28 REMARKS .AND OPINIONS. 



to south. They are about 80,000 in number. 

 They are generally above the middle size, strong 

 and robust, and very active. They are extremely 

 addicted to liquor *, and this is the principal 

 reason of the decrease which we observe when 

 we compare the present population with that 

 which history records at the time of the conquest. 

 An acute observer says, that Don Garcia Hurtado 

 de Mendosa waged the most terrible war against 

 them when he gave them the apple-tree. These 

 trees now form large groves in their territory. The 

 blood of the Indians is now no where found 

 unmixed. This arises partly from the Spaniards, 

 who fly to them to escape justice; partly from the 

 women whom they made slaves, on the destruction 

 of seven colonies, on different occasions during the 

 war; and partly from the Dutch, who deserted, 

 in such great numbers from the Dutch expedition, 

 which landed at Valdivia, in the reign of Philip IV., 

 that the commander, on his return, was obliged 

 to sink two galleons, not being able to man them. 

 The descendants of these Dutch are now seen in 

 Villarica and Tolten, to the shores of Rio de la 

 Imperial, t 



* Their intoxicating drink is cyder ; even the poor Creoles 

 prepare and drink it. — Translator. 



f The accounts which we liave of the Dutch expedition to 

 ChiH, in IG^S, under Hendrick Brouwcr, are in direct contra- 

 diction to the facts mentioned here. Compare Burney's Chro- 

 nological History, vol.5, p. 113. Molina only slightly mentions 

 this circumstance. 



