259 



lent efforts of the besiegers, who, freed from 

 their attention to the others, were able to bring 

 their whole force against it. Thus, in a period 

 of little more than three years, were destroyed 



besiegers in a general assault, and compelled them to break up 

 the blockade ; being however afraid of another attack, they 

 retired about three or four leagues, to a peninsula at the south 

 foot of the Cordillera, formed by the lake from which the 

 river Bueno issues. Here they built a city and secured it on 

 the isthmus with walls, bulwarks, moats, and draw-bridges : 

 and here they remained and multiplied so as to form another 

 city on the opposite side of the lake. They have plenty of 

 boats. TJieir weapons are the lance, sword, and dagger ; but 

 whether of iron or not, the person who discovered the existence 

 of these cities, had not been able to learn. They use also the 

 thong and ball, and are greatly dreaded for their skill in 

 throwing it j and they have artillery, but no muskets. The 

 Indians call them Alcahuncas. Formerly they used to buy 

 salt from the Pehuences, and even from the Indians who are 

 under the Spanish government, which they paid for in silver ; 

 and this occasioned a great demand for salt at the Spanish 

 settlements, where an ox was then the price of a loaf: but 

 lately this den)and has ceased, for they have found salt in 

 abundance. They have retained their dress, their complexion, 

 and their beards. A year only before tliis account was written, 

 a man from Chiloe got to the city gates before the bridge was 

 drawn up, and knocked for admittance. The soldier who was 

 upon guard told him to hasten back as fast as possible, for 

 their king, he said, was a cruel tyrant, and would infallibly put 

 him to death if he was taken ; he marvelled indeetl that the 

 Indians had let him pass thus far. This man was killed on 

 his way back; but the news of his adventure reached Valdivia, 

 and was fully believed there. It seems the people of these 

 cities were under a grievous tyranny, and were therefore de- 



