The geographical and historical dictionary of America and the West Indies [volume 1]

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CHILE.

left the government, in the year 1655, to the successor,

25. Don Martin de Muxica, knight of the order of Santiago, a renowned officer, and one who had gained much renown in the armies of Ital}^ and Flanders.

26. Don Pedro Porter de Casanate, A. D. 1659.

27. Don Francisco Meneses Bravo de Sarabia, who led from Spain a body of troops, in order to subdue the Indians; this he accomplished; and in the year 1664 rebuilt the cities which had been destroyed in 1599 : his government lasted until the year 1668, when he was deposed by the viceroy of Peru.

28. Don Angel Peredo, knight of the order of Santiago ; he was appointed as an intermediate governor upon the deposition of his antecessor, and governed during the following year, 1669.

» 29. Don Juan Enriquez, native of Lima, knight of the order of Santiago, governed until the year 1677.

30. Don

31. Don

32. Don

33. Don Juan Andres de Ustariz, native of Sevilla, until the year 1715, when was elected,

34. Don Gabriel Cano dc Aponte, brigadiergeneral of the royal armies, in whose time the Araucanos again declared war, when he obliged them to renew the peace ; died A.D. 1728.

35. Don Juan de Salamanca, colonel of the militia of that kingdom ; he was an intermediate governor, and at his death,

36. Don Joseph de Santiago Concha, Marquis de Casa Concha, kinght of the order of Calatrava, chief auditor of the royal audience of Lima, nominated by the viceroy.

37. Don Alonso de Obando, Marquis de Obatido, vice-admiral of the royal armada ; appointed by the viceroy, the Marquis de Villa Garcia, as intermediate successor, until the year 1736.

38. Don Joseph Manso de Velasco, Count ot Snperunda, knight of the order of Santiago ; he was at that time captain of the grenadiers of the regiment of Spanish guards, and ranked as brigadier; well recommended by his valour and exploits, when he was appointed to this presidency in the aforesaid year ; he governed until the year 1746, when he was promoted to the viceroyalty of Peru.

39. Don Domingo Ortiz de Rozas, knight of the order of Santiago, was at that time governor of Buenos Ayres, and Avas elected to this presidency in the aforesaid year ; he founded several toAvns,

on which account the king gave him the title of Conde de Poblaciones ; governed until the year 1754, when returning to Spain, he died.

40 Don Manuel Arnat y J unient, knight of the order of San Juan, colonel of the regiment of dragoons of Sagunto, of the rank of brigadier, appointed to this presidency ; which he filled until the year 1761, when he was promoted to the viceroyahy of Peru.

41. Don Mateo de Toro de Zambrano y Urueta, appointed as intermediate successor by the former, upon his departure from Lima, until the arrival of the right successor,

42. Don Antonio Guill, formerly colonel of the regiment of infantry of Guadalaxara, and then ranked as brigadier, being governor and captaingeneral of the kingdom of Tierra Firme ; promoted to this presidency in the aforesaid year, 1761, and exercised it until his death, in 1768.

43. Don Mateo de Toro Zambrano y Urueta, the second time of his being nominated as intermediate successor by the audience in the vacancy, until was nominated by the viceroy of Peru,

44. Don Francisco Xavier de Morales, knight of the order of Santiago, brigadier of the royal armies, who being captain of the grenadiers of the regiment of the royal Spanish guards, was made general of the militia in Peru, and Avas nominated as intermediate successor by the viceroy to this presidency, Avhich he enjoyed till his death in the year 1772.

45. The aforesaid Don Mateo de Toro Zambrano y Urueta, then Count of La Conquista, knight of the order of Santiago, and lieutenant-colonel of the royal armies, nominated for the third time by the royal audience during the vacancy, until arrived the right successor,

46. Don Agustin de Jauregui, knight of the order of Santiago, brigadier of the royal armies, Avho had been colonel of the regiment of dragoons of Sagunto ; Avas appointed to this presidency A.D. 1773, and enjoyed it until 1782, Avhen he Avas promoted to the viceroyalty of Peru.

47. Don Ambrosio de Benavides, brigadier of the royal armies, was nominated in the same year, 1782.

[INDEX TO THE ADDITIONAL HISTORY AND INFORMATION RESPECTING CHILE.

Chap. 1. Origin and language of the Chilians. — Conquest o f the Peruvians^ and state of Chile before the arrival of the Spaniards.— What were then its political establishments^ government, and arts.

1. Language.— 2. Original state.— 3. Divided into free and subjugated.— Agricidture.—b. Civi-

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CHILE.

[lized state.— ‘6 The metals.— 1 . Substitute for writing.

Chap. II. Fi rst expedition of the Spaniards in Chile.— Encounters with the natives., with various success, until the alliance formed between the Spaniards and Promaucians.

1. Almagvo marches against Chile. —2. Road from Peru to Chile.-— o. Kindhj received at Copiapo. —4. First European blood shed.— 5. Battle with the Promaucians.— Q. Expedition abandoned, and why.—l. Valdivia marches against Chile.— 8. Province of St. Ja go describe'd.—'il. The capital founded.— \0. Steady enmitnj of the Mapochinians.—l\. The mine of Quillota.— 12. The

compassionate ulmena. 13. Recruits fom

Peru, under Monroy.—-\t^. Stratagem of the Quillotanes.-—\5. Serena founded.— \Q. Promaucian cdlies.—ll . Valdivia sets sail for Peru, and returns with men and supplies.— \8. Concepcion founded.

Chap. III. Of the character and manners of the Araucanians .

1. Local situation.— 2. Character .-—3. Dress.—

4. Dwellings.— b. Division of the Araucanian

state.— 6. Its political form.-— 7. Civil institutions.— 8. Military system.— 3. Their arms, and mode of making av/r.— -10. Division of the spoil.— 1\. Sacrifice after the war. — \2. Congress of peace.— 13. System of religion.—!^. Funeral ceremonies.— \b. Division of time.— 16. Astronomical ideas.— \7. Measures.— \8. Phetoric.— \9. Poetry . — 20. Medical skill.— 21. Commerce.— 22. National pride.— 23. Kindness towards each other.— 2^. Mode of salutation. 25. Proper names.-— 20. Domestic em-

ployments. — 27. Food. -— 28. Music, and other diversions.

Chap. IV. The wars of the Araucanians with the Spaniards, and concomitant events.

1. The Toqui Aillavila.—2. The Toqui Lincoyan. —3. Imperial founded.---!^. Villariqa founded. —

5. The Cunches.—G. Valdivia founded.-— 7 . Fortresses of Fiiren, Tucapel, and Araiico built.— 8. City of the Frontiers founded. -— 9. Three principal military offices instituted at Concepcion.

— \Q. The Toqui Caupolican. 11. Valdivia

slain.— Lautaro appointed lieutenant-general,— 12. The mountain Mariguenu. 13. The Go-

vernor Villa gr an. —1^. Conception destroyed.— 15. The small-pox appears.-— \0. Decision of the audience of Lima 1 'especting the governors. -—17. Concepcion rebuilt, and destroyed by Lautaro.— Lautaro arrives at Santiago.— 19. Death of Lautaro.— 20. Caupolican raises the siege of Imperial.— 21. The Governor Don Gar-

cia Hurtado de Mendoza.— 22. Caupolican taken prisoner and impaled.— 23. Cahete founded.— 24. The Cur.ches, their curious embassy and stratagem.— 25. Archipelago of Chiloe discovered.-— 26. City of Osorno founded.— 27 . Caupolican the Second.— 28. The Guarpes subjected.— 29. St. Juan and Mendoza founded,— 30. Villagran reinstated. — 31. The province of Tucuman restored, afterwards retaken. 32. Cahete destroyed.— 33. Pedro Villagran. ---34. The Toqui Pcdllataru,— 35. Archipelago of Chiloe subjected; description of the same ; its inhabitants, fc.-—36. The court of audience established.—

37. Suppression of the tribunal of audience.— -

38. Description of the Pehuenches .—39 . Description of the Chiquillanians . — 40. Landing and defeat of the English.— ^1. Nature oj the war in anno 1589. — 42. Independence restored. --43. Expedition of the Dutch.-— All the Spanish settlements destroyed.— 1^5. Court of audience re-established.— i6. Ineffectual efforts of Philip III. to establish a lasting peace. — VI . Second expedition of the Dutch.— F8. Second expedition o f the English.— ^9. Peace at length concluded.-— 50. Last expedition of the Dutch. — 51. Dreadful earthquake. — 52. Commerce with the French.— 53. How the Pehuenches became inimical to the Spaniards.— 51. Peace restored.

Chap. V. Present state of Chile.

1. Civil government.— 2. Military force.— -3. Ecclesiastical government. 4. The cities and dwellings.— 5. Population.— 6. Chilian Creoles. —7. ^ate of arts and sciences.— 8. The peasantry .—9. Dress, S;c.— 10. Diseases; smallpox, how cured.— 11 . Manners, moral and physical. 12. Internal and external commerce,

mines, imports, and exports. — 13. Natural divisions.— U. Poliiiced divisions.— 15. Climate.— 16. Of rain. — 11 . Winds.— -IS. Meteors.— 19. Volcanoes. — 20. Earthquakes. —21. Some detail of productions.— 22. Present revolution.

Chap. I.

Origin and language of the Chilians .—Conquest of the Peruvians, and state of Chile before the arrival of the Spaniards.-— What was then its political establishments, government, and arts. Of the origin and huiguage of the Chilians, no traces are to be found further back than the middle of the 15th century, -which was the time when (he Peruvians first began (heir conquests in this delightful country. It is the general opinion that America was settled from the n. e. part of Asia, but the opinion entertained by the Chilians is, (hat ' 3 E 2

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[tlieir country was peopled from the w. However diis may be, that it was originally peopled by one nation appears possible, as all the Aborigines inhabiting it, however independent of each other, speak the same language, and have a similar appearance.

1. Language. — Their language is copious, full of harmony and richness. Each verb, either derivatively or conjunctively, becomes the root of numerous other verbs and nouns, as well adjectives as substantives, which in their turn reproduce others, which are secondary, modifying themselves in an hundred different ways. There is no part of speech from which an appropriate verb cannot be formed by the addition of a final en. Even from the most simple particles vmrious verbs are derived, that giv'e great precision and strength to conversation : but what is truly surprising in this language is, that it contains no irregular verb or noun. Every thing in it may be said to be regulated with a geometrical precision, and displays much art with great simplicity : it contains words, apparently of Greek and Latin derivation, and of a similar signification in both languages. But what is most remarkable, it differs from every other American language, not less in its w'ords than in its construction ; and with all its richness and harmony, its theory is so easy that it may be readily learned in a few days. Several grammars of this language are to be met with, but that of Febres, printed at Lima in 1765, is particularly to be recommended for its method and clearness. One argument further in favour of the simplicity of this tongue, is the circumstance of its having maintained itself in its pure state, and of its not liaving sunk into an unintelligible unconnected jargon, ■when it is considered that the Chilians, to the aforementioned period, had no ideas of writing, and that their traditionary accounts were so crude and imperfect, as to afford not the least degree of information to the inquisitive mind. Hence it follows that the first accounts of them are contained in the Peruvian annals ; that nation, as it was more civilized, being more careful to preserve the memory of remarkable events.

2. Original state . — When the Inca Yupanqui began to attempt the conquest of Chile, its inhabitants were supposed to be numerous. They were divided into 15 tribes or communities, independent of each other, but subject to certain chiets called ulmenes. These tribes, beginning at the n. and proceeding to the s. were called Copiapins, Coquimbanes, Quillotanes, Mapochiniaus, Promaucians. Cures, Cauques, Penconcs, Aruucanians, Clinches, Chilotes, Chiquilanians, Pehuenches, Pu-

elches, and Huilliches. Of these were subjugated to the Peruvian government, more by persuasion than force, the Copiapins, Coquimbanes, Quillotanes, and Mapochinians ; but the valour of the Promaucians put a stop to the success of the arms of the Inca, or rather to Sinchiruca, (a prince of the blood royal), to whom was entrusted the command of the expedition : for these brave people, naturally addicted to pleasures and diversions, and Avhose very name signifies the free dancers.^ opposed the Peruvian army with the most heroic valour, and entirely defeated it in a battle which, according to Garcilasso the historian, was continued for three days in succession.

S. Divided into free and subjugated. — Thus Chile became divided into two parts, the one free, and the other subject to foreign domination. The tribes who had so readily submitted to the Peruvians Avere subjected to an annual tribute in gold, an imposition which they had never before experienced ; but the conquerors, Avhether they dared not hazard the attempt, or were not able to effect it, never introduced their form of government into these provinces. Of course, the subjected Chilians, as well as the free, preserved until the arrival of the Spaniards their original manners, which were by no means so rude as many are led to imagine.

4. Agriculture . — Agriculture was already knoAvn

to them ; but being in Avant of animals to till the ground, they were accustomed to turn it up with a spade made of hard wood. Tiie plants which either necessity or accident made known to them, Avere the maize, the the guegen, the tweer,

the quinoa, pulse of various kinds, the potato, the oxalis tuberosa, the common and the yellow pumpkin or gourd, the Guinea pepper, the madi, and the great straAvberry. To these provisions of the vegetable kind, may be added the following of the animal, the little rabbit, and the Chiliheuque or Araucaniau camel, Avhose flesh furnished excellent food, and Avhose avooI, clothing for these people. If tradition may be credited, they had also the hog and the domestic fowl. With these productions, Avhich required a very moderate degree of industry, they subsisted comfortably, and even Avith a degree of abundance, considering the few things Avhich their situation rendered necessary. Subsistence, the source of population, being thus secured, the country became rapidly peopled under the influence of so mild a climate ; Avhence it appears, that the first Avriters Avho treated of Chile, cannot liave greatly exaggerated in saying, that the Spaniards found it filled Avith inhabitants.

5. Civilized state. — It is a fact that there was but one language spoken throughout the country ; a]

C H I L E.

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[proof that these tribes were in the habit of intercourse with each other, and were not insulated, or separated by vast deserts, or by inmiense lakes or forests, which is the case in many other ])arls of America. Another proof of their civilization, and perhaps equally so, as to the amount of population, is, that they liad in many parts of the country aqueducts for watering their fields, which were constructed with much skill. Among these, the canal which for the space of many miles borders the rough skirts of the mountains in the vicinity of the capital, and waters the land to the of that city, is particularly remarkable for its extent and solidity. The right of property was fully established among the Chilians ; they were found to have collected themselves in societies, more or less numerous, in those districts that were best suited to their occupation ; and here, having established themselves in large villages, called cora, a name which they at present give to the Spanish cities, or in small ones, which they denominated lov, they enjoyed a specific form of government, and they had in each village or hamlet a chief, called nlmen, signitying a rich man, who in certain points was subject to the supreme ruler of the tribe, who w as known by the same name. They built their houses of a quadrangular form, and covered the roof with rushes ; the walls were made of wood plastered with clay, and sometimes of brick, called by them tica. A house of similar construction at the village of Casa Blanca, is mentioned by Vancouver as having afforded accommodation to himself and friends on their way to St. Jago : indeed, they are still {he common dwellings of the Indians ; and some of the villages before mentioned exist at present in several parts of Spanish Chile ; and of these the most considerable are Bampa, in the province of St. Jago, and Lora, in that of Maule. Tliey manufactured cloths for their garments from the wool of the Chililiueque : they used two kinds of looms ; the first not unlike that used in Eurojie, the other vertical. It is very certain tliat the art of pottery is very ancient in Chile, as on opening a large heap of stones in the mountains of Arauco, an urn of extraordinary size was discovered at the bottom.

6. The metals . — The mines of gold, silver, and other metals, with which this country abounds, had not yet been fully appreciated ; but they extracted from the earth gold, silver, copper, tin, and lead, and after purifying, employed these metals in a variety of useful and curious works. They had also discovered the method of making salt upon the sea-shore, and extracted fossil salt from several mountains which abounded in that

production. They procured dyes of all colours for their cloths, not only from the juice of plants, but also from mineral earths, and had discovered the art of fixing them by means of the pokiira, a luminous stone of an astringent quality. Instead of soap, the composition of which they had not discovered, although acquainted with lye, they employed the bark of the quilkii, w hich is an excellent substitute. From the seeds of the madi they obtained an oil, Avhich is very good to eat and to burn, though it is not ascertained Avhether they ever applied it to the latter purpose. Altlioiigh hunting was not a principal occupation with these people, thej'^ were accustomed to take such wild animals as are found in their country, particularly birds, of which there are great quantities. It is alleged, that from their connection with the Peruvians, they had advanced so far with respect to the enlargement of the sphere of their ideas, as to invent words capable of expressing any number ; mari signifying with them 10, i^ataca 100, and quaranca 1000.

7. Substitute for ximting. — To preserve the memory of their transactions, they made use, as other nations have done, of the pron, called by the Peruvians quippo, which Avas a skein of thread of several colours, with a number of knots : the subject treated of Avas indicated by the colours, and the knots designated the number or quantity. The progress Avhich they had made in physic and astronomy Avas indeed Avonderful ; but an account of these, of their religion, their music, and military skill, is deferred until we treat of the Araucaniiuis, Avho still continue the faithful dcjxisitories of all the science and ancient customs of the Chilians, (See subsequent chapter III.)

Chap. IT.

First expeditions of the Spaniards m Chile ; encounters with the natives, zeith various success, until

the alliance formed bctzocen the Spaniards and

the Pramaucians,

1. Ahnagro marches against Chile . — Fnmeis PizaiTO and Diego Almagro having put to death the Ir.ca Atahuaipa, had subjected the empire of Peru to the dominion of Spain. Pizarro, desirous of enjoying w ithout a rival tliis important conquest, made at their mutual expence, persuaded his companion to undertake the reduction of Cliilc, celebrated for its riches throughout all these countries. Almagro, filled Avith sanguine expectations of booty, began his march for that territory in the end of the year 15S3, Avith an army composed of 570 Spaniards and 15,000 Peruvians, under tlie command of Paullu, the brother of the IncaManco, the]

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[nominni emperor of Peru, -who had succeeded the unrortunate Atahiialpa.

2. Roads from Peru to Chile. — Two roads lead from Peru to Cliile ; one is by the sea-coast, and is destitute of water and provision ; the other, for a distance of 120 miles, passes over the immense mountains of the Andes : the inexperience of Almagro caused him to take the latter ; for although it was, without doubt, the shortest, it Avas difficult in the extreme : for his army, after having been exposed to infinite fatigue, and many conflicts Avith the adjoining savages, reached the cordilleras just at the commencement of Avinter, destitute of provisions, and but ill supplied Avith clothing. In this season the snow falls almost incessantly, and completely covers the Icav paths that are passable in summer ; notwithstanding, the soldiers, encouraged by their general, advanced with much toil to the top of those rugged heights. But, victims to the severity of the weather, 150 Spaniards there perished, Avith 10,000 Peruvians, Avho, being accustomed to the Avarmth of the torrid zone, were less able to endure the rigours of the frost. It is affirmed, that of all this army not one Avould have escaped Avith life, had not Almagro, resolutely pushing forward with a few horse, sent them timely succours and provisions, which were found in abundance at Copiapo.

3. Kindly receined at Copiapó. — Those of the most robust constitutions, who Avere able to resist the inclemency of the season, by this unexpected aid, were enabled to extricate themselves from the snow, and at length reached the plains of that province, Avhich is the first in Chile ; Avhere, through respect for the Peruvians, they were well received and entertained by the inhabitants. While Almagro remained in Copiapo, he discovered that the reigning ulmen had usurped the government in prejudice of his nephew and Avard, who, through fear of his uncle, had fled to the Avoods. Pretending to be irritated at this act of injustice, he caused the guilty chief to be arrested, and calling before him the laAvful heir, reinstated him in the government, Avith the universal applause of his subjects, avIio attributed this conduct entirely to motives of justice, and a Avish to redress the injured. The Spaniards, having recovered from their fatigues through the hospitable assistance of the Copiapiirs, and reinforced by a number of recruits Avliom Rodrigo Organez had brought from Peru, comniencc<l their march for the s. provinces. As it was natural, the natives were not a little curious concerning these their new visitors : they croAvded around them to their march, as Avell to examine them near, as a present them with such things as they thought

Avould prove agreeable to a people who appeared to them of a character far superior to that of other men. In the mean time, tAvo soldiers having separated from the army, proceeded to Guasco, Avhere they Avere at first Avell receiA'ed, but Avere afterwards put to death by the inhabitants, in conseqtience, no doubt, of some acts of violence, which soldiers freed from the controul of their officers are very apt to commit.

4. First European blood shed. — This Avas the first European blood spilt in Ciiile, a country afterwards so copiously deluged with it. On being informed of this unfortunate accident, calculated to destroy the exalted opinion Avhich he Avished to inspire of his soldiers, Almagro, having proceeded to Coquirnbo, ordered the ulnien of the district, called Marcando, his brother, and tAventy of the principal inhabitants, to be brought thither; all of Avhorn, together Avith the usurper of Copiapo, he delivered to the flames, without, according to Herrera, pretending to assign any reason for his conduct. This act of cruelty appeared to every one very extraordinary and unjust, since among those adventurers there Avere not wanting men of sensibility, and advocates for the rights of humanity. The greater part of the army openly disapproved of the severity of their general, the aspect of Avhose affairs, from this time forAvard, became gradually worse and worse. About this period, 1537, Almagro received a considerable reinforcement of recruits under Juan de Rada, accompanied with royal letters patent, appointing him governor of 200 leagues of territory, situate to the s. of the government granted to Francis Pizarro. The friends Avhom he had left in Peru, taking advantage of this opportunity, urged him by private letters to return, in order to take possession of Cuzco, Avhich they assured him Avas within the limits of his jurisdiction. Notwithstanding this, inflated with his new conquest, he pursued his march, passed the fatal Cachapoal, and regardless of the remonstrances of the Peruvians, advanced into the country of the Promaucians.

5. Battle with the Promaucians. — At the first sight of the Spaniards, their horses, and the thundering arms of Europe, these valiant people Avere almost petrified Avith astonishment; but soon recovering from the effects of surprise, they opposed Avith intepridity their new enemies upon the shore of the Rio Claro. Almagro, despising their force, placed in the first line his Peruvian auxiliaries, increased by a number Avhom Paullu had drawn from the garrisons ; but these, being soon routed, fell back in confusion upon the rear. The Spaniards, who expected to have been merely specta-] 1