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A DIARY OF THE 



of a bullock is about sixteen dollars. The 

 policy of the government of Chili appears to 

 be, to exterminate the race of Indians, and get 

 forcible possession of the whole country south 

 of their present frontier. In some instances 

 the caciques have allowed a sale of a portion of 

 their land, on obtaining the consent of their 

 neighbours; but there exists a great jealousy of 

 their doing so. The mice continued their de- 

 structive and annoying visits. 



The morning after our first detachment had 

 reached the banks of the Rio Leubu, one of the 

 boys, furnished with a tin pot, sought out a 

 spring of fresh water, vv^hich ran at the foot of 

 the slope on which we were entrenching our- 

 selves, for the purpose of drinking. An Indian 

 rode up, and earnestly supplicated, by signs, his 

 desire to drink. The boy handed the tin to him, 

 vhich he no sooner got possession of, than he 

 turned his horse, galloped off, and, swimming 

 the river, was soon lost sight of amongst the 

 opposite hills. At Molquilla, many articles 

 thrown from the wreck, when washed on shore, 

 were taken off the beach, under the ponchos of 

 the Indians. The cunning mode in which they 

 loaded themselves was very characteristic : they 



