ovalle's historical relation of chile. ^y 



neceflary to be known from the firft to the laft by the cannon-fhot, according as it may 

 have been concerted beforehand. 



The company of Jefus has here two refidences, one in Arauco, and the other in the 

 fort of Good Hope ; from whence they alfo make their attempts, not againft the 

 bodies, but to fave the fouls of their enemies, engaging with hell itfelf, and obtaining 

 over it daily and glorious victories, as it fhall be told in its proper place ; for now we 

 mull follow the defcription already begun of the rivers of Chile. 



After Biobio follow four others much inferior to it : they are the rivers of Colcura, 

 Arauco, Lavapie, and Levo, which empties itfelf near the thirty-eighth degree ; and a 

 little further, that of Ralemo, which a little from its fource is called Coypo, in near 

 thirty-nine degrees. The pleafant and peaceful river of the Imperial enters the fea, 

 having firft incorporated with its ftream, the river called the Ladies River, becaufe of 

 the delicacy of its waters and quiet current. More above, near its fource, it receives 

 the two rivers of Curarava and Eyow, which, before they meet to enter the river Im- 

 perial, form the much celebrated lake of Puren, a moft unconquerable fortrefs of the 

 Indians, who are more fecure in it, than the Spaniards in any of theirs. 



About half a degree beyond the river Cauren, which is the fame as the Imperial, 

 the river Tolten pays its tribute to the fea, and is deep enough for great fhips. About 

 eight leagues further, the river Queule does the fame ; which, though fmall, yet re- 

 ceives barks in it, and is about nine leagues upon a north and fouth line from the famous ■ 

 river of Valdivia. .:. 



CHAP. IX. — Of the famous Port and River of Valdivia, 



THE river and port of Valdivia, never enough commended by foreign writers, and 

 no lefs admired by thofe who have feen it, had its name from Pedro de Valdivia, firft 

 governor and conqueror of Chile. It is, as it were, in the centre of the whole 

 kingdom, at almofl forty degrees latitude fouth-wefl from Seville in Spain ; upon a 

 plain map one thoufand nine hundred and feventy leagues, meafured by the heavens. 

 The fun is five hours, and a third part of an hour, in going from the meridian of 

 Seville to the meridian of Valdivia ; fo that when it is noon at Seville, it is in Valdivia 

 fix o'clock and forty minutes in the morning. Its longeft day is of fourteen hours, or 

 thereabouts. 



This river has its opening to the north ; and becaufe of the depth of its waters, 

 great fhips can go up to the very city, which is two or three leagues from the fea : 

 when they are there, they can lie fo near the fhore, as with a plank to go in and out, 

 and take in and unload their cargo, without the help of boats. There is juft over- 

 againft the city, a fine ifland, called the Ifland of Conftantine, with two little ones, 

 one before, and the other behind the ifland. The river is navigable on bpth fides the 

 ifland ; but becaufe the fouth branch has more depth, the great fhips come in that 

 way, and the lefTer by the north branch. 



There are two high points of land, like rocks, which mark the entrance of this 

 river ; the biggefl is to the north, and is called Bonifacio's Hill ; the fouth is lefTer, 

 and is called Gon9alo's Hill. When one is entered fome way up the river, there is 

 another flraighter pafTage, which is the key of the port, or rather ports, becaufe there 

 are many harbours within. This entrance has alfo two hills, which come fo near each 

 other, that I have heard a captain, who was fent to found the river, relate, that in the 

 middle he was within mufket-fhot of either hill j the fouth one is called Morro de los 



VOL. xrv. I Man^anos, 



