114 ' ovalle's historical relation of chile. 



fons and grand-children of thofe brave men, who have fought fo many battles, 

 and ventured all to defend that country and liberty, for which we now fight ? 

 Shall we own that they exceed us in bravery, or that the enemies we encounter 

 are fuperior to thofe whom they overcame ? Had they lefs motives than we have ? 

 or do we hope for lefs glory ? We muft all die ; and in the equality of that common 

 fate, the only difference is dying nobly for our dear country, and the liberty of 

 our wives and children ; therefore rouze up that courage which you have inherited 

 from your anceflors, who never could endure the thoughts of that infamous yoke 

 of flavery upon their necks. Courage then, brave men, as brave as any the fun 

 fees ; courage, for in that lies viftory.'* 



With thefe, and other fuch words, and callhig to mind fome of their vidlories, they 

 grow fo warm, that raifmg a cry of war, they drive away all fear, and exprefs 

 great defire of engaging their enemies ; which they do with fo much fury and refo- 

 lution, that a battalion that Hands their firft fhock is a very firm one. But we will 

 treat further of this when we fhall fpeak of the battles they have had with the Spaniards, 

 whofe valour has fet theirs in its luftre, obliging them to give fuch proofs as are 

 worthy to be recorded in hillory. Let us purfue now the account of their natural 

 qualities, independently from the refiftance which they have made to His Catholick 

 Majefty's arms. 



The warlike fpirit of this nation proceeds from their natural temper, which is cholerick 

 and impatient, proud, arrogant, and fierce, very cruel in their revenge, cutting their 

 enemies (when in their power) inhumanly to pieces, and wallowing in their blood. 

 We fhall relate a cafe hereafter, in which fomething of this will be feen. They are 

 flrong and robuft of body, well proportioned, large fhoulders, high chefts, well fet in 

 their members, nimble, adtive, vigorous, and nervous, courageous and undertaking, 

 enduring hunger, thirfl, heat, cold ; defpifing all conveniencies of life, even their own 

 fmall ones, having little value for their very lives, when it is neceffary to hazard them, 

 either for glory or liberty ; conftant in their refolutions, and perfifting in a thing once 

 begun with incredible fteadinefs. 



They are excellent horfemen, and upon a fingle faddle-cloth, or without one, they 

 are as firm as others in war-faddles : they will ride down the fide of a hill, or a 

 precipice, as if they were goats, with their bodies as ftraight and as firm on horfeback, 

 as if they were nailed to the horfe: they have no trouble with the baggage they 

 want, for they carry but little with them ; not but that when they march they 

 have their little pack of flour of maize, a little fait, fome Pimientos, or Guinea 

 pepper, and dried flefh ; and this is enough to maintain them a good while. They 

 need no other kitchen utenfils than a gourd or calabafh, with which, when they 

 come to a river or fpring, they open their flour-bag, and wet a little with the 

 water, and that ferves them for drink ; and for meat, when they put more of it 

 with a little fait and pepper, this they call Rubul ; and fometimes they eat their 

 meal dry, with flices of dried flefh. 



The great numbers of people which that country has maintained, may be colleded 

 from the people that the Spaniards found there at their firft coming, which was about 

 2oo,oco, more or lefs, according to the greatnefs of the diftrids or territories, and 

 their habitations, which never were in form of a city or town ; for the Indians cannot 

 endure any formal conftraint, but love to live free in the fields ; and every Cacique, 

 or lord, governed his own vaffals, who placed themfelves according to their con- 

 veniencies, fome in one valley, and fome in another ; fome at the foot of moun- 

 tains, others on the fide of rivers ; fome by the fea-fide, or on the top of moun- 

 tains ; 



