162 



" Be cautious how you adopt either of these mea- 

 sures ; as vassals you will be despised and compel- 

 led to labour, as enemies you will be exterminated. , 

 If you wish to free yourselves of these dangerous 

 visitors, make them believe you are miserably poor 

 Hide your property, particularly your gold ; they 

 wiil not remain where they have no expectation of 

 finding that sole object of their wishes. Send them 

 such a present as will impress them with an idea of 

 your poverty, and in the mean time retire to the 

 woods," 



The Cunches approved the wise counsel of the 

 Araucanian, and commissioned him, with nine na- 

 tives of the country, to carry the present which he 

 had recommended to the Spanish general. Accord- - 

 ingly, cloathing himself and companions in wretch- 

 ed rags, he appeared with every mark of fear before 

 that officer, and after complimenting him in rude 

 terms, presented him a basket containing some roast- 

 ed lizards and wild fruits. The Spaniards, who could 

 not refrain from laughter at the appearance of the 

 ambassadors and their presents, began to dissuade 

 the governor from pursuing an expedition which, 

 from all appearances, would prove unproductive. 

 But although he was persuaded that these people 

 were poor and wretched, yet, lest he shpuld discover 

 too great facility in relinq^ishing his plan, he ex- 

 horted his troops to prosecute the expedition that 

 had been undertaken, assuring them that, further on, 

 according to the information he had received, they 

 would find a country that abounded in all the me- 

 tals. This was a circumstance by no means im- / 



