THE 



CIVIL HISTORY 



OF 



CHILL 



BOOK L 



CHAPTER I. 



Of the Origin, Appearance and Language 

 of the Chilians, 



The origin of the primitive inhabitants of Chili, 

 like that of the other American nations, is involved 

 in impenetrable obscurity ; nor have they any re- 

 cords, or monuments of antiquity, that can serve to 

 elucidate so interesting an inquiry . Upon the arri- 

 val of the Spaniards they were entirely unacquainted 

 with the art of writing, and their traditionary ac- 

 counts are so crude and imperfect, that they affgrd 

 not the least degree of rational information to the 

 inquisitive mind. Many of the inhabitants suppose 

 that they are indigenous to the country, while others 

 derive their origin from a foreign stock, ^nd at one 

 Vol.il a 



