Valdiviataken Prisoner and cruelly put to death by theIndians.
The Natives hereabouts being exceedingly opprest by theSpaniards, fell uponthe Fort inPuren, where those in the Garrison, unable to defend themselves, went toTucapeland from thence toArauco, to Settle there.Valdiviamarching with three hundred Men to the Castle inTucapel, was so fiercely assaulted at the RiverLeto, that all his Men were kill’d, and he himself being taken Prisoner, had melted Gold pour’d down his Throat: One Boy onely escaping, brought the news to those in Garrison in the FortArauco, who fled toLa Conception, as those fromPurentoImperial. Not long after the LieutenantFrancisco de Villagrawent with a hundred and sixty Soldier’s toRaquetta, a Promontory against the South Sea inArauco, to take Revenge for the Death of his GeneralValdivia; but he also had like to have follow’d the same fate, for he left ninety six Men behind him, and with much ado recover’dLa Conception: By which means the victoriousChilesescame to be so much fear’d, that theSpaniardsforsook the TownsRica,St. Jago, andConfines, and fortifi’d themselves strongly inImperial.
Description ofArauco.
ConcerningArauco, it is a small County, twenty Leagues long and seven broad. The Inhabitants thereof are strangely valiant; those that inhabit the Mountains are call’dPulches, and are generally of a duller Spirit than those that dwell in the Valleys; all of them use long Pikes, Halberds, Bowes and Arrows, Helmets, and Breastplates of Deer-skins, in the Wars; they know when to close and open their Ranks, and stand in good order according to Martial Discipline, which makes theSpanishKing receive little benefit fromArauco, though it is full of rich Mines, because those in Garrison being five hundred in number, dare not come out of their Fort.
ToAraucobelongs the IslandLa Mocha, low on the North side, and rocky on the South; against which the Ocean breaks its Billows: in the middle of it rises a split Mountain, out of whose Gap flows a fresh Brook; the fruitful Soyl produces abundance of Pumpcons, Maiz, Potato’s, and all manner of delicious Fruit, as also Oxen, Sheep, and other Cattel, which go grazing up and down in great Herds; the Village that is upon it boasts about fifty Huts, built long of Straw, with a Door in the middle, and round like an Arch on the top.
Van Noon’s andSpilbergen’s Entertainment inMocha.
SirFrancis DrakeandCandishwere formerly somewhat roughly Entertain’d here by the Inhabitants: but they shew’d themselves somewhat more civil to theDutchAdmirals,Oliver Van NoortandJoris Spilbergen: The first coming to an Anchor hereAnno 1600.put oneJohn Claeszoon(Condemn’d for some great Crime to be Landed on some strange Place) ashore onLa Mocha, with a few Trifles; for which being kindly Entertain’d, the Seamen resolv’d to go ashore the next day, who were likewise civilly Treated. The Governor ofMochacoming aboard, Lodg’d a Night in the Ship, and afterwards conducted the Admiral through the Village, but forbad the Seamen from entring any of the Huts; out of which the Women upon the hearing of a sudden noise, came running out, and kneel’d down on the Ground in three Parties, whilest an old Matron came forth with a Pitcher full ofChica, and gave each of theNetherlandersa Cup full to drink, sitting on Blocks in the Fields.
A Man Marries as many Wives here as he can maintain. They all live peaceably one with another, and go Cloth’d with a pair of Breeches, and Frock without Sleeves. The Women tie their Hair in Braids about their Heads, but the Men let it hang down carelesly.
Fifteen years afterSpilbergenLanding here with four well Mann’d Boats, found the Shore full of People, who had brought all manner of Provisions to barter against Axes and Knives. The Islanders going aboard, wondred to see the Soldiers drawn out in order, and much more when a Gun was fir’d: They furnish’d theHollanderswith a hundred Sheep, amongst which was one with an extraordinary long Neck, and Legs, Hair, Mouth, and Back like a Cammel.
TheNetherlandAdmiral,Hendrick Brewer, coming to an Anchor on the Coast ofGuadalanquen, Anno 1643. was inform’d by theChileses, that about four years before they had burntBaldivia, murder’d theSpaniardsthat were in Garrison, and pour’d melted Gold down the Governor’s Throat and into his Ears, and made a Drinking-Cup of his Scull, and Trumpets of his Shin-bones.Breweralso found some Ruines of the City, which formerly boasted four hundred and fifty Houses, and was not yet so utterly defac’d, but that the two Markets and cross Streets were plainly to be seen, and the Walls gave sufficient testimony of its ancient lustre. The Countrey round about produces Wheat and Barley; neither are there any Mines to be found that produce finer Gold than those which are hereabouts. In the Mouth of the River which runs toBaldivia, lies a small Isle, the Men whereof are gross and fat, and spend their time in Drinking and Dancing, whilest the Women do all the Work.
About the CityOsorno, though lying under a cold Climate, is a Soil full of Gold-Mines, where above two thousandChilesesare under the subjection of theSpaniards.
SinceTeunis Swarte-Teunconquer’d and ruin’d this Place with small Forces underSpilbergen’s Command, it hath not yet repair’d its Losses: The Ruines of great Buildings are sufficient testimonies of its former splendor.
On the utmost Point of the Island, on whichOsornois built, lies the VillageCarel-Mappo, burnt byH. Brewer, An. 1643. for he Landing sixty six Men here, under the Command of the EnsignBlauewenhaen, they Engag’d with ninetySpaniardswho betook themselves to the Woods, leaving six Men and fifteen Horses behind them.
Description of the Sea-Coast ofChili.
The Sea-Coast ofChilelies as followeth: It begins on the North with the ValleyCopayapo, runs Southerly to the HavenCoquimba, and makes the large InletAtongayo; the convenient HarborQuintero, at the Mouth of the RiverConcagua, is also to the Southward.
NextQuinterofollow the HavensValparaysa,Topocalma, andPenco, known by several Mountains cover’d with Snow.
The StreamLabapidisembogues also in the BayArauco, where the Sea washing over the Shore, makes good Salt.
On the Shore of the RiverLebo,Garcias Mendozabuilt the TownCanete, which not long after was deserted, by reason of the Wars with theChileses.
From the HavenCarneroa Channel runs to the CityConfines: also the RiverCautenmakes a convenient Harbor before the CityImperial.
Next appear the StreamsTolten,Queule,Valdivia,ChabinandBueno; and near the PromontoryGallego,Chiliends to the South.
The ProvinceTucuman.
Eastward up into the Countrey lies the great ProvinceTucuman, inhabited by three sorts of People,viz.Juries,Diagnitas, andTucumans, from whom the Countrey receives its Denomination, and juts Northward against theChicas, belonging to the rich Plate-CountreyPotosi, Eastward towards the ProvinceLa Plata, and Westward towards the South Sea.
The Ground about the CitySt. Jago del Estero, formerly call’dVares, being the Bishop’s See, and Residence of the Governors, is brackish and sandy. The Citizens are most of them Weavers; the Natives go Cloth’d, and are of an affable Temper and Disposition.
The RiverEsterayearly overflows the Countrey, which being dung’d with Mud, produces abundance ofMaiz, Barley, Wheat, and all manner of Fruits.
The StreamSaladoruns the same Course as theEstera, from the West to the East through a Plain-Countrey, but hath brackish Water, and abundance of Fish. Betweenboth these Rivers the Inhabitants get plenty of Honey, Wax, Cotton, andCochenile. Cattel also increases in abundance, as likewise Deer, and other Venison; and for Fowl, Partridges, Pigeons, and the like; but the Tygers and Lyons do much mischief to the Inhabitants. Their chief Commodities for Trade and Merchandise are Cloth, Cotton and Salt.
Garcias Mendozabuilt the TownsNeuva Londresin the ProvinceCalchaqui, andGordubain the Territory of theJuries, but they were both of them soon deserted.
BehindPeruandLa Platathe PlainsOmaguazaextend themselves along the RiversParaguayandBermeio, under a temperate Climate, where the Inhabitants go Clothed, and keep abundance of Cattel.
Productions of the Countrey, and Nature of the People.
In most places hereabouts breed wonderful large Baboons, with long Tails and Beards; which being wounded, pull the Arrows out of the Wound, and throw back the same with a grim Countenance at those that shoot them.
The Serpents are likewise so big here, that they swallow whole Deer.
The Rivers breed horrid Crocodiles, and the Woods, Lyons and Tygers.
The Inhabitants differ both in their Customs and Language: the generality of them are continually Drunk. They keep yearly a great Feast, to reconcile the Souls of their Predecessors to them; to which purpose they bring as many roasted Ostriches as they have Souls to Offer to; then Drink three days after, and on the last they carry the Head of a fair Virgin (who freely offers her self to be kill’d) about the Town, making a sad and lamentable noise for the space of an hour; at the end of which they all begin to laugh, and oftentimes fall a killing one another: which Custom is most observ’d amongst theMatarani.
TheAbiponesgo naked in Summer, and in the Winter Clothe themselves with Furrs; they Paint their whole Bodies with Spots like the Tygers, Carve their Bodies all over, making Cut-work of their Skins, into which they stick Ostriches Feathers, as also through their Nostrils, Lips, and Ears, and account Baldness the greatest Beauty. They honor those for their Gods, who patiently endure unsufferable Tortures. The Women hang their Faces and Breasts full of Pearls: They never bring up above two Children, for they kill all above that number.
ThePlaniesrange up and down without Habitations under the open Skie.
The GiantsTobaespeak a curious Language, but are very salvage and cruel.Anno 1571.Erouaca, a prime Man amongst them, devour’d his own Sister, Wife, Mother, and Children. When they design to go a Journey, they roast their Sons and Daughters, to serve them for Provisions in stead of other Flesh; and their Sick are upon the least Complaint bury’d alive.
TheCaaguiaares, who dwell in Huts in great Woods, feed on Woorms, Mice, Apes, Tygers, and wild Honey; most of them are bunch-back’d, and go clad with the Skins of wild Beasts.