8S 



iTiUi the Toqui aVid the principal Ulmenes, to 

 whom he makes the customary presents in the 

 name of his sovereign.* 



This parliament is renewed as often as a new 

 president is sent from Spain to Chili, and cannot 

 ipossiblj be dispensed with, as in that case the 

 Araucanians, imagining themselves despised, 

 would, without any other cause, commence war. 

 For this reason, there is always a considerable 

 sum ready in the royal treasury for the expenses 

 necessary upon these occasions. On the arrival 

 of a new president, an envoy, called the national 

 commissary, is dispatched in his name to the four 



* In those countries the Araucanians are tlie most usual, 

 most intrepid, and most irreconcileable enemies of Spain. They 

 are tlie only people of the New World who have ventured lo 

 ght with the Europeans in the open field, and who employ 

 the sling in order to hurl death at a distance upon their ene- 

 mies. They have even the intrepidity to attack the best for- 

 tified posts. As these Americans arc not einbarrassed in 

 making war, tiiey are not apprehensive tA" its duration, and 

 hold it as a principle never to sue for peace, the first overtures 

 for which are always made by the Spaniards. When these are 

 favourably received, a couferouce is held. The governor of 

 Chili and the Indian genei-al, accompanied by the most dislin- 

 guished officrrs of either party, regulate amidst the festivity 

 of the table the terms of the agreement. The frontier was 

 formerly the theatre of these a>scmblies; but the two last 

 were hrld in the capital of tlie colony. The savages have 

 f vtu consented to al ow the residence of deputies among 

 them, entrusted with the charge of maintaining harmony be- 

 tween the tMO aaiioDS. 'Ray naPs Histery of the Indies. 



4 



