ayS A VOYAGE TO Book VIII. 



larger reinforcements. If at any rime the Spaniards 

 gain tiie fuperiority, the Inrlians retire to the cüílance 

 of feveral leagues, u here after conceil'ng themfclves a 

 few days, thty fuddenly fall on a different part from 

 that where thev were encamped, endeavouring to carry^' 

 the place by a fudden ailiulr, unlefs the comnnandant's 

 vigilance has provided a¿;ainft any fudden furprize ; 

 when, by the advantage of the Spanifh cnfcipline, they 

 are generally repulfcd with great fl.iughter. 



These Indian wars againft the Spaniards ufually 

 continue fome yrars, being of little detriment to the 

 Indians ; for moil of their occupations which confifl: 

 in the culture of a frndl Ipot of ground, and weaving 

 ponchos and cloaks for apparel, are carried on by the 

 women. Their huts are built in a day or two, and 

 their fond confiilb of roots, maize, and odier grain. 

 War therefore, is no impediment or lofs to them; in- 

 deed they rather ct^nfider it as a defirable occupation, 

 their hours at other times being fpent in idltncfs, or 

 caroufds, in which they drink chica, a liquor common 

 among them, and made frorn apples. 



The fiift advar.ces towards a treaty of peace with 

 thefe Indians are generally made by the Spaniards; and 

 as foon as the propofals are agreed to, a congrefs is 

 held, at which the govcinrr, major-general of Chih', 

 and the principal officers, the biihop of Conception, 

 and other perions of cnnnence aíTift. On the part of 

 the Indians the toqui, or gereraliíTimo, and the 

 captains of his army, as reprefentatives of the commu- 

 nities, repair to the congrefs. The lait inroad made by 

 thefe favage enemies, was in the year 1720, during 

 the government of Don Gabriel Cano, lieutenant-ge- 

 neral of his ma;elty's forces, who managed the war 

 again fl them with luch vigour and addrtls, that they 

 were obliged to folicit a peace; and their preliminaries 

 were fo lubmiiTive, that at a congreis held in 1724, 

 the peace was concluded, wliercby they were left in 

 poíTcíTion of all the country fouth of the river Biobio ; 



and 



