the South -Sea-. $j 



It was founded in the Year 1550, by Peter Baldivia^Fomdm 

 the Conqueror of Chilly after he had fubdued the neigh- 

 bouring Indians. He there erefted a Fort, to fecure a Re- 

 treat againft them but that General being kill'd, as has 

 been faid above, Lautaro, Chief of the Indians, made 

 himfelf Mafter of it, and afterwards Caupolican utterly de- 

 ftroy'd it* A Supply fent from Santiago, fettled the Spa- 

 niardr there again ; but Lautaro expell'd them a fecond : 

 Time : At laft, the Viceroy of Peru having appointed his 

 Son Don Garcia Hurt ado de Mendoza, Governor of Chili, 

 in the room of Baldivia, fent him by Sea with Recruits of 

 Men. He, under Colour of coming to conclude a Peace, 

 poffefs'd himfelf, without any Trouble, of the Ifland of 

 Quinquina, whence he fent Men to build a Fort, on the 

 Top of the Hills of ha Conception, into which he put eight 

 Pieces of Cannon. 



At this Time there are no Remains of any Fort : The 

 Town is open on all Sides, and commanded by five Emi- 

 nences, among which, that of the Hermitage advances al- 

 moft to the Middle, and overlooks it all. There is no Fomficttkm* 

 other Defence but one low Battery, on the Edge of the 

 Sea, which only commands the Anchoring Place before 

 the Town, which is a good Quarter of a League from it r 

 to the N. W. But befides that, it is not large, being only 

 3 5 Fathom in Length, and five in Breadth. It is in a bad 

 Condition^ one Half of it without any Platform, and but 

 indifferently built with Rubbiih. 



The Cannon are in no better Condition r There are Artiihry. 

 nine of Brafs, of irregular Bore, from 17 to 23 Pound 

 Ball, that is, from 18 to 24 Spanifh, whereof there are 

 four mounted on fcurvy Carriages. The greateft Pieces 

 are 1 3 Foot and a Half long, 7 Fopt and a Half from the 

 Muzzle to the Trunnions, and 5 Foot 9 Inches from the 

 Trunnions to the Ball : All the Touch-holes of thefe Guns 

 are fo wide, that they have been fain to fill them up with 

 Iron. They were caft dX Linm^ in the Years 161 8 apd 

 162 u 



