58 ovalle's historical relation of chile. 



Man^anos, and the oppofite Morro de Niera : fo that, according to this account, there 

 might be an iron chain laid from the one to the other, with which, and two forts raifed 

 on each fide, the entrance would be made impenetrable. 



As foon as this ftraight is paffed, there is on the fouth fide a noble port ; for though 

 all the river may be called fo, for the quietnefs of its water, yet this is more advanta- 

 geoufly fituated, by being covered with the mountains of the land : it is called the port 

 of the Corral : it forms a bay capable of receiving great fleets. When you have pafled 

 this port, there appears the firfl ifland ; between which and the land on the fouth fide, 

 there are many Ihoals and fands ; wherefore the (hips take the north fide, and go be- 

 tween this ifland and the great one ; and then follow their courfe up to the city, by the 

 channel of the great ifland. The lefler veflfels may keep the other fide of the ifland. 



Befides all thefe good quahties, this port has other advantages from the land, by the 

 fertility of the country, which produces corn and fruits of all kinds, except grapes, 

 which do not ripen here fo well as in other parts of Chile, from which wine is brought 

 to thefe parts : but it has great plenty of beef and mutton, fowls and venifon. It has 

 alfo wood for the building of fliipping ; and that which is above all, it has the richeft 

 mines of the fineft gold in Chile ; and in all America there is none comes up to it, but 

 the gold of Carabaya. 



This is the account of Antonio de Herrera. He adds, that there was an Indian, who 

 had every day d revenue of twenty-five or thirty pefos of gold ; which being obferved 

 by the governor Valdivia, he fent the Adelantado Hyeronimo de Alderate to Spain, to 

 inform His Catholick Majefly of the great riches of the kingdom of Chile, that His 

 Majefl:y might make the more efteem of it ; and to invite foreigners to come and people 

 the country, and help him to conquer it, he fent fome Spaniards by land, whofe ftir- 

 rups, breaft-plates, and all that ufed to be iron about a horfe, were of fine gold j and 

 that, not fatisfied with this, he had refolved to go in perfon, to inform His Majefl:y, 

 and obtain from him the confirmation of his government : to which end he employed 

 twenty thoufand Indians to bring him gold, deligning to embark and fail through the 

 ftraigfits of Magellan, if death had not prevented him. 



This city was founded by the governor Valdivia, in the year 1552, upon a high 

 rifmg, but plain fide of a hill, and above the reft of the country. 



The famous Indian lady Recloma was very inftrumental in helping towards its con- 

 queft and foundation. The ftory was thus : the Spanish forces were come to this river, 

 conquering the country all the way before them ; but here the Indians not being wil- 

 ling to let foreigners fettle in their country, took up arms, and making the river ferve 

 for their defence, hindered the progrefs of Valdivia, and gave him great trouble. But 

 he being a man of great courage, was not daunted by this refiftance, but endeavoured 

 to pafs the river to engage the enemy. 



Upon this occafion, this brave Indian lady, either infpired by Heaven, or touched 

 by compaflion of fo much blood as muft be ftied on both fides in the recounter, offered 

 the governor, that flie alone would gain him the viftory, without any other force, than 

 that of her eloquence and courageous mind. " Stay here," faid fhe, " and go no 

 farther ; for I will put all this province into thy hands, and will make thee this day 

 lord of all that thy eyes can difcover. Stay for my return here, and do not fuffer any 

 of thy foldiers to pafs on a ftep further." The governor promifed to do fo ; and, 

 upon his word, and promife of good treatment to the Indians who fliould fubmit to 

 his God and his king, flie threw herfelf into the water, and, in the prefence of them 

 all, fwam the river. When flie was landed, flie defired audience of the general of 

 the Indians ; to whom flie delivered her meflfage with fo much force of eloquence, 



12 that 



