor Pedrarias, and de- 
 fir'd of him, as friends, the favour of 
 rhefirfl being employed in the difcovery and con- 
 
 difcovery ft f ^ fc coafts which mn fouth 
 
 of Peru at-~i . . . , r , 
 
 nmped. ii'om Panama, where lies the powerful 
 kingdom of Peru, of which at that time 
 there was little light ; and for this they pro- 
 pos'd their reafons, among which, that 
 which wa« of leaft value, they relied moft 
 
 upon, and that was their experience they 
 had attain'd under their general Vafco Nun- 
 nes de Balboa. They met with little dif- 
 ficulty with the governor ; for fo long as 
 they did not defire any affiftance of the 
 king's treafure, but ventur'd their own 
 and their lives, they eafily obtain'd leave 
 to undertake what they would. They 
 prefently bought one of the fhips which 
 Balboa had built for that defign ; and ha- 
 ving got together threefcore men, and four 
 horfes, (for at that time horfes were a 
 great rarity, ) Hernando de Loque laid 
 
 mafs ; 
 
Chap. 12. 
 
 Kingdom of CHILE. 
 
 95 
 
 mafs ; and when he came to confecration, 
 he divided the Hoftia, or facrament of the 
 body of (Thrift, into three parts, of which 
 he took one, and gave the other two to his 
 two companions, offering themfelves to 
 God, with intention to propagate among 
 thofe people his glorious name, and plant 
 the chriftian faith amongft them by the 
 predication of the gofpel. Thofe who 
 were prefent fhed tears out of devotion, 
 and at the fame time pitied thefe underta- 
 kers, looking upon their enterprize as a 
 mad one. 
 
 About the middle of November 1524. 
 Don Francifco Pifarro having left Don Die- 
 go Almagro behind him, to get more peo- 
 ple together, fail'd from Panama to the 
 ifle of Pearls, to the port of Pinnas, (the 
 laft difcovered by Balboa, and after him by 
 Pafqual de Andagoya,) and went up the ri- 
 ver of the Cacique Biru, or Biruquete, to the 
 country of Cbocama, where he flopped to 
 wait for his companion Almagro. The 
 hardfhips that the Cajlilians endured of 
 hunger and other inconveniencies are not 
 eafily to be told : twenty died ftarved, and 
 the reft were fick, having no other fufte- 
 nance than the bitter palmetos ; yet cap- 
 tain Pifarro, without fhewing the leaft 
 weaknefs, took care of them all with great 
 affection, which made them all love him. 
 At that time Don Diego de Almagro, his 
 companion in the undertaking, came to 
 him : he was received like an angel, for the 
 relief he brought : he had loft one of his 
 eyes by the fhot of an arrow, in a rencoun- 
 ter he had with the Indians. They both 
 together purfued their conqueft ; but provi- 
 fion failing them once more, and their fol- 
 diers being almoft naked, and fo perfecu- 
 ted with mofquitos, which are infinite 
 there, that they could not live, they began 
 to talk of returning to Panama, to which 
 Pifarro himfelf was well enough incli- 
 ned ; but Almagro exhorted them rather to 
 die than lofe patience, offering to return 
 to Panama for new fuccour, while he 
 fhould leave his companion in the ifland of 
 Callo. 
 
 The effect that this had, was, That he 
 found the government altered in Panama, 
 and Pedrarias fucceeded by Pedro de los Ri- 
 os, who hearing of the miferable condition 
 of thofe Cajlilians, would not fuffer Alma- 
 gro to return to them, being defirous they 
 fhould give over the enterprize as impracti- 
 cable. He fent for this end a gentleman of 
 Cordoua, call'd Juan Tafur, a man of ex- 
 cellent parts, equal to his noble defcent, with 
 a commiffion to bring thofe people back, 
 that they might not all perifh. He came, 
 and fignified his order to Pifarro, at which 
 he was out of all patience, feeing it would 
 be the ruin of his project. Tafur feeing 
 
 this, took a prudent medium, which was, Ovalle. 
 That he fhould draw a line between him *f 4& 
 and Pifarro, who fhould be at the head of ^^ 
 his men : and Tafur told them, That all 
 thofe who refolved to return to Panama, 
 fhould pafs the line, and come on his fide. 
 Having faid this, they began to pafs the Pifarro fe- 
 line, all to thirteen and a Mulatto, who^ f ^* 
 faid they would die with Pifarro: andfo„ Mu ) att0 
 Tafur returned with all the reft to Panama, in the ifle 
 
 Captain Francis Pifarro remained with"/ Gor g° n3 - 
 his thirteen companions in an ifland, which, 
 for the greater proof of his courage and con- 
 ftancy, happened to be the Gorgona, which 
 is a picture of hell for the clofenefs of its 
 woods, the afperity of its mountains, the 
 infinity of its mofquitos : the fun is fcarce 
 ever feen in it for the continual rains that fall. 
 
 When Tafur came to Panama, and his two 
 friends Almagro and Loque found that Pifar- 
 ro ftay'd behind with fo few companions, 'tis 
 not credible how much affliction they fhew- 
 ed : they follicited the prefident, that at 
 leaft another vefiel might be fent to bring 
 them away, in cafe they found them alive •, 
 and after many difficulties, at laft a fhip 
 was ordered after them, but upon condi- 
 tion to be back at Panama in fix months : AJI,ip 
 the fhip fail'd, and came to the place where comc ' "> 
 Pifarro and his companions were left. Who P / n ^£ w 
 can exprefs the joy and furprize of thofe 
 poor abandon'd wretches, when they defcried 
 at a diftance the fails of the fhip ? At firft 
 they could not believe their own eyes ; for 
 the defire and longing for a thing makes it 
 appear lefs probable to come to pafs : but 
 at laft it arriv'd ; and Pifarro feeing him- 
 felf mafter of a good vefiel, could not for- 
 bear attempting fome difcovery. 
 
 They fail'd as far as the country of Turn- Tumbefc 
 befe, which is very rich •, though the Turn- difcovered. 
 befe Indians laid, That their riches were 
 nothing in comparifon of what they might 
 fee further. The lord of that country ha- 
 ving heard of the arrival of the Cajlilians, 
 he fent prefently to vifit them at their fhip 
 with twelve baskets of provifions, and 
 among the reft a fheep of that country, 
 which was prefented to them by the virgins 
 of the temple, as to men who feemed de- 
 fended from heaven, and fent by God for 
 fome great thing. The ambaffadors came ; 
 and wondering to fee the fhip with white 
 men who had beards, they asked them 
 who they were, whence they came, and 
 what they pretended. They anfwer'd them, 
 That they were Cajlilians, vaffals of a pow- 
 erful monarch, who, though fo great, had 
 yet a greater over him, whom he owned, 
 with all other kings, and who is in heaven, 
 and is call'd Jefus Chrift, in whofename they 
 came to undeceive them of their errors in 
 worfhipping gods of ftone and wood, there 
 being but one God, creator of all things, 
 
 whom 
 
9 6 
 
 Of the Nature and Properties of the Eook IV. 
 
 Ovalle. whom. we all ought to worfhip. They ex- 
 1646. plained to them, That there was a heaven 
 V ^V"^ ;m d hell, the immortality of the foul, and 
 the other myfteries of our faith. 
 
 The Indians flood flaring and gaping, 
 hearing this doctrine, which had never been 
 heard of before in their country -, for they 
 believ'd, that there was no other king in 
 the world but their king Guayanacapa, nor 
 other gods but their idols. Among all the 
 things they admir'd , there were two 
 chiefly : the one was a negro ; for they 
 never had feen one, and did believe that 
 his colour was fome ftrong dye •, for which 
 reafon they beftowed much pains in wafh- 
 ing his face to get it off; but when they 
 faw that he was rather blacker, and that he 
 fhewed at the fame time white teeth, for he 
 could not hold laughing to fee their fimpli- 
 city, they fell a laughing too, and could 
 They von- not but admire fuch a fort of men. The 
 derat the _ ot her thing was the crowing of a cock, 
 Tack? which the captain fent them with a hen of 
 
 Caftille: every time he crowed, they ask'd 
 what he faid -, for they thought his voice 
 articulate, like the human voice ; which is 
 an argument that they had not that kind of 
 fowl : and Gareilajfo de la Vega is of that 
 opinion, anfwering the objection of the vi- 
 dian name they give a hen, that is, Alagual- 
 pa, which, he fays, was a name given by 
 the Indians after the coming of the Spani- 
 ards. The Spaniards having refrefh'd them- 
 felves well on fhore, began to defire of Pi- 
 farro to return to Panama, and gather a 
 greater force, that which he then had be- 
 ing very difproportioned to his underta- 
 king: he yielded to their perfwafions, ha- 
 ving, for this time, made difcovery only 
 as far as a place called Santa, which is very 
 near the equinoctial line ; and having had a 
 more certain account of Cufco, its riches, 
 and the mighty empire it was head of. So 
 taking with him fome Indians, and fome 
 patterns of the gold, as a teftimony of the 
 difcovery, he return'd to Panama. 
 
 CHAP. XIII. 
 
 Captain Francifco Pifarro returns to Panama, goes font thence to Spain, and 
 
 fur fnes his Conqueji, 
 
 PISARRO being come to Panama, 
 went with his two companions to the 
 governor Don Pedro de los Rios, to repre- 
 ient to him their reafons for continuing 
 their difcovery, upon the account of the 
 riches of the country, as well as the plant- 
 ing the faith in the capital of fo great a mo- 
 narchy, and fo in all its dominions: but 
 the governor would not agree to it ; and fo 
 they refolved that Pifarro fhould go to 
 Spain, to propofe it to the king himfelf. 
 He undertook the voyage ; and to give 
 more credit to what he fhould fay, he took 
 along with him feveral things proper to the 
 country he had difcovered, as pieces of 
 gold and filver, fome of thole fheep we 
 have mentioned, and fome of the Indians 
 themfelves clothed after the manner of their 
 country. The king was much pleas'd with 
 them ; and Pifarro, in his firft audience, 
 began to propofe the intent of his difcove- 
 ry, the great hardfhips he had endured, he 
 and his companions going naked, and al- 
 moft ftarved, expofed to the mofquitos and 
 poifon'd arrows of the Indians ; and all this, 
 having fpent three years in this fort of life, 
 for the increafe of the gofpel and his majef- 
 ty's royal dominions. His majefty heard 
 him with much attention and goodnefs, fhew- 
 ing great companion for his fufferings, and 
 ordering a gratification for himfelf, and his 
 two companions, as alio the thirteen who 
 would not forfake him : he receiv'd all his 
 memorials, andorder'd them tobedifpatch- 
 
 ed to his mind, having firft made an agree- 
 ment with him proportionably to his great 
 merits. They did not believe in Spain (and jh t riches 
 that is an old difeafe every where) all that"/ Peru 
 Pifarro faid of the riches of Peru, and of the £fj™* 
 palaces and houfes of ftone which he had'" 
 feen, till he fhewed them the pieces of gold 
 and filver which he had brought with him ; 
 and then the fame of that land began to 
 fpread its felf, and with it the coyetoufnefs 
 of fharing thofe treafures, every one bla- 
 ming the governor of Panama for not ha- 
 ving given the necefTary affiftance to the 
 difcovery. 
 
 Pifarro being difpatched with the title of 
 Adelantado of the firft two hundred leagues 
 he fhould conquer, having alfo a new coat 
 of arms, and other privileges granted to 
 him ; and taking with him four flout bro- 
 thers that he had, he embark'd for the Indies 
 with one hundred and twenty five CaJlUians 
 more. He left Sanlutar in January 1530. i^c 
 and arriv'd at Puerto Bello, where he was 
 received with great joy by his companions 
 and friends, who were all pleafed with the 
 favours the king had beftow'd upon them by 
 his means: only Don Diego de Almagro was 
 not fo well pleas'd that Pifarro had made a 
 better bargain for himfelf than for him, his 
 partner in all the undertaking; he made his 
 complaint to him, and refolved to parr 
 company, and difcover and conquer by 
 himfelf: but being allured that as foon as 
 the firft two hundred leagues fhould be con- 
 
 quer'd 
 
Chap. 13. 
 
 Kingdom of CHILE. 
 
 91 
 
 quered, he would ufe his intereft to have 
 him made Adelantado of two hundred more 
 before any of his brothers ; and fo fuffering 
 himfelf to be perfuaded, they agreed anew, 
 and fell to preparing every thing for their en- 
 terprize. He remain'd at Panama ; and the 
 Adelantado, with his brothers, went from 
 thence with a good crew of men, being to 
 be followed by Almagro, as before. To 
 make fhort about the things performed by 
 this great conqueror, the great riches he 
 got, and among the reft an emerald as big 
 as an egg, which was prefented to him, -we 
 will fuppofe him at the ifland of Pur a in 
 war with the Tombezinos ; and there he 
 came to a clearer information of the riches 
 ofCufco, and the ftate in which that monar- 
 chy was at prefent : and becaufe he had re- 
 ceiv'd a fpecial command, and was himfelf 
 inclin'd to propagate our facred religion, as 
 the beft means of furthering his own defign, 
 the firft thing he did, in landing upon the 
 Peru ' A'fo- cont inent of Peru, was to build a church to 
 ™ chunk God, to give a beginning to the fpiritual 
 tuilt. conqueft of fouls. His firft fettlement was 
 at Pura, where was built the firft church 
 that was ever erected in thofe kingdoms. 
 While he was employ'd in this, he fent out 
 to difcover more lands, to know more of 
 the ftate of the country. There he learnt 
 the divifion that was between the two bro- 
 thers Guafcar and Atagualpa, which was oc- 
 cafion'd by the death of their father Guaya- 
 nacapa, who was a moft powerful monarch, 
 and among other fons had thefe two, which 
 were now in war, and fome of his fubjects 
 follow'd the one, and fome the other. 
 A civil Guafcar was the lawful heir, but not fo 
 war be- Drave anc j warlike as Atagualpa, who, 
 heirs to the though a baftard, yet becaufe he had fol- 
 empire of low'd his father in his wars from a child, 
 Peru. drew to himfelf a great part of the king- 
 dom, with which he made war upon his 
 brother, with hopes to prevail. 
 
 The Adelantado Don Francifco Pifarro 
 refolved to have an interview with Atagual- 
 pa, who was the neareft to the place where 
 he was. So putting his truft in God, he fet 
 out with his fmall army, more to be valued 
 for its bravery than its number, which 
 neverthelefs was feared and reflected in its 
 march. He came near the place where Ata- 
 gualpa had his camp, which was near fifty 
 thoufand men, and fent him his ambafta- 
 dors on horfeback, which was a new thing 
 in that country, to give him advice of his 
 arrival, and the reafon of jt, which was, To 
 perfuade his majefty, and his vaffals, to 
 give obedience to the true king of glory, 
 from whom is derived all the power and 
 command that princes have on earth. Ata- 
 gualpa receiv'd the ambafiadors in a ftately 
 tent, fhewing in all his behaviour a fove- 
 reign majefty; and though his courtiers 
 Vol. III. 
 
 were in great admiration of the horfes, Ovalle. 
 which they had never feen, yet he kept his ,*f 4°- 
 countenance, and conceal'd the effects fuch ^) je In _ 
 a novelty might have over him. He look'd dhns fur- 
 upon them with fome pleafure, and not as /»•'*■''/>»**£« 
 on a ftrange thing he had never feen; for/'-S " to f^' e 
 the horfes beginning to corvet, fome of his 
 Indians run away, whom he prefently cau- 
 fed to be put to death, for having fhewed 
 cowardice in his royal prefence. He anfwer- 
 ed the ambafiadors courteoufiy, fhewing the 
 pleafure he fhould have to fee and hear 
 their general ; and ibt a day for it, telling 
 them, That they fhould not be difturbed, 
 nor afraid to find him and his people in 
 arms , for it was his cuftom to ufe them to 
 it. 
 
 The day came ; and Atagualpa marching Atagualpa 
 in order with his army to the place where ^h nst0 
 the Spaniards were drawn up, he difcover'd^X^^J 
 to his captains the mind he had to make an Spaniards. 
 end with thofe ftrangers, who had been fo 
 bold as to enter into his country, and come 
 fo near him without having any refpect to 
 his royal power : but he order'd them not to 
 kill them, but to take them alive, becaufe 
 he would ufe them as his fiaves ; and as for 
 the dogs and horfes, he refolv'd to offer 
 them in facrifice to his gods. The Caftilians, 
 who were not totally ignorant of this falfe 
 appearance of peace and friendfhip, though 
 they were fo few that the Indians were four 
 hundred to one, yet they did not lofe cou- 
 rage ; but with confidence in God expected 
 the encounter, taking their pofts, and pre- 
 paring every thing for it, though fecretly, 
 that they might not be thought the Aggref- 
 fors. Therefore he drawing near, the Ade- 
 lantado ftay'd for him with only fifteen 
 men, the reft being retir'd and hid, and Ata „ ua i pa 
 fent him an embaffy by a frier, who car -fummone J 
 ried the gofpel, and told him, That in thofe h " f rur - 
 books were contained the faith, by which he 
 and his people might be faved, and they brought 
 it him from God Almighty. 
 
 The king heard the frier, and took the 
 mafs-book out of his hands, looking ear- 
 neftly upon it : but not knowing how to 
 read it, and taking it all for a jeft and a 
 fiction, he threw the book up into the air, 
 making a fign at the fame time to his peo- 
 ple to fall on ; which they did : and then 
 the Adelantado lifting up a hankerchief, 
 which was the fignal to our men, they 
 play'd upon them with their muskets on one 
 hand, and the dogs and horfemen attacked 
 them on the other, fo that the victory foon 
 appear'd for the Caftilians ; God Almighty 
 having refolved to deftroy that monarchy 
 of the Ingas, and to remove that obftacle to 
 the propagating of the faith, and to put 
 that land into hands that fhould increafe it, 
 as their catholick majefties have done. They . 
 took the king Atagualpa prifoner; but treat- t'ifanlr' 1 
 C c ed J 
 
98 Of the Nature and Properties of the Book IV. 
 
 OvALLE.ed him with all refpect due to his royal per- 
 .1^6. fon, as the hiftorians relate more at large. 
 \^V^^ while this happen'd, which was ona. friday, 
 a day dedicated to the crofs, in the month 
 *f 11' °^ May, in the year 1533. the army which 
 Atagualpa had lent againft his brother Guaf- 
 car, near Cufco, overcame him and took him 
 Guafcar m- prifoner, and were bringing him to Ata- 
 kenfrifinergnalp^ without knowing any thing of what 
 "J"' had happened between him and the Cafti- 
 lians ; but on the way Guafcar learned 
 that his enemy was a prifoner too ; and 
 Atagualpa was at the fame time informed 
 of the victory he had obtained ; he hear- 
 ing it, fhook his head, and cried, O for- 
 tune ! what is this, that I am this day a 
 conqueror, and conquered ? Guafcar mode- 
 rated his grief with the news of his enemy's 
 misfortune, thinking that the Caftilians 
 would revenge him on the tyrant, who pre- 
 tended to take from him his lawful inheri- 
 tance. 
 
 Atagualpa, though a prifoner, began to 
 make reflections in this manner : If I caufe 
 my brother to be put to death, how do I 
 know how the Caftilians will take it ? and 
 whether they will not put me to death for 
 this, and remain lords of the land. If I let 
 him come on, and he fpeaks with them, die 
 juftice of his caufe v/ill fpeak for him, and 
 I muft perifh ; for I cannot expect mercy 
 from any. What remedy ? He found it 
 cunningly, as he thought : he feigned a great 
 fadnefs, with a defign that the Pifarros, 
 who vifited him every day, mould ask him 
 what was the matter. They did according- 
 ly ; and feeing him fo afflicted, defired to 
 know the caufe of that extraordinary grief. 
 Heanfwer'd deceitfully, That having receiv- 
 ed the news that his generals had put to 
 death his brother Guafcar, it gave him an 
 exceeding grief, of which he was not to be 
 comforted ; becaufe though they were ene- 
 mies, yet he was his brother; and he could 
 not but be much concerned at his death. 
 All this was feigned, to fee how the Spa- 
 niards would take it ; and finding they did 
 not feem offended at the thing, he fent or- 
 ders immediately to his generals, who were 
 coming on with his brother, that diey 
 Guafcar />K*fhould put him to death prefently by the 
 to death by w ay ; which they did, by drowning of him 
 the order of - m a r [ ver ^ w hich amongft them is an in- 
 gu ' famous death. His cries to heaven to re- 
 venge his unjuft death were ufelefs at that 
 time. 
 
 But let no man give it to another to fave 
 his own life ; for there is not a fhorter, nor 
 a more certain way for him to lofe it : let 
 him not ftrive by politick maxims, which 
 an unjuft and ambitious pafiion fuggefts ; 
 for though that may be an appearance of 
 liability, yet divine juftice breaks thorough 
 it all like cobwebs, and at length leaves no 
 
 crime without its chaftifement. Atagualpa 
 proved himfelf a great example of this 
 truth, all his artifices ferving only to afford 
 his enemies a pretext to take away his life. 
 He had promifed to fill the room where „ , ■ 
 
 -L 1 L • '{• 1-1 -^ prod'tlr 
 
 they kept him pnioner, which was a very ouirmfom. 
 large one, with gold and filver, befides ten 
 thoufand bars of gold, and fome heaps of 
 jewels, as an earneft, for his ranfom. And 
 though this was accepted ; and that he per- 
 formed it according to his promife, yet he 
 did not obtain what he pretended ; for in- 
 ftead of his liberty they pronounced to him 
 a fentence of death, which he juftly deferv- The Spa- 
 ed for having put his brother to it, and ty- niards "•*' 
 ranniz'd over that which was none of his'*'/*^' 
 
 11 ,-1-1 1 - , a "d per/idl- 
 
 own ; and becaufe of the advice the Spa- 0H fyp at 
 niards had every day of the army that was Atagualpa 
 gathering together, which if it were true, " dmh ' 
 and Atagualpa, at liberty at the head of 
 them, there would have been good reafon 
 to fear from his fubtilty, great and irreme- 
 diable inconveniences ; which they thought 
 they could no ways avoid fo well as by 
 taking his life, though with fome hopes 
 of his exchanging it for a better and eternal 
 one, if it be true, that before he died he was 
 inftructed, and received baptifm, as fome 
 fay he did. 
 
 About this time, which was in the year 
 1533. Don Diego d'Almagro being made ij;;. 
 marlhal, came from Panama to Tombez 
 with a good body of men and arms ; and 
 from thence he went on to help his good 
 friend, the Adelantado Pifarro in his con- 
 quefts, not letting his men do any injury to 
 his Indians as he went. There were a hun- 
 dred thoufand pieces of eight given them 
 upon their arrival ; for though they were 
 not at the battel, yet their prefence con- 
 firmed the victory, and helped to keep 
 Atagualpa prifoner. The remainder of the 
 treafure, which was above a million, was 
 divided among Pifarro's men ; and they 
 being few, were all made rich, and in a 
 condition to make difcoveries of their own. 
 The Adelantado fent his brother Hernando 
 Pifarro to Caftile, with the news of this 
 happy progrefs of their difcoveries, and of 
 the propagating the chriftian faith in the 
 converfion of the Indians ; and he alfo car- 
 ried with him the claim of Don Diego d'Al- 
 magro to two hundred leagues of land be- 
 yond his brother's, of which he was like- 
 wife to be Adelantado. All this he nego- 
 tiated very much to the content of all •, and 
 in the year 1534. there was granted, in To- ,»,*; 
 ledo, to Don Diego d'Almagro the govern- 
 ment of that which they called the new 
 kingdom of Toledo, which began at a place 
 called Las Chincbas, where the territory of 
 Pifarro ended, and extended itfelf to the 
 Streighls of Magellan. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
Chap. 14. 
 
 Kingdom of CHILE. 
 
 99 
 
 CHAP. XIV. 
 
 The News of the Government of 'Don Diego de Almagro is brought to him y 
 and he goes upon the T)ifcovery of that of Chile. 
 
 OvALLE. 
 1646. 
 
 D 
 
 |0 N Francifco Pifarro had given com- 
 miflion ;to Don Diego d' Almagro, to 
 to take pofieffion of Cu/co, when the news 
 came of the government of two hundred 
 leagues given him by his majefty, to begin 
 from the Chinchas. This caufed great dif- 
 turbance ; for it was believed that Cu/co 
 would fall into this divifion ; and the friends 
 of Don Francifco Pifarro, judging this of 
 great prejudice to Pifarro, that the marfhal, 
 tmjWtoc- even by his commiffion, mould find him- 
 10 fall out. felf in pofieffion of Cufco, they advifed him 
 immediately to revoke the powers he had 
 given, which he did ; and this was the 
 firft caufe of the difturbance in Peru, which 
 made afterwards fo great a noife, and for 
 which they both loft their lives. But I be- 
 ing to write the hiftory of Chile, and not 
 of Peru, fhall leave the reader to thofe 
 hiftorians who treat of it at large. This 
 news being known in Truxillo, one Diego 
 de Aguero let out to carry it to Almagro, 
 who was upon his march to take pofieffion 
 of Cufco. He overtook him at the bridge 
 oi \ Acambay ; and he having received it with 
 great moderation, fhewed himfelf above the 
 greatnefs of his fortune, and g.ive him as an 
 albricias, or prefent for his good news, fe- 
 ven thoufand Caftilians , which are near 
 twenty thoufand ducats ; and by this news 
 he was moved to change his defign of con- 
 quering a people called the Chiriguanaes, 
 and treated of that of Chile ; for he fup- 
 pofcd it would fall into the government he 
 was to have, and (as Herrera fays) moved 
 by the informations he had of the great 
 riches of Chile. 
 
 To prepare himfelf for this enterprize, 
 which was like to be very chargeable, he 
 caufed a great deal of filver to be melted 
 in Cufco, to draw out the king's fifths. 
 Amongft other things, there was a man's 
 burden of gold rings to be melted down ; 
 and one Juan de Lepe being by, and taking 
 a fancy for one of them, begged it of mar- 
 fhal Almagro, who fhewed himfelf fo much 
 a gentleman, and fo liberal, that he faid 
 prefently, that he fhould not only take that 
 ring, but that he fhould open both his 
 hands, and take as many as could lie in 
 them ; and hearing he was married, he or- 
 dered him befides four hundred crowns as 
 a prefent for his wife. He fhewed another 
 piece of liberality to one Bartholomew Peres, 
 for having presented him with a fhield, 
 which was, to order him likewife four hun- 
 dred pieces of eight, and a filver pot weigh- 
 
 ing forty marks of filver, and had for 
 handles two lions of gold, which weighed 
 three hundred and forty pieces of eight; and 
 to one Montenegro, who prefented him with 
 the firft Spaniffj cat that ever came to the In- 
 dies, he ordered fix hundred pieces of eight, j^/j^ "^ ; . 
 There are a great many ftories more of his ma i, 
 liberality and charity too, he being very 
 generous and noble minded. Having dif- 
 pofed all for his enterprize of Chile, he 
 caufed proclamation to be made, That all 
 thofe who had not fome particular employ- 
 ment to ftay them at Cufco, fhould make 
 themfelves ready to go along with him. 
 They were all overjoy'd at this, he being 
 extreamly beloved for his liberality and 
 courtefy •, and that they might furnim 
 themfelves with arms and horfes, he caufed 
 one hundred and eighty load of filver tojhevaft 
 be brought out of his houfe, (in thofe days riches of 
 a load of filver was as much as a man could the firft con- 
 carry,) and twenty more of gold : this he^ a ' 
 diftributed among them all. Thofe who 
 were willing, gave him bonds to pay him 
 out of what they fhould conquer in the 
 land they were to difcover ; for this was 
 the way of thefe conquerors in gaining to 
 his majefty this new world, having no other 
 pay but what they could purchafe. 
 
 T'he Inga Mango, who was brother to 
 Guafcar and Atagualpa, had fucceeded them 
 in the government, as the fon of Guayanaca- 
 pa, who had alfo many others. This Inga 
 had taken a great kindnefs for marfhal Al- 
 magro -, fo he gave him, as a companion in 
 his entrprize, a brother of his, called the 
 Inga Paullo Topo, and the high prieft Vil- 
 lacumu ; the Spaniards call him Villaoma, 
 or Vilehoma, that they might by their au- 
 thority not only keep all his vaflals from 
 falling upon them in the way, but rather 
 fhould receive him, and make him prefents. 
 The marfhal defired thefe two perfons to 
 go before, in company with three Caftilians, 
 and make a fettlement or habitation at the 
 end of two hundred leagues. The other 
 people, and Juan de Savedra, went by an- 
 other way ; and when they had gone one 
 hundred and thirty leagues from Cufco, 
 they founded the town of Paria. Here the 
 marfhal overtook them ; and he was like- 
 wife aflured of the title of Adelantado grant- 
 ed him by his majefty, with the government 
 of the new kingdom of Toledo, which was 
 to begin from the borders of new Caftile ; 
 for fo they called Pifarro's government. 
 His friends advis'd him to return imme- 
 diately, 
 
IOO 
 
 OVALLE 
 1646. 
 
 Of the Nature and Properties of the Book IV. 
 
 Limafound- 
 eJ by Fran- 
 cifco Pifir- 
 ro in the 
 year tfff. 
 Its fit ua- 
 iion. 
 
 A delicious 
 place. 
 
 Its magni- 
 ficence. 
 
 It never 
 rains at 
 Lima. 
 
 diately, wherever this exprefs overtook 
 him, becaufe there was one come to the 
 city of Los Reyes, with a commiffion from 
 the king to regulate limits of both govern- 
 ments to each of the Adelantadoes : but Al- 
 magro was fo poflefs'd with the ambition 
 of conquering fo great and rich a kingdom 
 as that of Chile, that he did not value the 
 land he had difcovered, in comparifon of 
 what he was to difcover, out of which he 
 defign'd to reward his friends, and the ma- 
 ny gentlemen that accompanied him ; fo he 
 purfued his journey; where it will not be 
 amifs to leave him engaged with the fnows, 
 and ill paftages of the- Cordillera, while we 
 give a vifit to the great city of Lima, cal- 
 led otherwife de los Reyes, becaufe it being 
 the head of thofe kingdoms, we cannot well 
 pafs it by. 
 
 This city was founded by the Adelantado 
 Don Francifco Pifarro in the year 1555. 
 ' in a very pleafant plain, about two leagues 
 from the fea, upon a fine quiet river ; which 
 being derived by drains and cuts all over 
 the plain, fertilize it fo copioufly, that it 
 is all covered with feveral forts of products, 
 as vineyards, fugar-works, flax, garden pro- 
 duct, and other delightful plants : and if 
 there be any thing they want from abroad, 
 'tis brought them fo punctually, that all 
 their markets are fupplied with all manner 
 of delicacies that can be wifhed for. 
 
 For this and many other delights of this 
 city, it happens to mod people who live 
 there, that they cannot endure to think of 
 leaving it for any other place ; fo that it 
 feems an enchanted place, where the en- 
 trance is eafy, and the getting out difficult. I 
 myfelf heard the Spanifh merchants, who, the 
 year 1 was there, had fold their goods them- 
 felves at Lima, whereas they ufed to fell them 
 at Puerto Bella, fo enamoured of it, though 
 they ftay'd but a little while there, that 
 during our whole navigation, they could 
 talk of nothing elfe ; and to fay truth, it 
 deferves their praifes •, for though it cannot 
 be denied, that fome cities I have feen in 
 Europe do out-do it in fome things, yet 
 few come near it, take it altogether : and, 
 firft, for riches, it is the fountain from 
 whence all the reft of the world drinks ; 
 its bravery in cloaths, and magnificency of 
 the court, out-does all others : 'tis extraor- 
 dinary populous ; for a father of our com- 
 pany, who had the care of catechifing the 
 negroes, told me, they were at leaft fixty 
 thoufand, and more, that came to confef- 
 fion. They have fumptuous buildings, 
 though outwardly they make no fhew, ha- 
 ving no tiles ; for it never rains all the year 
 round : all the furniture, as pictures, beds, 
 &V. are mighty rich. There are great 
 numbers ot coaches, and abundance of gen- 
 try ; all the inhabitants very rich, mer- 
 chants of great ftocks, tradefmen and han- 
 
 dicraftfmen of all profefiions, But that 
 which is to me moft confiderable, is, what 
 belongs to the worfhip of God, and cult of 
 religion •, for the cathedral church, and all 
 the parifh churches are very fumptuous, 
 and provided of admirable learned men, 
 which come out of that univerfity; of which 
 thofe of the country are not the leaft to be 
 valued, having furnifhed fo many preachers 
 and other fubjects for all other dignities, 
 even to the higheft government. What 
 ftiall I fay of the orders of friers and nuns ? 
 I fcarce know one order that has not two 
 or three convents in the city, beautiful 
 cloifters, great buildings, and yet greater 
 churches •, fome after the old fafhion ; all 
 with burnifhed gold from top to bottom, 
 as are thofe of St. Auguftin, and St. Domi- 
 nick : others after the modern way, with 
 curious well-wrought ceilings ; as is that of 
 the Jefuits, and of our lady of Mercedes^ 
 which are of a very fine architecture. There 
 are eight nunneries, fome of which have a- 
 bove two hundred nuns in them. There 
 are befides many oratories, confraternities, 
 hofpitals, and congregations. In our con- 
 vent alone of the jefuits, I remember there 
 were eight foundations of feveral kinds, and 
 for people of as many different ranks and 
 eftates in the world. The great congrega- 
 tion has few in the world equal to it : the 
 chappel of it is very large, and of a very 
 rich material, covered with filk and gold, 
 and rare pictures, with other rich ornaments 
 belonging to it. There is here great fre- 
 quentation of the facraments by monthly 
 communions : the body of Chrift is expofed, 
 and the church fo adorned with mufick and 
 fweet fmells, that it is a paradife upon earth. 
 And amongft ether pieces of devotion per- 
 formed by this congregation, there is a 
 great entertainment or treat given once a 
 year at an hofpital, which is fo magnificent, 
 that it is worth feeing : the fame is done in 
 proportion by the other congregations. 
 
 This city is the feat of a viceroy, who 
 indeed is a king in greatnefs and authority, 
 difpofing of a vaft number of places, com- 
 mands, and pofts of honour and profit. 
 There is likewife a rich archbiihoprick of 
 great authority ; three courts, or royal au- 
 diencias ; a merchant court, which decides 
 all matters of trade •, a famous univerfity, 
 in which are profefiors very learned in their 
 profefiions ; three colleges or fchools for 
 youth, under the care of the fathers of our 
 company of Jefus, in which are about one 
 hundred and thirty profeflbrs or mafters : 
 there are every day new foundations for or- 
 phans, widows, and to retire women from 
 lewdnefs : there is the famous hofpital of 
 St. Andrew for the Spaniards, and St. Anne 
 for the Indians ; all which would require a 
 relation by themfelves. 
 
 This 
 
Chap. 15. 
 
 Kingdom of CHILE, 
 
 ior 
 
 This is what I could not avoid faying 
 
 about this great capital of Peru ; and if it 
 
 continues increafing as it has done for this 
 
 firft age, it will not have its fellow in the 
 
 The left «. world. The fame may be faid of Cufco, 
 
 ties in Vein Arequipa, Chuqttizaga, and the great town 
 
 next to o f p oto ji^ which increafe fo, that he who 
 
 is abfent a few years, does not know them 
 
 when he fees them again ; and the reafon is, 
 
 that the veins and mines of gold and filver, ^ )v j v ^. LE 
 which like a loadftone, have drawn fo ma- ^A^, 
 ny people thither, are fo far from lelTening, 
 that new ones are difcover'd every day, and 
 thofe richer than the old ones ; for which 
 reafon there comes yearly more people, and 
 among them much gentry, as well as trades- 
 men of all arts ancLprofefilons, who moft 
 of them fettle and increafe there. 
 
 CHAP. XV. 
 
 The Adelantado Almagro enters into Chile, having fuffered extremely by 
 
 the IV ay. 
 
 w 
 
 E left the Adelantado Don Diego de 
 Almagro in a place call'd Paria, 
 from whence he was to purfue his journey 
 to Chile, as he did in the beginning of the 
 ij-jj. year 1535. He himfelf going before, or- 
 der'd Juan deSavedra to follow with twelve 
 horfe by the royal highway thorough the 
 province of Las Chichas, the chief place 
 of which was Topi/a, where he found the 
 Inga Paulo, and the prieft Villacumu, who 
 prefented him with ninety thoufand pefos of 
 very fine gold, it being the tribute they us'd 
 to fend the Inga from Chile, and which they 
 were now fending, without being inform a 
 of the tragical accidents that had befallen 
 the family ; and there he fent back a great 
 many Caciques of the countries he left be- 
 hind him, and who had waited upon him 
 thither. 
 
 The three Spaniards, whom he had fent 
 with the Inga Paulo, and two more who 
 joined themfelves to them, being defirous 
 of making new difcoveries, and acquiring 
 honour, and withal making their court to 
 the marfhal, went before, till they came to 
 a place call'd Jujuy, which is a place or 
 country where the people are very warlike, 
 and eat human flefh, and who kept the In- 
 gas always in great awe. This boldnefs 
 cod three of the Spaniards their lives, though 
 they fold them dear. The Adelantado be- 
 ing refolv'd to revenge their deaths, fent 
 captain Salfedo, with fixty horfe and foot, 
 to chaftife thofe Indians ; but they, being 
 alarm'd, had call'd together their friends, 
 and made a fort to defend themfelves in, 
 and many pits with fharp flakes in them, 
 that the horfes might fall into them ; with 
 which, and many facrifices and invocations 
 made to their gods, they had refolv'd to 
 expecl: their enemies. Captain Salfedo found 
 them thus fortified, and being himfelf in- 
 ferior in ftrength, ferit to the Adelantado 
 for relief, who fent it him under the com- 
 mand of Don Francifco de Chares ; but the 
 Indians then avoided engaging, and refol- 
 ved to abandon their fort ; though, not to 
 lofe all their pains, they refolv'd firft to at- 
 
 VOL. III. 
 
 tack Don Francifco de Chares, where they 
 kill'd a great many, and particularly of 
 the Indians Tanaconas, and carrying off the 
 fpoils, they made a fafe retreat : the Spa- 
 niards return'd back to their chief body. i- 
 Since we mention'd the Tanaconas, it will 
 not be amifs to explain the fignification of 
 that word, for the better underftanding of 
 what follows. 
 
 The Tanaconas were, among the Indians, „ 
 a people fubjec~t to perpetual flavery ; and were 
 to be known, were bound to wear a fort of 
 habit different from the reft. Thefe feeing 
 the bravery of the Spaniards, and how 
 much they made themfelves be fear'd and 
 refpected, began to rife againft their maf- 
 ters, and adhered to the Spaniards, hoping 
 thereby to make off the yoke of flavery ; 
 and became cruel enemies to the other In- 
 dians. That which this word Tanacona 
 now fignifies in Chile, is, thofe Indians who 
 do not belong to any particular lord ; for 
 as to freedom, there is no difference, the 
 king having made them all free alike. 
 
 From Jujuy the Adelantado march'd with 
 the vanguard, purfuing his journey, leaving 
 the rear to the care and command of Noga- 
 ral de Ulloa. He came to a place call'd 
 Chaquana, where he found the Indians in 
 arms ; for though at firft they were frighted 
 with the fwiftnefs of the horfes, yet at laft 
 they grew fo little afraid of them, that they 
 took a folemn oath by the great fun, either T /,e reilu- 
 to die or kill them all. The Adelantado tim of the 
 attack'd them, and was in great danger, In , d ' ans "f 
 for they kill'd his horfe under him in the 
 engagement ; but he continuing ftill to 
 fight them, they refolv'd at laft to retire : 
 then he purfued his journey, with his whole 
 army, which was of two hundred horfe, 
 and fomething above three hundred foot ; 
 with a great many Indians, as well Tanaco- 
 nas, as others, who affifted the Inga Paulo. 
 The army being thus numerous, they be- 
 gan to want provifions ; and which was 
 worfe, they were without hopes of finding 
 any, there being no place thereabouts that 
 could afford it, the country being a defart, 
 D d which 
 
io2 Of the Nature and Properties of the Book IV. 
 
 Ovalle- which lafted ieven days, all barren ground, 
 1646. and full of fait nirre ; and for their com- 
 
 \*\~±s f ort ^ as ,-^gy cJefcended a hill or precipice, 
 after which they hop'd for fome relief, they 
 met with the fnows of the Cordillera, which 
 was a fight able to freeze the boldeft un- 
 dertaker, confidering the dangers and fuf- 
 ferings they were threatened with. Herrera, 
 when he comes to this paffage, fays, fpeak- 
 ing of the bravery of the Spaniards, and 
 their patience in fuffering a great deal,which 
 I fhall not relate, that I may not be thought 
 to praife my own countrymen with affecta- 
 tion ; but I cannot omit fome part of it : 
 He fays then, That to overcome fuch dif- 
 ficulties, none could have attempted it, but 
 fuch as were us'd to endure hunger and 
 thirft, and to enter into a country without 
 guides, through forefts, and over great 
 torrents, fighting at the fame time with 
 
 The h*'d- their enemies and the elements, and fhew- 
 
 jhipstbe ing invincible minds ; marching both day 
 
 225} and ni S ht ' e nd»ring c ° lci a °d heat, loaded 
 with their arms and provifion ; being all of 
 them ready to put a hand to all things, 
 even the moft noble among them being the 
 firft, when a bridge or any thing was to be 
 made, to turn pioneers and carpenters, and 
 cut down trees, by which they were fit for 
 the greateft enterprizes. 
 
 The Adelantado feeing the new, and, in 
 all appearance, the infuperable difficulty 
 that attended this journey, did not lofe cou- 
 rage, but made a bold exhortation to his 
 men, telling them, That thefe were acci- 
 dents that us'd to befal foldiers, without 
 which no great honour could be gain'd, 
 nor any of thofe riches which they fought 
 after ; that they fhould put their truft in 
 God, who would not fail to afilft them, 
 fince the planting of his faith depended up- 
 on their prefervation. They all anfwer'd 
 chearfully, that they were ready to follow 
 him to death ; and becaufe example is the 
 beft rhetorick, he firft began to enter into 
 the Cordillera, or fnowy mountains, with 
 a detachment of horfe going before, that 
 if he found any provifions, he might fend 
 a fhare to the army, which began to faint 
 TmicuUr- for want of it. But the more he advanc'd, 
 ly h"c^df ne met w ' tn ^hing but vaft defarts, with 
 lera. " ' " a wind fo cold, that it ftruck them through; 
 and the pafiage grew ftraiter and ftrait- 
 
 er, till at laft, it pleafed God, that from 
 a high hill, they difcover'd the valley of 
 Copiapo, where the kingdom of Chile be- 
 gins, where they were receiv'd very kindly 
 by the Indians, out of the refpect they bore 
 to the Inga Paulo, and afforded them pro- 
 vifions enough to fend fome to the army 
 which follow'd. 'Tis not pofuble to ima- 
 gine how much they were prefs'd both by 
 cold and hunger, both Spaniards and In- 
 dians ; here one would fall into the fnow, 
 and be buried before he was dead ; another 
 would lean againft a rock, and remain fro- 
 zen, juft as if be had been alive. If any 
 did but Hop to take breath, immediately a 
 blaft of cold air left him fix'd and immove- 
 able, as if he had been of iron ; and a Ne- 
 groe, who had a led horfe in his hand, A remark- 
 did but turn his head, and flop to fee who able in- 
 call'd him, as fome body did, and both^""" e "/ 
 he and the horfe remain'd like two flatues j^y^** 
 fo that there was no remedy but to keep 
 moving, for it was a certain death to flop 
 a little ; but it could not be, but people fo 
 weary and fo weak, mufi Hand flill fome- 
 times ; and therefore they loft a great ma- 
 ny men, ftrowed up and down the moun- 
 tain. 
 
 Garcilajjb fays, there died ten thoufand 
 Indians and Negroes ; of the fifteen thoufand 
 which went with the Inga Paulo, only five 
 thoufand efcaped ; for being all natives of 
 Peru, and not having ever felt fuch cold, 
 for which they were totally unprovided with 
 cloaths, they died apace ; the Spaniards be- 
 ing better provided, endur'd lefs ; and yet 
 Garcilajfo fays, they loft above a hundred 
 and fifty men, and thirty horfes, which was 
 a great lofs ; others loft their fingers and 
 toes, without feeling it. Their greateft 
 fufferings were in the night-time ; for they 
 had no wood to make fire, and the Indians 
 eat the very dead bodies out of hunger. 
 The Spaniards with all their hearts would 
 have eat the dead horfes, but they could 
 not flop to flea them. At laft the provi- 
 fions, fent them by the Adelantado, met 
 them ; fo they pafs'd the reft of the way 
 pretty well. When they came to the val- 
 ley, the Indians made much of them, where 
 we will leave them, to fee how others, 
 that came after the Adelantado, pafs the 
 mountain. 
 
 CHAP. XVI. 
 
 Others pafs the Cordillera. What happened to the Adelantado in Copiapo. 
 His Return from Chile. His Misfortune and T)eath. 
 
 ID O not find clearly the time of the year not one of them would have efcaped, fince 
 in which this army pafs'd the Cordillera : the firft high wind would have overwhelmed 
 'tis certain it could not be in the midft of them in the fnow ; therefore they pafs'd it, 
 fummer 3 nor in the heart of winter, becaufe either in the beginning, or the end of the 
 
 winter ; 
 
Chap, i <£ 
 
 Kingdom of CHILE. 
 
 io 3 
 
 winter ; and moft "probably it was at the 
 entrance of the winter ; for if it had been 
 at the going out of the winter, thofe who 
 followed would not have run fo great a 
 hazard. 
 
 The firft of thefe was one Rodrigo Orgon- 
 nes, who was left by the Adelantado in Cuf- 
 co, to raife men and follow him, as he did. 
 He loft his nails, and would have loft his 
 fingers, if he had not taken his hand off 
 the pole that held his tent up: others loft 
 their eyes, their ears, and many their lives ; 
 particularly all thofe who were in one tent, 
 which a ftorm rifing carried up, and in the 
 morning they were found all dead in the 
 fnow : they loft alfo fix and twenty horfes. 
 
 The next who parted after Rodrigo Or- 
 gonnes,was one Juan de Arrada,who brought 
 theAdelantado the king's difpatches, and his 
 commiflion for his government, whom we 
 left in Copiapo ; and it will not be amifs to 
 fee what befel him there, before he receiv'd 
 his commiflion, and faw his friends. The 
 firft thing he did in this valley, was a work 
 of charity and juftice, in favour of the true 
 lord of that land , who was not in pofTef- 
 fion of the government, becaufe he was left 
 a minor, under the guardianfhip of his un- 
 cle, who not only did not think of put- 
 ting him in pofieffion, but contriv'd to take 
 his life, which he would have effected, if 
 he could have got him into his hands ; but 
 the fubjects, more loyal than he, had hid 
 him out of the way. The Adelantado be- 
 ing inform'd of the truth of this matter, 
 and being entreated by the wrong'd prince, 
 reftor'd him to the pofieflion of his govern- 
 ment, putting the tyrant to death. 
 
 Before this happened, at their firft arri- 
 val at Copiapo, the Inga Paulo took care to 
 look out for fome gold in that little pro- 
 vince ; and in one day having got together 
 the value of above two hundred thoufand 
 ducats, he prefented the. Adelantado with it, 
 in the name of his brother, the Inga Mango ; 
 which gave the Spaniards great caufe of ad- 
 miration, feeing that in one village, and 
 in fo little time, fo much gold had been 
 found, gathering from this, how prodigious 
 rich the country muft be-, and therefore 
 Almagro was content to think all his pains 
 well taken, that he had been at to come 
 into it. 
 The vajl The Inga Paulo finding his prefent fo well 
 riches of received, being defirous to make his court, 
 got from the neighbouring parts three hun- 
 dred thoufand ducats of gold more, which 
 he prefented to the Adelantado; which gave 
 him fuch joy, to fee that fo rich a country 
 was fallen to his lot, that he caus'd all his 
 people to be afiembled, and pulling out all 
 the bonds and obligations made to him in 
 Cufco, for the gold and filver which he 
 had there lent them, he cancell'd them all, 
 
 Chile. 
 
 one by one, declaring to his debtors, ThatOvAixE. 
 he freely forgave them their debts, and was J°^>- 
 forry they were not greater : and not only ^"^"^ 
 fo, but opening his bags of gold, he be- 
 gan to ufe great liberalities ; which fo pleafed 
 them, that they forgot the dangers they 
 had gone thorough, every one promifing 
 himfelf vaft riches from fuch a conqueft. 
 Francifeo Lopes de Gomara, who writes this 
 hiftory, fays, That it was a liberality be- 
 coming a great prince, rather than a private 
 foldier : but he adds, as a confideration of 
 the little liability of human affairs, and 
 the profperity of this world, that when he 
 died, he had no body to give a pall to co- 
 ver his coffin. 
 
 But let us not afflict the reader fo foon 
 with the memory of that lamentable trage- 
 dy ; let us rather follow this great captain 
 in his good fortune. As he went further 
 into the country, he was reflected and 
 treated as if he had been the Inga himfelf, 
 in all the places he came to ; but when he 
 came to a nation called the Promocaes, -which 
 was the limits, beyond which the kings of 
 Peru could never extend their empire, he 
 found the fame refiftance as they had done. 
 The Adelantado perceiving this, demanded 
 fuccour from the Inga Paulo, who gave it 
 him, by calling in the Inga's garrifons of 
 the neighbouring frontier ; and fo the war 
 began. 
 
 Here the Spaniards met with their match, Great op- 
 and began to experience that the conqueft t°/' tmi> y 
 or this part of America woufd not be com- 
 pafs'd by their bare appearing with their 
 horfes, dogs, and guns ; or that a king- 
 dom might be got by taking a king prifo- 
 ner, and feparating his army to their pur- 
 pofes, and fo remain abfolute mafters of 
 the field ; for here they met with a nation, 
 who though they admir'd their horfes, and 
 were furpriz'd to fee them, yet the great- 
 nefs of their courage overcame that furprize; 
 fo they met and engaged them with great 
 valour, and many were kill'd on both fides. 
 The Spanijh blood, which ufed to be fo 
 little fpilt, was here fhed in abundance ; 
 and from that time to this, the fiaughter of 
 them has not ceafed, fo as to make either 
 fide fafe. 
 
 However, the valour of the Spaniards, 
 and the advantage they had over them by 
 horfes and guns, was fuch, as they might 
 well depend upon, which made them con- 
 ceive the conqueft of Chile to be a work of 
 about two years at moft ; as 'tis probable 
 it would have been, if the divifions between 
 Almagro and Pifarro, and his brothers, had 
 not cut the thread of that enterprize, as it 
 did that of their own lives ; for they pe- 
 rifhed by one another's hands, upon points 
 of conteft about, jurifdiction. 
 
 About 
 
 
104 
 
 Of the Nature and 'Properties of the Book IV. 
 
 Ovalle. About this time the Adelantado being 
 1646. engaged with the Indians in a bloody war, 
 
 '^V^ RodrigoOrgonnes arriv'd with his Spaniards, 
 and fo did Juan de Arrado, with the king's 
 royal patents, and a commiflion for the go- 
 vernment of a hundred leagues of the coun- 
 try ; which was juft as if a deluge of water 
 had been poured upon the fire already light- 
 ed of the war with the Promocaes, Cau- 
 quenes, and Pencos, who were the nations 
 that had withftood this invafion. As for 
 the Indians they pretended to no more than 
 to defend their country, and their liberty, 
 from foreign invaders ; and the Spaniards 
 found themfelves call'd away by more ear- 
 ner!: motives of intereft, and fo turned an- 
 other way. Not but that there were dif- 
 ferent opinions about what was to be done ; 
 fome thought that it was better to fettle 
 where they were, the heavens and earth be- 
 ing both the beft that they had yet difco- 
 vered, and its riches fuch as they were wit- 
 nefles of; others were of opinion to be con- 
 tent with what they had difcovered, with- 
 out expofing themfelves to new dangers, 
 and the accidents of war. But thofe who 
 brought the king's commiflion, infifted ex- 
 treamly, that the Adelantado fhould go to 
 enjoy the effect, of the king's favour to him ; 
 and above all, that which mov'd Almagro 
 moll, was the jealoufy of feeing the Pifar- 
 ros matters of Peru : to which might be 
 added, that if he did not take pofleffion of 
 Cufco, by virtue of the king's patent, he 
 might be in danger of remaining, at laft, 
 without any title to any thing he had. In 
 this confufion of motives, the Adelantado 
 ftuck to the worft, as it happened, fince he 
 loft his life : he had it feems arriv'd to the 
 top of fortune's wheel ; and 'tis the fame 
 thing with her to ftand ftill, and to begin 
 to go down j which he did, till he tumbled 
 
 quite to the ground, and had his head fe- 
 parated from his ihoulders. 
 
 The world feldom performs its promifes -, 
 otherwife who could have told this great 
 and generous man, that he fhould fall by 
 thofe hands, to which he had lent his? 
 The Pifarros would not have been at that 
 height, if the franknefs and friendfhip of 
 Almagro had not aflifted them from the be- 
 ginning with his fortune and good counfel ; 
 but nothing of all this was fufficient to fave 
 him from death by their procurement. The 
 differences between them grew to that 
 height, that they engaged in a battle againft 
 each other ; in which the Pifarros were con- 
 querors, and Hernando Pijarro, the chief 
 of them, order'd Almagro to be beheaded, Almagro 
 being no ways touch'd with their antient^ beh «*h* 
 friendfhip, nor the fubmiflions and tears o{,l"p^f 
 Almagro himfelf, though a venerable oldros. 
 man, begging his compaflion with a body 
 full of honourable wounds ; but as if he had 
 been a ftatue of marble or brafs, he fhewed 
 no figns of compaflion. 'Tis granted that 
 Almagro did ill, to leave the conqueft of 
 Chile, fo well begun, and where he might 
 have fettled himfelf and his friends to fuch 
 advantage, to go back to Cufco, to govern 
 there by force, in cafe the Pifarros fhould 
 oppofe him •, but they alfo were much to 
 be blam'd, in not coming to fome agree- 
 ment with their antient friend and compa- 
 nion ; but they are inexcufable in fhewing 
 fo much cruelty, as to put him to death : 
 accordingly all their own profperity feem'd 
 to end with his, and to turn to a lamenta- 
 ble tragedy, in which they died by one an- 
 other's hands, as may be feen more at large 
 in the already-cited authors. For me, it is 
 my bufinefs to purfue the conqueft and fet- 
 tlement of Chile, which is my theme. 
 
 BOOK 
 
Chap. r. 
 
 Kingdom of CHILE. 
 
 105 
 
 BOOK V. 
 
 Of the Conqueft and Foundation of 
 the Kingdom of Chile, 
 
 CHAP. I. 
 
 The Governor Pedro Valdivia enters Chile : He conquers and fettles that 
 Kingdom j and is the fir Ji that enters as far as Mapocho, 
 
 TH E more I draw near to the re- 
 lating the fettlement made in 
 Chile by its firft founders and 
 captains , who reduced that 
 kingdom to the obedience of their catho- 
 lick majefties, and to the knowledge of 
 God, the more I mifs thofe papers and re- 
 cords, which being fo far off, I cannot 
 have the help of in defcribing the particu- 
 lars of the events which were very memora- 
 ble at the firft entrance of the Spaniards. I 
 muft therefore make ufe of fuch pafiages as 
 I fhall find up and down in the general hif- 
 tories of the Indies ; and this will refrefh in 
 me the memory of what I have feen or 
 learn 'd by others ; and yet I muft own the 
 knowledge and information the reader 
 will have from hence, will be but fcanty 
 and fhort, fuch as I fhould have hardly at- 
 tempted to publifti without this apology ; 
 and defiring my readers to accept of this 
 collection for the prefent, till the compleat 
 hiftory of Chile does come out, I having 
 left men moil eminent in their profeffion 
 imploy'd in it when I left thofe parts. 
 The Adelantado Almagro being returned 
 if37- in the year 1537. to Cufco, colonel Pedro 
 Valdivia defir'd from the Adelantado Fran- 
 cifco Pifarro leave to purfue the conqueft of 
 Chile, fince he had power and commiffion 
 from the king to grant it. He promifed 
 not to return till he fhould have compleated 
 the fubjection of it, and reduced it to the 
 obedience of the crown and God Almigh- 
 ty. The Adelantado, who had it in his 
 Valdivia thoughts, becaufe of the fame of its great 
 U l d 'T k h " cnes > to f°U° w tne conqueft of 'Chile, con- 
 \onqueft 0/ Mering this gentleman to be one of the 
 Chile, in braveft captains that had come to the In- 
 theyear fag^ having born arms in Italy and Peru, 
 '^ 9 * and given a very good account of all that 
 he had undertaken, chofe him for this en- 
 Vol. III. 
 
 terprize in the year 1539. gi vir >g mm a OvALLE 
 year's time to prepare all things, that he 1646. 
 might fet out, as he did in the year 1540. \*»*V"s. 
 I do not fay any thing of the particulars of I ^°- 
 his journey, nor of the people he carried 
 with him, becaufe I am not where I can 
 have a diftinct information ; only that in 
 which all agree, is, That he got together a 
 good body of men, both Spaniards and In- 
 dians ; for thefe laft relating what riches 
 the Ingas ufed to draw from people who 
 owned his empire in thofe parts, animated 
 every body to this enterprize ; and Valdi- 
 via feconding with addrefs thefe impref- 
 fions, made a good army, with which he 
 fet out from Peru. 
 
 They had almoft perifh'd with cold, hun- 
 ger, and other inconveniencies ; yet at laft 
 they arriv'd, and advanc'd at firft with 
 little difficulty; but as they went, enga- 
 ging further in the country, ftill they found 
 more oppofition : they firft came to the val- 
 ley of Copiapo, which fignifies the Seed of 
 Terquoifes ; for there is a rock of them, o f At '"'1 U0 'I e 
 fo great a quantity, that they are grown ZdkyT 
 lefs valuable upon it, as Herrera fays : it is Copiapo. 
 a blue ftone, which makes a very good 
 fhew. And fince now we enter this king- 
 dom with more advantage, and upon a 
 fteady foot of fettlement, it will not be 
 amifs to defcribe the valleys and places 
 where the cities were firft founded, and the 
 other fettlements, that we may not be ob- 
 lig'd to look back with an ufelefs repetition. 
 
 The valley of Copiapo is the firft of the 
 inhabited valleys of Chile, though the beft . . . 
 part of the people are Indians, with a few ofthevallty 
 Spaniards, out of which one is the Corrige- e/Copiap6. 
 dor, who is named by the governor of 
 Chile. The land is of it felf very fruitful, 
 and is made more fo by a pleafant river, 
 which runs about twenty leagues in it be- 
 E e fore 
 
io6 
 
 Of the Nature and Properties of the Book V. 
 
 Ovalle. fore it empties its felf into the fea in a bay 
 l6 4 6 - which makes its harbour. Here grow all 
 
 ^V"*-' forts of the natural fruits and grains of the 
 country, and of Europe ; the raaiz yields 
 above three hundred for one, and the ears 
 of it are almoft half a yard long, as Herre- 
 ra and other authors relate. Though I am 
 not inform'd as to the particular of Valdi- 
 via's reception here by the Indians, yet I 
 fuppofe it was without much contradiction ; 
 becaufe theft people were already accuf- 
 tomed to the foreign yoke of the Ingas, 
 and had already feen and received the Spa- 
 niards out of refpect to the Inga Paulo, who 
 accompanied Almagro , who gave them 
 their lawful Cacique, or prince, as we have 
 feen. They had the fame facility in the 
 valleys of Guafco, which is about five and 
 
 twenty or thirty leagues from Copiapo, and 
 that of Coquimbo Limari, and as far as 
 Quillota. Here the Indians took arms, and 
 oppos'd the Caftilians vigoroufly ; engagino- 
 them almoft daily, as people that came to 
 conquer and fubdue their country. The 
 governor Valdivia penetrated as far as the 
 valley of Mapocho, though with the lofs of 
 many of his men. He found this valley ex- Mapocho 
 treamly well peopled, becaufe of its breadth, a rich in- 
 fertility, andpleafantnefs, being thoroughly'^' wtU 
 water' d by the river of that name, which, ff ^ 
 after having run fome leagues, finks under 
 ground, does not lofe itfelf entirely, but ap- 
 pears more nobly, and comes out with a more 
 powerful ftream two or three leagues further, 
 being much bettered in its waters, which 
 from muddy are turn'd clear as chryftal. 
 
 CHAP. II. 
 
 The Foundation of the City of St. Jago in Mapocho. The e Defiripion 
 
 of its Situation. 
 
 TOwards the eaft, the great Cordillera, 
 or fnowy mountain, is a wall to this 
 valley of Mapocho, and is in winter all over 
 white, but in fummer by fpots here and 
 there: to the weft it has the ragged rocks 
 of Poiiangue, Caren, and Lampa, whofe 
 foot we may fay is fhod with gold (for that 
 which is found in its mines is fo fine, that 
 The valley a g rea t deal was got out cf them.) Nei- 
 ff/Mapochother is this valley uncovered on the fides; 
 iiefcribed. f or t0 xh t north and fouth it is environed 
 by other mountains, which, though they 
 do not approach the Cordillera in height, 
 yet are high enough to make a circle about 
 this valley, which in feveral of its rocks 
 produces gold : it is, in its diameter from 
 the Cordillera to the hills of Poiiangue and 
 Caren, five or fix good leagues, and from 
 north to fouth, which is from the river Co- 
 lima to that of Maypo, fevenor eight leagues 
 more ; fo that its circumference is between 
 26 and 28 leagues or more, if we go down 
 as far as Francifco del monte, which is a place 
 of mod plealant fhady woods, where all the 
 timber is cut for the building of the houfes. 
 In this valley, two leagues from the great 
 Cordillera, by the fide of the river Mapocho, 
 God has planted a mountain of a beautiful 
 afpect and proportion, which is like a 
 watch-tower, upon which the whole plain 
 is difcovered at once with the variety of its 
 culture in arable and meadow ; and is other 
 places woods of a fort of oak upon the hills, 
 which afford all the fewel necefiary for the 
 
 inhabited u ^ es °^ ^ e * ^ tne f° ot °f this mountain, 
 6y 80000 which may be two miles about, the Caftili- 
 Indians. ans found many habitations of the Indians, 
 to the number of eighty thoufand, as au- 
 thors report ; which Pedro de Valdivia ob- 
 
 ferving, and guefiing from thence, that ic 
 was the beft part of the whole valley, he re- 
 folved to found here the city of St. Jago, 
 which he began the 24th of 'February in the 
 year 1641. It ftands in 34 degrees of alti- 
 tude, and longitude yy. diftant from the 
 Meridian of Toledo 1980 leagues. The Defection 
 form and ground-plot of this city yields to ofthefitua- 
 few others, and is fuperior to moil of the um "{'^ 
 old cities of Europe ; for it is regular, likejago{^;- 
 a chefs-board, and in that lhape, and that tat of Chile. 
 which we call the fquares for the men, of I<5 + 1 - 
 black and white, are in the city called IJles, 
 with this difference, that fome of them are 
 triangular, fome oval, fome round ; but 
 the fquare ones are all of the fame make and 
 bignefs, and are perfectly fquare : from 
 whence it follow, that wherefoever a man 
 ftands at any corner he fees four ftreets, ac- 
 cording to the four parts of the heavens. 
 Thefe fquares at firft were but of four large 
 houfes, which were diftributed to the firft 
 founders •, but now, by time and fucceffion 
 of inheritance, they have been divided into 
 leffer, and are every day more and more 
 divided ; fo that in every fquare there are 
 many houfes. 
 
 Towards the north, the city is watered 
 by a pleafant river, till it fwells fometimes 
 in winter, when it rains eight, nay twelve 
 and fourteen days together without ceafing ; 
 for then it overflows, and does great rnif- 
 chief in the city, carrying away whole 
 houfes, of which the ruins may be yet feen 
 in fome places ; for this reafon they have 
 rais'd a ftrong wall on that fide ; againft 
 which the river lofing its ftrength, is thrown 
 on the other fide, and the city thereby freed 
 from this inundation. 
 
 From 
 
Chap. 
 
 2. 
 
 Kingdom of CHILE. 
 
 107 
 
 Theconve- From this river is drawn an arm on the 
 nimcits of gjft.fide, which being fubdivided into as 
 'htctty. mar ^ ft'reams as there are fquares, enters 
 into every one of them, and runs thorough 
 all the tranfverfal ftreets by a conduit, or 
 canal ; and bridges are every where, as ne- 
 ceflity requires, for the paflage of carts: fo 
 that all the houfes have a ftream of water, 
 which cleanfes and carries with it all the 
 filth of the city : and from this difpofition 
 of water, 'tis eafy to water or overflow all 
 the ftreets in the heat of fummer, without 
 the trouble of carts or other conveniencies, 
 and that without any charge. All thefe 
 rivulets empty themfelves to the weft, and 
 are let into the grounds without the city, 
 to water the gardens and vineyards that are 
 there : which being done, 'tis let into other 
 fields, fowed with all forts of grain, and 
 then returns to the great river. The inha- 
 bitants do not drink of this water, though 
 pretty good ; but it ferves to water horfes 
 and other animals; therefore they fetch 
 water from the river for their own drinking, 
 or draw it from wells, which yield very 
 good, and very cool: thofe who are yet 
 nicer fend to the fprings and fountains, of 
 ■which there are many in the neigh- 
 bourhood, which yield moft excellent 
 fweet water. The ftreets of this city are 
 ail of the fame bigneis and proportion, 
 broad enough for three coaches to go a- 
 breaft eafily : they are paved on each fide 
 
 near the houfes, and the middle is unpav'dOvALLE. 
 for the paflage of carts. There is one ftreet ,*^' 
 that is of an extraordinary breadth, and inJ^Q^^ 
 it fifteen or fixteen coaches may go a- ftreet. 
 bread ; this is to the fouth, and runs eaft 
 and weft the whole length of the city : this 
 is call'd La Cannada ; and though at firft 
 it did not extend beyond the city, yet now 
 it does, and has many buildings and gar- 
 dens ; and there is the church of St. Laza- 
 rus: but there are feveral fquares built fur- 
 ther which enclofe in again, and fo it is in a 
 good fituation. 
 
 This Cannada is the beft fituation of the 
 whole place, where there is always an air 
 ftirring, fo as the inhabitants in the great- 
 eft heats of fummer can fit at their doors, 
 and enjoy the cool ; to which may be added 
 the agreeable profpecl: it affords, as well 
 becaufe of the buftle of carts and coaches, as 
 of a grove of willows which is watered by a 
 little rivulet from one end of the ftreet to the 
 other : it is befides adorned with a famous 
 convent of St. Francis, the church of which 
 is all of a white free-ftone, all fquare ftone 
 finely cut, and a fteeple of the fame at one 
 end of it, fo high, that it is feen a great 
 way off by thofe who came from other 
 parts. It is divided into three parts, and 
 has its galleries ; the upppermoft is a pi- 
 ramid : from it one may difcover on all 
 fides lovely profpecls, which delight the 
 eye extreamly, and recreate the mind. 
 
 CHAP. III. 
 
 Of the other Edifices and Churches of the City of St. Jago. 
 
 THIS city has (befide this ftreet, cal- 
 led the Cannada, which might af- 
 rhecity of ford many places, fuch as are in great 
 St. jago cities) another very large one, named of 
 further de- Sl Saturnino ; it has likewife the place of 
 ' ' Santla Anna, where has been lately built 
 a church dedicated to that glorious faint. 
 There is alfo a place called La Placera de 
 la Compania de Jefus, where the front of 
 their church makes a figure, and is a re- 
 treat or tabernacle upon the day of the 
 proceffion of Corpus Chrifti. Moft of the 
 other religious houfes have their places 
 before the great porticos or entrance of 
 their churches : but above all, is the place 
 called the principal place, where all the 
 bufinefs of law and commerce is driven. The 
 two fides of the place that are eaft and 
 fouth have buildings after the old way, 
 though they have made very good new 
 balconies to them, and large windows, 
 to fee the bull-feafts and other publick 
 diverfions which are made there. The 
 north - fide is all upon arches of brick ; 
 
 underneath which are the fcrivcners and 
 publick notaries, as alfo the fecretarifhips 
 of the royal Audiencia, and the town- Town L , 
 houfe : and overhead are the royal lod- 
 gings, with balconies to the place, with 
 the great halls for the meeting of the 
 town - houfe officers ; and in the middle 
 are the audience-rooms of the royal chan- 
 cery , with their galleries to the place : 
 and, laftly, the royal apartments, where 
 the royal officers are lodged ; and the 
 rooms neceflary for the treafury and cham- 
 ber of accounts, and lodgings for the of- 
 ficers. 
 
 The fide that lies to the weft has in it, 
 firft, the cathedral church, which is of three 
 ifles, befides its chapels, which it has on 
 each fide : it is all of a fine white ftone ; 
 the chief ifle, or that of the middle, be- 
 ing upon arches and pillars of an airy and 
 gallant architecture. The remainder of this 
 fide to the corner is taken up with the epif- 
 copal palace, which has a very fine garden, 
 and noble apartments both high and low, 
 
 with 
 
io8 
 
 Of the Nature and Properties of the Eook V. 
 
 OvALLE.with a gallery fupported by pillars, which 
 
 1646. an f W er the place •, which, if it were equal- 
 
 V^y%^ jy ^ u - j t on ^ ea ^. an( j f out h fides, would 
 
 be one of the moft beautiful and agreeable 
 places that can be ; for it is perfectly fquare, 
 and very large, with a due regard to the 
 whole plot of the city. I doubt not but in 
 time the two old-fafhion'd fides will be 
 pulled down, and others built on pillars and 
 arches proportionably to the other fides. 
 
 The greateft part of the buildings, (ex- 
 cept the publick ones, which are of a rough 
 ftone, but very hard, which the mountain 
 of Santa Lucia affords, and is within the 
 city, and fome great gates and windows 
 which are of mouldings of ftone or brick,) 
 that is to fay, the ordinary buildings, are 
 of earth and ftraw well beaten together, 
 which is fo ftrong, that I have feen great 
 openings made in a wall, to make great 
 gates after the modern way, and yet the 
 wall, though a very high one, not feel it, 
 though the houfe was none of the neweft, 
 but almoft as ancient as the city ; for the 
 fun bakes and hardens the earth and ftraw 
 fo well together, that I have feen a piece of 
 thofe walls fall from a high place, and not 
 break in pieces, though fo big that a man 
 could not carry it. At prefent the houfes 
 that are built are of a better form, higher, 
 and lighter than at firft, becaufe the firft 
 conquerors were more intent upon getting 
 gold, and fpending it in fumptuous treats, 
 and high living, with fplendor and libera- 
 lity, than in building palaces, as they might 
 have done, by reafon they had many hands, 
 and the ftone hard by. 
 
 In matter of buildings, this city, as moft 
 others of the Indies, may brag, that it imi- 
 tated Solomon, who began with building 
 the temple and houfe of God before he built 
 his own palace. So the Spaniards have done 
 all over the Indies, in this new world, in- 
 heriting this cuftom from their anceftors of 
 Old Spain ; for I remember, that travelling 
 in Cajlella, I made this obfervation, that 
 let the place or village be never fo fmall, 
 yet it has a good church ; and even where 
 the houfes were poor, and like dove-coats, 
 the churches were of free-ftone, with a 
 fteeple of the lame ; which gave me mat- 
 ter of edification, confidering the piety of 
 the faithful on this occafion. 
 
 Juft fo the Spaniards of the Indies began 
 firft to erect churches, with fo much appli- 
 cation, that they do not feem buildings 
 made within thefe hundred years •, but ra- 
 ther fuch as one would think they had inhe- 
 rited from their anceftors, or had been built 
 by the gentiles ; and yet there is not a 
 church in all the Indies, which they have 
 not raifed from its foundation. We have 
 already fpoke of the cathedral of St. J ago ; 
 
 and much more might have been faid of its 
 ftrength and beauty, and the ornament of 
 its altars and facrifty. There are befides feve- 
 ral other fine churches. That of St. Domingo, Defcriptim 
 though not of ftone, is built upon arches oW tl:e , f 
 brick, with a great many fine chapels on stJJomtn- 
 each fide, particularly that of Niteftra Sen- go. 
 nora del Rofario, which is all painted and 
 gilt, and is frequented with much devo- 
 tion. The covering of this church is of 
 wood, and finely wrought, as well as the 
 choir, which is alfo painted and gilded, 
 with handfome knots and feftoons. The fa- 
 crifty is full of ornaments of brocade of gold 
 and filver, and embroidered filks of the 
 fame -, a great deal of plate for the altar, 
 and mouldings of the altar-piece all gilded. 
 But this is nothing to the cloyfter, which by 
 this time is made an end of, and is of a 
 fine architecture, two ftories high ; and the 
 lower, where the proceffion goes, is adorn- 
 ed with exquifite paintings in the four cor- 
 ners, where are four altars all gilded, and 
 light as a bright flame : the apartment at 
 the entrance is alfo finely fet off with pic- 
 tures of faints of the order, of excellent 
 hands. 
 
 The convent of St. Francis may be eal-^' WBWW 
 led a town for its largenefs : it has two^ St f'T 
 cloyfters for the procefilons •, the firft is up-<^. 
 on arches of brick ; and the fecond, which 
 is the largeft, very finely painted, with the 
 ftory of the life of the faint compared with 
 paflages of our faviour Jefus Chrift's life ; 
 and over, are all the faints of the order -, and 
 at each corner four great pictures, with four 
 altars, which ferve for the procefilons and 
 ceremonies of holidays. 
 
 The church is of free-ftone, and all its 
 altars gilded on the infide ; but above all, 
 the feats of the choir are a piece of rare 
 workmanfhip : it is all of cyprefs, by which 
 means there is always an admirable fmell. 
 The firft row of feats reaches,with its crown- 
 ing or ornaments, to the very roof, all of 
 excellent architecture, with its mouldings, 
 bafes, cornifhes, and other proportions. 
 
 The church of our lady of the Mercede, 
 is alfo built upon brick arches. The great 
 chapel is admirable for the thicknefs of its 
 wall, and the beauty of ceiling, which is 
 all of cyprefs wood, in the form of a duomo, 
 or cupola. The great cloyfter is begun up- 
 on fo fine a model, that to finifh it fo, will 
 require the care and application of thofe 
 who have the government of that convent. 
 The fituationof this.convent is the fineft and 
 nobleft of any, except that of St. Francis : 
 it has the advantage of receiving the river 
 firft, whereby water is fo plentiful in the 
 convent, that they have been able to make 
 two mills to grind corn enough for the 
 convent, and to give away. 
 
 The 
 
Chap. 4. 
 
 Kingdom of CHILE. 
 
 109 
 
 The convent of St. Auguftin is but newly- 
 begun ; but its church, all of free-ftone, will 
 out-do all the others for beauty : it is of 
 three ifles, and in the midft of all the hur- 
 ry and bufinefs of the town. 
 
 'Tis not many years that the facred or- 
 der of the blefied Juan de Dios has been fet- 
 tled in this kingdom •, and in a little time 
 thofe fathers have done a great deal ; for 
 having taken upon them the care of the 
 royal hofpitals, they have reformed them, 
 affifting the fick with all neatnefs, care, and 
 diligence, and have added feveral large 
 buildings. They are much helped in this 
 by the devotion the people have for their 
 founder, to whom they addrefs their prayers 
 and vows in their wants and neceffities, and 
 not in vain, for they feel great relief by his 
 interceffion. 
 
 The college of the company of J ejus has 
 not been able to build the infide of the 
 houfe, becaufe from their firft foundation 
 the fathers have attended only the finifhing 
 of the church ; which is now compafTed, and 
 is without difpute the fineft next to the ca- 
 
 thedral. It is all of a white (lone, the Ovaixe . 
 front of an excellent architecture, and over v jf'^ > 
 the cornifh a figure in relievo of a Jefus. D.f c „p t ; alf 
 The great chapel has its cupola and \ant- of the je. 
 horn all adorn'd with feftoons and knots oO u,t ' 
 two forts of wood, white and red, which c ' 
 makes a beautiful fhew. 
 
 The covering or roof is all of cyprefs, 
 inlaid with all forts of flower-work, and 
 divided into five parts ; the middlemoit is 
 a compofure of all forts of figures, which 
 feem a labyrinth to thole who fee it from 
 the ground, and with a noble cornifh that 
 runs round, gives a delightful profpecl:. 
 
 The architecture of the altar, and the 
 tabernacle for keeping the holy facrament, 
 are valued at a prodigious fum. The altar 
 rifes to the top of the church ; and becaufe, 
 according to art, it ought to have reached 
 from wall to wall, which it does not, the 
 empty places are filled up with two reliqua- 
 ries on each fide, which join to the altar : 
 this being all gilded, feems, when one firfl 
 comes in, to be one plate of gold. 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 Of the Civil Government , both ecclejiajlical and fecular , of the City of 
 St. Jago j and of the Nature and ^Properties of its Inhabitants. 
 
 (~~1 OVE R N M E NT is the foul of the 
 
 Govern- 
 ment of yjf body-politick ; and therefore, at the 
 fame time that the city of St. Jago was 
 founded, the corporation was fettled to ad- 
 minifter juftice, without which no govern- 
 ment can ftand. The corporation confifts 
 of two ordinary alcaldes, an alferes royal, 
 an alguazil mayor, a general depofitarius, 
 fix councellors, or aldermen, chofen every 
 year, half out of the gentlemen called en- 
 comenderos, and half out of the inhabi- 
 tants of the place, who have bought that 
 privilege for themfelves and their defen- 
 dants. . Of the two alcaldes, he that is of 
 the encomenderos has the precedence and 
 firft vote, and the inhabitant the other : 
 they divide the year between them by fix 
 months. There is a prefident to the affem- 
 bly, who is always corrigedor, and lieute- 
 nant to the captain-general ; and it is a 
 place of great honour : and though it be of 
 more charge than profit, by reafon of the 
 expence belonging to it unavoidable, yet 
 it never fails of pretenders, becaufe of its 
 authority, and the refpeft paid to the of- 
 fice. They are chofen yearly, with the 
 two alcaldes, two others of the holy fra- 
 ternity, or hermandad, whofe jurifdidion 
 is without the bounds of the city, as is prac- 
 The court tifed in other parts. About thirty years 
 of the royal ago there was founded a royal chancery in 
 «H(ttenct*. t his city, which confifts of a prefident, four 
 Vol. III. 
 
 oydores, or counfellors, and two fifcals ; 
 one who is the ordinary, and another, who 
 has been added within thefe four years, and 
 has the fame honours, who has the protec- 
 tion of the Indians, and the matters belong- 
 ing to the holy cruzada. After thefe is the 
 alguazil mayor de corte, who has alfo the 
 magiftrate's habit, and a chair of ftate : 
 then are the officers called the chancellor, 
 fecretaries, referendaries, and others, as in 
 fuch courts. There is no appeal from the 
 fentence of review given in this court, but 
 to the royal council of the Indies ; and then 
 there is a certain fum, below which there 
 is no appeal neither. It cannot be denied 
 but the majefty of this tribunal has very 
 much adorned the city ; though ther&want 
 not thofe who lament the hindrance it has 
 given to its riches and increafe, which 
 would have been more confiderable, if the 
 inhabitants had continued in their firft fim- 
 plicity, cloathing themfelves with the ma- 
 nufactures of the country, and avoiding all 
 thofe pompous liveries which are now in 
 ufe ; for thofe who before might walk in 
 the publick place in a plain drefs of the 
 country, and be honoured and refpected, 
 muft now appear in filk, or Spanijh cloth, 
 which yet is dearer than filk, for a yard 
 of it cofts fometimes twenty pieces of eight. 
 Any gentleman of eftate cannot now appear 
 decently in publick, without many fervants 
 Ff in 
 
no 
 
 Of the Nature and Properties of the 
 
 Book V. 
 
 OvALLE.in rich liveries ; and within a few years 
 1646. they have brought up a vanity of rich pa- 
 V*V"' W ' rafols, or umbrellos, which at firft were on- 
 ly ufed by the people of the greateft qua- 
 lity ; and now no body is without them, 
 but thofe who cannot compafs them ; and 
 though it is a thing of great gravity, and 
 very ufeful to preferve health, yet it in- 
 creafes thofe forced expences ufed in great 
 cities : for this, and fome other reafons, 
 fome were of opinion, that it would have 
 been better for the city and kingdom, that 
 they had continued to govern themfelves 
 without this court of a royal audiencia, as 
 they did formerly : but, to fay truth, they 
 are in the wrong ; for, firft, there are ma- 
 ny cities in the Indies, where, without a 
 court of this nature, I have feen vanity 
 thrive in liveries and fuperfluous expences as 
 much as any where. Secondly, becaufe, ab- 
 ftracting from paflion and intereft, which 
 commonly do miflead men in the admini- 
 ftration of juftice, it cannot be denied but 
 that the fovereign authority of this tribunal 
 is of great weight to maintain the quiet of 
 the kingdom, by keeping an even hand in 
 the adminiftration of juftice, and not fuf- 
 fering that the tyranny fome affect, either 
 by reafon of their preferments or riches, 
 fhould ftifle right reafon, or opprefs inno- 
 cency, which has not learn'd to court and 
 flatter. 
 The audien- Thus a royal audiencia is a bridle to vice, 
 chef great a reward to virtue, a protection to the poor, 
 Advantage and a maintenance of right and reafon •, 
 nthedty. an j j-j^g was tne intention f our catholick 
 
 monarch : for this reafon did he erect this 
 court, which is the more neceflary, becaufe 
 it is at that diftance from the royal prefence, 
 and fo hard that the cries of the poor fhould 
 reach his ears ; for if fometimes they do ar- 
 rive to his court, 'tis fo faintly, that they 
 can fcarce be heard : for this reafon, thofe 
 who have the chufing and fending the king's 
 officers into fuch remote parts, ought to be 
 the more careful to provide men of chriftian 
 principles, and well intentioned, as indeed 
 they have been, and are ftill in that king- 
 dom.; and it is no more than is necefTary, 
 for a good example to thofe new chriftians 
 the Indians. 
 
 This royal audiencia is the caufe likewife, 
 that much gentry comes from Europe to the 
 Indies, and fo help to people them, and to 
 continue the good intercourfe between S/w'm 
 and that country, which is good for both. 
 It cannot likewife be denied, (though that 
 be but as an accefibry,) that the prefence 
 and afiiftance of this royal tribunal at all 
 publick feafts and exercifes, is of great coun- 
 tenance to them, and particularly to the li- 
 terary acts and commencements, whereby 
 learning is encouraged ; and thofe who em- 
 ploy themfelves in that honourable ftudy 
 
 have a reward before their eyes, hoping to 
 attain to be advocates, referendaries, fifcals 
 and counfellors: for in the Wejl Indies thofe 
 places are all very honourable, and particu- 
 larly in Chile, where the falaries are larger 
 than in other parts, and yet provifions are 
 cheaper ; fo that 'tis eafy to lay up a good 
 part of one's revenue. Befides thefe tribu- 
 nals, there are others, as that of the chamber 
 of accounts, or treafury, for the manage - 
 ment and adminiftration of the king's re- 
 venue : thefe officers do likewife vifit the 
 fhips that come in and out at the port of 
 Valparifo : their offices are very honourable, 
 and of great profit, and they are in the 
 king's gift, as thofe of the royal audiencia 
 are. 
 
 The affairs of juftice, and things belong- 
 ing to good government, are under the au- 
 diencia ; but thofe of war and preferments 
 belong to the governor, of whom we fhall 
 fpeak in a proper place. 
 
 The bifhop is abfolute lord of all the 7 *'*'^ 
 church government ; and though the bi-^S/i/- 
 fhoprick of St. J ago is none of the rkhe&tiealsgms. 
 of the Indies, becaufe all the product of the 
 earth is fo cheap, and by confequence the 
 tithes do not rife high, yet this very abun- 
 dance is part of the riches of the bifhoprick j 
 for by this means the bifhop's family and 
 expences are the eafier fupplied, and he may 
 keep more attendance, and yet lay up a 
 good part of his revenue ; whereas other 
 bifhopricks, though richer, have enough 
 to do to keep up the decency of their dig- 
 nity. There is a numerous clergy, who 
 make a great cortege to the bifhop upon 
 certain publick days ; and when he is recei- 
 ved the firft time, and takes poneifion, the 
 ceremony is very great ; for part of the 
 royal audiencia, the chapters, all the mili- 
 tia, horfe and foot, with the people, go 
 out to meet him ; fo that 'tis a day of great 
 pomp. 
 
 The chapter of the cathedral is a vene-^'*L 
 rable body of men, in which the king alone 'the king. 
 provides the vacancies by virtue of his royal 
 patronage, and the conceffion of the popes ; 
 fo that there is not, as in Spain, the bifhop 
 or the pope's month ; but in the Indies all 
 dignities of cathedrals, even to the very pa- 
 rifh priefts, are all at the king's nomination, 
 but with fome differences ; for the dignities 
 are beftowed in Spain itfelf by the advice 
 of the council of the Indies ; but the cures 
 or livings of parifh priefts, the king does 
 beftow them by his governor or prefident, 
 who expofes a publick edict, that all oppo- 
 fers for the vacancy of fuch a benefice may 
 come and oppofe the examination ; and of 
 thefe, die bifhop prefents three to the go- 
 vernor-general, to chufe in the king's name. 
 
 The holy tribunal of the inquifition, 
 which is in Lima, ferves for all the whole 
 
 fouth 
 
Chap. 5. 
 
 Kingdom of CHILE. 
 
 in 
 
 fouth America ; fo that in Chile there is on- 
 ly a commiflary, with his officers and fami- 
 liars, who accompany him in all publick 
 acts, and form a tribunal with great autho- 
 rity. There is likewife an officer of the 
 Cruzada, called a commiflary, which is 
 likewife a poft of great authority ; and the 
 day that the bull is publifhed, all the or- 
 ders of the religious are bound to be at the 
 proceflion. 
 chnrafter j-^ us conc i uc J e this chapter by faying 
 
 ttvts. "" fomething of the natives who are born and 
 bred in this city : They are generally in- 
 genious, and of good parts ; and thofe 
 whofe inclination is to learning, fucceed ve- 
 ry well •, but they naturally are more in- 
 clined to war, very few of them taking to 
 other employments, either of trade or bufi- 
 nefs ; and they who, from their infancy, or 
 by a ftrong inclination, do not take to learn- 
 ing, feldom fucceed, and eafily leave it, 
 if put upon it, to follow the found of a 
 drum or a trumpet, and never are quiet till 
 they get to be enrolled as foldiers being 
 much better pleafed with the liberty of a 
 
 foldier's life, than with thedifcipline of the Ovalle , 
 
 fchools. vlSSL, 
 
 They are much addicted to horfeman- ^v^ 
 fhip : and I have often feen, that to ftreng- 
 then a child that can hardly go, the beft 
 way is to fet him on horfeback : this makes 
 them prove dexterous horfemen, and bold. 
 And 'tis a common opinion, and a known 
 experience, that for horfe, one of the coun- 
 try is better than four from abroad : this 
 has been fufficiently proved in the courfe of 
 fo long a war as that which has bufied that 
 kingdom. 
 
 They are naturally liberal, goodnatured, 
 and friendly, particularly if they are treat- 
 ed honourably, with due regard : they are 
 pretty ftubborn and wilful ; to be led only 
 by fair means, and then they are docile 
 and tractable ; but if force is ufed, they do 
 worfe and worfe. This we the fathers of 
 the fociety do often experience in our col- 
 leges : fo we are obliged to lead them by 
 fweetnefs and emulation, rather than by ri- 
 gour and harfhnefs. 
 
 CHAP. V. 
 
 Of the Riches j Militia , Studies, and Increafe of the City of St. Jago. 
 
 THIS city, to which the king has gi- 
 ven the title of moft noble and loyal, 
 is the capital city of Chile, and one of the 
 beft in the Indies, next to thole two royal 
 ones of Lima and Mexico, who do exceed it 
 in fumptuous edifices, in people and trade, 
 becaufe they are more antient and nearer 
 Spain, and of a greater paflage for the peo- 
 ple that come from Europe, and free from 
 the tumults of war ; which is a canker that 
 eats deepeft into great cities and kingdoms ; 
 and 'tis no fmall proof of their force, to be 
 able to maintain fo long a war. 
 . I This city was founded one hundred and 
 efthe city, four years ago •, and it has all that while fuf- 
 tained the heavy load of a long and ftub- 
 born war, which the native Indians have 
 made upon the Spaniards without any inter- 
 miflion ; in which its inhabitants have ei- 
 ther always been in arms, or fending many 
 horfes and provifion to the camp ; a cala- 
 mity, which, far from letting it grow to 
 what it is, ought to have kept it down 
 from the beginning : nor is it of a fmall 
 confideration, for the growth of other cities 
 in the Indies to reflect, that they being 
 in the way, and, as it were, upon the paf- 
 fage of other places, many newcomers have 
 fettled there, who perhaps at firft were 
 bound for other countries, or at leaft were 
 indifferent where they ftay'd, and took up 
 with them. 'Tis otherwife with the city 
 of St. Jago, becaufe the kingdom of Chile 
 being fo remote, and the laft of all the Spa- 
 mjlj dominions, it is the non-plus-ultra of the 
 
 world'; fo that no body goes thither by 
 chance, but on purpofe, and upon fome de- 
 fign or particular intereft ; for which reafon 
 the number of ftrangers is little. 
 
 But the city is fo good and convenient tOTherichis. 
 pafs away life with eafe, that notwithftand- 
 ing thefe difadvantages, it is fo increafed, 
 that it aftonifhes all who fee it, few cities 
 of the Indies outdoing it in finery, particu- 
 larly as to the women, (it were to be wifli- 
 ed it were not to that excels ;) for all things 
 coming from Europe are there prodigious 
 dear ; and this caufes many families to run 
 behind hand. Who fhould fee the place of 
 St. Jago, and that of Madrid, could fee no 
 difference as to this point, nay, as to the 
 women, the finery exceeds that of Madrid; 
 for the Spanijh women, fcorning to go to fer- 
 vice, are all ladies, and love to appear as 
 fuch, as much as they can ; and the emula- 
 tion between them about fine cloaths, jewels, 
 and other ornaments, for themfelves and their 
 fervants, is fuch , that let their husbands be ne- 
 ver fo rich they want all they have, parti- 
 cularly if they are of the nobility, to fatisfy 
 the pride of the women. 
 
 As to the militia of the city, the firft Miliiin. 
 part of it is the company of inhabitants, en- 
 comenderos, and reformed captains, who 
 have no other commander but the governor 
 himfelf, or his deputy ; after that, there are 
 two or three troops of horfe, and three or 
 four companies of foot, all Spaniards. Thefe 
 often mufter on holidays, and are exercifed 
 in the ufe of their arms ; and fometimes 
 
 there 
 
ii2 Of the Nature and Properties of the Book V. 
 
 Ovaixe. there are general mufters before the oydores 
 1646. anc j royal officers, where their arms are ex- 
 >«^Y^> am i n 'd ; who alfo note them down, to know 
 what ftrength they can raiie upon occafion, 
 punilhing fuch as do not keep their arms 
 and horfes fit for fervice. By this diligence 
 they are very ready at their arms, and the 
 exercifing of them proves an entertainment 
 for them and the whole city ; for very of- 
 ten, in the publick proceflions, one or two 
 of thefe companies ufe to come out, and 
 make a falvo for them ; and in the holy 
 week there always attend a troop of horfe, 
 and a company of foot, who guard the 
 ftreet, where the proceffions of the whip- 
 pers go to keep the peace, becaufe of the 
 Indians, who ufe to take that time to make 
 fome rifings, the Spaniards being wholly 
 taken up with their devotions. 
 
 The days in which this milicia makes the 
 beft lhew, are, when the bilhops come to 
 be receiv'd, becaufe they make a lane from 
 the entrance of the city to the great place 
 of it, where they form their battalion •, and 
 the concourfe of the people ufes to be fo 
 great, that though the place is very large, 
 there is fcarce room for them. 
 The vafi And fince we are upon that fubject, we 
 increa/e of ca nnot omit to obferve that which is wor- 
 * e " y % thy of admiration, and that is, to fee how 
 it is increas'd in the number of Spaniards 
 within thefe forty years. 'Tis probable, 
 the fame has happened to the other cities of 
 the Indies ; but this has had a continual 
 drain, by fupplying foldiers for the war 
 with the Indians, where many perifh, and 
 few return. I remember that I have heard 
 fay, that one of our fathers, newly come 
 from Europe, and coming to our college, 
 where he law but few people in the ftreet, 
 cried out, 
 
 Apparent ran nantes in gurgite vajlo. 
 
 By which he meant to fignify, the dif- 
 proportion of the inhabitants to the bignefs 
 of the city ; but now that very ftreet is fo 
 full of people, that all hours of the day, 
 and fome of the night, it is extremely fre- 
 quented ; for there have been built many 
 houfes for handicraftfmen and fhopkeepers 
 on both fides of it, becaufe trade is confi- 
 derably increas'd. 
 
 I can myfelf affirm, that I obferv'd as 
 great an alteration in a much lefs time, as 
 well in people as in building ; for having 
 been abfent but eight years, I confefs, that 
 at my return, I fcarce knew the place again ; 
 for I found feveral ground fpots where there 
 was not a houfe built upon, with very good 
 buildings -, and thofe which I had left built 
 were alter'd to the better, with more and 
 higher apartments •, and the courts which 
 were very large, were confiderably ftreigh- 
 
 tened by other buildings-, and yet the plot 
 of the city was larger too ; fo that being 
 at firft built at the foot of the mountain we 
 have fpoken of, to the weft of it, I found 
 it extended as much to the eaft, and the 
 fame proportionably to the fouth and north, 
 and it increafcs daily towards the river, and 
 the Cannada. 
 
 There was, when I left the place, about i*"t*[t f 
 a dozen ftiops of good retailers, and at my tr **' 
 return there were above fifty ; and the lams 
 proportionably as to the fhops of fhoe-ma- 
 kers, taylors, carpenters, fmiths, goldfmiths, 
 and other handicraftfmen, whom I found 
 alfo more curious and exact in their pro- 
 feffions •, and emulation has produced very 
 good pieces of workmanfhip in gold and 
 filver, and carvings in wood , gildings, 
 paintings, which have adorn'd the churches, 
 with thofe which have been brought from 
 Europe, and the particular houfes ; fo that 
 in fome houfes alone, there are more things 
 of that kind now, than there were in all 
 the city formerly. Some complain, that 
 there are not now fuch rich and powerful men 
 as there were at firft -, and that is true : but 
 it does not follow, that the generality is 
 the worfe for that, but rather otherwife ; 
 for the lands and houfes which belong now 
 to ten families, were antiently in one; it 
 being certain, that feveral of the heirs of 
 that man have attain'd to as great riches 
 as he himfclf had ; or at leaft 'tis apparent, 
 that the ftock of all thofe who have fhar'd 
 the inheritance, far exceeds what was left 
 them ; fo that fuppofing, that fome were 
 formerly richer, yet the riches are more in 
 the land ; which is alfo clear to any that 
 fhall confider the houfes, pofiefiions, and 
 other improvements made fince that time ; 
 for now there is fcarce room for the people, 
 whereas before there was not half people 
 for the room that was for them ; which is 
 alfo vifible in the country round about, 
 where farms that could hardly find pur- 
 chafers, and were little worth, are now fo 
 rifen in their value, that the fmalleft coft 
 great fums ; and this rage of purchafing is 
 fuch, that moft of the caufes in the royal 
 audiencia are about titles ; for the antients, 
 who took pofleffion of the land, thought, 
 that if they had a little footing in a valley, 
 it was all theirs ; but thofe who have come 
 fince, have purchafed by virtue of new ti- 
 tles, and taken new poflefuon ; which makes 
 fo many law-fuits. 
 
 There is not a form'd regular univerfity 
 in this city, becaufe that of Lima ferv'd 
 for all the neighbouring kingdoms and pro- 
 vinces to take the degrees ; but when in 
 time the going to Lima was found fo charge- 
 able, and the journey, which is of three 
 or four hundred leagues, fo troublcfome, 
 there were bulls obtain'd of the pope, for 
 
 the 
 
Chap. 6. 
 
 Kingdom of C H I L E. 
 
 113 
 
 The pope's the orders of St.Dominick and the jefuits, 
 buUs , ,'t to have the privilege of conferring the de- 
 
 taind for r i i i r • c 
 
 the domtni-%*vz% of batchelor, licentiate of arts, as 
 cans and je- alfo doctors in divinity, in the kingdoms 
 fuinucon- f chi i ei> Granada, Ruito, Chuquizaga, Tit- 
 ter e^rees. cuman ^ anc j ~p ara g lia y. 
 
 The effect has fhewed how neceflary this 
 favour, and how important this privilege 
 has been •, for this incitement to honour has 
 caus'd a general application to learning ; 
 for the priefts and curates are already great 
 proficients in ftudy, and fo more capable 
 of taking upon them the cure of fouls ; 
 and thofe who betake themfelves to a reli- 
 gious life, are better qualified to ferve their 
 orders, and be an honour to them, as ma- 
 ny of them are •, and it does not a little 
 contribute to the value of them, to fee the 
 great folemnity us'd at the reception of the 
 feveral graduates. And in this, as well as 
 the reft, I think our city of St. Jago is not 
 inferior to any : for, firft, all the acts are 
 held with great concourfe of all the learned, 
 and very often the bifhop honours them 
 with his prefence, and fo do the prefident 
 of the audiencia, and the chief of the 
 town-government, to whom are dedicated 
 
 the fubjects of the extempory readings, ac-OvAXLE. 
 cording to the conftitution of the univerfi- ,*j^' 
 ty, which are given out with great fidelity, ^-^V^*^ 
 dividing the fubject into three parts, for 
 the graduate to difpute upon in prefence 
 of a great concourfe of people ; and the fe- 
 verity is indifpenfable in this and all other 
 examinations, for the different degrees 
 which are given by the bifhop, by virtue 
 of an approbation firft given him by the 
 father rector and the profefibrs, as the 
 bull directs ; according to which there is 
 no obligation of giving any treat ; but yet 
 that the doctors may affift with more plea- 
 fure and diligence, there has been introdu- 
 ced a cuftom of giving fome moderate ones, 
 befides gloves, which were allowed inftead 
 of it ; but fome out of oftentation, give 
 both treat and gloves. Befides this, there 
 has been introduc'd a cuftom of inviting 
 the horfe of the city to honour the procef- 
 fion, which makes the folemnity the more 
 confpicuous; and they very willingly ac- 
 cept of the invitation, for they are very 
 ready to mount on horfeback to honour any, 
 much more thofe who diftinguifh themfelves 
 by the exercifes of virtue and learning, 
 
 CHAP. VI, 
 
 Of the JVorfhip of God y and the Church Ceremonies in the City of St. Jago. 
 
 Religious | 
 ixorfliifve- I 
 
 ry fiately 
 tmd expert 
 five. 
 
 F we were to make a judgment of this 
 city by the worfhip of God that is 
 
 perform'd in it, and the appearance of the 
 clergy, we fhould judge it to be much big- 
 ger than it is; for the flate and expence 
 with which the holidays are kept, in the 
 charge of mufick, perfumes, wax, and other 
 ornaments, are very great : let us give fome 
 particular inftances, and begin with the ca- 
 thedral. I cannot but commend the piety 
 of thofe eminent perfons, the bifhop, pre- 
 fident, and counfellors of the royal audien- 
 cia, who taking each of them a day during 
 the ottave of the holy facrament, are at 
 the whole expence of that day, and that is 
 very confiderable ; for all the wax and per- 
 fumes are very dear, as coming from Eu- 
 rope ; and the holy emulation that is be- 
 tween them, increafes the fplendor of the 
 day ; fo that during that ottave, the church 
 is fo perfum'd, that its fragrancy is fmelt 
 fome diftance from it. The proceffion of 
 the firft and eighth day are upon the ac- 
 count of the chapter, as the hanging of the 
 ftreets, and erecting of altars for repofito- 
 ries, are at the charge of the inhabitants 
 where the proceffion paffes : this proceffion 
 is attended by all the convents, and all the 
 companies of trades, with their banners 
 and flags, fo that it reaches a great way. 
 After this of the cathedral come every day 
 • Vol. III. 
 
 new ones of all the convents, fo that they 
 laft a month, every one endeavouring to 
 have theirs the beft ; by which means there 
 are great variety of ornamental inventions 
 and machines. The Indians of the neigh- 
 bourhood, that live in the Chagras, that is, 
 little cottages, within fome miles of the 
 city, attend likewife with their banners ; 
 and they chufe for this purpofe a leader 
 who makes the expence, and treats thofe of 
 his company : their numbers are fo great, 
 and the noife they make fo loud, with their 
 flutes, and their hollowing and finging, 
 that they are placed in the front, or elfe 
 there would be no hearing the church mu- 
 fick, nor any means of underftanding one 
 another about the government of the pro- 
 ceffion. The other feafts and holidays in 
 the year are proportionably folemniz'd with 
 the fame decency by all the orders of friers, 
 who all of them have fome devout perfons 
 who help to bear the charge. But the nuns 
 exceed all the reft in ornaments; and thefe 
 nunneries are fo populous, that in that of 
 St. Auflin alone there are above five hun- 
 dred perfons, whereof three hundred are 
 veiled nuns, the reft are lay-fifters ; and be- 
 caufe the nunnery being full, there can be 
 no more receiv'd, but with great difficulty, 
 the other nunnery of SanRa Clara receives 
 fo many every day, that in a little time it 
 G g will 
 
ii 4 
 
 Of the Nature and Properties of the Eook V. 
 
 OvALtE.will equal the other in number, as it does 
 1646. already in the pomp and ornament of its 
 
 V-yv/ church-fervice ; that which thefc angels of 
 heaven, (for fo we may juftly call thole 
 who with fo much piety and anxiety do 
 ferve God continually, and are as a wall 
 of defence to the city,) that which they do 
 moft fhine in, can hardly be exprefs'd as 
 to the neatnefs, curiofity, and richnefs of 
 their altars, and the church-ornaments. 
 "What fhall I fay of the fmells, artificial 
 flowers, fruits, chocolates, paftillos, and 
 perfuming pots, which I have feen fome- 
 times of fo great a fize, that they (truck 
 me with admiration, confidering the mat- 
 ter they are made of, which is of a refin'd 
 fugar, as white as fnow, fometimes in form 
 of a caftle, fometimes of a candleftick, or 
 a pyramid moft exquifitely wrought. 
 
 They are not content with this ; for I 
 have fometimes feen the whole grate of the 
 choir, and the joiners work, and beams of 
 the church, all cover'd with preferv'd ci- 
 tron, in form of funs or angels of mezzo 
 relievo, and a thoufand other inventions, 
 which I fhould never have done, if I mould 
 report them all. 1 mull only fay, that the 
 
 generofity of thofe ladies is fuch, that 
 though this cofts very much, yet I have of- 
 ten feen them at the end of a mafs diftri- 
 bute all thofe things to thofe who happen 
 to be in the church, without keeping it for 
 themfelves : they do not only do this with- 
 in the church, but the altars which are frt 
 up in their cloyfters, and ftreets near them j 
 for the proceffions are. adorn'd, after the 
 lame manner, with fruits and flowers of the 
 fame materials, fo well imitated, that they 
 appear new-gather'd. 
 
 The monafteries of men are not fo well The monaf. 
 fill'd as thofe of the nuns, though iomt' er,es "f 
 have a hundred, others fixty or feventy^'^'^ 
 friers. The fecular clergy is alfo very nu-<u the nun. 
 merous, very virtuous, and learned. Since 7 """' 
 I came away, there has been founded an- 
 other nunnery of about thirty nuns, who 
 will need no portion, being provided for 
 by a gentleman who left all his eftate to 
 that foundation ; it was captain Alonfo del 
 Campo Lantadilla, alguazil mayor of that 
 city, which will be of great fervice to help 
 the providing for poor maids, who, per- 
 haps, elfe would not find it eaiy any other 
 way. 
 
 CHAP. VII. 
 
 In winch is treated of the Trocejfions of the Holy Week in the City of St. Jago-, 
 
 ET us conclude this matter of reli- 
 gion and pious exercifes with faying 
 fomething of the moft remarkable practice 
 of it in the holy week, by the ftatelinefs of 
 the proceffions at that time ; which is fuch, 
 that all ftrangers confefs, that if they had 
 not feen it, they fhould hardly have be- 
 Theftatiii. liev'd it. Thefe proceffions begin on the tuef- 
 mfs of the day in the holy week, to which the com* 
 proceffions. p ail y f tne Morenos, which is founded in 
 our college, give a beginning, (of which 
 we fhall fpeak more when we treat of its 
 employments, as alfo of the brotherhood 
 or confrary of Indians, on the morning of 
 Eafter-day.) The proceffion that follows 
 next, is that which comes out of the con- 
 vent of St. Aujlin, in which is founded the 
 confrary of the Mulattos : they go all co- 
 ver'd with black frocks, and have many 
 paflages of the paffion fung very devoutly, 
 with the beft mufick of the place, and ma- 
 ny lighted torches. The Wednefday the 
 famous proceffion of the confrary of the 
 Nazarenos fets out, which is all of natural 
 Spaniards, of feveral arts and profeffions, 
 and is founded in the royal convent of 
 Nueftra Sennora de la Mercede ; and it is 
 one of the richeft and moft adorn'd pro- 
 ceffions. This proceffion is divided into 
 three troops : the firft of which carries La 
 Veronica to the cathedral, where it ftays to 
 
 meet the fecond, in which comes the Re- 
 deemer with his crofs, fo heavy, that he is 
 forced to kneel often. 
 
 When this fecond, which is the largeft, 
 comes to the great place, that which ftay'd 
 at the cathedral goes to meet them ; and at 
 a certain diftance, in fight of a vaft multi- 
 tude of people, the Veronica comes, and 
 kneeling down to the image of Chrift, 
 which is a very large one, feemingly wipes 
 his face, and then fhews the people the repre- 
 fentation of it remaining in the handker- 
 chief; and then as they begin to march, 
 there appears the third proceffion, in which 
 comes St. John, fhewing the Virgin Mary 
 that dolorous fpectade: fo that by all theie 
 there is form'd a mighty proceffion, with 
 many lighted torches, and all the brothers 
 are cloathed in their red frocks, marching 
 with great filence and devotion. There is 
 another reprefentation of great piety,which 
 is perform'd in the convent of St. Francis, 
 and in this convent ; which is the parting 
 of Chrift and his mother, which ufes to 
 caufe great paffion and many tears, becaufe 
 of the naturalnefs with which it is acted. 
 
 On the Tburfday there are very curious 
 fepulchres erected, and many alms given to 
 the poor ; and though in the foregoing pro- 
 ceffions, and on the Fridays in Lent, there arc 
 to be feen fome people whipping themfelves, 
 
 with' 
 
Chap. 7. 
 
 Kingdom of CHILE. 
 
 115 
 
 with divers forts of penances, which every 
 one performs according to his own devo- 
 tion, yet the proceffions, which by excel- 
 lency are called the bloody proceffions, are 
 performed this nighr. One of them fets 
 out from the chapel of the true crofs, 
 which is in the convent and chapel of 
 Nueftra Sennora de la Mercede, and is only 
 of the inhabitants and gentlemen, who go 
 all covered over with black frocks ; and he 
 who carries the crofs is obliged (befides the 
 collation which he provides for the preacher 
 and the mufick, and which ufes to be very 
 magnificent) to provide alfo men to attend 
 the proceffion, and relieve the whippers, 
 who often draw fo much blood that they . 
 faint away ; and others take care to cut off 
 of the difciplines fome of the fpurs of them, 
 for they ufe to have fo many on, that they 
 almoft kill themfelves, nay, I have feen 
 fome of fo indifcreet a zeal, that they ufed 
 certain buttons with points fo fharp, that 
 if they were let alone, 'tis a difpute whe- 
 ther they would not die before the end of 
 the proceffion. Before this go alfo two 
 others, both of them bloody proceffions ; 
 one of the Indians, and it is that has mofl 
 whippers ; the other comes from St. Domin- 
 go, and is of the Morenos : they both have 
 mufick ; and the communities of all the 
 convents go to meet them when they come 
 near their churches with torches in their 
 hands. They fpend a great deal of time in 
 their proceffion, and are accompanied by an 
 infinite number of people. 
 
 On the holy friday there are two procef- 
 fions more that go out of St. Domingo and 
 St. Francifco, both of natural Spaniards. 
 That of Santlo Domingo is called the pro- 
 ceffion of pity, and has been begun but 
 lately ; but it has made fuch progrefs, that 
 it equals the moft ancient : they carry all 
 the marks of the paffion by fo many drefs'd 
 up like angels very richly, and each of 
 them is attended by two brothers of the 
 proceffion with lights, and their coats of 
 yellow. The other proceffion , which 
 comes from St. Francifco, is the antienteft, 
 and has always been the beft : it is mighti- 
 ly commended for the great filence and de- 
 votion with which it is performed ; for 
 there is not a word fpoke in it from its go- 
 ing out to its returning. Before it goes 
 there is performed the defcent of the crofs 
 before a great concourfe of people. This 
 has always been an action of great piety, 
 and very moving. The enfigns, or marks 
 of the paffion, go out in order ; and when 
 they come, there is another reprefentation 
 very tenderly made in the Cannada : there 
 is a great crofs fet up ; and when the image 
 
 of the virgin comes up to it, it lifts up its Ov alls. 
 eyes, as one who miffes the Sovereign good l6 4 6 - 
 that hung on it, and drawing out a white V-< V > - / J 
 handkerchief applies it to the eyes, as cry- 
 ing, and then opening the arms, embraces 
 the crofs, and kneeling kifies the foot of ic 
 once or twice : all this it does fo dexteroufly, 
 and becomingly, that one would fwear it 
 were a living creature : and this action be- 
 ing accompanied with the mufick of the 
 day proportioned to the grief of the myfte- 
 ry, 'tis incredible what effects it has upon 
 the people, who croud one upon another to 
 fee it. 
 
 On the Saturday, and on Eajler-day in the 
 morning, there are other proceffions. The 
 firft comes out of St. Domingo, and is of the 
 gentlemen and citizens, who in this are 
 cloathed in white, of moft rich cloth of 
 filver or filk, finely garnifhed with jewels 
 and chains of gold. The ceremony of the 
 refurrection is celebrated by night in the 
 cloyfter ; and for that end there is fuch an 
 illumination, that it feems day. The pro- 
 ceffion goes out very noble and gay, and in 
 it are many lights, mufick, and dances, the 
 ftreets being all adorned with triumphal 
 arches, and hung with tapeftries; and while 
 this proceffion is in the cathedral, celebra- 
 ting the mafs, and communicating the 
 holt to the brothers, there comes anothet 
 to the great place to meet it, another from 
 the college of the jefuits, which is a con- 
 frary of Indians, the moft ancient of the 
 city, confifting of a company of Indians of 
 both fexes, who, with torches in then- 
 hands, accompany the child Jefus drefs'd 
 up after the Indian fafhion, (which caufes 
 great concern and devotion : ) they have al- 
 fo many colours, enfigns, and other orna- 
 ments, very rich and gay. At the fame 
 time two other proceffions of Indians like- 
 wife fet out from the convents of St. Fran- 
 cis, and Nueftra Sennora de la Mercede, and 
 another of Morenos from St. Domingo, all 
 with a great apparatus of drums, trumpets, 
 colours, hautboys, dances, which make 
 that morning appear very gay and merry ; 
 and that it may be fo to our faviour refuf- 
 citated, they all communicate, and give 
 a happy Eafter to the divine majefty and all 
 heaven, to which the earth can never pay 
 a greater tribute than by the converfion of 
 finners, particularly of thefe new chriftians, 
 whofe anceftors adored but the other day 
 their idols ; and now they acknowledge, 
 and kneel before the true God, and fit 
 with him at his table, as grandees of his 
 court ; they, who not long before were flaves 
 of the devil, 
 
 CHAP. 
 
n6 
 
 Of the Nature and Properties of the Book V. 
 
 OVALLE. 
 1646. 
 
 CHAP. VIII. 
 
 Of/ome other Holidays of the City of St. Jago. 
 
 ON E of the things in which the great- 
 nefs of a city fhews itfelf moft, is, in 
 its feaft, holidays, and publick entertain- 
 ments : we will touch a little on thofe of 
 St. Jago ; and, befides the fecular ones of 
 bull-feafts, running at the ring, Juego de 
 Carinas, tournaments, illuminations, and 
 other diverfions in which this city mines, 
 it is wonderful how well there are celebra- 
 ted the publick rejoicings for the birth or 
 marriage of their prince, in univerfal ca- ' 
 nonizations of faints, and in all other fo- 
 lemnities, but particularly thofe ordered 
 by his majefty, as that was about thirty 
 years ago, when his majefty, out of his 
 great piety, ordered, in honour of the 
 queen of angels, that the myftery of her 
 holy immaculate conception fhould be ce- 
 lebrated in all his kingdoms, as well by the 
 feculars, as by the churchmen •, and the firft 
 indeed need no incitement in this matter, 
 every one being ready to fhew their ac- 
 knowledgements to this fovereign queen of 
 heaven, who has favoured more particular- 
 ly the kingdom of Chile with her protection 
 from the beginning. 
 
 Let us now lay what the city of St. Jago 
 did upon this occafion, that the affection 
 with which the inhabitants correfpond to 
 what they owe to this illuftrious queen of 
 heaven may be manifefted, and fome 
 proof given of what they can do on fuch oc- 
 cahons ■, and letting alone what was done 
 by all the convents and monafteries, I come 
 to other particulars, to which three poeti- 
 cal contefts gave rife : thefe were publifhed 
 folemnly on horfeback through the town, 
 with the company of the town magiftrates, 
 and all the gentry, without exception. The 
 firft of thefe troops were defrayed by the 
 cathedral, the fecond by the celebrated mo- 
 naftery of the conception, the third by the 
 congregation of ftudents founded in our 
 college •, and in all thefe there were prizes 
 propos'd of great value for the poets ; and 
 thole who obtained them, had them given 
 to them with great folemnity ; and there 
 were feveral reprefentations, with other di- 
 verfions according to the cuftom of that 
 country. 
 
 And fince we are fpeaking of what hap- 
 pened in thofe holy feafts, let us not forget 
 as remarkable a pafiage as any: the day 
 which it fell to the lot of our college to ce- 
 lebrate its feaft, the father provincial, who 
 was to preach before mafs, felt himfelf fo 
 mov'd with love and devotion to the fove- 
 reign virgin, that in a fit of extraordinary 
 
 zeal he invited the people to come after 
 dinner to the procefiion of our church, and 
 to fing before the image of our lady that 
 ballad which was in thofe days fo famous, 
 and begins : 
 
 All the world in general 
 Saysfo, chofen queen of heaven, 
 That you are conceiv d even 
 
 Without fin original. 
 
 The auditory was much edified with the 
 piety of the good father, but fmiled at his 
 propofal as impracticable ; yet they all 
 came at the hour, moft out of curiofity to 
 fee the event of this novelty : they all took 
 olive-branches in their hands, and began 
 the procefiion while our fathers fung the 
 ftanzas. It was wonderful that the fame a (Irmgi 
 fpirit which moved the father to fuch an '"[?"■<"">* 
 extraordinary invitation, moved alfo all the"" '** 
 people to fing before the image of our la- 'JeifsT 
 dy, which they carried thus to the cathe-kify t» 
 dral ; out of which the clergy coming \aP n S. in i- 
 meet, and finging the church-hymns, the 
 noife of the others finging was fo great, 
 that the canons were forced to give over, 
 and accompany the people in their ftanzas, 
 finging altogether like fo many children. 
 They looked one another in the face, ad- 
 miring at what they were doing, being 
 fcarce able to believe; and if I my felf had 
 not feen it, knowing, as I do, the natural 
 gravity of that people, I fhould not have 
 believed it neither ; but the inward force 
 of devotion can do any thing, when the 
 lord of hearts makes ufe of it to exalt the 
 immaculate purenefs of his mother. 
 
 The rejoicings and entertainments upon 4 very ex . 
 this occafion lafted many days ; one of them fenf,ve 
 fell to the lot of the congregation of natural ma fv e ' 
 Spaniards founded in our college, who made' 
 a very ingenious and coftly mafquerade, 
 representing all the nations of the world, 
 with their kings and princes all cloth'd 
 after their own fafhion, with their attendants, 
 and laft of all the pope, to whom each na- 
 tion came,with its king, to defire his holinels 
 to favour this myftery. The liveries were ve- 
 ry coftly, and there was a triumphal chariot, 
 a great machine, in which was reprefented 
 the church : but that which was moft char- 
 gable was the wax, which is very dear there ; 
 and this entertainment was given by night. 
 
 The other days were divided among the 
 Negroes and Indians of all arts and profef- 
 fions, who having a pious emulation to each 
 other, made many rare inventions; but 
 the merchants carried the bell in a tour- 
 nament 
 
 rude. 
 
Chap. 8. 
 
 Kingdom of CHILE. 
 
 117 
 
 nament, which they perform'd in the great 
 place, each adventurer coming either out 
 of a lea, or a wood, or an enchanted caftle, 
 with his paper or challenge, acling their 
 parts very well : they broke their -lances, 
 and receiv'd their prizes, which were things 
 of great value. The gentlemen of the city 
 crown'd the feaft with their ufual diverfions 
 of bull-feafts, running at the ring Juego de 
 Cannes, &c. There are generally about 
 twenty or thirty horfemen to attack the 
 bulls, and throw the rejous or lances at 
 them, befides him who ftrikes the bull dead. 
 The illuminations of torches, with which 
 they ufe to run about all night, are alfo of 
 great diverfion -, and upon this occafion 
 they did it with rich liveries, and other 
 chargeable expences, for the greater folem- 
 nity of the time. 
 
 The ordinary and annual rejoicings which 
 are obferv'd on M-idfnmmer, on St. John's- 
 day, St. James's, and the Nativity of ' our 
 Lady, are alfo worth feeing, particularly on 
 the day of St. J ago, who is the patron of 
 the city ; for then the royal enfign of the 
 crown brings out the great ftandard of the 
 conqueft, with the king's arms, and is ac- 
 companied by all the gentry, who are 
 oblig'd to appear on that occafion, which 
 they do very glorioufiy. 
 Marriages There happen likewife fome marriages 
 and chrif- or c hriftenings of the people of beft falhion, 
 hbrxted"' m which they make as good a fhew as their 
 vnthgreit eftates will let them, and often above their 
 fomp and abilities. In the bull-feafts, thofe who un- 
 ex pence. dtrtzkz t hem ufe to treat the royal audien- 
 cia, and other bodies corporate; but in 
 marriages they are profufe, for the prefents 
 to the bride have been brought in falhion 
 to be very rich, fuch as (laves, carpets, 
 fcrutores fill'd with gold and jewels, and 
 other curiofities of great value. There is 
 not lefs fpent in treats and banquets, parti- 
 cularly of" late years, that they have taken 
 to counterfeiting natural fruits, and other 
 things, which ferve for the fideboard ; fo 
 that after a man has given a treat of all 
 forts of 'birds and fifties, his entertainment 
 is not gallant enough, if he does not add a 
 defert of preferv'd citrons in all figures of 
 love-knots, &c. and the other fruits imita- 
 ted after nature : thefe they mingle on the 
 cloth, with the figures of ewers, faltfellers, 
 jars, falvers, difties, fpoons, forks, knives, 
 all made of citron, cover'd with leaves of 
 gold and filver ; and the firft thing the 
 guefts do, when they fit down, is to plun- 
 der the table of thefe, for there are real 
 
 ones of gold and filver for the banquet. Ovalle. 
 
 All this cofts extreamly, becaufe the fu- ^J^ 6 ' 
 gar comes from Peru, and the manufacture ^»" w 
 of all thefe curiofities is very dear ; many 
 are the guefts ; and befides the wedding- 
 dinner, the fathers give another the next 
 day as fumptuous. This is what no body 
 of fafhion can help doing. I have heard 
 formerly, that at firft there were gentlemen, 
 who, upon any of thefe publick rejoicings, 
 would do it all at their own charges, gi- 
 ving them all liveries of velvet, at the run- 
 ning of the ring for example ; and yet then 
 velvet was twice as dear as it is now. But 
 at prefent that is left oft, though they make 
 expences equivalent in collations, bonefires, 
 and other contrivances of great fhew ; for 
 upon thefe occafions they all think them- 
 felves rich enough, which is a great ruin to 
 families, every one (training out of vanity 
 to equal another, though the difference in 
 riches be very great. 
 
 And now let us leave St. J ago, which 
 has detain'd us more than ordinary, to fa- 
 tisfy the curiofity of thofe who are defirous 
 to know the increafe and progrefs of the 
 cities and colonies of that new world, and 
 how the chriftian cuftoms and government 
 have begun to flourifh in it •, and by this 
 effay a judgment may be made of thofe 
 fettlements. I pafs on to the particulars of 
 the conqueft of that kingdom, that I may 
 afterwards give an account of the progrefs 
 of the chriftian faith, and the great hopes 
 there is of its greater propagation. And 
 becaufe fome curious perfons do defire to 
 know fome particulars of the colonies and 
 fettlements of that new world ; and that 
 it may be agreeable to the reader to know 
 the form given by the firft founders to their 
 cities, I have thought convenient to give 
 here the ground-plot of the city of St.Jago y 
 with all its ftreets, houfes, and publick 
 place, with the names of the churches and 
 convents, and the ftreets that anfwer them, 
 they being the principal buildings of a 
 chriftian commonwealth ; by which it may 
 be known how other towns and cities in 
 thofe parts are contriv'd, for they moft of 
 them follow this plot or model. And be- 
 caufe fome judgment may be made of the 
 buildings, I have likewife given the city in 
 perfpeclive, as it looks to thofe who come 
 from the Peru fide, and enter by the great 
 ftreet call'd the Cannada ; though the cu- 
 pola of the jefuits, and the tower of the 
 convent of St. Francis, with other high 
 buildings, are difcern'd many leagues off, 
 
 Vol. III. 
 
 Hh 
 
 CHAP. 
 
u8 
 
 Of the Nature and Properties of the 
 
 Book V. 
 
 OVALLE. 
 1646. 
 
 CHAP. IX. 
 
 The Governor Pedro de Valdivia purfues his Conqueft. The Gold Mines are 
 begun to be wrought. He fends T roofs of their Richnefs to Peru ; from 
 i whence the General Juan Baptifte Paftene brings him the frji Succours. 
 
 A demon- 
 flrative 
 proof of 
 the riches 
 cf Chile 
 intended. 
 
 The dtfign 
 mi/curries. 
 
 TH E governor Pedro de Valdivia ha- 
 ving founded the city of St. J ago, be- 
 gan to think of fortifying himfelf in that 
 poft, to defend himfelf againft the fury of 
 the Indians, with whom he was every day 
 cngag'd ; and many men were loft on both 
 fides, fo that his men began to be uneafy, 
 and talk of going back to Peru, zsAlma- 
 gro had done : for though they faw the 
 richnefs of the country, yet it appear'd to 
 them dearly bought, fince they could not 
 get any of it without running great hazards 
 by the many engagements that they had 
 with the enemy ; fo that they gave their 
 lives for gone. The governor Pedro de 
 Valdivia was not ignorant of the difficulty 
 of his enterprize ; but yet encourag'd by 
 the hopes of fuccefs at laft, he refolv'd ra- 
 ther to die than give it over ; and being an 
 experienced foldier, bred in the wars of 
 Europe, he refolv'd to raife a fort for the 
 defence of his men, being convinc'd of the 
 bravery of the enemy he had to do with ; 
 and though he was inform'd of a general 
 rifing, which the Indians defign'd, he fent 
 feventy men to make an incurfion towards 
 the river of Cachapoal. The Indians ta- 
 king the opportunity of the abfence of thefe 
 men, attack d the fort, and had gain'd it 
 if the Spaniards had not Ihewed incredible 
 valour in the defence of it till the other 
 men return'd ; and by their afiiftance they re- 
 pulfed the Indians, and remain'd conquerors. 
 The governor made good ufe of this ad- 
 vantage, both with the Indians and his own 
 men •, fo that having quieted them, he be- 
 gan to work upon the mines of Quillota, 
 which were of great fame : they prov'd fo 
 rich, and yielded fuch a quantity of gold, 
 that he thought it advifable to make a fort 
 there for the fecurity of his men ; but find- 
 ing want of hands, by the lofies he had 
 had, he refolv'd to fend to Peru for relief. 
 This he put in execution, giving at the fame 
 time an account of the richnefs and fruit- 
 fulnefs of the country, to incite people ; 
 and becaufe ocular teftimony perfuades more 
 than what we only hear of, he trufted fix 
 men, whom he fent along with thirty others, 
 to have a great deal of gold with them, 
 caufing befides the ftirrups of their horfes, 
 and all that is employed of iron work about 
 the bridles and faddles, to be made of maf- 
 fy gold, making the ftirrups very great 
 and large on purpofe. But all this defign 
 was difappointed ; for thefe men, who were 
 
 thus gilded like funs, were, when they came 
 to the valley of Copiapo, fallen upon by the 
 Indians, and all perifh'd but two, who were 
 Pedro de Miranda, and Monroy, officers, 
 who got away by the help of their horfes ; 
 but being purfued by the Indians through 
 mountainous ways, and their horfes tiring, 
 they were taken by an Indian captain, call'd 
 Cateo, who had a company of archers : they 
 tied their hands behind them, and carried 
 them to their cacique, who defign'd to put 
 them to death. 
 
 This cacique was married to the heirefs 
 of all this valley, (for their inheritances 
 follow the women, for greater fecu.hy of 
 the right line,) and when thefe two were 
 expecting nothing but the blow of death, 
 it pleas'd God to infpire the cacica, or ca- 
 cique's lady, with companion ; and fo fhe 
 went herfelf, and with her own hands un- . . 
 tied theirs, commanding their wounds toy*/ pre/tr- 
 be drefs'd, and treating them with fome on""»». 
 their drinks, which fhe herfelf prefented to 
 them, having drunk firft herfelf, according 
 to their cuftom, and bid them take courage, 
 for they fhould not die. They feeing them- 
 felves brought, as it were, from death to 
 life, threw themfelves at her feet, and de- 
 dicated themfelves to her as voluntary fiaves, 
 fince by her favour they enjoyed a life which 
 they gave for loft. 
 
 The captain, who had taken them, fee- 
 ing his princefs and fovereign lhew them fo 
 much favour, came to them, and bid them 
 be confident of their lives, for that their 
 lady having commanded they fhould not be 
 killed, there was not any one bold enough 
 to look awry upon them : they were kept 
 fix months in this captivity ; and though it 
 was fo gentle, by the kind ufage they met 
 with, yet the natural defire of liberty, and 
 the hopes of returning to their friends, ftill 
 worked with them. 
 
 Let no man think himfelf fecure that has 
 his enemy within his own doors, nor let 
 him truft his prifoner, though yielded up to 
 his difcretion ; for let him be us'd as well 
 as can be, yet there is no happinefs like be- 
 ing his own man, and enjoying his liberty. 
 This thought continually took up the 
 minds of thefe two captains, fo they laid 
 a plot how to make their efcape. They 
 had obferv'd in the cacique a curiofity 
 for horfes, which were a creature fo new 
 in thofe Indian countries ; they perfuaded 
 him to learn to ride, and manage a horfe. 
 
 He 
 
Chap. 9. 
 
 Kingdom of CHILE. 
 
 119 
 
 An un- 
 
 horfe. He liked the propofal, and began 
 to exercife himlelf in this genteel amufe- 
 ment, carrying with him neverthekfs al- 
 ways his guard of archers, with an Indian 
 before with a lance upon his moulder, and 
 another behind, with a naked fword in his 
 hand, more out of grandeur than diftruft ; 
 for he had no fufpicion of their plot, which 
 was, to take an opportunity when he rid 
 out to fall upon him, and kill him, as they 
 "?"; did ; for captain Monroy, with an extraor- 
 return. dinary intrepidity, without reflecting on 
 the guard that attended him, attacked the 
 Cacique, and captain Miranda the reft, with 
 fo much fuddennefs, that they made them- 
 felves matters of the lance and fword ; and 
 beitirring themfelves courageoufly, they 
 wounded and difmounted the Cacique ; fo 
 that he died of his wounds in fome months. 
 Having gained their horfes, they faved 
 themfelves upon them ; and not being pur- 
 fued in that diforder, they overcame all the 
 difficulties of thofe folitudes, and arrived 
 at Peru fafe •, where at that time they found 
 the government in the hands of the Licen- 
 ciado Vaca de Caflro. 
 
 Thefe two captains were gentlemen of 
 great families ; and to this day the Miran- 
 das in Chile are of the flower of the nobility 
 of that kingdom. As for the Monroys, they 
 are fo known in Caftile, particularly about 
 Salamanca, that it is needlefs to fay more of 
 them. They were very well received by 
 his excellency, for the good news they 
 brought of that difcovery and conqueft, of 
 thepleafantnefs of the country, and richnefs 
 of its mines ; and upon this relation, as An- 
 tonio de Herrera, and other authors fay, 
 it was refolved to further this conqueft, 
 which feemed to be of fuch high importance, 
 and to chufe out fome fit perfon, and ac- 
 company him with foldiers, arms, ammu- 
 nition, and cloathing for the foldiers, who 
 were almoft naked. 
 
 He chofe for this emloyment captain 
 
 Paflene John Baptifte Pajlene, a gentleman or the 
 
 f^^a m °ft aii tient and illuftrious houfe of Pajle- 
 
 e P r P nes ; n Q enoa ; which family is at prefent ex- 
 
 tindl in that republick, and remains only 
 
 in its records, where many of that name 
 
 are in the books of the nobility, and among 
 
 the greateft dignities of the ftate. This 
 
 gentleman engaged in the conqueft of the 
 
 new world by the fame defire of glory whichOvALLE. 
 moved others, and to mend his fortune. He 1646. 
 happening then to be in Peru, the vice-^^^^ 
 roy took hold of the occafion to employ 
 him for the king's fervice ; which this 
 gentleman accepted, and performed, going 
 for Chile, where he arrived with the fuc- 
 cours which that kingdom flood in fo great 
 need of. 
 
 This relief was received with great joy, Hi' joyful 
 as being in the beginning of the enterprize/'"**""'* 
 and extreamly wanted, the foldiers being 
 much fatigued and weakened with the con- 
 tinual aflaults of their enemies, without any 
 other defence than their fort of St. J ago, 
 where they had enough to do to fhelter 
 themfelves from their valour and fierce at- 
 tacks ; but the arrival of thefe fuccours gave 
 them new courage, and refolution to profe- 
 cute their enterprize. To undertake it with 
 more regularity, and prevent what accidents 
 might happen from the fea, the governor 
 fent Pajlene with the title of lieutenant-ge- 
 neral in his own fhip, to difcover the coaft 
 as far as the Str eights of 'Magellan, as he did ; 
 and it appears by the letters of their ca- 
 tholick majefties, Philip II. and his fon 
 Philip III. how agreeable this piece of fer- 
 vice was to them. About this time the 
 mines of §>uillota being working with great 
 profit, and Don Gone ales de los Rios being 
 captain-governor of the work, the Indians 
 brought him a full pot of great grains of n j a ' ds p *~ 
 gold, for a fhew of a great deal which drawn mto 
 they fa id they had found in a certain place. an *mkuf~ 
 There they had laid an ambufcade of feve-^™£ 
 ral of their beft men, to fall upon fuch a.s n efi. 
 blinded with covetoufnefs fhould go to 
 feek this treafure. This happened accord- 
 ingly, for they all run prefently to the 
 place ; for there is no alarm never fo warm, 
 that rouzes better than this defire of grow- 
 ing rich at once did them : but they were 
 much miftaken •, for inftead of gold, they 
 met with the iron of their enemies lances, 
 who killed them all but their captain and 
 a Negro, who efcaped by the fwiftnefs of 
 their horfes : fo the Indians remained vic- 
 torious, and by the way of triumph, fet 
 fire to a frigate which the Spaniards had 
 almoft finifhed to keep up their correfpon- 
 dency with Peru. 
 
 CHAP. X. 
 
 The City of the Serena is peopled. John Baptifte Paftene goes for more Suc- 
 cours to Peru, from whence he returns to Chile ; and with Valdivia and 
 other captains _, goes to help the Royal Army again ft Pifarro. 
 
 Valdivia 
 furfnes his 
 ctn^Heft. 
 
 H 
 
 ERRE RA fays, that with this re- 
 lief which Valdivia received, he pur- 
 fued his conqueft on the people called the 
 Promocaes ; and that he was met by feveral 
 
 Indians in the valley Quillocma, whom he 
 overcame courageoufly, though with the 
 lofs of fome horfes ; and at that time horfes 
 were a thoufand crowns a-piece. Having 
 
 difcovered 
 
i2o Of the Nature and Properties of the Book V. 
 
 OVALLE 
 
 1646. 
 
 The city of 
 La Sereno, 
 orCoquim- 
 bofounded 
 in the year 
 IJ4+. 
 
 Abounds "» 
 rich metals- 
 
 • difcovered large provinces, and being fa- 
 tisfied of the great number of inhabitants 
 in them, he returned to St. Jago. 'Tis 
 fuppos'd the governor did all this in hafte, 
 fince he return'd without making any fort 
 or fettlement : fo it is probable he went 
 this time only to difcover, in order to 
 form a force proportionable of an army: 
 therefore the general John Baptifte Paftene 
 being returned from difcovering of the fea- 
 coalts, he fent him back to Peru to endea- 
 vour to bring more fuccours, as he had 
 done the firft, and fo form an army capa- 
 ble of enlarging his conquefts upon fuch 
 powerful enemies, as he found the natives 
 of Chile to be. Judging therefore that it 
 was not yet time to leave any thing be- 
 hind him unfortified, he founded in the 
 valley of Coquimbo the city generally call'd 
 by that name, but by him call'd La Serena, 
 to ferve lor a refting-place or fcala for the 
 people who came from Peru to Chile ; for 
 being in great want of fuch fupplies, he did 
 endeavour to facilitate by all means their 
 paflage, and draw as many people as pofli- 
 ble to preferve his conqueft ; for acling 
 otherwife would only be to have fo much 
 the more to lofe ; as indeed it happened, 
 and fhall be related in its due place. 
 
 The city of La Serena was the fecond 
 that was founded in Chile in the year 1544. 
 in a very pleafant and fruitful valley, wa- 
 tered by a very fine river, not of the big- 
 geft, but of clear and admirable water, 
 with which the fields are all fo plentifully 
 refrefh'd, that their producl is fo various, 
 that the inhabitants want almoft nothing 
 from abroad that is necefTary for human 
 life ; for they have corn, wine, flefh, all 
 forts of other grain, and pulfe-fruits, even 
 more than in St. Jago ; for befides all 
 thofeof Europe, and thole of Chile, they 
 have two forts very extraordinary : The firft 
 is a fort of cucumbers, which are very 
 fweet, and do not need paring, for the 
 outfide is a very thin skin, fmooth, of a 
 delicate colour between white and yellow, 
 all itreaked with a very fine purple ; the 
 other fruit is that which they call Lucu- 
 mas, and is a fruit, as I remember, I have 
 feen in Peru : it is a very wholefome well- 
 tafted fruit, the ftone is fmooth, and of a 
 purple colour. The oil of this place is ab- 
 folutely the befl in the whole kingdom, as 
 clear and bright as one's eyes, and of a rare 
 fmell and tafte : they make great quantities, 
 fbthat they fend a great deal abroad. They 
 have great flocks of cattle, though not fo 
 many as about St. J ago, becaufe it rains lefs, 
 and fo the pafturages are leaner. 
 
 But that which is mod particular, and 
 of greateft value in this country, is the 
 great abundance of rich metals, as gold, 
 copper, and lead ; fo that though they 
 
 have given over gathering of gold in all 
 the other parts of Chile, becaufe other pro- 
 duels are of greater advantage, yet in this 
 place they go on gathering it more or lefs, 
 according as the winter is more or lefs rai- 
 ny ; for when it rains much, the mountains 
 are diflblv'd, and the earth open'd, and fo 
 the gold is eafier found. And the copper 
 too that is melted down there, ferves for all 
 the kingdom, and Peru befides. The climate 
 of this city is abfolutely the mod temperate 
 of all the kingdom ; becaufe the winter, 
 which in other parts is very fharp, particu- 
 larly nearer the pole, is here fo gentle, that 
 it is hardly perceiv'd, it being within five 
 or fix degrees of the tropick, and being in 
 the 29th degree of latitude, enjoys a mode- 
 rate climate, the longeft day being of four- 
 teen hours, and is upon the nth of Decem- 
 ber, as the fhorteft is on the 1 1 th of June, 
 and the night is of fourteen hours. 
 
 But the accidental fituation of the city The ad-vm- 
 helps much towards the mildnefs of the c\\-tagiousJitu- 
 mate : it is within two leagues of the fea * tion °f>'- 
 having a plain before it all covered with 
 myrtles : it (lands on a rifing ground, ha- 
 ving a profpect to the fea, which makes a 
 beautiful bay, abounding in fifh of all forts ; 
 by which it is an excellent place to pafs the 
 lent in, fifh being very cheap : but the good 
 cheer is alfo as well out of Lent ; for be- 
 fides the mutton, which is excellent , 
 and very nourifhing, there is plenty of 
 tame fowl, partridge, turkeys, and all 
 forts of wild fowl. This city begun to be 
 inhabited by many noble families, the foun- 
 ders being men of the befl: quality that 
 came to Chile; and their defcendants have 
 remain'd, and do maintain the luflre of 
 their anceftors. The governor-general ap- 
 points the place of Csrrigcdor, or mayor of 
 the city ; and it is one of the moft profitable 
 places that are, becaufe of the mines which 
 are wrought in its territory : but notwith- 
 flanding all thefe good qualities which we 
 have mention'd, this city does not increafe 
 fo faft as that of St. Jago ; for this Lift may 
 be compared to the clove-tree, which fucks 
 to itfelf all the fubftance of the earth round 
 about it, a thing which is proper enough to 
 capital cities every where. 
 
 About this time the general John Bap-PzRcne 
 tijle Paftene arriv'd at Peru for a fecond <t'f<*ppomteJ 
 fupply of men, which Pedro de Valdiviai *J eco " d 
 
 j r j r L 1 • /"Pry *t 
 
 delired of the viceroy, to carry on his con-i> er u, re- 
 queft ; but he found the whole country in '««" "> 
 confufion, caufed by the ftubborn difobedi- chiic - 
 ence of Gonfalo Pifarro, fo that the govern- Pifarro 
 ment wanted relief itfelf, inftead of beine rw »'"' 
 in a condition to relieve others. This was 
 fo true, that Paftene was forced to return to 
 Chile, to bring a force from thence to join 
 with the royal army. This refclution 'tis 
 probable came to the knowledge of the ty- 
 rant 
 
Chap. io» 
 
 Kingdom of CHILE- 
 
 11 
 
 rant Pifarro ; for he found means to feize 
 his fhip and his perfon by cunning. Paf- 
 tene, though much prefs'd by Pifarro both 
 by promifes and threats to join with him, 
 as very well knowing how much he might 
 a/iift him as his friend, or injure him as his 
 enemy, yet perfever'd in his loyalty to the 
 king, and found means to make his efcape 
 out of the hands of the tyrant, and to reco- 
 ver his fhip too; which having new fitted 
 with neceffaries, he returned to Chile, to 
 bring from thence fome of the beft officers 
 to encourage the royal army, which was 
 preparing to engage Pifarro, who on his 
 fide had fuch a force, that he had put to 
 death the viceroy Blafco Nunnes Vela. In 
 Chile they were waiting for his return, and 
 the fuccours he ihould bring with him ; but 
 when they fiiw him without any, they were 
 much troubled ; for they found themfelves 
 oblig'd at leaft to fufpend all their projects 
 upon Chile, to go and relieve thofe upon 
 whom their own prefervation depended. 
 Valdivia The governor Pedro de Valdivia, as foon 
 
 marches to as he heard what pafs'd in Peru, refolv'd to 
 Peru to af- g Q thither in perfon with fome of his beft 
 officers and foldiers to join and help the 
 king's forces. He left in Chile for his lieu- 
 tenant captain Francifco de Villagra, a gen- 
 tleman of great courage and good parts, 
 that he might govern and preferve what we 
 had already in that kingdom, it being im- 
 poffible to do more, or make any further 
 progrefs, till the times fhould alter, and he 
 provide more forces. He got together what 
 gold he could, and went aboard with his 
 captains and foldiers in the fame fhip, un- 
 
 king's 
 forces. 
 
 der the conduct of the fame general P aft em. Ovalle. 
 His arrival at Peru gave great courage to ^]^ 6 - 
 the king's forces, by reafon of the gold and ^"" >/ ^ 
 men which he brought, the valour and ex- 
 perience of which was fo great, that in the 
 battle they perform'd extraordinary things, 
 being the chief caufe of the victory obtain'd 
 over Pifarro in the valley of £*uiragu a na. 
 He himfelf was taken, and chaftis'd with 
 his guilty affiftants as his folly deferved, 
 and his difloyalty to his prince. The prefi T 
 dent of Peru, Gafca, always advis'd with 
 the governor Valdivia in all his moll impor- 
 tant affairs, whom he made of his council 
 with fix more, for the fecreteft affairs and 
 of moft importance, making great efteern 
 of his prudence and experience, as well as 
 of the valour of his companions. 
 
 This victory being obtain'd, the <r over . m is vifio- 
 nor returned to Chile, with a good fuccour rim '' md 
 of men and arms, and the fame officers andcEi* 
 foldiers who accompanied him to Peru <* futfty. 
 with which, and other fuccours which came 
 afterwards, he was in a condition to purfue 
 his enterprize vigoroufly, as we fhall fee 
 hereafter. But all was little enough ao-ainft 
 the refiftance of the Indians, who norfonly 
 kept them from advancing, but for fix 
 years together, that their ftubborn oppofition 
 lafted, they reduc'd the Spaniards to o-reat 
 extremities of nakednefs and huno-er • fo 
 that they were forc'd to eat herbs and roots, 
 and rats and mice, and fuch things ; and if 
 the heart and courage of the governor Val- 
 divia had not been invincible, it would 
 have been impoffible to have made the con- 
 queft. 
 
 CHAP. XI. 
 
 What happened in Chile during the Abfence of the Governor Valdivia and 
 after his Return > and of the new Succours he received. 
 
 PEdro Sanches de Hoz was a foldier, to 
 whom the king was pleas'd to grant a 
 patent for the difcovery and conqueft of cer- 
 tain lands, to begin from the juriidiction of 
 the marquis Francis Pifarro ; and he preten- 
 ding that part of the kingdom of Chile was 
 in his grant, oppos'd the governor Valdivia, 
 to whom Pifarro by a royal commiffion had 
 given the conqueft and government of 
 Chile ; but the marquis perfuaded him to 
 defift, and go along with Valdivia to Chile, 
 recommending his perfon to the governor, 
 to ufe him with regard, and give him a 
 fhare in the beft part of his conqueft. Val- 
 divia did fo, bellowing on him the richeft 
 lands of the Indians ; but the ambition of 
 commanding is always very contentious, and 
 fubject to complain till it gets the upper 
 hand. This appear'd in Pedro Sanches de 
 Hoz, in the abfence of the governor from 
 Chile ; for being vex'd that he was not left 
 with the authority of lieutenant in his room, 
 Vol. III. 
 
 he plotted to take away the life of him who 
 had it, which was Francifco de Villagra, who 
 having notice of his defigns, feiz'd upon Pe- 
 dro Sanches de Hoz, and cut off his head, by 
 which he affur'd his own ; and Valdivia ap- 
 proved of the thing as well done, when he 
 was inform'd of it ; becaufe he was a friend 
 to juftice, and becaufe a competitor is never 
 forry to have his competitor remov'd. 
 
 About this time, the Indians of Copiapo, The Copia- 
 who had begun to imbrue their hands in po Indians 
 the blood of the Spaniards, in purfuance™™"^/-* 
 of the revenge of their prince's death, whom £>cf- 
 the captains Miranda and Monroy had kil- cique. 
 led, as we have related in the ninth chapter, 
 lay in wait, and furpriz'd Juan Bon with 
 forty foldiers more of fome companies which 
 were coming from Peru, and marching 
 through their country ; thefe they put all to 
 death. After their example the Coquimbefes at- 
 tack'd the foldiers and inhabitants of thecity 
 of La Senna, whom they kill'd without fpa- 
 I i ring 
 
122 
 
 Of the Nature and Properties of the Book V. 
 
 OvALLE. r j n g on e, and fet fire to the city, which 
 *^ 6 - t hey ruin'd utterly, not leaving one ilone 
 ^^v^ upon another. 
 
 Are over- j±\\ tft i s being underftood by the gover- 
 "*uam nor at n ' s ret u rn from Peru, he fent captain 
 Francis Francis de Aguirre with a good force, to 
 deAguirre.f ]] 0W t h em to t heir retiring-place, where 
 in feveral rencounters, in the valley of Co- 
 papo, he overcame the Indians : all which 
 was as much owing to his great valour as 
 conduct, without which the force he had 
 would have prov'd infufficient, (as Herrera 
 obfervesj He did the fame in the valley 
 of Coquimbo, and rebuilt the city of La 
 Serena, in the place and fituation where it 
 now ftands. For which reafon he was 
 look'd upon as the true founder of it ; and 
 his defcendants, who are of the bell nobility 
 of the kingdom, have preferv'd that pre- 
 rogative, and are the chiefeft in that go- 
 vernment, or rather the mafters of it ; for 
 they are lb numerous and fo powerful, that 
 they yield to none in reputation, and are 
 accordingly refpedled by all. 
 
 Let us now treat of that which 'tis not 
 reafonable to forget ; which is, of thofe 
 captains, who in thofe early times entered 
 Chile with fuccours of men to help to con- 
 quer it, fince it is juft their memory fhould 
 live for ever in thofe who enjoy the fruits 
 of their labours, and are now mailers of 
 what they gain'd with their blood and 
 fweat, and the lofs of many lives, and dan- 
 ger of their own, which they expos'd in fo 
 many battles and encounters they had with 
 the enemy. I am only forry, that I cannot 
 fpeak of them all, and defcribe in particu- 
 lar their good qualities and great merits, 
 becaufe I am in a place where I want me- 
 moirs and informations for fuch a work ; 
 but I will fay what I can of their noble ac- 
 tions, as I find them recorded in other hif- 
 tories ; though to fay truth, that which they 
 fay about Chile is fo little, that it is almoil 
 next to nothing. I am not furpriz'd at 
 it, for it is a place much out of the way, 
 r.nd its conquerors were bufier with their 
 fwords than with their pens ; for their ene- 
 mies prefs'd them continually with fo much 
 vigour, that they had but little of that lei- 
 fure which hiflories and relations require. 
 A ree '" al We fhall begin with the governor Pedro de 
 tattams Valdivia, who was the firll that entered the 
 who were kingdom with a force, as has been related ; 
 injhumen- t hen that which general Pajlene brought af- 
 * c a „ '"Afterwards with arms and cloaths. The fuc- 
 Chile. cours brought by captain Monroy prov'd 
 of great importance ; as Herrera fays, it 
 was of threefcore men, which in thofe days 
 was as much as fix hundred now : thefe he 
 had hir'd in Peru, being much afiifted by 
 the viceroy, who, upon the relations of 
 Monroy and Miranda, was refolv'd to en- 
 courage the enterprize. 
 
 I am not certain, whether it was before 
 this, or after, that arriv'd the fuccours fo 
 opportunely brought by captain Chriftoval 
 de Efcobar Villaroel -, for I do not find it 
 mention'd in any of the hiftorians, which 
 I have read here ; but in Chile the memory 
 of it is very frefh, and will never be for- 
 got ; not only for his coming in a time 
 when they extremely wanted fupplies, but 
 alfo for that circumftance of this noble cap- 
 tain's having brought thefe fuccours upon 
 his own charges, (and I think they were fe- 
 venty men,,) and made his way by land to 
 Chile, either by the wildernefs of Aracama, 
 or by the Cordillera, either of which mult 
 cod a great fum of money, for it is above 
 five hundred leagues. 
 
 This adlion alone was fufficient to fhe,w 
 die noblenefs of this gentleman, if that of 
 his family had not been fo well known as 
 it is in Spain ; but he continued to give 
 proofs of his zeal for die king's fervice, by 
 ferving in perfon, and employing alio his 
 fon captain Alonfo de Efcobar Villaroel, 
 whom he had brought with him from Spain 
 that they might both give arr example to 
 their pofterity, as they have; not yielding 
 to any, but have produc'd many noble per- 
 fons, both in arms and other civil employ- 
 ments of the government. 
 
 When I reflect upon thofe I have known 
 of the defcendants of this famous head 
 and conqueror, I find, that between fons, 
 grandfons, and great grandfons, they come 
 up to eighty feven ; and if they had not 
 been fo many, there was enough to honour 
 this family in the feven or eight fons of the 
 general Luis de las Cucuas, grandfons of 
 this gentleman, with whom he prefented 
 himfelf to the royal army, all arm'd cap- 
 a-pee, in which they ferv'd many years at 
 their own charges ; for in thofe days the 
 inhabitants that were gentlemen, had no 
 other reward but their loyalty, and the 
 glory of ferving their prince. Antonio de 
 Herrera makes mention of another fupply, 
 of one hundred and eighty men, conducted 
 by captain Francifco Villagra, who was af- 
 terwards governor of Chile, and to whom 
 that kingdom owes a great deal of its be- 
 ing, for the hazards he ran, and the noble 
 actions he perform'd in its conqueil, as we 
 fhall fee hereafter, and may be re id in the 
 general hiilory, to which I appeal. The 
 nobility of his family was always notorious, 
 and the gentlemen of his name have lliewed 
 themfelves worthy of it, in the great fer- 
 vices they have and do perform every day 
 for the king, worthy of all forts of acknow- 
 ledgment and reward. 
 
 After this, in the time of the viceroy Dor. 
 Antonio Hurtado de Mendofa, his excellen- 
 cy, as Herrera fays, fent captain Don Mar- 
 tin de Avzndano by land, with good fuc- 
 cours 
 
Chap, ill 
 
 Kingdom of C H I L E. 
 
 123 
 
 cours of men, and three hundred and fifty 
 mares and horfes, which were of as much 
 importance for the war as fo many men. 
 The defendants of this gentleman are ftill 
 carrying on the luftre of his family, fo 
 known in Salamanca and other parts. I 
 was acquainted with two brothers of that 
 name, who alone might preferve and in- 
 creafe the reputation of their family ; the 
 one was colonel Don Antonio de Avendano, 
 who was colonel of the regiment ofArauco, 
 who fignaliz'd himfelf at the head of that 
 regiment in many rencounters with the ene- 
 my, and particularly in one, where our 
 camp was defeated, and where to preferve 
 the reputation he had gain'd in fo many 
 noble actions and eminent dangers, he chofe 
 to die, being wounded in a great many 
 places, and almoft cut in pieces by the fu- 
 rious enemy. The other was Don Francifco 
 de Avendano, likewife colonel, and who 
 came to Spain ; where his majefty, in confi- 
 deration of his own and his anceftors merit, 
 honour'd him with the habit of St. J ago, 
 and the government of Tucuman, where he 
 died. 
 
 I do not mention thofe companies out 
 of which, as they pafifed by Copiapo, forty 
 were killed, with their leader Juan Bon ; 
 becaufe Herrera, who fpeaks of this, does 
 not fay who was the captain of them. Per- 
 haps there were alfo other commanders,who 
 in thofe fix years time entered into Chile with 
 men ; and I fhould -be glad to be where I 
 might have particular information of them, 
 to do them at leaft that fmall honour of 
 
 putting their names in print, and giving Ovalle. 
 fome glory to actions which, perhaps, de- .*^", 
 ferv'd to be grav'd in brafs. ^^^T^. 
 
 I do not likewife fet down here, that fa- 
 mous fupply of men brought by the fecond 
 governor of Chile, Don Garcia Hurtado de 
 Mendofa, marquis of Cannete, for this fhall 
 be fpoke of in its proper place, after the 
 death of the governor Pedro de Valdivia ; 
 and thus we fhall conclude thofe who en- 
 tered by the way of Peru. For though, 
 fince that time, there have been feveral fup- 
 plies, and are every day ftill more, yet they 
 have not been remarkable enough, as not 
 having come at firft, but after the fettle- 
 ments were made ; and befides, it would 
 carry me too far to report them all. But 
 I fhall add here thofe which have come from 
 Spain by the way of Buenos Ayres, as 
 well becaufe they were the moft numerous, 
 fome having been of five hundred or a thou- 
 fand men, as having come in dangerous 
 times, when the kingdom was ready to be 
 loft, the enemy having, as it were, befieg'd 
 it •, and fo 'tis juft to preferve the memory 
 of fuch famous benefactors, who have been, 
 as it were, fathers of their country. This 
 we fhall perform at the end of this book, 
 in a treatife by itfelf, where we will like- 
 wife put the pictures of all the governors 
 of Chile, as well as may be, confidering 
 how long they have been dead, that their 
 defendants may preferve the memory of 
 men who feem to deferve eternity by their 
 heroical actions. 
 
 CHAP. XII. 
 
 The Governor Pedro de Valdivia purfues his Conqueji, and peoples the City 
 calVd the Conception, where he had like to have been dejiroyed in a Battle. 
 
 Valdivia T H E governor Pedro de Valdivia fee- 
 fur/nes his j_ ing himfelf with a good force, and 
 cwquefl. tne g reat:ne f s f his mind perfuading him 
 that he had wherewithal to put an end to 
 his enterprize, Herrera fays he fent to the 
 other fide of the Cordillera, from St. J ago, 
 captain Francifco Aguirre with a good num- 
 ber of men, with which he pafs'd thofe 
 terrible mountains, and founded among the 
 Diaguitas and Juries. 
 
 Herrera fays no more ; nor do I know 
 any thing of thofe individual places and ci- 
 ties which he founded. The governor Val- 
 divia on his fide fet out of St. 'J ago with a 
 powerful army, and palling the furious ri- 
 vers ofMaypo, Cachapoal, Tinguiritica, Pe- 
 teroa, "Teno, and Mataquito, he conquer'd 
 the Promocaei, a warlike people, who had 
 refifted Almag?-o, and before that had re- 
 puls'd an army of fifty thouiand men,which 
 the Inga fent againft them when he endea- 
 
 vour'd to conquer Chile ; but the good for- 
 tune and great valour of Valdivia and his 
 men overcame that which feem'd invinci- 
 ble, though I am perfuaded that it was not 
 without blood : but I refer myfelf to the 
 general hiftory of Chile, which has de- 
 fcrib'd the particular encounters and bat- 
 tles on both fides. 
 
 The army pafs'd the deep river ofMaule, 
 and the wide Itata, and coming to that of 
 Audalien, quarter'd by the fea-fide; and 
 for the conveniency of fituation, he found- 
 ed there the city of the Conception in the 
 year 1550. But the natives aftoniih'd and The city *f 
 enrag'd at this boldnefs of ftrangers to en-' ie Con- 
 ter thus into the heart of their country, as£ ept ^ ( . 
 if it were their own, call'd a general aflem-v^ y ear 
 bly, and with a numerous and brave army 157°. 
 prefented them battle fo furioufly, that our 
 people began to wifh they had not engag'd 
 themfelves fo far. Much blood was ihed 
 
 on 
 
124 
 
 Of the Nature and Properties of the Eook V. 
 
 Ovalle. on both fides ; and our army was in great 
 1646. danger of being deftroyed, till it pleas'd 
 V^Y^' G d, (who guides all things to his ends,) 
 who was to reap the fruit of his victory 
 over thofe gentiles, whom he had predefti- 
 nated by the means of the gofpel, which 
 was to be preach'd to them in cafe the 
 Spaniards were victorious* to make them 
 fo at lad, and that very glorioufly, the fa- 
 mous Aynabillo, chief head of the Pencones, 
 remaining prifoner, after having behav'd 
 himfelf with great bravery in the fight. 
 The Jitm- The fituation of the city of the Concep- 
 tion of it. tion is oh a plain where the fea makes a mofh 
 beautiful bay, in form of a half-moon ; 
 and nature has provided a mole, by put- 
 ting there a large ifland, behind which fhips 
 ride fafe from the north wind. By land, 
 towards the eaft, it is encompafled with 
 fome high hills, the fides of which are all 
 planted with vines and other fruit-trees ; fo 
 that which way foever one looks, the pro- 
 fpect terminates in beautiful plantations of 
 trees, or rather a green femicircle, which 
 rejoices the fight, and fortifies the city. 
 From the north, there comes into it a 
 fmall river, which comes down from the 
 mountains, which we have already defcrib'd 
 in the chapter of the rivers of Chile. On 
 the fouth fide, another larger deeper river 
 runs by it, and is call'd Audalien. Neither 
 of thefe rivers do the kindnefs to the city 
 which Mapocho does to St. J ago, that is, to 
 come into the houfes ; but the want of this 
 is fupplied by excellent fountains of chrif- 
 talline and delicate water, which rife very 
 near the city, and are brought into it 
 very plentifully, and which was carried 
 to the publick place by the general Don 
 Diego Gonzales Montero, he being corrige- 
 «dor of this city, and governing it with the 
 fame prudence and generofity, that he fince 
 govern'd that of St. J ago, in the fame qua- 
 lity of corrigedor and lieutenant-general. 
 Its latitude. This city is in the latitude of thirty three 
 degrees and five and forty minutes to the 
 antartick pole; and for this reafon, and 
 becaufe of the high land it ftands upon, 
 the air is fo temperate, that the heats never 
 are troublefome, nay, in the heat of rum- 
 mer 'tis necelTary to have as many bed- 
 cloaths as in winter, which is not at all fe- 
 vere, becaufe it never ihows there, though 
 it rains extreamly. For the fecurity of the 
 city, there was erected a good fort for our 
 people to retire to when prefs'd by the 
 Indians, which often happened, and made 
 them ftand to their arms almoft continually ; 
 for they, impatient of any yoke, were in- 
 cefiantly taken up with the thoughts and 
 endeavours of driving them out of the coun- 
 try ; and notwithftanding all the care that 
 was taken, the city was loft at laft, for the 
 enemy over-powered us : but yet in length 
 
 of time it was built again, as we fhall fee ; 
 though ftill remaining a frontier to the ene- 
 my, it has not had fuch increafe as St.Jago. 
 But it gains ground, and has many rich in- 
 habitants, who have enter'd upon a great 
 vent of fait, flefh, and hides, which is one 
 of the richeft commodities of Chile; and 
 they have, befides, magazines of flower, 
 with which they furnifh the army : the wines 
 too of thofe parts, are generally better than 
 thofe of St.Jago, though they are lower ceps 
 or vines ; nay, the grapes ripen as they lie 
 along on the ground, as it is in many parts 
 in Europe: they have not that abundance 
 of almonds, oil, oranges and lemons, 
 pulle, and dried fruit, as in other parts 
 of Chile, their fummer being fhorter, and 
 the fun having lefs force. 
 
 The Spanijh children born here are of acharAffer 
 very fweet nature, and docile ; of good wits, '/ '" s *" 
 and take to learning very well. The men" 1 "' 
 are loyal, faithful keepers of their word, 
 friendly, and fuch as for their friends will 
 venture any thing to defend them in their 
 honour or fortunes, even with the hazard 
 of their own, and their lives too : they are 
 very well difpos'd to virtue, having good 
 inclinations ; and thofe among them, who 
 have taken to arms, have extremely figna- 
 liz'd themfelves. They are bred in great fim- 
 plicity, as being far from the corruption of 
 the court, which generally improves the 
 malice, and raifes the libertinifm of young 
 people. The bilhoprick of this city is a 
 poor one, not being worth above two or 
 three thoufand pieces of eight a year, be- 
 caufe, though the land is rich of itfelf, and 
 that in which there are moft mines, yet the 
 Decimes or tenths are very fmall, becaufe of 
 thofe continual wars which this city has. 
 maintain'd from its beginning; for we 
 may fay, it has been nurs'd with blood, 
 and grown up in arms, not having laid 
 them down in ninety five years, which is 
 no fmall evidence of the good qualities of 
 its inhabitants, and what it may be hence- 
 forward, when this dead weight is taken 
 off. Another caufe of the fmall revenue of 
 this bilhoprick, is the lofs of {even cities, 
 fome of them the richeft of the kingdom, 
 which all belong'd to its diocefe. 
 
 In the year 1567. there was fettled a high i;6j'. 
 court of chancery, which remain'd till the 
 year 1574. and afterwards it was remov'd 
 to St. J ago, where it now is : and though 
 its jurifdiftion reaches as far as this city, 
 there is little for it to do, becaufe the go- 
 vernors are generally prefent, to be nearer 
 the garrifons, and countenance and aflift the 
 war, of which there is a continual neceffity. 
 The garrifon is very numerous, and of 
 choice foldiers, where every day they mount 
 the guard, as it is practis'd in places of 
 war. The general provides all the officers, 
 
 even 
 
Chap. 
 
 '3- 
 
 Kingdom of CHILE. 
 
 r2 5 
 
 even to the colonels ; but his majefty names go through 
 
 the treafurer and mufter-mafter-general, fand ducats 
 
 who is the fecond perfon after the gover- every year 
 
 nor : this is a poft of great efteem, and no officers and 
 
 fmall value in this kingdom ; and there books. 
 
 CHAR XIII. 
 
 The Governor Pedro de Valdivia profecutes his 
 Cities of Imperial, Valdivia, and Villa Rica, 
 Arauco. 
 
 his hands three hundred thou- Ovalle. 
 
 of the king's money, which ^^' 
 is to be diftributed among the S ^V^^ 
 foldiers, who are enroll'd in his 
 
 Here are 
 three chap- 
 ters, which 
 follow, aU 
 of miracles, 
 wrought by 
 
 Conqueft, and founds the™™"j eo f 
 and raifes three Forts in "which ale 
 
 emitted. 
 
 TH E governor Valdivia having fpent 
 the year 1550. in peopling the city 
 of the Conception, and defending himfelf in 
 his fort againfl the continual attacks of the 
 enemy, and having at the fame time in- 
 form'd himfelf more exactly of the country, 
 and its fertility, by the means of captain 
 Hyeronimo de Alderete, who had gone 
 through it, and obferv'd the number of its 
 inhabitants, refolv'd to go out of the Con- 
 ception, and purfue his conqueft. In order 
 to this, after having well provided his fort, 
 and left a garrifon in it, he fet out in the 
 tSfil beginning of the year 1 55 1 . 
 
 He took his way with his army by the 
 plains of Angol, crofling firft the great ri- 
 ver Biobio, and coming to that of Cauten, 
 which for its gentlenefs is call'd the Ladies 
 River, when join'd with another very plea- 
 fant one near the fea : here he found great 
 fettlements of Indians, and founded the 
 Thefotm- c ity of Imperial. This is one of the raoft 
 iation of agreeable fituations of the whole kingdom, 
 the city of being about three or four leagues from the 
 cmFiufi- *" ea ' an d thirty nine leagues from the Con- 
 ization, ception, and a hundred and nine from the 
 city of St. Jago, in thirty nine degrees of 
 fouth latitude. All the territory of this ci- 
 ty is very fruitful, bearing corn, and all 
 forts of pulfe and fruits, though the black 
 grapes do not ripen fo kindly as the white 
 ones and the mufcadines : the country is not 
 all plains and valleys, nor all hills, but ra- 
 ther a compofition of the whole ; the hills 
 are gentle and tradable, with good pafture 
 and fhelter for cattle ; the ground does not 
 want much watering, it having frequent 
 and large dews that fertilize it. The city 
 was fituated upon a pretty ftiff hill, and 
 the confluence of two navigable rivers ; but 
 the port is not good, for the flats there are 
 within three fathom and a half of depth. 
 Here the governor met with fourfcore thou- 
 fand Indians fettled, nay, fome authors fay, 
 they were many more ; and all agree that 
 they were a quiet and good-natur'd people, 
 not at all fo warlike as the Araucanos. 
 
 This city was the head of the biflioprick, 
 
 and it began to increafe at firft very much, 
 
 by reafon of the excellency of its foil and 
 
 fituation ; and if it had not been deftroyed; 
 
 Vol. III. 
 
 as we fhall lee hereafter that it was, it would 
 by this time have been a great city ; for it 
 was already very well peopled, and muft 
 have increas'd, if the gold mines which are 
 in its neighbourhood had been wrought. 
 
 This city, which was the fourth of this 
 kingdom, being thus founded, the gover- 
 nor divided the territory, and gave the lord- 
 ihips to his conquerors, according to the 
 royal privilege he had fo to do, that he 
 might engage the Spaniards to enter more 
 heartily into his enterprize. He took for 
 himfelf the lordfhips of Arauco and Tucapel, 
 as far as Puren, except fome manors that 
 he gave to others, to content all. Having 
 left a force, which feem'd fufficient in the 
 city of Imperial, he marched as far as Val- 
 divia. Being come to that famous river, 
 and defiring to pafs it, to conquer the land 
 and people on the other fide, the brave In- 
 dian lady, call'd Recloma, hinder'd him, 
 offering to pafs the river alone fwimming, 
 and to reduce the Indians to his obedience, 
 as fhe did, and as we have already related 
 in the ninth chapter of the firft book ; 
 and there likewife is a full defcription of the 
 fituation of the city, and all its other qua- 
 lities, which it was proper to make in that 
 place, and fo is not necefiary to repeat here. 
 The governor having founded the city of The city if 
 Valdivia, erected a fort, and fettled all things Valdivj 'a 
 as he had done at the Imperial. While he^'* 
 ftay'd there to purfue his fettlement, he fent ere aed 
 captain Hyeronimo de Alder ete to difcover the 
 country as far as the Cordillera Nevada ; 
 and he having fent to the governor relations 
 of his difcoveries, as he wen t founded a 
 town, which he call'd, by the excellency, rhefiun- 
 Villa Rica, the appearances of the riches of dation and 
 that country being greater than any yet had^""™ °f 
 been difcover'd. 
 
 Though the fituation he chafe feemed at 
 firft to be the bell, yet in time it was re- 
 folv'd to change it, and place it upon a great 
 lake, at the bottom of the Cordillera, and 
 about fixteen leagues from the Imperial, and 
 forty from the Conception. It has not fuch 
 a plenty of corn and wine as the others, but 
 it has enough, and many other good quali- 
 ties, which I omit, becaufe it being fince 
 deftroyed with other cities, already men- 
 K k tion'd, 
 
 Villa Rica. 
 
126 Of the NdWe and Properties of the 
 
 Boox Y* 
 
 OvALLE.tion'd, I am likewife forced to be filent of 
 i^tsL/ tne * r P art i cu l ar properties, and refer my 
 ^V^ f c ]f to the general hiftory of Chile, which 
 will embrace all thofe particulars. 
 
 Thefe were the cities planted and peo- 
 pled by the governor Valdivia ; and though 
 I have not, as to thefe laft, made mention 
 of the blood fpilt in gaining them, 'tis not 
 to be imagined but that they coft dear 
 enough, fince the conteft was with fuch 
 warlike nations, that it feem'd a great rafh- 
 nefs (and would have been fo without a par- 
 ticular protection of heaven) to undertake 
 fuch enterprizes. There are not wanting 
 thofe who blame the governor Valdivia, 
 judging that he did not meafure well his 
 ftrength, but grafped more than he could 
 hold, as he found by a fad experience at 
 his own peril in a little time. 
 
 The authors who fpeak of thefe at- 
 tempts are full of the commendation of the 
 valour, patience, and fufferings ot the Caf- 
 tilians ; but all this would not have done, 
 nor have fubjected thofe people, nor twice 
 that force could have prevail'd againft them, 
 if becaufe they faw them on horfeback, and 
 killing people at a diftance, they had not 
 believed them to be Epunamones, by which 
 name they called the gods they ador'd ; fo 
 they imagined them to be immortal, and 
 that they came from above with a power 
 to fend out thunderbolts like God : for ha- 
 ving never feen either fmall arms, or great 
 artillery, they thought the noife was thun- 
 der ; and to this day that fort of arms is 
 call'd <Talca, which in their language figni- 
 fies thunder ; and out of the fame imagi- 
 nation they call'd the Spaniards Viracochas, 
 which is as much as to fay, fcum of the 
 fea, or a people come by fea, giving to 
 underftand, that thofe men, if they were 
 men, were fent from God to fubject them. 
 This made them ready at firft to fhew all 
 refpecls to the Spaniards, and kept them 
 from rebelling, and refilling fo vigoroufiy 
 ' as they did afterwards, though they always 
 
 made fome oppofition, particularly the 
 Araucanos, who have ever been the eagles 
 among the Indians. Valdivia having well 
 obferv'd this, was content at prefent with 
 what he had conquered, and returning to 
 Arauco by Puren and Tucapel, he caufed 
 three ftrong houfes to be erected in the dif- 
 tance of eight leagues from one another, 
 and in fuch places as might have an eafy 
 communication together. Having thus fet- 
 tled matters, he return'd to the Conception, 
 and fo to St. J ago ; from whence he difpat- 
 ched captain Hyeronimo de Aldarete to Caf- 
 tille, to give the king information of the 
 riches that were difcover'd in that country, 
 and its other good qualities ; as alfo a rela- 
 tion of the fettlements made there, in order 
 to obtain a fupply of people, which was 
 
 granted. The cities newly founded were in 
 great danger of being loft ; for indeed they 
 were more than our forces could protect, 
 and the Indians fhewed great impatience, 
 and fretted to fee foreigners fettle cities in 
 their country, and ereel: forts and ftrong 
 places for their fecurity. 
 
 The governor being inform'd of this dif- VaiJivia 
 pofition of the Indians, fet out from St. "J a- lengthens 
 go with a fupply of men which he had re- *" & aTrt ~ 
 ceived from Peru, under the conduct or 
 Don Martin de Avendano, and relieved all 
 the garrifons: which having done, and pre- 
 fuming they were fafe, without reflecting 
 on the danger that threatened him, he ap- 
 plied all his intention to give a beginning 
 to the working of the gold mines for a 
 defign he had. 
 
 This was to go to Spain, and carry with Hefsgm a 
 him all the gold he could get together, tSWyw " 
 fhew the king the vaft riches of the coun- pim ' 
 try, and to obtain from his majefty thofe 
 titles of honour which were generally be- 
 ftowed upon the conquerors and difcoverers 
 of thofe Indian kingdoms, and fo bring 
 back a good force to fubdue them. For 
 this end he did two things;, the firfi, to 
 fend to the Str eights of Magellan, in the 
 year 1552. Francifco de Ulloa, that with two 
 fhips, which were equipp'd on purpofe, he 
 might difcover all the Streight, and give an 
 account of it, that fo he might know how 
 to undertake the voyage to Spain that way : 
 the other thing he did, was to fez people to 
 work to find out new gold mines, which 
 they eafily did, there being fo many in 
 thefe parts; among which, the molt fa- 
 mous were the mines of Qtiilacoya, four 
 leagues from the city of the Conception ; and 
 others in Angol, to work which he imploy- 
 ed twenty tnoufand Indians. 'Tis eafy to 
 imagine how much gold fuch numbers of 
 men might get from thofe mines, which 
 had never been touch'd till then : it was ve- 
 ry great, and enough to enrich both o-o- 
 vernor and foldiers, which it did: and 
 with the acquifition of fo much treafure, 
 they began likewife to defpife their enemies -, 
 who, while they were bufy in fearching the 
 bowels of the earth for gold, were employ- 
 ed in thinking how they fhould recover 
 their loft liberty, and free themfelves from 
 the yoke of fubjedion, which they had ne- 
 ver felt before. 
 
 The city of the Conception went on prof- 
 pering, becaufe of the great quantity of 
 gold brought into it every day ; by which 
 means the minds of the inhabitants were 
 elevated in proportion, and the foldiers 
 grew wanton and infolent. The governor 
 being tainted with the fame difeafeoftoo 
 much profperity, neglected to take notice of 
 thefe diforders; for the defire of riches in- 
 creafing by riches, which they faw every 
 
 day 
 
Chat. 13: Kingdom of CHILE. 
 
 
 127 
 
 day fill their coffers, they were lefs atten- 
 tive to that which ought moll to have 
 drawn their attention, which was their own 
 and the kingdom's prefervation , and fo 
 made way for that blow of fortune that 
 laid them all along. 
 The Arau- The Araucanos were as uneafy, and con- 
 canos re- tinually plotting how to compafs their de- 
 fi^etore- fign Sj and at laft refolved to rife unani-. 
 moufly againft the Spaniards, and take their 
 revenge of them. To try how it would be 
 taken they began to talk big, and carry 
 themfelves haughtily, more like mailers of 
 
 the land than like fervants; they quarrell'dOvAixE. 
 with one and the other, and lofing all re- 1646. 
 fpeft drove the thing fo far as to kill fome V- ^V > ^ 
 Spaniards in thefe contefls ; and then per- 
 ceiving that thefe things were diffembled, 
 and that their boldneis had its defired ef- 
 fect, they grew every day more infolent: 
 and at laft being thoroughly fatisfy'd that 
 the Spaniards were neither gods, nor immor- 
 tal, nor of any other fpecies than they, but 
 fubject to all human infirmities, they began 
 to fear them no longer, but refolved to fall 
 upon them. 
 
 CHAP. XIV. 
 
 The City of Angol is peopled^ and the Indians rife againft the Spaniards. 
 
 rhe city of 1 I FON occafion of the mines that were 
 
 Angol 
 founded. 
 
 U 1 
 
 
 begun to be wrought in the diftrict of 
 Angol, the governor Pedro de Valdivia fet- 
 tled a city of that name there, which was 
 alfo call'd the city of the confines. Some 
 attribute this foundation to the marquis of 
 Cannete, Don Garcia Hurtado de Mendofa, 
 who governed after the death of Pedro de 
 Valdivia : perhaps the reafon of this is, 
 that the fituation of this city at firft was 
 three leagues from the place where it now 
 Hands ; fo it might be that Valdivia firft 
 fettled it, and the marquis removed it to 
 the place it is now in, and that was ground 
 enough to make him the founder. 
 
 The prefent fituation is in a plain, very 
 */«j«» *Jf- ' ar S e anc * difengaged, eight leagues from 
 fcription. the Cordillera, and twenty from the Concep- 
 tion ; fome fay fixteen, which perhaps is 
 caus'd by the difference of its two fituations. 
 Their longeft day and night are of fourteen 
 hours and half. The land is very fertile •, 
 fruits ripen very well: there is good wine, 
 and good ftore of raifins dried in the fun, 
 figs, and other dried fruits ; a vaft quantity 
 of tall cypreffes, which yield a very fweet- 
 fcented wood, of which, Herrera fays, there 
 is made a gum-lac. The great river Biobio 
 runs by it, and ferves it for a wall and ditch 
 on the fouth fide ; and on the north fide 
 another pleafant rivulet comes running 
 from hills of a moderate heigh th, and turns 
 character many mills for the ufe of the city. Thofe 
 of the nu- ^hom I have known that have been born 
 in this city, have prov'd very gentle in 
 their difpofitions, of good wits, and noble 
 inclinations, very friendly and real, and 
 extremely loyal to the king, as indeed all 
 the Chilenians are, looking on that as the 
 higheft punilo of dieir gentility. 
 
 Now let us return to the Araucanos, who 
 were bufy in calling together their afiem- 
 blies there, to treat how to caft off the 
 yoke of fervitude , and make themfelves 
 mailers of that which was truly theirs. So it 
 was, that the Caciques being poflefs'd with 
 
 an opinion that their forces were not infe- 
 rior to the Spaniards, began to call them 
 together : and they needed no incitements 
 of pay or money •, for the love of their li- 
 berty, and poffeffions, and pofterity, was 
 a fufficient fpur to them, thinking every 
 day a year that kept them from engaging 
 with their enemies, and conquering them. 
 The Caciques that met were thefe: firft, Thee a- 
 Tucapel, a great butcher of chriftians, with"^""/ - 
 three thoufand foldiers; Angol, who was ™ UC ° B "* 
 very brave, with four thoufand ; Cayocupil ra jp, a 
 with three thoufand men, whom he brought numerous 
 from the Cordillera, as hardy as the rocks arm ^ 
 they came from, and made to endure any 
 labour; Mxllarapue, an old man, of great 
 wifdom, brought five thoufand ; Paicavi 
 with three thoufand ; Lemoleno with fix 
 thoufand; Mareguano, Gualemo, and Leu- 
 copie, each with three thoufand ; the robuft 
 Elicuera, held for one of the ftrongeft 
 men, with fix thoufand, and they ancient ; 
 and chief of all, Colocolo, with as many more. 
 Ongolmo offer'd four thoufand ; and Puren 
 fix thoufand ; Lincoyce, who was of the fta- 
 ture of a giant, offered to bring more than 
 any ; Peteguelen, lord of the valley of Arau- 
 co, from whence the whole took their name, 
 came with fix thoufand ; and the famous 
 Caupolican, and his two neighbours Thome 
 and Audalican, and many others, kept them- 
 felves ready to come in with their fubjefts. 
 They met, according to their cuftom, to 
 eat and drink at the appointed rendezvous^ 
 for that never is omitted in thefe afiemblies ; 
 and having been unanimous in the firft and 
 chief point, which was to rife, there was 
 fome difference about the choice of a gene- 
 ral, every one defiring to have that com- 
 mand, as it generally happens in fuch elec- 
 tions : every one alledg'd their particular me- 
 rits ; the one his valour, another his experi- 
 ence, another his good fortune, and none 
 fcemed to want a pretence for obtaining their 
 defire. They grew warm in this ambitious 
 conteft, and would have come to blows, if the 
 
 old 
 
1 28 Of the Nature and Properties of the Book V. 
 
 Ovalle. old and wife Colocolo, by his prudence and au- 
 1646. thority, had not quieted them, and reduc'd 
 
 ^V^ them to confent to choofe Caupolican, not on- 
 ly as the braveft foldier, but the ableft chief. 
 This done, they all fwore obedience to him, 
 and promis'd to obey his orders, for the 
 better carrying on of their common defign. 
 The Spaniards had, as we have already 
 mentioned, three caftles for their fecurity, 
 and one of them was near the poll where 
 this afiembly was kept ; and the Indians, 
 proud and impatient, had a mind to attack 
 it immediately ; but Caupolican, their ge- 
 neral, forbid it, in order to do it with more 
 dexterity and fafety. He commanded P al- 
 ia, who perform'd the place of ferjeant- 
 general, to chufe him out fourfcore foldiers 
 of the braveft, and fuch as were leaft known 
 to the Spaniards, and the Indians their 
 friends : thefe he put under the conduct of 
 two very brave men, Cayaguano zrAAlca- 
 tipay, and order'd them to enter the caftle 
 with their arms by this ftratagem. The 
 
 jin Indian Araucanos, though in peace, were not per- 
 
 fimiagem. mitted to enter the caftle, except fuch as 
 ferv'd the Spaniards ; and thefe enter'd often 
 with their loads of grafs, wood, and other 
 necefTaries for the garrifon. Caupolican or- 
 der'd thefe fourfcore men to feign themfelves 
 to be fervants of the Spaniards, and having 
 hid their arms in the grafs they carried, to 
 anfwer nothing, but pretend they did not 
 hear if they were ask'd any queftions : they 
 acted their parts to the life, fome counter- 
 feiting lamenefs, others wearinefs, fo that 
 they were all let in without fufpicion : then 
 they took their arms out of the grafs, and 
 fell unanimoufly upon the Spaniards, who 
 were much aftonifh'd at fo unforefeen a 
 boldnefs: however, they gave the alarm, 
 
 and all coming out of their quarters, re- 
 filled them, fo as to kill fome of the In- 
 dians ; the others, either out of fear of the 
 Spaniards, or on purpofe to draw them out 
 of the caftle in their purfuit, retir'd, on 
 purpofe to gain time till their general Cau- 
 polican could come up with his army ; which 
 he did with a very numerous one, and for- 
 ced the Spaniards to retire to their fort. He 
 befieg'd them in it, and after having kill'd 
 many of them, thofe who remain'd alive 
 were glad to leave the poft, and get away, 
 judging it better to retire to Pur en, left they 
 fhould lofe all ; whereas being join'd with 
 the garrifon of Puren, they might better 
 refift the enemy, though he was very power- 
 ful, and much elevated. 
 
 The news of this invafion foon reach'd 
 the Conception, and the governor Pedro de 
 Valdivia, who was then tliere, began pre- 
 fently to confider how to remedy fo great a 
 mifchief. Some blame him as tardy in 
 doing of it; for to ficure the treafure of 
 the mines, where (as Herrera fays) he had 
 fifty thoufand vaffals at work to get gold 
 for him. Before he went to fuccour thofe 
 in Puren, he went out of his way, and 
 ftay'd the erecti g of a fort at the mines, 
 which took him lb much time, that he 
 came later than was requifite to their re- 
 lief. But, indeed, if any thing was ill done Valdivia 
 by him, it was the making too much hafte ; m * reh " 
 for without ftaying for the relief and fuc-^^2! 
 cours he might have receiv'd from the other 
 cities, he fet out with a force not ftrong 
 enough to encounter that of Caupolican: 
 his courage deceiv'd him ; for being eleva- 
 ted with his fuccefTes, and trufting to his 
 fortune, he run into the precipice, as we 
 fhall fhew in the following chapter. 
 
 CHAP. XV. 
 
 The Governor Pedro de Valdivia, and all his Teopkj are kill'd by the Indians. 
 The famous Action of Lautaro is related [, that being the chief Caufe of 
 this Event. 
 
 TH E time of this great captain's death 
 was now come ; all things therefore 
 feem'd to concur to that end. The prefent 
 remedy that was to be applied to this mif- 
 chief, to flop its progrefs, and the delay 
 of thofe fuccours he expected from the other 
 garrifons, were all combining caufes; his 
 heart mifgave him at his fetting out from 
 Tucapel. He had fent out parties to bring 
 him an account of the ftate of the enemy, 
 but none came back : this gave him fome 
 apprehenfion, but being engag'd, it was 
 necefiary to go on. He had fent out fcouts, 
 as I faid, and had fcarce gone two leagues 
 on his way after them, but he faw the heads 
 of two of them hanging upon a tree : this 
 increas'd his fear, and he confuted with 
 
 thofe with him, whether it would not be 
 ralh to proceed. The young men were of 
 opinion, that it would be a lefiening of their 
 reputation to turn their backs to danger, 
 though there came to them an Indian of 
 their friends, and defir'd them not to pro- 
 ceed, becaufe Caupolican was at Tucapel with 
 twenty thoufand Indians, and that the ha- 
 zard they ran was manifeft ; but he followed 
 on his way, and came within fight of the 
 enemy : they foon engag'd, and the battle Be engage 
 was cruel on both fides, fo that for a great tiiim% 
 while no advantage could be perceiv'd, be- 
 caufe the brave actions on both fides kept 
 victory in fufpence. 
 
 After a good while of this contention, 
 the Spaniards began to prevail, and to cry 
 
 Viva 
 
Chap, i $. 
 
 Kingdom of CHILE. 
 
 129 
 
 The tren- 
 
 cbsry of 
 Lautaro. 
 
 His ha- 
 rangue to 
 the Arau- 
 cauos. 
 
 Valdivia 
 taken frifo 
 
 Viva Efpanna, or Live Spain ; with which 
 recovering new vigour, the Indians feem'd 
 to give wav, when (as Arzilla, in his Arau- 
 cana, fays) the famous Lautaro, an Indian, 
 who had been bred page to the governor 
 Valdivia, having more regard to the love 
 of his native country and his liberty, than 
 for the education he had receiv'd, and the 
 fidelity he owed his mailer, went over to 
 the Indians, and fpoke to them in this man- 
 ner : " What is this, brave Aran canos ? do 
 " you turn your backs when your liberty 
 " is concern'd, your country, your chil- 
 " dren, your pofterity ? Either recover your 
 " liberty, or loie your lives ; for 'tis a lefs 
 " misfortune to die, than to live Haves. 
 " Do you intend to ftain the glory of your 
 " anceflors, acquir'd for fo many ages paft, 
 " in one hour? Remember you are de- 
 " fcended from thofe who gain'd that re- 
 " nown by refilling their enemies, and not 
 " flying from them ; and fuch as fear'd not 
 " to lofe both lives and fortunes to preferve 
 " their fame : drive away all fear, gene- 
 " rous foldiers, and either live free, or die." 
 With thefe words he fo inflam'd the minds 
 of his friends, that defpifing death, they 
 return'd with fury to invade thofe whom 
 before they flew from. Lautaro, to encou- 
 rage them the more, led them on, ihaking 
 his lance againft the governor, his mailer ; 
 who, furpriz'd at his action, cried, Traytor 
 what doji thou do ? To which he anfwer'd 
 only with a thruft or two, animating his 
 people to do the fame. This renewed the 
 fight, and they all refolv'd, by the exam- 
 ple and exhortations of Lautaro, to conquer, 
 or die ; which they perform'd with fo much 
 fury, that the concern of both fides was now 
 at the highefl, and the contention only who 
 ihould venture farthefl into danger. Many 
 Spaniards and Indians fell on both fides, and 
 Lautaro Hill encourag'd his countrymen 
 without any relenting. Valdivia did the 
 fame by the Spaniards, and ihewed himfelf 
 every where, in the greateft danger, with- 
 out the leafl apprehenfion, though he faw 
 many of the braved of his men fall by the 
 fword. One would have thought the In- 
 dians had but jufl begun to engage, to fee 
 how like lions they fell on, and begun to 
 find victory incline to their fide, till at laft 
 there fell fo many Spaniards, that Valdivia 
 was almofl left alone. In this extremity he 
 went afide with his chaplain to confefs his 
 fins, that being the principal thing he had 
 now to do. The Indians gave him but lit- 
 tle time to make his peace with heaven ; 
 for a great troop of them fell upon him 
 with darts and lances, killing the chaplain, 
 and taking him priibner, they brought him 
 Vol. III. 
 
 alive to their general, for the laft triumph Ovalle. 
 of their victory. vl^f 6 ' 
 
 This hitherto unconquer'd captain ap- ^^V^*^ 
 pear'd in the prefence of the great Caupoli- 
 can, his hands tied behind him as captive, 
 his face all bloody, though venerable. He 
 ask'd his life as a favour ; he who a little 
 before had it in his power to grant it his ene- 
 mies. He turn'd his eyes towards his Lau- 
 taro, and with their language feem'd to de- 
 fire him to intercede for him who had been 
 his lord and mafler, and by whofe means he 
 was in this extremity. He promis'd Cau- 
 polican, if he might have his life, to with- 
 draw all his forces, and leave the country 
 free from their incumbrance. He made 
 oath of this feveral times, and perfuaded 
 with fo much eloquence his hearers, that 
 Caupolican, who was as generous as brave, 
 began to relent, and incline to companion. 
 But the greateft part faid it was madnefs to 
 truft to any words or promifes of a captive, 
 who is forced to humble himfelf; but that 
 when he ihould be free, he would do that 
 which fhould be moft for his advantage. 
 However, the difpute between them in- 
 creas'd, and no doubt but Lautaro would 
 have inclin'd to mercy ; for if he fought 
 againft his mafler, it was not out of any ha- 
 tred to his perfon, but out of the great 
 kindnefs he had to his country, which,with 
 the defire of liberty, prevail'd over the gra- 
 titude he owed for the good ufage he had re- 
 ceiv'd at his hands; but nothing of this was 
 able to appeafe the vulgar, though Caupo- 
 lican inclin'd to clemency •, fo they fore'd 
 him to pronounce his death, and to execute 
 it immediately in hot blood, though they He is /lain 
 differ'd in the manner of it; for fome fay^'^ In " 
 that they poured melted gold into his 
 mouth, bidding him once for all content 
 his thirft after that metal which he had fo 
 infatiably coveted : others fay, that one of 
 thofe Caciques, bearing impatiently that it 
 fhould bear a queftion whether he fhould 
 live or die, gave him a blow on the head 
 with a club ; which Caupolican refented high- 
 ly, as a want of refpedl to him. That which 
 I find moft probable is, that according to^hey make 
 the cuftom of the Indians, they made flutes-^"" Md 
 and trumpets of the bones of his legs and fhiHones. 
 thighs, and kept his head as a teflimony 
 of fo remarkable a victory, and to animate 
 their youth to undertake the like actions, 
 as they might fee by this their fathers had 
 done. Thus I have heard it related. 
 
 Of all the Spanijh army, 'tis faid there of all the 
 efcaped only two Indian friends, who ta- s P am ^ 
 king advantage of the obfeurity of the night, l^eUpei 
 hid themfelves in a thicket, from whence 
 creeping out as well as they could, they 
 L 1 came 
 
130 
 
 Of the Nature and Properties of the Book V; 
 
 OvALLE.came to the Conception, and brought the of their husbands and fens, others that of 
 
 1646. n ews of this fatal event. The city was im- their fathers and relations, and all together 
 
 V'V^ mediately full of confufion and complaints, the common calamity of their city, in which 
 
 the women crying and bewailing the lofs they were all equally concern'd. 
 
 CHAP. XVI. 
 
 What happened after the 'Death of the Governor Pedro de Valdivia. 
 
 THE enemy having obtain'd fo re- 
 markable a victory, their general Cau- 
 polican commanded the retreat to be found- 
 ed, and call'd a council, to confider whe- 
 ther, or no, it would be bell to follow their 
 blow warmly. Many were of opinion it 
 Would be moft expedient to fall upon the 
 cities immediately, before they could pre- 
 pare lor them ; yet Caupolkan, after having 
 heard them all, refolv'd to do otherwife. 
 "Tis better, faid he, to expect our enemies 
 in our own homes, than to go to feek them 
 at theirs, where all men fight with more 
 valour ; let them come to feek us in our 
 mountains and bogs, where we are fure of 
 a fafe retreat: let us give our enemies a 
 free accefs to us, who have our fituation to 
 befriend us; and in the mean time our hor- 
 fes and foldiers may refrelh themfelves: and 
 if they out of fear (which I believe they 
 will not) do forbear to feek us out, we may 
 attack them when we will. Having fpoke 
 thus, he took Lautaro by the hand, arid 
 having publickly commended him, by at- 
 tributing to him the victory and die liber- 
 ty of his country, he, by conlent of all, 
 Caupolican made him his lieutenant-general, and gave 
 watoLau-him leave to chufe out the men he would 
 
 fautenant- nave t0 ^ erve un ^ eT hi m > to g° anc * pitch 
 general, upon a fit poft to expect the Spaniards in. 
 Ms chaw Lautaro was no very tall man, but well fet, 
 tir. and ftrong, induftrious, cautious, of good 
 
 counfel, gentle, and well proportion'd, very 
 brave, as we have feen, and fhall fee hereafter. 
 To celebrate this victory, the Indians 
 folemniz'd publick games of wreftling, run- 
 ning, leaping, and other proofs of their 
 ftrength and dexterity : they made alfo great 
 feafting with dancings, and for feveral days 
 did nothing but rejoice and be merry ; but 
 ilill without forgetting to be upon their 
 guard, as men that expected their enemies, 
 whom they prefum'd defirous of revenge. 
 Villagran Francifco de Villagran was lieutenant-ge- 
 marches neral to Valdivia when he was kill'd ; who 
 Valdivia*/ Kma -^ n & c ^^ m command, afiembled all 
 death. ne c °uld to go and take vengeance of the 
 enemy for this defeat. Setting out, he 
 came as far as Arauco ; and being come to 
 a high mountain in the way, he found Lau- 
 taro on the top of it, with ten thoufand men, 
 without having fent out any to difturb the 
 Spaniards march; for he had left all the paf- 
 feseafy, to oblige them to come to that 
 
 place : it was not far from the fea, which 
 wafh'd the foot of the mountain on one fide ; 
 the coming up on the other fide was eafy; 
 all the reft was precipice ; but the top was 
 a plain fit to draw up in, and very proper 
 for his defign. 
 
 The Spanijh general being in prefence, And comet 
 the armies began to draw up on both fides ; *• * ia " l$ 
 and not to make the Indians too prefump-^. f au * 
 tuous, he order'd three troops of horfe to 
 begin the charge, in hopes to draw the In- 
 dians from their poft, but in vain ; for 
 though they made three attacks, yet Lau- 
 taro would not ftir, but receiv'd them with 
 fhowers of arrows, ftones, and darts,which 
 made them retire fafter than they came on. 
 Our people, who could not break this bat- 
 talion, with the evident danger of falling 
 into precipices, did what they could, but 
 with little effect, only tiring their horfes ; 
 for the enemy kept his poft, not a man of 
 them ftini:,g out of his rank ; only Lau- 
 taro would permit fome of the braveft to 
 go out, and defy the Spaniards body to bo- 
 dy. There came forth, among the reft, a 
 brave youth, call'd Curioman, who taking 
 a long career, would throw his lance with 
 that dexterity, that he wounded many of 
 the Spaniards : he did this feven times, and 
 at the eighth, Villagran, being vex'd at his 
 importunate boldnefs, commanded a famous 
 foldier, call'd Diego Lano, to chaftife the 
 Indian s infolence, which he did ; and it was 
 all this high courage and ftrength could per- 
 form. The Spaniards feeing themfelves 
 tir'd, and that all the movement of their 
 horfe fignified little, and that the Indians 
 were taking the partes behind them, began 
 to ufe their fmall Ihot, which at fir ft made 
 a great {laughter among the Indians. Lau- 
 taro, to remedy this inconvenience, com- 
 manded Leucaton, one ol his captains, to 
 attack the Spaniards on the flank, and not 
 to flop till he came up clofe with their muf- 
 queteers, that by this means mingling with 
 them, they might avoid their fmall Ihot, 
 which in that cale could not be of any ufe 
 to the Spaniards, without wounding their 
 own men too. This he obferv'd, and they 
 ever fince have practis'd the fame with good 
 fuccefs; and without this boldnefs, in which 
 they always lofe fome men, they would be 
 much inferior to the Spaniards, they having 
 no fire-arms to ufe in the like manner : they 
 
 fliew 
 
Chap. 16. 
 
 Kingdom of C H I L E. 
 
 3 i 
 
 fhew in this their invincible courage, and 
 undifturb'd bravery, by which they make 
 to themfelves a defence of their own ene- 
 mies; for being once mingled with them, 
 they cannot offend them,without deftroying 
 at the fame time their own people. 
 
 The fight on both fides was bravely main- 
 tain'd, Lautaro relieving and encouraging 
 his men, as Villagran did his, both of them 
 doing the parts both of general and fol- 
 dier, and expofing themfelves to the great- 
 eft danger. He that fignaliz'd his valour 
 moft on our fide, was the famous captain 
 Pedro Olmos de Aquillera, killing with his 
 own hand four of the chiefs of the Indians. 
 Our army was encourag'd with his valour, 
 which he inherited from that noble family 
 fo fpread in Andaluzia : he was feconded by 
 the Bernales Pantoias, Alvarados, and many 
 others, who perform'd wonders in this bat- 
 tle, which was long contefted, very bloody, 
 and in fufpence to the laft. The enemy was 
 much fuperior in ftrength to our forces, and 
 therefore the victory began to incline to 
 their fide ; for though Villagran the gene- 
 ral, and fome others, would rather have 
 chofe to die there with honour, than turn 
 their backs, yet the greateft part judging 
 that there was no honour loft in a vigorous 
 retreat, and that it would be rafhnefs to 
 perfift in fo defperate a cafe, they began to 
 retire, fighting and defending themfelves ; 
 but the enemy, elevated with this fuccefs, 
 followed clofe, and having knock'd Villa- 
 gran off his horfe, they had made an end 
 
 of him, if he had not valiantly defended Oval le. 
 himfelf till thirteen of his men came to his. l6 4<5- 
 relief. V-^y^ 
 
 Thefe famous commanders did not obtain The S P 3 " 
 lefs glory in this retreat, than if they had niards -^ 
 
 • T j J • cl c u r „' . ten a econA 
 
 gain d a victory ; for the enemy rollowingr ; ,» e . 
 them for fix leagues together, being a hun- 
 dred to one, and having feiz'd upon moft 
 of the pafles, and the numbers ftill increa- 
 fing, yet the Spaniards made a noble de- 
 fence, and kill'd many of them. Thofe 
 who efcap'd from this engagement, came 
 with the fad news of the ill fuccefs to the 
 city of the Conception, which fet all the in- 
 habitants in an uproar, mingled with la- 
 mentations and cries, every one being in 
 fome meafure concern'd in this calamity ; 
 for between Spaniards and friendly Indians, 
 there died in this engagement two thoufand 
 five hundred. One would have thought the 
 day of judgment had been come, to fee the 
 confufion that was in the city upon this news ; 
 one laments the death of his father, another 
 of her husband ; fome cry for their fons, 
 fome for their brothers ; the women wring 
 their hands, pull off their hair, fill the air 
 with lamentable cries ; the children cling 
 to their parents, asking for their loft fa- 
 thers, which is more grievous to them than 
 daggers. In the midft of thefe horrors, 
 night came on, in which no one could fhut 
 their eyes, for the memory of their misfor- 
 tunes keep the foul attentive, without any 
 confolation. 
 
 CHAP. XVII. 
 
 Lautaro facks the City of the Conception, and Caupolican befieges the City 
 of the Imperial, which is defended by the Queen of Heaven. 
 
 Misfortunes feldom come alone; and 
 fo it happened to this afflicted city, 
 which, inftead of receiving comfort from 
 the approaching day, no fooner did it ap- 
 pear, when the noife of drums and trumpets 
 gave a warm alarm of the enemies being at 
 hand. Here the confufion increas'd; for 
 now the concern was not for the lofs of 
 others, but for every one's own fafety, the 
 danger threatening them fo immediately : 
 there was nothing but diforder, no counfel 
 nor refolution being to be found in the 
 wifeft: they could not defend themfelves, 
 becaufe they were fo over-powered in num- 
 bers by the enemy ; and the retreat, though 
 necefiary, was difficult, becaufe of the ap- 
 proach of the Indians. In this hard con- 
 flict, at laft the refolution that prevail'd, 
 was to abandon the city, without pretend- 
 ing to fave any thing but their lives. They 
 
 leave the city then, and all the gold they They fly 
 had got together in fuch quantities. They from the 
 go out in long files, die mothers helping 9 once P" 
 their little children along: the way that 
 they undertook, was to the city of St. J ago, 
 a long one, in which many rivers were to 
 be crofs'd, and hard pafles to be gone 
 thorough: this labour was accompanied, 
 with the perpetual fright of the enemies 
 purfuing them. Who can relate the hard- 
 ships of hunger and other fufferings, through 
 fo long a tract of mountains, defarts, and 
 uninhabited countries ? How the women, 
 the children, the old men, could bear this 
 fatigue, we muft leave to imagination to 
 reprefent the true idea of thefe misfor- 
 tunes ! Let us therefore return to the In- 
 dians. The Spaniards had hardly made an 
 end of abandoning the city, when the In- ntersmi 
 dians enter'd into it ; and not being able facks tht 
 
 to ci 'y- 
 
x 3 2 
 
 Of the Nature and Properties of the Eook V. 
 
 Ovalle. to execute their rage upon the inhabitants, 
 
 1646. t h e y did it upon the houfes, to which they 
 
 V^y>to/ £ t ^ re ^ an ^ confufpj'j them to the very 
 
 foundation, killing even the very animals 
 which the Spaniards left behind them. Thus 
 was loft the city moft abounding in gold, 
 and fituated in the moft populous part of 
 the Indian country ; for 'tis faid there were 
 not lefs than a hundred thoufand Indians,v/ixh 
 their families, who were all employed in ga- 
 thering gold for the Spaniards, whom they 
 enriched to that degree, that Pedro de Val- 
 divia, if he had liv'd, would have had fif- 
 ty thoufand Crowns of gold a-year, and 
 others twenty and thirty thoufand. 
 
 This burning of the city being over, news 
 was brought, that Caupolican had called a 
 great aflembly in Arauco, which made Lau- 
 taro return with his people to be at it. 
 "When the two generals of the Araucanos 
 met, they greeted one another for the vic- 
 tories obtained over the Spaniards ; and in 
 fign of triumph, one hundred and thirty 
 caciques, all drefTed themfelves in the fpa- 
 nijh drefs with the cloaths they took from 
 the Spaniards killed in the battle. The ge- 
 neral had Valdivia's cloaths, which were, as 
 'tis reported of green velvet, laced with 
 gold lace, a back and breaft of well tem- 
 pered fteel, and a helmet with a great 
 emerald for creft. All having feated them- 
 felves in order by the general's command, 
 he propofed to them the defign of conquer- 
 ing back all that was gained from them by 
 the Spaniards, who now were fo dejected 
 with their lofs. They all agreed to his de- 
 fire, every one delivering his opinion with 
 great pride and arrogance. 'Tis faid, that 
 the old and prudent Colocolo, hearing them 
 deliver their opinions with fo much infolence 
 and prefumption, that it looked as if all 
 the world was too weak to refift their va- 
 lour, humbled them a little, by putting 
 them in mind, That if they had obtained 
 two victories, the Spaniards had gained ma- 
 ny more over them, and had made them 
 ferve as flaves ; therefore that they ought to 
 behave themfelves with moderation and 
 temper, that they might expect fuccefs from 
 their arms ; and added, that it was his opi- 
 nion, that they fhould divide their forces 
 into three parts, and at the fame time affault 
 the city of the Imperial. 
 
 Pucbecalco, a famous conjuring Cacique, 
 
 following the fame thought of humbling the 
 intolerable haughtinefs of the aflembly, told 
 them, That they might give over their pre- 
 fumption ; for he was to acquaint them, that 
 having confulted his oracles, they had an- 
 fwered him, That though at prefent they were 
 fo victorious, yet at laft they were to live un- 
 der the Spanijh yoke in perpetual fiavery. 
 The Cacique Tucapel could not bear to hear 
 this ; and rifing from his place, with his 
 mace of arms gave him fuch a blow as took 
 away his life. The general was highly of- 
 fended at this infolence, and being refolved 
 to chaftize the author of it, the whole af- 
 fembly was difturbed ; and though they all 
 endeavoured to lay hold on the murderer, 
 yet he defended himfelf fo well with his 
 mace of arms, that it was not eafy to fcize 
 him : but Lautaro, who had great power 
 with the general, made up the whole bufi- 
 nefs ; and the refult of the council being to 
 befiege the city of the Imperial, they imme- 
 diately put it in execution. 
 
 Their army took its pofts three leagues Caupolican 
 from the Imperial; which city, though it ^0%" "> 
 had a good garrifon of brave men, was notj^'-'f' 
 neverthelefs prepared nor provided for a*™/^/. 
 fiege with ammunition and victuals, becaufe racuioajly 
 the enemies would have taken it, if any had t revenui - 
 been fent to it ; but the queen of heaven de- 
 livered them from this great danger. The 
 enemies drawing near the city, there arofe 
 on a fudden a mighty ftorm of hail and rain, 
 with black clouds -, and their Epunamon ap- 
 peared to them in form of a terrible dragon, 
 calling out fire at his mouth, and his tail 
 curled up, bidding them make hafte, for the 
 city was theirs, being unprovided ; and that 
 they fhould enter it, and put to the fword 
 all the chriftians ; and fo difappeared. But 
 as they were purfuing their defign, animated 
 by this oracle, on a fudden the heavens 
 cleared up, and a very beautiful woman ap- 
 peared upon a bright cloud, and fhewing 
 them a charming, but majeftick and fevere 
 countenance, took from them the pride and 
 haughtinefs infpired into them by their firft 
 vifion, commanding them to return to their 
 own homes, for god was refolved to favour 
 the chriftians ; and they obey'd immediate- 
 ly. To which the author who reports this 
 ftory adds, That the whole camp faw the 
 apparition, which was on the 23d of April, 
 and that all agree in this. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
Chap. 18. 
 
 Kingdom of CHILE. 
 
 133 
 
 CHAP. XVIII. 
 
 The City of the Conception is rebuilt ; and Lautaro having taken it a fecond 
 Time „ marches to take the City of St. Jago, where he dies. 
 
 ception re 
 built. 
 
 Lautaro 
 takes it* 
 fecondtime 
 
 The Con- r TT H E Spaniards being in fafety, began 
 X to think of returning to the Concep- 
 tion, and rebuilding of it. To this end they 
 raifed men at St. Jago, and with great dif- 
 ficulty compaffed their intention, making a 
 good fortrefs within the city for their better 
 iecurity. The Indians of the neighbour- 
 hood, though they were in their hearts as 
 averfe as any others to be commanded by 
 ftrangers, and to let them build cities in 
 their territories, difTembled neverthelefs at 
 prefent, but in due time gave advice to A- 
 rauco, defiring help to drive out thefe new 
 comers, or make an end of them at once. 
 Lautaro came to them prefently with a good 
 army ; and fome companies of Spaniards, 
 •which went out to encounter him, were 
 forced to retire to the fort they made, in 
 which they defended themfelves as long as 
 they were able to withftand the force of 
 Lautaro ; but at laft being overpowered, 
 they were forced to retire a fecond time to 
 the city of St. Jago. Many Spaniards 
 were loft, and Lautaro followed the pur- 
 fuit, in which many brave actions were 
 performed on both fides : among the reft, 
 a famous Indian captain, called Rengo, 
 following three Spani/h captains, who were 
 retiring, called them cowards, and faid a 
 hundred infolent things to them, which 
 moved one of them to attack him at the 
 paffage of a river •, but he fecured himfelf 
 by choofing a ftrong poft ; fo the Spaniards 
 went on to St. Jago, and Lautaro retreated 
 to Arauco, where great rejoicings were made 
 for this new victory. 
 
 The Indians renewed their meetings ; and 
 being much elevated with their fuccefs, they 
 came to a refolution of not troubling them- 
 felves with the leffer cities, which they rec- 
 koned as their own ; but to attack the ca- 
 pital of St. Jago. Lautaro offered to un- 
 dertake this enterprize -, and chufing the 
 moft warlike among them, he marched with 
 a powerful army. He palled the rivers Biobio, 
 Itata, Maule, and Mataquito ; near this laft 
 he raifed a fort to fecure his retreat, if need 
 were, he being engaged far from his own 
 territories. 
 
 When the news of this refolution came 
 to St. Jago, many looked upon it as a fable, 
 not being capable of imagining, that the 
 Indians had boldnefs enough to march fo 
 far to attack them ; but thofe who were 
 
 Lautaro 
 marches to 
 befiege 
 St. Jago. 
 
 come back from the city of the Conception 
 undeceived them, as knowing by experience 
 Lauta'ro's courage ; they therefore fortified 
 the place, and provided it : they alio fent 
 out parties to engage the enemies, if the oc- 
 cafion offered ; but Lautaro forced them to 
 return in hafte to carry the news, and yet 
 fome remained behind too. 
 
 Francifco de Villagran, the lieutenant-ge- T ;, e s pa . 
 neral was fick at this time ; and fo fent hisniards 
 coufin Pedro de Villagran, with all the force march t0 
 he could make, to meet Lautaro ; they meet 
 lodged within half an hour from the fort 
 which the Indians had raifed upon the Rio 
 Claro ; the next day they entered the fort 
 without any refiftance •, for Lautaro had 
 cunningly ordered his men to feem to fly, 
 that he might catch the Spaniards in the 
 fort ; and fo, when he faw his time, he 
 gave the fignal, and his men fell on the 
 Spaniards like lions, who had enough to do 
 to make their retreat, and efcape from their 
 hands. The Indians followed them for a 
 league, doing them much mifchief, though 
 they defended themfelves with great valour. 
 Lautaro feigned a fecond time to fly i and 
 our people being reinforced, engaged him 
 a-frefh. They attacked his fort, and gave 
 three afiaults to it ; where they were received 
 with fhowers of arrows, darts, and ftones, 
 and at laft forced to retire to a valley 5 
 whence they defign'd to return, and try their 
 fortune again: but Lautaro faved them the 
 trouble ; for refolving to make an end of 
 them all at once, and in order to it feigning 
 that he wanted provifions, he fent to our camp 
 to demand fome. His project was to let in 
 a river upon the Spaniard's camp, which he 
 could do conveniently, becaufe it was al- 
 ready in dams and canals ; and fo having 
 made a marih of the ground where they 
 lodged, fo as they fhould not be able to 
 ftir, feize all the panes behind them. But 
 Villagran having difcovered this ftratagem, 
 raifed his camp, and retired to St. Jago, to 
 the great difappointment of the enemy. 
 
 Yet this did not make Lautaro give over 
 his defign ; for confidering that he could 
 not attack St. Jago, which was well pro- 
 vided with men and ammunition, except he 
 had a greater ftrength, he raifed a fort in 
 a valley to cover himfelf, while his fuccours 
 fhould arrive, and enable him to attack 
 St. Jago. Thofe of the city were making, 
 M m with 
 
1 34. Of the Nature and Properties of the 
 
 Book V. 
 
 Ovalle. with great care, preparations for their de- 
 1646. f ence . anc i had f ent f or fuccours to all the 
 
 ^"V w ' other cities. Their general Villagran had 
 fent out upon this defign ; and making as 
 if he was going to Arauco, had on a iud- 
 den marched to the Imperial, from whence 
 he brought many good men away with 
 him ; and while Lautaro was raifing his 
 fort, Villagran, guided by an Indian, came 
 fwiftly and filently upon Lautaro, and at- 
 tacked his fort. In the firft affault that was 
 
 Lautaro given, Lautaro himfelf fell, wounded by an 
 
 killed by an arrow, which {truck him in the heart : thus 
 ended that valiant captain of the Araucanos. 
 His foldiers were not at all difcouraged with 
 
 arrow. 
 
 this misfortune of their general ; but rather 
 enraged with fuch a lofs, and a defire to 
 revenge his death, they fell like lions upon 
 the Spaniards, taking no quarter at their 
 hands. There were on both fides great ac- 
 tions performed •, but the refolution of the 
 Indians was the nobleft in the world, pre- 
 ferring their glory to their lives, which 
 they husbanded fo little, that though they 
 were broke, and but few left in a fighting; 
 condition, yet they ran upon the Spaniards 
 lances, and with their hands pulled them 
 into their bodies, to come clofe to their ene- 
 my, and revenge their death with his, or 
 at leaft die in the attempt. 
 
 CHAP. XIX. 
 
 'Don Garcia Hurtado de Mendoca comes to the Government of Chile ; what 
 happened at his Arrival } and in the Engagement he had with the 
 Araucanos. 
 
 A 1 
 
 FT E R the death of Pedro de Valdi- 
 via, there was application made from 
 Chile to the viceroy of Peru, who is to pro- 
 vide a governor till the king can fend one, 
 that is, both prefident and governor indepen- 
 dent of Peru. The viceroy at this time was 
 Don Antonio Hurtado de Mendofa, marquis 
 of Canete, who governed with great zeal, 
 and a prudent feverity, making exemplary 
 punifhments where they were neceffary, by 
 which he fecured the country. He had 
 then with him his fon Don Garcia Hurtado 
 de Mendofa, who afterwards fucceeded him 
 in his viceroyfhip, with as much applaufe 
 and efteem of the world. The embafiadors 
 from Chile defired him of his excellency 
 the father for their governor, which he 
 granted. King Philip the fecond had ap- 
 pointed the Adelantado Hyeronimo de Alde- 
 rete, to fucceed the governor Pedro de Val- 
 divia, whofe death was known at court ; 
 but the news came likewife that Alderete 
 was dead in the ifland of "Taboga near Pana- 
 ma. The viceroy's fon having raifed a good 
 body of horfe, fent fome of them by land 
 with the horfes, and he embarked with the 
 reft ; and after a hard ftorm, in which they 
 had like to have been all loft, he arrived 
 in the bay of the city of the Conception, and 
 Don Gar- landed upon the ifland of Quinquina, to 
 aa.thenew j n f orm himfelf from thence of the ftate of 
 ChikjLds tne country. The people of the ifland, who 
 ofQuiri- were fierce and warlike, took arms when 
 quina. they faw the fhips draw near the harbour, 
 and pretended to hinder the Spaniards from 
 landing; but having no fire-arms, as foon 
 as the cannon of the fhips began to fire, they 
 gave way. As foon as the governor landed 
 he publifhed the defign of his coming, that 
 the Indians might know it ; which was, to 
 
 fave their fouls by the predication of the 
 gofpel, and reconcile them to god by the 
 means of baptifm ; and to confer that fa-* 
 crament, he had with him religious men of 
 the famous orders of St. Francis and the 
 Mercede: that if they would fiibmit to that, 
 he would treat with them in the name of the 
 emperor Charles V. This declaration reach- 
 ed the ears of the Araucanos ; and there af- 
 fembled at Arauco fixteen caciques, and 
 many other captains, to treat about what 
 was beft for them to do in this cafe ; and 
 though many youthful and arrogant fpeeches 
 were made, according to their ufual haugh- 
 tinefs, which made them defpife all good 
 counfel and peace, yet the old and prudent 
 Colocolo reftrained their pride with prudent 
 reafons, and perfuaded them to treat with 
 the Spaniards, fince they were by them in- 
 vited to do it. It cannot hurt us, faid he, 
 to hear them : we Jhall have our forces as 
 firong Jlill to maintain our right, if they de- 
 mand unjuft things. This opinion was fol- 
 lowed by the moft prudent among them ; 
 and they fent for their ambafiador the Ca- The Indians 
 ciaue Milalan, a man of great rhetor ick and/"-^ '*»«»- 
 eloquence among them, giving him order ia Jf aJ <> r ' 
 to treat with the Spaniards, and obferve well/,, w . 
 their ftrength ; and that he fhould fhew in- 
 clinations to peace, to draw them to land on 
 the continent, and forfake the ifland, hoping 
 that the defire of gold would tempt them 
 to go further into the country. Milalan 
 came to the governor's tent ; and making 
 a fmall but civil bow, faluted him, and the 
 other Spaniards that were with him ; then 
 with chearful countenance he delivered his 
 mefiage. He faid, That his countrymen ad- 
 mitted the terms of peace that -were propofed, 
 andjhoidd obferve thofe of friendfhip ; not out 
 
 of 
 
Chap. 19. 
 
 Kingdom of CHILE. 
 
 35 
 
 of any terror or apprehenfion caufed in them 
 by the arrival ofthefe new forces; for no pow- 
 er was great enough to terrify them, having 
 fufficiently experienced their ftrength in the 
 fuccefs they had hitherto had ; but that 
 tabic h mov'd them was the compaffion they 
 had for fo many innocent people, fo many 
 women and children, who, upon occafion of 
 ibis war, remain d widows and orphans : 
 that upon fair terms they would own the king 
 e/Spain, upon condition that he did not con- 
 cern bimfelf any ways with their liberty or 
 rights ; that if they had any thought of ailing 
 by violence, and making them flaves, . they 
 woidd fooner eat their own children, and kill 
 themfelves, thanfuffcr it. 
 
 The governor anfwered him with all af- 
 furance of a good treatment as they expect- 
 ed-, and having made him fome prefents, 
 difpatch'd him back to give an account of 
 his embafiy : but this was not fufficient fe- 
 curity for either fide i fo they remain'd upon 
 their guard. The Indians obferving the 
 caution of the Spaniards, to give them more 
 fecurity, feign'd to difmifs their forces, 
 but fecretly gave them orders to ftand up- 
 on their guard, and not lay down their 
 arms, but be ready upon any occafion that 
 might happen : yet the Spaniards for all 
 this did not think fit to land upon the conti- 
 nent, but ftay'd two months upon the ifland 
 u, lands on where they firft landed, till the winter was 
 the conti- entirely over. About the fpring, they fet 
 vent, and on fhore about one hundred and thirty men 
 of the braveft among them, to raife a fort, 
 as they did, upon the top of a hill which 
 overlooks the city of Penco, (otherwife 
 call'd the city of the Conception.) Under the 
 protection of this fortrefs, the reft of the 
 Spaniards went out of the ifland, hoping, 
 that in a little time, their horfes, which 
 were coming by land, would arrive, having 
 fome news of them : in the mean time, they 
 cut wood and fafcines to fortify their camp, 
 the governor and the commanders fhewing 
 an example to the reft in the labour of re- 
 trenching themfelves, and cutting of wood, 
 as if they had never done any thing elfe all 
 their life - time. They brought it to per- 
 fection in a little time, and planted upon 
 it eight field-pieces, with all other necefla- 
 ry provifions for their defence. 
 The Tndl- The Araucanos, who were watching all 
 ans attack their motions, no fooner faw them bufy in 
 ''• their fort, but, without expecting any fur- 
 
 ther proof of their intentions, which they 
 took to be for war, call'd immediately an 
 affembly, and with all their ftrength came 
 like lions, with a refolution to demolifh the 
 new fort. They took up their poft at Tal- 
 caguano, about two miles from the Spaniards 
 fort, and about break of day they gave an 
 
 rai/es * 
 fort. 
 
 alarm, and having firft challeng'dout many Ovalle. 
 Spaniards to fingle combat, they at laft fell \j^zl 
 on in a body, with no more fear of the can- ^v^-' 
 non-bullets than if they had been of cotton 
 or wooll, knowing, that though they re- 
 ceiv'd at firft fome damage, it could laft no 
 longer than till the battalions were engag'd. 
 With this refolution they tell on like lions, 
 and fome of them got over the fortifica- 
 tions ; amongft whom wasTucapel, who did 
 wonderful actions. Neither were the Spa- 
 niards unprepar'd for them, doing extraor- 
 dinary things, which it were too long to 
 defcribe in particular, though the actions 
 were fuch as very well deferve it. 
 
 The Spaniards who were in the ifland and *"* are 
 aboard the fhips, hearing of the danger of M e " 
 their companions, came to their affiftance, 
 and by the help of God, who aided them, 
 join'd their friends ; and then thus united 
 they began to prevail over the Araucanos ; 
 who, finding themfelves inferior, and ha- 
 ving loft many of their braveft men, began 
 to retreat all but Tucapel,who having ftay'd 
 laft, and being forely wounded, yet made 
 his efcape from the Spaniards, whom he 
 left full of admiration of his valour and re- 
 folution. 
 
 About this time the horfes which earned »«»£»• 
 from St. J ago arriv'd, and with them a?T£/*- 
 troop of good horfemen from the Imperial. 
 The enemies mufter'd all their forces, and 
 the Spaniards went to feek them out in the 
 valley of Arauco, where they had another 
 very bloody engagement: the Araucanos 
 fled, or rather retir'd -, and the Spaniards 
 having taken one prifoner call'd Gualbarino, 
 they, in order to terrify the reft, cut off 
 both his hands ; but the Araucanos were 
 fo far from being terrified by it, that this 
 enraged them the more; for Gualbarino 
 himfelf being return'd to his countrymen, 
 went up and down, begging them to re- 
 venge the injury done to him, which they 
 all looked upon as their own. Caupolican 
 their general fent to challenge the governor 
 Don Garcia with all his ftrength, telling 
 him, that he would ftay for him in his 
 camp, which he moved near the Spanifh 
 camp, which was at Millar apue. He came Heches 
 over night ; and the next day prefented Caupolican 
 him battle ; which was as well difputed as J*J['^ 
 the reft, both fides fighting with extreme 
 valour. The Indians prefied the Spaniards 
 fo hard, that victory had declared for them, 
 had not a Spaniflj battalion, in which alone 
 remain'd all the Spaniards hopes, charg'd fo 
 defperately among the Indians, that they 
 were forced to retire, and leave the field to 
 the Spaniards ; but their retreat was with 
 great honour and reputation. 'Tis related, 
 that in this engagement fome of the neigh- 
 bouring 
 
i%6 
 
 Of the Nature and ^Properties of the Book V, 
 
 OvALLE-bouring Indians were made prifoners; and 
 1646. that though they were put to a mod ex- 
 
 Km * m V~ > *' quifite torture, to force them to reveal 
 fomething that the Spaniards wanted to 
 know, yet they remain'd conftant and true 
 to their country, as if they had been infen- 
 fible of pain. The Spaniards had here a 
 confiderable advantage •, for, befides many 
 dead enemies whom they left upon the fpot, 
 they took twelve prifoners of the chief 
 among the Indians, whom they hang'd up- 
 on fo many trees for an example to the reft ; 
 and among them that fame Gualbarino; 
 who not only mewed in dying an intrepid 
 mind , but encouraged the others : and 
 amongft the reft, a Cacique, who began to 
 fear and beg his life ; to whom Gualbarino 
 fpoke before all with fo much haughtinefs, 
 taxing his bafe cowardice as if he had been 
 the conqueror, and not the conquered, which 
 ftruck the Spaniards with fuch admiration, 
 that they were befide themfelves. 
 
 From this place our camp marched to 
 
 He raifes the valley where Valdivia was loft. Here 
 the Spaniards raifed a good fort ; from 
 whence they made their excurfions upon the 
 enemy, endeavouring to advance their con- 
 quefts, but not without danger of being 
 
 anothtr 
 fort. 
 
 often cut off; particularly the hazard they 
 ran at a narrow pafs, caus'd by the moun- 
 tains on the way to Puren, where they 
 were attack'd by the Indians, and very 
 hard fet by them, whom they might have 
 deftroy'd if they had not fallen to plun- 
 der the baggage : for a company of Spa- 
 niards obferving this mifcarriage, feiz'd on 
 a fpot on the top of an hill, from whence AnA again 
 with their fmall fhot they fo gall'd the In- beitts * h * 
 dians below, that they fled in confufion to 1 ™"™ 3, 
 avoid fuch a tempeft, leaving the Spaniards 
 mafters of the field, but much weakened : 
 having been forely handled in this rencoun- 
 ter, they retir'd to their camp, where they 
 were receiv'd with great demonftration of 
 joy. After this, leaving a good garrifon 
 in the fort, well provided for two months, 
 the governor went to vifit the other cities, 
 to ftrengthen them, and provide them with 
 neceffaries againft all attacks, which they 
 had reafon to fear ; for Caupolican, enraged 
 that in three months he had loft three vic- 
 tories, had call'd a general afiembly ; where 
 it was refolv'd never to give over, but ei- 
 ther die or conquer, that they might drive 
 out the Spaniards, and reftore their coun- 
 try to its liberty. 
 
 CHAP. XX. 
 
 More Events of War : The 'Death and Converfion <?f Caupolican. 
 
 CAUP O L I CAN followed his defigns ; 
 but fortune feemed to be weary of af- 
 fifting him ; for in moft rencounters he 
 came off either worfted, or entirely defeat- 
 ed, and the victory fnatch'd out of his 
 hands when he thought himfelf fure of it: 
 this made his people begin to grow weary 
 of his command ; and the vulgar began to 
 cenfure his conduct as too remifs, and that 
 the defire of preferving his power, and be- 
 ing general, made him neglect opportuni- 
 ties of putting an end to the war. 
 
 Caupolican being inform'd of thefe fufpi- 
 cions of his own people, call'd a new af- 
 fembly, in which he propofed methods of 
 carrying on the war, fo as they might ob- 
 tain an entire liberty. This was unani- 
 moufly agreed to, with a firm refolution 
 of not giving it over till they either con- 
 quer'd or died. This refolution coming to 
 the knowledge of the governor Don Garcia 
 Hurtado de Mendofa, who was gone, as we 
 havefeen, to the city of the Imperial, to for- 
 tify it, he difpatch'd to the fort advice of 
 what pafs'd, and fent them a competent relief. 
 
 Amongft other defigns pitch'd upon by 
 Caupolican, the firft was to furprize the 
 Spaniards in their fortrefs by a ftratagem 
 
 before they were aware of him, and fo mai* 
 ter the place. The other captains of re- 
 pute, Rengo, Orompello, and Tucapel, who 
 were ufed to lead always the vanguard, did 
 not approve of his project ; and lb let him 
 go by himfelf with his own forces, they 
 fcorning, as they laid, to obtain a victory 
 by fraud or furprize. Caupolican fet out 
 then by himfelf; and being come within 
 three leagues of the Jpanifi fortrefs, he fent 
 out his fpies to obferve their difpolition, 
 and how they might be eafilieft circumven- 
 ted. He chofe out for this purpofe one of 
 his beft captains, whofe name was Pran, a 
 cunning fagacious man, and prudent, with 
 a great deal of ready wit. This captain 
 difguis'd himfelf; and putting on the habit 
 of an ordinary Indian, he went alone, and 
 without arms, as a private perfon, to the 
 fortrefs of the Spaniards. He entered the 
 fort without fufpicion, or being known by 
 the other friendly Indians, with whom he 
 foon grew acquainted ; and walking up and 
 down, he obferved our camp and forces, 
 and took particular notice of the time of 
 day that our men us'd to be leaft upon 
 their guard, which was generally at noon, 
 when they went to fleep, to repair their 
 
 ftrength 
 
Chap. 20. 
 
 Kingdom of C H I L E. 
 
 37 
 
 ftrengch, which was wafted by their night- 
 watches. 
 Pran, an There was in the Spanijh fort, a young 
 Indian fiy, p n( {\ an-) ( not: ]i^ e Lautaro, in whom the love 
 fenaeainjl ? his country prevail'd over his duty to his 
 the Spa- mailer,) but ol another temper ; his name 
 njards. was Andres, fervant to a Spanifo gentleman, 
 and very much inclin'd to all the Spanijh 
 nation. Pran had made a great friendfhip 
 with this young man ; and one day, as they 
 were going together in the fields to feek out 
 fome provifion, as they us'd to do, talking 
 from one thing to another, Pran difcover'd 
 himfelf entirely to his friend Andres ; per- 
 fuading him to help on the defign he came 
 about, fince upon its fuccefs the liberty of 
 the whole nation depended. Andres, who 
 was not lefs fiigacious and prudent than 
 Pran, promis'd him all he could defire ; 
 but diffembled all the while. This being 
 fettled, they agreed, that each of them 
 fhould return home to his camp, and that 
 the next day Andres fhould come to a cer- 
 tain poft they agreed on, and there Pran 
 fhould meet him, and carry him to Caupo- 
 lican's quarters, where he might fettle all 
 matters with him. Pran went back to the 
 Indians camp, overjoyed that he had fuc- 
 ceeded fo well, as he thought : he gave a 
 particular account of all the bufinefs to Cau- 
 polican, while Andres did the fame to cap- 
 tain Reynofo, who commanded in the Spani/h 
 fort. If God Almighty had not by this 
 way deliver'd the Spaniards out of this emi- 
 nent danger, they muft have perifh'd ; for 
 naturally Andres ought to have been of the 
 fide of his own countrymen. 
 
 According to what had been agreed be- 
 tween them, Andres came the next day to 
 the affignation, where he met his friend 
 Pran ; and they went together to Caupoli- 
 can, who receiv'd him with all demonftra- 
 tions of joy and confidence, fhewing him 
 his camp, and all his army ; the refult was, 
 that he fhould afFault the Spaniards the next 
 $ut it tums^y aD0Ut noon. Andres went back to the 
 to the Spaniards, to inform them of all that palled, 
 ruin of the anc l by that captain Reynofo knew how to 
 difpofe every thing to receive the attack. 
 Caapolican came at the time appointed with 
 all his Indians, the greateft part of which 
 were fuffer'd to enter, the Spaniards making 
 as if they were afleep j but on a fudden, up- 
 on a fign given, they rofe up like lions, 
 and making a furious difcharge on thofe en- 
 ter'd, the horfe fallied to engage thofe who 
 had remain'd without, of whom they made 
 a great flaughter. The furprize of the In- 
 dians was fo great, that few of them could 
 make their efcape •, but Caupolican, with 
 ten more, fav'd himfelf by by-paths, though 
 he was hotly purfued ; the Indians that were 
 Vol. III. 
 
 Indians. 
 
 overtaken, ftill denying they knew anyOvALLE. 
 thing of him, and neither threats nor gifts '.*$¥> • 
 could oblige them to reveal what they ^^V^ 
 might know more. 
 
 But it being very hard there fhould not Caupoli- 
 be one traytor among many loyal men, the can be- 
 Spaniards lite at laft upon one of his {o\- tr *y td h 
 diers, who was difcontented that he had not"*^ me „ 
 been advane'd according to his pretenfions, 
 who betrayed to them where he was : this 
 man guided them by a fecret path to a 
 place where they could not be difcover'd, 
 and from thence fhewed them a very thick 
 wood, about nine miles from Ongolmo, 
 where in a thicket by a river fide, over a 
 precipice, this brave man had hid himfelf 
 till he could get a new army, and rally 
 his men. 
 
 The Spaniards came upon him on a fud- He is taken 
 den, and furpriz'd him with the few that h ,h * s P a * 
 were with him ; and though he did all that 
 was in his power to defend himfelf, yet 
 they mailer' d him. His wife feeing him a 
 prifoner, and his hands tied behind him, 
 call'd him coward, and us'd all the oppro- 
 brious language to him that was poffible; 
 
 Caupolican was defervedly among the In- His darac- 
 dians the moft valued of their generals ; and UT - 
 accordingly, in an affembly of fixteen Ca- 
 ciques, all fovereign lords, who met to raife 
 an army againft the Spaniards, he had the 
 chief command given him. This was the 
 man who, with fourfcore bold fellows, fur- 
 priz'd the caftle ofArauco, and overcame 
 the Spaniards in a bloody encounter with- 
 out the city walls : this was he who durft 
 expect die general Valdivia in open field, 
 and routed him and his whole army, fo as 
 there was not one Spaniard left alive: this 
 was he who deftroyed Puren, and fack'd 
 Penco, not leaving one ftone upon another 
 in it, the Spaniards having been all fright- 
 ed away by the terror of his .name : this, 
 in fine, was the man who manag'd all the 
 war with fuch fuccefs, by his military skill 
 and valour, that his authority was every 
 where refpected. This great man was now, 
 by the means of a traitor, deliver'd up to 
 his moft cruel enemies. In this calamity 
 he fhewed no bafenefs ; for though he beg- 
 ged his life, it was in a grave way, pro- 
 mifing in return to caufe all the country to 
 fubmit to the king of Spain, and to give 
 way to introduce the chriftian religion. 
 " Confider, faid he, to captain Reynofo, Hisfpeech. 
 " that what I promife, I am able to per- 
 " form, by the great veneration that all 
 " my people have for me; and if thou doll 
 " not accept of this proffer, thou wilt do 
 " nothing ; fince for one head taken away, 
 " there will rife up a hundred Caupolicans 
 " to revenge my death, that the true one 
 Nn "will 
 
1 38 Of the Nature and Properties of the, &c, Book V. 
 
 OVAIIE." 
 1646. <■<■ 
 
 will not be miffed. I defire not to be 
 fet at liberty, but to remain thy prifo- 
 ner till I perform my promife." 
 All thefe reafons were of no ufe to Cau- 
 He is fen- polican, for he was publickly fentenced to 
 tented, \y C empaled alive, and fhot to death with 
 arrows, for a terror to the reft of the In- 
 dians ; though as time has fince fhewed, 
 this had no other effect, than to light the 
 fire of war more and more, and make the 
 
 wound almoft incurable. He heard this 
 hard fentence without any alteration in his 
 countenance ; but he defir'd with great con- 
 cern to be baptiz'd. The priefts are fent B»ftiz.'J, 
 for, and after a fhort inftruction he receives 
 the holy ablution, and the character of a 
 chriftian. After this the fentence was exe- Antl 
 cuted upon him, which he endur'd with cmed. 
 ' great conftancy. 
 
 The Conclufion. 
 
 THOUGH father Ovalk has conti- 
 nued in the remainder of his treatife 
 to give an account of the various events of 
 the war with the Araucanos, in which nar- 
 rative he runs through the commands and 
 actions of all the governors of Chile, to the 
 peace made with that nation •, yet it being 
 by him more a piece of courtihip to his 
 nation, and to thofe families, than an in- 
 formation inftructive to a foreign reader, it 
 has been thought proper to take the death 
 
 of that great general Caupolican for the firft 
 natural period of that war. In the courfe 
 of the remaining narrative, there are fo ma- 
 ny fuperftitious notions inculcated, fo ma- 
 ny improbable miracles given for the foun- 
 dation of great enterprizes, and fuch a 
 monkifh fpirit runs through the work, that 
 here in England it would rather prejudice 
 than recommend the impreflion, and i» 
 therefore omitted. 
 
 Sir 
 
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