OVALLES HISTORICAL RELATION OF CHILE. / |JJf 



country from them, but only that they fhould own him as fon of the fun, and lord of 

 all that was warmed and enlightened by him. Thofe of Copiapo feeing this new relief 

 to their enemies, and knowing that it would not be the laft,^ becaufe the Inga yn Pan- 

 gue was preparing another fuccour, and being convinced that this acknowledgment 

 would cofl them lefs than the blood that muft be fpilt in a long refiftance, they agreed 

 to own the Inga as he defired. 



This was the firft entrance of the Peruvians as far as Maule, which is one of the 

 rivers of Cliile, as has been faid already. By this time, the army of the Peruvians 

 was fifty thoufand men, and defiring to profecute their conqueft, they fent their ordi- 

 nary embafly to the nation of the Promocaes, who having already been informed of 

 their invading their neighbours, were in arms to defend their country. The ambaffa- 

 dors of the Inga delivered their accuftomed meflage, protefling, that their lord defign- 

 ed nothing more, than to be acknowleded as fon of the fun, and honoured accordingly 

 by their fubmiffion. The Promocaes, who were refolved to defend their liberties, made 

 -anfwer, " That the conquerors Ihould be the lords and mafters j" and fo uniting all 

 their forces, came on the fourth day, and prefented battle to the Peruvians. The 

 Inga*s generals, furprifed at fuch a courageous refolution, fent them a new fummons^ 

 defiring their friendlhip and peace, calling the fun and moon to witnefs, that they came 

 not to fpoil them of their lands or goods, but only to oblige them to own the fun for 

 their God, and the Inga for his fon and their lord. To which they received anfwer^ 

 that they came not to fpend time in talking, or vain difcourfes, but to fight manfully 

 till they fhould conquer or die ; adding, that they might prepare themfelves for battle 

 the next day, as it happened ; and the Promocaes overcame that powerful army of the 

 Inga*s, fo that they had no mind to try their fortune any more, but made their retreat, 

 leaving the Promocaes in peace, and full pofTeffion of their lands, which they had fo 

 bravely defended. Antonio de Herrera, in his third tome, and fifth decade, treating 

 of the reafon why thofe of Chile refufed to fubmit to thofe monarchs the Ingas, fays, 

 that it was becaufe of the great reverence with which they made their fubjeds treat 

 them, as if they were gods, and approach them as if they were another fpecies ; 

 which the Chilenians could not bear, th^ir mind being too lofty and generous to fub- 

 mit to fuch a tyranny, which they conflaiitly oppofed ; infomuch, that though the Ingas 

 had conquered the beil part of that continent, yet the Chilenians never did yield to 

 their power. Perhaps the neareft provinces to Peru, fuch as thofe of Guafco, Co- 

 quimbo, and Copiapo, did in fome meafure acknowledge their power, fmce they paid 

 a tribute in gold ; and for that reafon, thefe provinces alone in all the kingdom of 

 Chile, do fpeak the common language of Peru, which is a very flrong proof of what 

 I here fay. 



For the fame reafon that they refifled the Ingas, they did not care to have any king 

 of their own nation, the love of their liberty prevailing againft all the reafons of flate, 

 which might move tliem to have one monarch ; neither did they fall into any popular 

 form of government, or commonwealth ; for their warlike temper did not afford pa- 

 tience enough for the phlegmatick debates, neceflfary for the union of fo many minds. 

 Thus every family chofe one among them to govern them. From this arofe the Ca- 

 ciques, who are the fovereigns among them, and by degrees had that power hereditary, 

 and their children after them enjoy it, with all its rights. 



But though every one governs independently his own diflri£t or jurifdiftion, yet 

 when the occafion offers, that the fafety of all is concerned, there is an afTembly of the 

 Caciques, and fome of the elders of the people, who are men of experience, and are 

 fummoned after their way by particular meffengers. In thefe councils they refolve what 



they 



