56 OVALLE*S HISTORICAL RELATION OF CHILE. 



begins alfo at this ri\^er, which has for next and immediate neighbour the peaceable 

 and noble river of Itata, three times as large, and as deep as the Maule, and enters 

 the fea at about thirty-fix degrees ; its courfe is among rocks, and fo is lefs ufeful to 

 the land, becaufe it cannot water it : they pafs it upon rafts, and there are alfo fords 

 in fome places. About the middle of its courfe, the furious torrent called Nuble 

 joins it : this wafhes the walls of the city of St. Bartholomew of Chilian, an antient 

 garrifon of the Spaniards, and a fmgular proof of their bravery and fidelity. 



Immediately next to this river is the fpacious and agreeable bay of the Conception, 

 into which the flow and filent river of Andalien empties itfelf at thirty-fix degrees and 

 three quarters. There is another fmall river which pafles through the middle of the 

 city, having firft precipitated itfelf from a high rock, and affording matter to the 

 induftry of the inhabitants, for all forts of water-works among pleafant groves of 

 laurels, and myrtles, and other odoriferous plants which adorn its banks ; and as it 

 falls from fo high, it invites the induftrious planters to contrive mills for the fuflenance 

 of the city ; of which there are already a great many. 



Two leagues further from this bay, in the thirty-feventh degree, the fo much 

 celebrated Biobio enters the fea. It is the moft powerful river of all Chile : it has 

 at its entrance two or three miles in breadth, more or lefs, according as it fwells or 

 &rinks, which is a great deal, confidering its fhort courfe : but that is not the chief 

 thing which makes it famous, and deferve fo much praife; it is its wholefome waters; 

 for (befides the particular excellence they may acquire, by paffing through veins of 

 gold, which neverthelefs many other rivers of this country have too,) it has a fingular 

 advantage, by a fmall river which falls into it ; which river, taking its rife and courfe 

 among Sarzaparilla roots, communicates to the other its virtue and good qualities, and 

 makes it a cure for many infirmities. There is a tradition, that at the fource of this 

 river there were mofl; rich mines, worked before ever the Spaniards came into thefe 

 parts. Upon this information, Don Alonfo de Sottomayor, prefident of the country, 

 fent a band of foldiers to view them, as they did ; though as they came back, they 

 were laid wait for by the Indians, our enemies, and had a fmart engagement with them, 

 and had much ado to efcape with their lives. This Indian people do always as much 

 as they can to hide from the Europeans the treafures and riches of their country, as it 

 has been faid already. 



This river Is the bounds which divides the Spaniards 'and our Indian friends from 

 the Indian enemies : in winter the river overflows fo, that all the fords are unpaifable ; 

 and fo the foldiers may take fome repofe 'till the fpring, at which time they are to 

 begin their inroads again. The enemy on his fide has no garrifon, nor place of 

 ftrength ; for they truft to their mountains, to which they can retire at any time : but 

 the Spaniards have many garrifons all along the river, with which they bridle and 

 keep in awe the potent rage of their proud enemy, who alone has given them more 

 trouble than all the reft of America. 



Their chief forts, befides the cities of the Conception and Chilian, are thofe of 

 Arauco and St. Philip, in vvhich there are generally about fixteen hundred natural 

 Spaniards, befides the Indian allies, who are numerous. The firft of thefe is upon" the 

 fea-fide, and the other nearer the Cordillera. There are others between on each fide 

 of the river, and fome pretty far into the enemy's country. I can name nine of thefe 

 forts ; which are, that of St. Angol, of the Nativity, of St. Anne, of St. Rofendo, of 

 Good Hope, of Talmacahuida, of St. Peter, of Colcuta, and that of Levo. Thefe are 

 all provided with great guns, and a fufficient number of foldiers ; and at fuch propor- 

 tionable diftances from each other, that they can foon receive notice of what is 



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