688 • ulloa's voyage to south America. . 



ing to carry the place by a fudden aflault, unlefs the commandant's vigilance has pro- 

 vided againft any fudden furprife ; when, by the advantage of the Spanifli difcipline, . 

 they are generally repulfed with great flaughter. 



Thefe Indian wars againft the Spaniards ufually continue fome years, being of little 

 detriment to the Indians ; for moft of their occupations, which confift in the culture 

 of a fmall fpot of ground, and weaving ponchos and cloaks for apparel, are carried on 

 by the women. Their huts are built in a day or two, and their food conlifts of roots, 

 maize, and other grain. War, therefore, is no impediment or lofs to them ; indeed, 

 they rather confider it as a defirable occupation, their hours, at other times, being 

 fpent in idlenefs or caroufals, in which they drink chica, a liquor common among 

 them, and made from apples. 



The firft advances towards a treaty of peace with thefe Indians are generally made 

 by the Spaniards ; and as foon as the propofals are agreed to, a congrefs is held, at 

 which the governor, major-general of Chili, and the principal officers, the bifhop of 

 Conception, and other perfons of eminence affift. On the part of the Indians the toqui, 

 or generaliffimo, and the captains of his army, as reprefentatives of the communities, 

 repair to the congrefs. The laft inroad made by thefe favage enemies was in the year 

 1720, during the government of Don Gabriel Cano, lieutenant-general of His Majefty's 

 forces, who managed the war againft them with fuch vigour and addrefs, that they were 

 obliged to folicit a peace ; and their preliminaries were fo fubmiffive, that at a congrefs 

 held in 1724, the peace was concluded, whereby they were left in poffeffion of all the 

 country fouth of the river Biobio ; and the Capitaines de Paz were fupprefled. Thefe 

 were Spaniards refiding in the villages of the converted Indians, and by their exactions 

 had been the principal caufe of the revolt. 



Befides the congrefles held with thefe Indians, for concluding a treaty of peace, others 

 are held on the arrival of a new prefident, and the fame ceremonies obferved in both ; 

 fo that an account of the one will be fufficient to give a juft idea of the other. 



On the holding a congrefs, the prefident fends notice to the frontier Indians of the 

 day and place, whither he repairs with the above-mentioned perfons ; and on the part 

 of the Indians, the heads of their feveral communities ; and both, for the greater fplen- 

 dor of the interview, are accompanied by an efcort confifting of a certain number pre- 

 vioufly agreed on. The prefident and his company lodge in tents, and the Indians 

 encamp at a fmall diftance. The elders or chiefs^ of the neighbouring nations pay the 

 firft vifit to the prefident, who receives them very courteoufly, drinks their healths in 

 wine, and himfelf gives them the glafs to do the like. This politenefs, with which they 

 are highly pleafed, is fucceeded by a prefent of knives, fciffars, and different forts of 

 toys, on which they place the greateft value. The treaty of peace is then brought on 

 the carpet, and the manner of obferving the feveral articles is fettled : after which they 

 return to their camp, and the prefident returns the vifit, carrying with him a quantity 

 of wine fufficient for a moderate regale. 



Now all the chiefs of the other communities, who were not prefent at the firft vifit, 

 go in a body to pay their refpeAs to the prefident. At the rifing of the congrefs, the 

 prefident makes each a fmall prefent of wine, which the Indians liberally return in 

 calves, oxen, horfes, and fowls. After thefe reciprocal tokens of friendfhip, both par- 

 ties return to their refpeftive habitations. 



In order to gain more elFedually the hearts of thefe Indians, who, though in our 

 efteem wretchedly poor, conceal the moft ftubborn pride, which can only be foftened 

 by compliments and favours, it is a maxim with the prefidents to admit to their table 

 thofe who are apparently of the beft difpofitions, and during the tfiree or four days of 



the 



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