In this hope I was disappointed, 1*^. a 

 lume^ on which I had so confidently relied, I 

 have never received, and have been in conse- 

 quence compelled to seek from various other 

 Sources the information which it would have 

 given me. The wars of the natives with the 

 Spaniards being, however, the only proper sub- 

 ject of Chilian History, and but two having 

 occurred since the above period, the first in 

 1722, and the second in 1767, I have been 

 enabled, by the aid of some of my countrymen 

 now in Italy, who recollect the principal events, 

 to supply in some measure the want of a regular 

 detail, and to give a sufiiciently accurate ac- 

 count of them. Having stated these circum- 

 stances, I shall merely observe that, without 

 being influenced by national distinctions or 

 prejudices, the chief merit to which I aspire 

 in this narration is that of impartiality. I have 

 related nothing but what I have either found in 

 those writers upon Chili who have preceded me, 

 or have received from persons of unquestionable^ 

 veracity, and have thought proper to confine 

 myself to a plain narrative of facts, and omit all 

 reflections that might occur, in order not to 

 appear to be too much influenced in favour of 

 either of the contending parties. 



The attention of several philologists has of late 

 years been directed to the examination of the 

 barbarous lajiguages. For this reason X have 



