0VaLle*s historical relation of chile. 6 1 



peiago of iflands, into which falls the river called De los Rabudos, becaufe of an 

 Indian nation of that name, fo called, becaufe it is faid they are born with tails, as 

 father Gregory of Leon defcribes them in his map. More on to the fouth is the river 

 De los Coronados, named fo by the company of a fhip which put in there on the day 

 of the Forty Martyrs fo called. 



After thefe there are many rivers all along the coaft ; the firft is called De la Efpe- 

 ronfa, or of Hope, becaufe of the wiflies, that one day the light of the Gofpel may 

 reach to thofe parts by means of the minifters of it. The fecond is called Rio fin 

 Fundo, or the river without a bottom, becaufe of the great depth of it. The third 

 is called the Gallegos, from a Spaniard of that name who failed along thofe coafts, 

 and, like another Icarus, gave his name to one of them, by being drowned in the fea 

 by it, at a cape which has the fame name. Then follow the rivers De los Martyres, 

 and De los Apoftolos ; and immediately after them two others. The firft has no name, 

 the fecond is called De los Gigantes, or of the Giants, becaufe here they were begun 

 to be feen, and they reach all along the ftraights. The famous river called De la Cam- 

 pana, enters at a place named El Ancon fin Salida : this name was given to the river, 

 becaufe its two arms feem to form the fhape of a bell. There are two rivers more be- 

 fore you come to the ftraights, to wit, that of De los Paxaros, or of birds, by reafon 

 of the vaft quantity of them that were upon it, in that part which comes towards the 

 ftraights ; and the other of St. Victorian, called fo from the opening, to which the 

 fame faint gives its name. As for the other rivers which run among the iflands, and 

 thofe which empty themfelves into the ftraights, they are many, and fhall be defcribed 

 in their proper places. 



Hitherto we have defcribed the rivers of moft renown of this long extended king- 

 dom, which run from eaft to weft, and empty themfelves into the South Sea ; thofe 

 which run from the oppofite part of the Cordillera, towards the North Sea, are not fo 

 well known, becaufe thofe parts are lefs inhabited, at leaft, by fuch as can give us a 

 good account of them. The moft remarkable of them are thofe of St. John, and of 

 Mendoga, which are very large rivers, and empty themfelves into the famous lake of 

 Guanacache. 



The governor Hieronimo Lewis de Cabrera, a gentleman of great valour and merit, 

 met with feveral great rivers in his paflage over thofe vaft plains called the Pampas, 

 where, as at fea, people are fain to travel by the compafs, not to lofe themfelves : he 

 was in queft of a nation called the Ceflates, of whom we ftiall treat hereafter in its 

 proper place. They were forced to pafs many great rivers, and, without doubt, there 

 are many more as far as the Pole. 



Neverthelefs I am perfuaded, that thefe rivers do not equal thofe which run oppofite, 

 and enter the fea on the coaft of Chile ; and this may be clearly gathered from the 

 difference which may be obferved in pafling the Cordillera, between each fide of the 

 mountain, which is fo great, that they feem two different worlds, the eaft and weft 

 parts ; and one would think Heaven had put thefe mountains to divide them as a wall, 

 and keep off from the weft, all the ftorms and ill weather of the eaft, where are the 

 provinces of Cuyo and Tucuman, not to difturb the ferenity and tranquillity of Chile 

 and the weftern parts. Any one that travels to the top of the high chain of moun- 

 tains, may experience this clearly ; for there he difcovers both horizons, and when he 

 looks to the eaft, all is covered with grofs vapours, which feem to hinder the light, 

 and fhadow all the country ; and at the fame time looking weft, the heaven is fo chrif- 

 talline and bright, that it caufes pleafure and joy to look on it. The eaft fide is full of 

 a cloudy thick air, which engenders ftorms and hail, with horrible thunders and light- 

 nings. 



