188 



ticularly your gold ; they will not remain where 

 they have no expectation of finding that sole ob- 

 ject of their wishes. Send them such a present 

 as will impress them with an idea of your poverty, 

 and in the meantime retire to the woods." 



The Cunches approved the wise counsel of the 

 Araucanian^ and commissioned him, with nine 

 natives of the country, to carry the present which 

 he had recommended to the Spanish general. 

 Accordingly, clothing himself and companions 

 in wretched rags, he appeared with every mark 

 of fear before that officer^ and after compliment- 

 ing him in rude terms, presented him a basket 

 containing some roasted lizards and wild fruits. 

 The Spaniards, who could not refrain from 

 laughter at the appearance of the ambassadors 

 and their presents, began to dissuade the governor 

 from pursuing an expedition which, from all ap- 

 pearances, would prove unproductive. But al- 

 though he was persuaded that these people were 

 poor and wretched, yet, lest he should discover 

 too great facility in relinquishing his plan, he ex- 

 horted his troops to prosecute the expedition that 

 had been undertaken, assuring them that, further 

 on, according to the information he had received, 

 they would find a country that abounded in all 

 the metals. This was a circumstance by no 

 means improbable, it being very usual in America 

 after passing frightful desarts to meet with the 

 lichest countries. He then inquired of the un- 



