ovalle's historical relation of chile. 3J 



difFufe in it, than I would have been about a place already known to the world by 

 any hiftory or relations made of it. For this reafon, I have employed fix books in 

 the defcription of the land, and the valorous fierce difpofition of its inhabitants, that 

 the force and efficacy of the divine grace might fliine out the more in the beginnings of 

 the converfions of that untradtable nation, mendoned in my two laft books, which are 

 almoft as comprehenfive as my fix firft, which were divided into fo many, only to 

 anfwer the diverfity of matter which they contain. 



Thus I have informed my reader of this work, in which he will find variety of en- 

 tertainment. Some things will anfwer the curiofity of thofe who delight in knowing 

 natural caufes ; others will be moved and incited to valiant adtions by the examples of 

 thofe performed here. Thofe likewife, who love hiflorical relations, will be pleafed, 

 fince here is an epitome of the difcovery of the beft part of the Indies, according to 

 the order of times, and perfons concerned in the conquefts and difcoveries of fo many 

 kingdoms ; and, laftly, the pious difpofition of devout minds will be elevated to praife 

 God for the fignal favours, which the queen of heaven has beftowed on the kingdom 

 of Chile in particular ; and adore the Lord of all things, for having in little more than 

 one century made his name known, and his worfhip introduced among fo many heathen 

 nations, even to bring the untamed and powerful Araucanos upon their knees to him, 

 after fo many years ftubborn refifting the entrance of the Gofpel. I cannot defire my 

 reader to exprefs any acknowledgments for this work of mine, becaufe I do not judge 

 it deferves fo great a reward ; but I hope he may, with indulgence, excufe its faults, 

 and make me fome allowance for the little helps I have had in writing. I have endea- 

 voured to pleafe all ; but, particularly, to fhew how the kingdom of Chrift may be 

 advanced in that new world, if the apoft;olical zeal of the evangelical workmen will- 

 employ itfelf in this great harveft of fo extended a gentilifm and new Chriftianity. 



TO THE READER. 



THE firfi: fix books being the only ones, that contain the hiflorical and natural ac- 

 counts, they alone are tranflated j and fome chapters even out of them omitted, for their 

 tedious fuperftitious narratives. 



BOOK I. 



OF THE NATURE AND PROPERTIES OF THE KINGDOM OF CHILE, 



CHAP. I. — Of the Situation^ Climate, and Divifton of the Kingdom of Chile* 



''PHE kingdom of Chile, which is the uttermoft bounds of South America, and has 

 the kingdom of Peru to the north, begins at the 25th degree of fouth latitude, 

 towards the antarclick pole, and is extended in length five hundred leagues, as far as 

 the ftraights of Magellan, and its oppofite land, called La Tierra del Fuego, which 

 reaches to the 59th degree. The breadth of Chile is various ; for it may be faid to 

 extend itfelf one hundred and fifty leagues eaft and weft, becaufe though that which is 

 properly called Chile, is not in many places above twenty or thirty leagues broad, which 

 VOL. XIV. F is 



