Ch.VIII. south AMERICA. 263 



IX. Copiapo, & Guafco. X. Mendoza. 

 XI. La Conception. 

 I. To the major-generallhip of the kingdom oi" 

 Chili, belongs the military government of the fron- 

 tier towns and fortrefles. Thefe are Arauco, the 

 Hated refidence of the general, Santajuana, Puren, 

 Los Angeles, Tucapel, and Yumbel. It will b^e 

 here neceffary to obferve, that not above five leagues 

 ibuth of Conception bay, the fea receives a river 

 called Biobio, both the Ibuth banks and head of 

 which are inhabited by wild Indians : and to pre- 

 vent their incurfions, ilrong forts have been ereded 

 along the banks, and are always well garrifoned 

 and furnifhed with all kinds of military ftores. A- 

 mong thefe on the fouth banks of the river is the 

 fort of Arauco, and the others at a proper diftance 

 eaftward to the mountain of Tucapel. Thus all 

 attempts from thefe Indians is precluded, and the 

 Spaniih fettlements protected from their depreda- 

 tions. The general is obliged to vific thefe forts 

 from time to time, carefully infpedting into their 

 condition, and, in cafe of neceflity, to haften to 

 their relief. During his abfence, the commanding 

 officer of each is the captain of the garrifon, which 

 ufually confining both of horfe and foot with their 

 officers, the perfon on whom the command devolves 

 is previoufiy nominated. This important pofi: is in 

 the difpofal of the prefident, as fuppofed to be beft 

 acquainted with the merits of the feveral competi- 

 tors when a vacancy happens; and that the fafety 

 of his government will induce him to prefer the 

 moft deferving. Accordingly whoever intends to 

 offer himfelf a candidate for this pofi, fiiould foli- 

 cit to be employed in the frontier fervice, procure 

 a competent knowledge of the ftratagems of the In- 

 dians, and be very attentive to diftinguifh himfelf 

 on any alarm, or encounter. It is indeed exprefied 

 in the royal commiirion, that the conregidor of Con- 



S 4 ception. 



