163 



probable, it being very usual in America after pass- 

 ing frightful deserts to meet with the richest counr 

 tries. He then inquired of the Cunches the best 

 road to the south. Tunconobal directed him to» 

 wards the west, which was the most rough and . 

 mountainous, and on being applied to for a guide, 

 gave him one of his companions, whom he charged 

 to conduct the army by the most desolate and diffi- 

 cult roads of the coast. The guide pursued so 

 strictly the instruction of the Araucanian, that the 

 Spaniards, who in their pursuit of conquest were 

 accustomed to surmount with ease the severest fa- 

 tigues, acknowledged that they had never before, in 

 any of their marches, encountered difficulties com- 

 parable with these. Their impatience was greatly 

 augmented on the fourth day, when their pretended 

 guide quitted. them, and they found themselves in a 

 desert surrounded by precipices, from whence they 

 perceived no way to extricate themselves. All their 

 constancy and perseverance would have been in- 

 sufficient to support them, if Don Garcia had not 

 incessantly encouraged them with the flattering 

 hope of soon reaching the happy country which he 

 had promised them. 



Having at length overcome all obstacles, they 

 came to the top of a high mountain, from whence 

 they discovered the great Archipelago of Ancud, 

 more commonly called Chiloe, whose channels were 

 covered with a great number of boats navigated 

 with sails and ears. This unexpected prospect filled 

 them with joy. As they had for many days suflfered 

 fr©m hunger, they Jiastened to the shore, and were 



