1835. 



' MINGA*" CONVICTS TOLTEN. 



401 



only in sound but in meaning, to the Hebrew word mincha. 

 Molina (p. 333) says that these people have a nasal g, which 

 brings the two words to an identity of sound. The Hebrew 

 term, I am told, means an offering or collection of fruits, 

 liquors, &c. ; and the corresponding Huilli-che word means a 

 a feast of which those partake who are about to unite in a 

 work for the benefit of him who makes the ' minga.' In the 

 Appendix a few Greek, Latin, and Araucanian words are 

 arranged so as to show the remarkable similarity existing 

 between them. 



I was told by the Yntendente that some Englishmen had 

 arrived in his district a few months before we came, whose 

 character and business he did not understand. Rumours had 

 reached his ears of their having escaped from one of our 

 convict settlements, at the other side of the Pacific, and he 

 was inclined to believe the report. Three of these men had 

 married since their arrival, and all but one were industrious 

 members of his community : indeed I saw two of them hard 

 at work on a boat belonging to the Yntendente. Having 

 however no proof of their delinquency, I did not deem my- 

 self authorized to ask him to have them arrested and deli- 

 vered up to me, in order that I might convey them to the 

 senior British officer at Valparaiso. Afterwards I learned that 

 these men, seven or eight in number, had escaped from Van 

 Diemen's land in a very small vessel, and sailing always east- 

 ward, had at last arrived on the coast near Valdivia, whence 

 they were conducted by a fisherman into the port. Even- 

 tually they were made prisoners by the Chilian authorities, 

 delivered up to our Commodore, and by him sent to England. 



I was informed that there is coal in many places about Val- 

 divia ; but I did not see any. We sailed on the ^2d, after 

 receiving, on all occasions, the kindest treatment from the 

 residents. 



As we passed along the low coast about the river Tolten, 

 numbers of Indians on horseback, and armed with lances, were 

 seen riding along the shore, evidently watching our move- 

 ments. This part of the coast is shoal, and at night would 



VOL. II. 2 D 



