APPENDIX. 



157 



inclined to enter into an agreement for the salvage of 

 the useful parts of said ship, and that public notice be 

 given throughout the subdelegation, in order that those 

 who can save any articles, or the whole, by placing them 

 in security, and that the Consul or authority of that 

 nation may be able to dispose of them shall be indem- 

 nified according to the laws of Chili ; and recommend- 

 ing the protection of the officers and crew who have 

 removed, with what has been saved, to encamp at the 

 mouth of the Leubu. 



In reply, I say, that with regard to the first, I will 

 believe both you and the captain of the vessel will do 

 me and government the justice to be convinced, that 

 it would be most satisfactory to be able to furnish at this 

 point the party of troops asked for ; but in this respect 

 the thing is too impossible to be able to do it ; by 

 reason of the great distance of thirty odd leagues be- 

 tween the place of shipwreck and the frontier fort of 

 Arauco ; by reason of the isolated state of the spot, and 

 its utter want of resources for sheltering the soldiers, and 

 for keeping their arms and equipments fit for service ; 

 the vessel being wrecked on an open and bad beach, 

 far from every point at which the soldiers could fortify 

 themselves for their own defence, and for the safety of 

 the vessel against the barbarous enemies; especially 

 when you yourself have seen the official letter of the 

 3d instant, by which I am informed of the near approach 

 of said enemies, in number 2600, to invade these fron- 

 tiers. I might likewise observe to you, that the garrison 

 under my command in Arauco only consists at present 

 of ninety-nine infantry, six artillerymen, and three 

 officers. In the fort you will have seen the totally 



