1835. 



J:RCILLA — 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 g-ondola lig-era 

 De doce largos remos impelida." 



La Arauoana, Cantos xxxv and xxxvi. 



That the Spaniards then with Ercilla, were thought to be 

 deities, is shown by the following lines : — 



" Hombres, o Dioses rusticos, nacidos 

 En estos sacros bosques y montaiias, 

 Por celeste influencia producidos," &c. 



Idem, 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 ojfF 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 primero 

 En un pequeno barco deslastrado 

 Con solos diez, paso 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, whose place was afterwards 

 supplied by Huilli-che from southern Chile. 



