69 



hatchet in token of supreme command, at which 

 time the native Toquis lay aside theirs, it not 

 heing lawful for them to carry them during the 

 government ot this dictator. They likewise, 

 sacrificing private ambition to the public good, 

 take the oaths of obedience and fealty to him, 

 together with the other Ulmenes. Even the 

 people, who in peace shew themselves repugnant 

 to all subordination, are then prompt to obey, 

 and submissive to the will of their military so- 

 vereign. He cannot, however, put any one to 

 death without the consent of the principal oflficers 

 of his army, but as these are of his own appoint- 

 ment, his orders may be considered as absolute. 



From the arrival of the Spaniards in the 

 country to the present time, it is observable that 

 all the Toquis who have been appointed in time 

 of war were natives of the provinces of Arauco, 

 of Tucapel, of Encol, or of Puren. Whether 

 this partiality is owing to some superstitious 

 notion, or rather to some ancient law or agree- 

 ment, I am unable to determine ; it appears, 

 ,however, to be repugnant to the principles of 

 'ound policy^, as it is very rare for the component 

 parts of a state to maintain themselves long in a 

 state of union, when they do not all participate 

 equally in the advantages of the government. 

 But it is a peculiarity worthy of admiration, 

 that this discrimination has hitherto produced no 

 division among them. 



