ovalle's historical relation of chile. 49 



There is no room for doubting of the immenfe riches which thefe mountains inclofe 

 in their bowels ; for it is a certain argument, and proof it, to fee only the mineral riches 

 of Chile, which are, as it were, indexes of what may be contained in thofe rocks, as 

 " the rivers which fertilize the country are a proof of the unexhaufted fountains contain- 

 ed in the rocks and precipices. 



I think there may be two caufes affigned, why thefe riches do not manifeft them- 

 felves nor appear more : the firft is, that general ftate-reafon, and inviolable maxim 

 among the Indians, to conceal and not difcover them to any other nation. This they 

 obferve fo pundually, that it is among them a capital crime, punifhable with death, to 

 break filence in this matter, which they make facred and indifpenfible ; and if any one 

 among them, either out of intereft, negligence, or any other motive of conveniency, 

 difcovers any thing of this kind, his death is infallible, and no power on earth can fave 

 him. 



I remember on this fubje£l, that fome gentlemen having, by prefents, infmuations, 

 and flatteries, come to the knowledge of fome treafure by the means of an Indian, and 

 prevailed with him at lafl to guide them to fome very rich mines in a remote mountain, 

 he begged earneftly of them to be fecret, or otherwife he was a dead man, let them 

 take never fo much care of him. They promifed him accordingly, and fo they fet out, 

 and he brought them through horrid rocks and precipices, where it looked as if never 

 man had fet his foot, nor fcarce any living animal. Every day they met with certain 

 marks, which the Indian had told them of beforehand : firft, after fo many days they 

 difcovered a red mountain ; and then at a certain diftance from that a black one on the 

 left hand ; then a valley, which began from a monftrous high mountain or rock j then 

 at fo many leagues a mountain of chalk. All which figns the guide went fhewing them, 

 verifying thereby the relation he had given them beforehand, and comforting them up 

 to endure the hardfhip, by the hopes of fulfilling at laft their expedation, and feeing 

 their labour rewarded. 



Their provifions failed them, and they were forced to come back to provide more, 

 to purfue their enterprife. The Indian was always in fear of being difcovered, know- 

 ing that he run in that no lefs a hazard than that of his life. They returned then 

 to a town ; and to fecure their Indian from his fright of being difcovered, they locked 

 him up in a room very fafe ; but the night before they were to fet out again, without 

 ever being able to difcover how it was done, (for there was no figns by the door of 

 any body's going in that way,) as they went to call the Indian in the morning, they 

 found him ftrangled ; by which means, being deprived of their intent, and having . 

 loft the hopes of fatisfying their defire, they returned to their own homes, though 

 with a refolution to try again, being encouraged by fo much they had already difcovered. 



The other reafon to be alTigned for not feeking after thefe mines, is the great plenty 

 of every thing necelTary for life ; fo that hunger, which is the prompter of covetous 

 defires, being wanting, there are few that care to run a hazard, and lofe their con- 

 veniences at home, to go through impradicable deferts upon i'earch after hidden trea- 

 fure ; particularly finding already fo much in the valleys, bottoms, rivers, and 

 fountains ; nay, even thefe mines in the low countries are not wrought, becaufe the 

 profit of other products is eafier. It is probable that people will increafe ; for every 

 day there is a new addition ; and there then being more confumers, the product of 

 the land will be dearer ; and provifions not being fo cheap as now, men will be more 

 ingenious and induftrious to feek for fuftenance under-ground, by the mines and 

 treafures hid there by providence. 



VOL. XIV. IT Thefe 



