Favoured by the pleasantness of the country 

 and salubrity of the climate, the |)opulation at 

 this period may be readily imagined to have been 

 very numerous. The inhabitants were divided 

 into fifteen tribes, or communities, independent 

 of each other, but subject to certain chiefs, 

 called Ulmenes. These tribes, beginning at the 

 north and proceeding to the south, weie called 

 Copiapins, Coquimbanes, Quillotanes, Mapochi- 

 nians, Promaucians, Cures, Cauques, Pencones, 

 Araucanians, Cunches, Chilotcs, Chiquilanians, 

 Pehuenches, Puelches, and Huilliches. 



The Inca Yupanqui, who reigned in Peru 

 about the year 1450, being informed of the na- 

 tural advantages possessed by Chili, resolved to 

 attempt the conquest of it. With this intent he 

 marched with a powerful army to the frontiers 

 of that kingdom ; but, either through appre- 

 hension of his personal safety, or with the view 

 of being in a more favourable situation to furnish 

 the means of effecting his designs, he established 

 himself with his court in the neighbouring pro-r 

 vince of Atracama, and entrusted the command 

 of the expedition to Sinchiruca, a prince of the 

 blood royal. 



Preceded, according to the specious custom of 

 the Peruvians, by several ambassadors, and fol- 

 lowed by a large body of troops, this general 

 subjected to the Peruvian government, more by 

 persuasion than by force, the Copiapins, Coquim- 



