They Prepare A
Liquor Called Chicha From Their Indian Corn, In Imitation Of Their
Neighbours On The Continent Of Chili; But The Spaniards Endeavor To Curb
Their Propensity To The Use Of This Liquor, As Their Drinking Bouts Have
Often Occasioned Seditions And Revolts.
Such of the natives as have no
European weapons, use pikes, darts, and other arms of the country.
Among
these is a running noose on a long leathern thong, called a lays,
which they use with surprising dexterity for catching cattle, horses, or
other animals, even when at full career. From all that I could see of
the natives of Chiloe, or hear respecting the Chilese, they seem to
resemble each other in all things, which is not wonderful, considering
the near neighbourhood of this island to the continent of Chili. They
use small drums, the heads of which are made of goats skins with the
hair on, and give a very dull sound.
The natives of Chiloe carry on a small woollen manufacture, consisting
of ponchoes and other articles of clothing, formerly mentioned. They
also export considerable quantities of cedar, both in plank, and wrought
up into boxes, chests, desks, and the like, with which they supply all
Chili and Peru. They have no European trade; but the Spaniard who came
to me from the governor expressed his astonishment that no trading ships
ever put in there, saying they had plenty of money among them, with a
safe port, free from the danger of going to the northward among the
Spanish ships of war; as a great deal of business might be done here,
before intelligence could be sent as far as Lima, and the ships could be
fitted out and sent so great a way to wind-ward. It is observed of the
Chilese, that, differing from all other nations ever heard of, they have
no notion of a Supreme Being, and consequently have no kind of worship;
and they are such enemies to civil society that they never live together
in towns and villages, so that their country seems thinly inhabited,
though very populous, the whole nation being dispersed in farms at a
good distance, every family having its own plantation, and raising its
own necessaries.
Though thus scattered, they are not wholly independent, each tribe being
subject to a chief, called a cacique, whose dwelling is conveniently
situated among them, for the more speedy summoning them together on
affairs of importance. This is done by the sound of a sort of horn, on
hearing which all his vassals repair to him without delay. The chief
commands them in war, and has an absolute power of dispensing justice
among his subjects, who all consider themselves as his relations, he
being as it were the head of his family, and his authority hereditary.
In all these respects the inhabitants of Chiloe resemble their
neighbours on the continent, excepting that their caciques are stript
in a great measure of their power and influence, by the tyranny of the
Spaniards, who keep them under the most servile slavery, while the
missionaries blind them by a superstitious and imperfect conversion to
Christianity, of which not one of these natives know any thing more than
merely that they were baptized; all their devotion consisting of mere
idolatry of the cross, or the images of saints; for the Spanish clergy
use no manner of pains to enlighten their minds, but probably think it
better, by keeping them in ignorance, to make them more contented under
the rigorous government of the Spaniards. Under this delusion, the
caciques have changed their lawful prerogatives for the vain ostentation
of being allowed to wear a silver-headed cane, which places them on a
footing outwardly with a Spanish captain. Yet have they sometimes
rebelled against their proud oppressors, deeming death preferable to
slavery, as may be seen in the account of Frezier's voyage.
The vessels used in Chiloe are peculiarly constructed, as, for want of
nails and other articles of iron, the planks of which their boats are
constructed are sewed together very ingeniously with oziers. These boats
are all constructed of three pieces only, the keel or bottom being one
piece, and the sides two others; and they are rowed with oars, in the
same manner as with us, more or fewer according to their size.
Having nothing farther to detain us in Chiloe, I determined upon
proceeding to the island of Juan Fernandez, as directed in my
instructions; but my men took it into their heads that great things
might be done by a short trip to the Bay of Conception, to which also
they were induced by the Frenchman who persuaded us to come to Chiloe.
He pretended that there were always five or six ships in the road of
Conception, besides others daily coming in or going out, and that these
had often both ways considerable sums of money or silver, with other
valuable things, on board; and, though large ships, they were of little
or no force, neither were there any fortifications at that place to
protect them; so that we could not meet any opposition in taking them,
even if there were twenty sail. He said their, cargoes consisted chiefly
of corn, wine, brandy, flour, and jerked beef; and that the ships bound
for Conception always brought money to purchase their cargoes; besides
that considerable booty might be made for rich trading passengers, who
carry on a considerable trade over land between Conception and Buenos
Ayres. He also alleged, that we could not fail of having any ships we
might take ransomed; and that we should certainly make our fortunes, if
we could only reach Conception before they had notice of our being in
these seas. This man therefore advised my people to endeavour to prevail
on me to make the best of my way to Conception, before the governor of
Chiloe could send our deserter thither; after which all the coast would
be alarmed, and we should have no opportunity of meeting with any thing
till the Spaniards had imagined we were gone from the South Sea.
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