CHAPTER XVL 



Chiloe — Its probable importance— Valdivia founds seven cities ; after- 

 wards destroyed by the Indians — Migration of Spanish settlers — Pro- 

 vince and Islands of Chiloe — Districts and population — Government-— 

 Defence' — Winds — Town — Durability of Avooden buildings — Culti- 

 vation — Want of industry — Improvement — Dress — Habits of lower 

 classes — Morality — Schools — Language — Produce — Manufactures — 

 Exports and imports — Varieties of wood — Alerse — Roads — Piraguas 

 Ploughs — Corn — Potatoes — Contributions — Birds — Shell-fish — Medi- 

 cal practitioners — Remedies — Climate. 



As the Island of Chiloe was formerly shrouded from notice, 

 by the policy of its master, the King of Spain, and therefore 

 little known to the world ; I have considered it not irrelevant 

 to the narration of the voyage, to introduce a short account of 

 its present state, particularly as since the trade of the whole 

 coast has been opened, a new era has dawned upon this interest- 

 ing island; and although it has been, as yet, the least frequented 

 of the South American States, I think the time is not far distant, 

 when it will become an important part of the Chilian territory. 



After the foundation of the city of Penco, or Concepcion, by 

 Don Pedro de Valdivia, in the year 1550, he passed on towards 

 the south in search of convenient situations for other cities; and 

 crossing the river Bio Bio, which separates Concepcion from 

 the territory of the Araucanian Indians, successively founded 

 Imperial, Valdivia, Villa Rica, Angol, Cariete, and Osorno ; 

 the last being effected in the year 1558. The necessary distri- 

 bution of the Spanish forces, to protect so many points, made 

 them comparatively defenceless, in a country inhabited by a 

 large population of Indians, who contemplated the hostile 

 occupation of their native land, by the invading army, with a 

 deep dissatisfaction. They had for some time endured, with 

 sullen patience, the yoke of the Spaniards; but at last, incensed 

 by the servility and bondage to which they were reduced, and, 

 probably, by no small portion of ill-treatment ; the whole popu- 

 lation rose simultaneously, and waged a most destructive and 



