278 A VOYAGE TO BookVIIL 



larger reinforcements. If at any time the Spaniards 

 gain the fuperiority, the Indians retire to the diftance 

 of feveral leagues, where after concealing themfelves 

 a few days, they fuddenly fall on a different part from 

 that where they Vv^ere encamped, endeavouring to car^ 

 j-y the place by a fudden aflault, iinlefs the comman- 

 dant's vigilance has provided againit any fudden fur- 

 prize ; when, by the advantage of the SpaniOi difci- 

 pline, they are generally repulfed with great llaughter. 



These Indian v/ars againft the Spaniards ufually 

 continue fome years, being of little detriment to the 

 Indians ; for mod of their occupations which confift 

 in the culture of a fmail fpot of ground, and weaving 

 ponchos and cloaks for apparel, are carried on by the 

 women. Their huts are built in a day or two, and 

 their food confills of roots, maize, and other grain. 

 War, therefore, is no impediment or lofs to them •, in- 

 deed they rather confider it as a defirable occupation, 

 their hours at other times being fpent in idlenefs, or 

 caroufals, in which they drink chicha, a liquor common 

 among them, and made from apples. 



The firfl: advances towards a treaty of peace with 

 thefe Indians are generally made by the Spaniards ; and 

 as foon as the propofals are agreed to, a congrefs is 

 held, at which the governor, major-general of Chili^ 

 and the principal officers, the bifhop of Conception, 

 and other perfons of eminence alTift. On the part of 

 the Indians the toqui, or generaliiTimo, and the 

 captains of his army, as reprefentatives of the commu- 

 nities, repair to the congrefs. The lafl: inroad made by 

 thefe favage enemies, v/as in the year 1720, during 

 the government of Don Gabriel Cano, lieutenant-ge- 

 neral of his majeily's forces, who managed the war 

 againft them with fuch vigour and addrefs \ that they 

 were obliged to folicit a peace and their preliminaries 

 were fo fubmiffive, that at a congrefs held in 1724, 

 the peace was concluded, whereby they were left in 

 poffeffion of all the country fouth of the river Biobio ; 



