1835. EKCILLA — POPULATION — MINES. 383 



of the place where his companions halted, and cut some lines 

 on the bark.* 



The populous state of Chiloe, in 1558, when first visited 

 by Europeans may be estimated by Ercilla's description, allow- 

 ing for poetical license. All accounts agree in stating that the 

 Chonos Indians, or Huyhuen-che, were once very numerous. 

 " Era un ancho archipielago poblado 



De innumerables islas deleytosas, 



Cruzando por el uno y otro lado 



Gondolas y piraguas presurosas : 



Llego una corva gondola ligera 

 De doce largos remos impelida." 



La Aeaucana, Cantos xxxv and xxxvi. 



That the Spaniards then with Ercilla, were thought to be 

 deities, is shown by the following lines : — 



" Hombres, o Dioses riisticos, nacidos 

 En estos sacros bosques y montaiias, 

 Por celeste influencia producidos," &c. 



Ideji, Canto xxxvi. 



Some years afterwards (in 1566) Castro was founded, to be 

 the capital, and Chacao for a sea-port. From this time till 

 about 1633 mines were worked in Chiloe, but then discon- 

 tinued, partly because they were less productive than those of 

 Chile, and partly on account of the difficulty of obtaining 

 labourers after a raging epidemic had carried off one-third of 

 the aboriginal inhabitants ; and fear of infection as well as 

 horror of the mining slavery, had driven away a large portion 

 of the residue.-}- About this time the Huilli-che were carried to 



* " Aqui llego, donde otro no ha llegado, 

 Don Alonso de Ercilla, que el priuiero 

 En un pequeno barco deslastrado 

 Con solos diez, pas6 el desaguadero 

 El aiio de cincuenta y ocho entrado 

 Sobre mil y quinientos por Hebrero, 

 A las dos de la tarde el postrer dia, 

 Volviendo a la dexada compania." 



La Araucana, Canto xxxvi. 

 t These were Huyhuenes, or Chonos, vrhose place was afterwards 

 supplied by Huilli-che from southern Chile. 



