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tlie manner of the German settlements in the 

 time of Charlemagne. Some of these villages 

 exist even at present in several parts of Spanish 

 Chili, of which the most considerable are Lampa, 

 in the province of Saint Jago^ and Lora^ in that 

 of Maule. 



But as no civil establishment can exist without 

 some form of government, they had in each vil- 

 lage or hamlet a chief called Ulmen, who in cer- " 

 tain points was subject to the supreme ruler of 

 the tribe, who was known by the same name. 

 The succession of all these chiefs was established 

 by hereditary right, a custom that proves the 

 antiquity of these political assemblages. Among 

 other savage nations, strength, skill in hunting, 

 or martial prowess, were the first steps to au- 

 thority, and afterwards procured the regal sway 

 for those who were invested with command* 

 But with "the Chilians, on the contrary, it would 

 seem as if wealth had been the means of exalting 

 the ruling families to the rank which they oc- 

 cupy, since the word ulmen^ unless taken in a 

 metaphorical sense, signifies a rich man. The 

 authority of these chiefs was jyrobably very 

 limited, that is, merely directive, and not coer- 

 cive, as that of the rulers of all barbarous nations 

 has been, when despotism, favoured by propitious 

 circumstances, has not eff'aced the ideas of ab- 

 solute independence, which are in a manner innate 

 among savages, as has been the case with the 



