HISTORY OF CHILI.
Fnorr a total want of records, the origin of the Chilcsc is still obscure and undetermined. Their own opinions, as well as their traditions on the subject, are altogether so vague, imperfect, and contradictory, as at best to afford only the means of conjecture. Some or them would lead us to conclude, that Chili was settled from the west; others, that its inhabitants came from the north; and others, that they are indigenous That America, in ge neral, was peopled from Asia, is an opinion very common and well supported; but it still remains to be decided, whether all its inhabitants are of the same origin, and re ceived from the same point of communication, the north east of Asia. Molina supposes that Chili, in common with the rest of South America, was originally settled from the southern parts of Asia. In support of this, he alleges the general similarity of language and character, which, to this day, are still observable in their respective inhabitants ; and, in order to spew sonic probable line of communication, has recourse to an ingenious but rather bold conjecture. imagines, that a vast extent of coun try has once united the two continents towards the south, but that this, by the gradual encroachments of the Pa cific Ocean, has since that time been reduced to a chain of islands. From suppositions of this nature, and with materials such as we have mentioned, it would be vain to pursue an inquiry, which could only betray us into the labyrinths of theory, without leading in the end to any certain or satisfactory conclusion.
It is to the Peruvian annals that we are indebted for the earliest accounts of Chili, and from them we have nothing prior to the middle of the fifteenth century. At that time the Peruvians greatly surpassed all their neigh bours in civilization. They had already brought many of them under subjection, and were soon excited to the con quest of Chili, by the natural advantages of the country, the fertility of its fields, and the delightful salubrity of its climate. Anticipating the difficulties of an enterprise the greatest they had yet undertaken, it was not entered upon without the most cautious deliberation, and nothing was omitted, that might tend in any degree to procure a successful issue. At length, after the minutest enqui ries, Yupanqui, the tenth Inca, marched with a nume rous army to the frontiers of Peru, and having there esta blished his court in the province of Atacama, dispatch ed Sanchiruca, with part of his troops, for the subjuga tion of Chili. Preceded by ambassadors, the Peruvian
:2,-eneral entered the country with very slight opposition, and ahnost without a blow reduced the whole of the southern provinces, as far as the river Rapel. Beyond this was a people very different from the unwarlike tribes, had already been so easily and rapidly subdued. They were named Promaucians, or free dancers, a high minded people, fond of the peaceful amusements, but still fonder of liberty. They met with vigour the inva ders or their independence ; and in a battle of three, or, according to some accounts, of six days continuance, completely routed the Peruvians, drove them from their territories, and compelled them to limit their acquisi tions in Chili, to those less formidable and already sub jected provinces, which lie north of the Rapel. Upon these provinces the Inca imposed an annual tribute of gold, but no innovation was attempted, either in their ust o m s, manners, or government, all of which they were suffered to retain free and unaltered till the year 1535, when Chili was invaded by the Spaniards under Diego Almagro.
These brave but unprincipled adventurers had already conquered Mexico, and overrun, with incredible suc cess, the whole kingdom of Peru. Still, however, un satisfied, their avarice and their ambition were yet farther allured, by the rich mines and the beautiful plains of Chili. Almagro left Cusco with 570 Spaniards, and 15,000 Peruvian auxiliaries. Disregarding all the re monstrances of his confederates, he preferred passing the Cordilleras, to the other more distant, but, at that season, less dangerous entrance, by the desert of Ata cama. Unfortunately, however, winter had already com menced when they reached the Cordillera Nevada, and, in the course of their passage, the snow fell in such abundance, and the cold became so intense and over powering, that not less than 10,000 Peruvians, with 150 Spaniards, perished in the march ; the rest were happily extricated by the activity of their leader. Almagro with a few horse having reached the plain, procured assist ance and provisions for his exhausted soldiers.