ULLOA's voyage to south AMERICA. 669 



the boat with the greateft rapidity ; whilft the others, inftead of endeavouring to fave 

 him, in their fright thought of nothing but how to get out of danger as foon as pofll- 

 ble. It was the Englifhman's good fortune not to be ftrangled or killed by the bruifes 

 he received, the flip-knot having paffed from one fhoulder under the oppofite arm, fo 

 that he recovered in a few days. 



As it is very feldom that they mifs, and are obliged, on haltering a creature, to 

 draw the knot, at the fame time that they throw the noofe, they clap fpurs to their 

 horfe, and put him on his full fpeed ; that the creature is fo far from having time to 

 difengage itfelf, that it is no fooner caught than difabled. This is alfo one of the 

 weapons, if I may give it that name, ufed in their private quarrels, defending them- 

 felves with a lance of a middling length. And their addrefs on thefe occafions is fo 

 very remarkable, that very often, after a long difpute, in which both parties are heartily 

 tired, they part, with no other hurt than a few bruifes. This is alfo the method 

 they take to fatisfy their revenge, endeavouring to halter the object of their hatred, 

 either as he runs rrom them, or is not apprized of their intention. In this cafe the 

 only refource in an open country, on feeing him with his noofe in his hand, is, to 

 throw onefelf on the ground, keeping the legs and arms as clofe to the furface as 

 poflible, that the rope may have no room to get under any part. The perfon may alfo 

 fave himfelf by {landing clofe to a tree, and, if in the flreet, by placing himfelf againfl 

 the wall. A fmall diftance, that is, under ten or fifteen paces, partly renders their 

 dexterity ineffeftual ; but there is very great danger of being entangled when the 

 diftance is thirty or forty. The noofes, or halters, are thongs of a cow's hide, cut 

 round the fkin, and of a proper breadth. Thefe thongs they twill, and work with fat, 

 till they are of a proper degree of fupplenefs ; but fo flrong, that though when twilled 

 they are not larger than the little finger, yet they hold the wildefl bull when its efforts 

 to efcape would break a rope of hemp of much larger dimenfions. 



The climate of this city is not effentially different from that of the greateft part of 

 Europe. Winter is indeed fomething colder than in the fouthern provinces of Spain, 

 but milder than thofe of the northern ; and the fummer heats proportionably. In 

 winter the inhabitants feem to be little incommoded by the north winds, and in 

 fummer the heats are moderated by the cooling breezes from the fouth. The heat is 

 however greater in the city than in the adjacent country, occafioned chiefly by the 

 different difpdfition of the ground, being interfered by various rivers, fome of which 

 are very large, as the Arauco and the Biobio. The latter of which, at a league above its 

 mouth, is very near four leagues in breadth. It may, however, in fummer be forded, 

 but not without danger ; in the winter it is paffed in balzas. At the fouthern banks 

 of the river, the territories of the wild Indians begin, and near the fame fhore towards 

 that part are the chain of frontier forts, of which a farther account will be given in the 

 fequel. The country of this jurifdiftion confifls principally of extenfive plains, the 

 Cordillera being at a confiderable diftance to the eaflward, and the whole fpace 

 between it and the fea-coaft, one entire and uniform plain, interrupted only by a few 

 eminences, which are an ornament to the country, and render the perfpedive of it the 

 more agreeable. 



The great affinity between this climate and that of Spain is evident from its produ6ls, 

 though there is a remarkable difference with regard to their goodnefs and plenty, in 

 both which this country has greatly the advantage. The trees and plants of all kinds 

 have their regular feafons, embellifhing the fields with their verdure, entertaining the 

 fight with their various flowers and bloffoms, and gratifying the palate with their 

 delicious fruits. It is needlefs to mention that the times of the feafon muft be oppofite, 



confequently 



