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bel LITERATURE.
* "fravelsin Chile and La Plata, including accounts respecting the
_ Geography, Geology, Finances, Agriculture, Manners, §c,
” and the Mining Operationsin Chile, By John Miers. Mtus-
trated by Original Maps, Views, c.. 8¥o, 2 vols. London
‘ 1926,’ Baldwin, Craddock, and Joy, °° 0° 5) Soe
Notwithstanding the number of publications which have issu
ed from the press, of late years, we find a good deal both of
suew and valuable intelligence in these volumes. , We do not
allude, however, so much to the well concocted view of histori-
cal and political events which the author has given, as to his own
observations on the country, during a residence of several years,
‘and especially to what he says respecting the mining operations
- in which so much valuable capital has beea embarked, and in the
prosecution of which he was himself largely and actively con-
werned. ,. In laying before the public the real condition of the
mining districts and. the state of the works, (which he seems
© 13 to do most impartially and fairly) Mr, Miers corrects not
afew mistakes and misrepreseotations, which have too long
abused the speculative credulity of Europe, and, above all, of
tngland.s is) 3's . we bent ea
x The author left London for Buenos Ayres in 1818, witb the
purpose of setting up copper mills in Chile ; and crossed from
Buenos Ayres by the route of Barranquitos to Mendoxa. After
farther travelling, adventures and details, into which, (at pre-
< “sent atleast) we shall not enter, he proceeded from Mendoza
.to Santiago over the great chain of the Andes by the pass of
Upsallata, and thence to Valparaiso. Here, as at head-quar-
ters, he discusses the topics announced in the title page j over
ail which we shall take the liberty of leaping, aud plant our-
selves at once upon the grand groun of mining, and an ac-
‘count of a military expedition into the {Indian territories near
” Valdivia, the first of which subjects we consider to be of con,
» ‘siderable importance, and the last of which we have found to be
very interesting. Of the last, first— .
.° We-Phe Indians inhabiting the most fertile portions of Chile,
between the limits of the river Biobio, atid the Archipelago of
Chiloe,. refused to adopt the réligion,’ the customs, or the go-
vernment of ike Spaniards, and a war was maintained for ma-
“yy years in order to compel them to conform in these respects,
“The Spamards built several towns, and established numerous
.. fortified pests from Biobio to Osorno and Cayral Maypo, from
all which they were driven from titne to time by the Indians, and
“compelled at length totally to abandon the Indian territory,
preserving only the harbour’ and ‘towns ‘of Valdivia, ‘and the
island of Chiloe; none’ of ‘the country beyond the limits
-of the guns of Valdivia was held by the Spaniards, and the In-
dians were permitted to remain masters of their native country,
‘After the decisive actions of Chacabuco and Maypu, many of
“the persecuted Spaniards took refuge among the Indians, whom
“they incited to take arms and to levy war on the soutbern pro-
vinces of Chile. ” Benavides,’ who was ‘formerly a corpo-
-ral in the Spanish service, a most worthless and sanguinary
+ renegade, for a long while maintained this Indian warfare, as-
d It required ‘a considerable
‘force, under the command of Colonel Freyre ‘(the present di-
"sector of Chile), to keep this roving body of depredators in
-check.. Benavides, however, after a complete rout, abandoned
his cause, and fled towards Peru in an open boat; putting into
~a fishing bay near the mouth of the Maypo, he was recognised,
, apprehended, carried to Santiago, and ignominiously put to
_death, in the tmost barbarous’ manner, by: the government of
Chile. ~ When Lord Cochrane, in «1820, captured Valdivia, a
-uumber of the affrighted Spaniards took refuge among the In-
dians, whom they in like manner incited to acts’ of warfare
against the patriots. These were joined by several whom Be-
tmavides had deserted, and they excited the, Indians to such acts
of enterprise against the people of Valdivia, that the safety of
doubt.’. At the solicitation of Colonel Freyre,
the government of Chile despatched a military force, under the
command of Colonel Beauchef, a Frenchman, to which expe-
dition a friend of Mr. Mier’s, Dr. Thomas Leighton, before
acting as Surgeon of the directorial guard of honour, was ap-
pointed chief medical officer. ' The object of this expedition
was to chastise the Indians for their daring temerity, and to
. compel them to give up the Spanish refugees, who continued to
« excite them to acts of hostility. , It was ia pursuit of this ob-
ject that the folowing circumstances came under the observa-
_ tion of the narrator, which afford’ the -most accurate and inte-
; resting description ever given of the actual state of civilization,
habits and customs of the Auracaoian Indians.” att
|! The subjoined are extracts of the most striking particulars in
> Dr, Leighton’s, diary which he kept, as opportunity allowed,
- from December 16, 1822, to January 4, 1823. 3 6-3
“Three hundred infantry were embarked in canoes, and pro-
! qeeded up the river (of Tres Cruces) towards the rendezvous
> appointad on the Indian frontier: a single suit of duck cloth-
+ ing, a sheep-skin to lie on, a poncho to wear in rainy weather,
and to serve as a covering during the night, a musket and bay-
onet, with sixty rounds of ball cartridge, completed the equip-
meutof each soldier; neither baggage nor.tents were thought
: . wh b -
‘NEW-YORH, SALURDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1826. 0°.
necessary, and as for provisions, reliance was to be placed on
he aid of friendly Indians, or on whatever could be taken from
the enemy,’ eM MES Ss aoe .
< The infantry was under the orders of Major Rodriguez; and
there was a company of cavalry under a Captain L’Abbe: at
San Jose, five leagues from Tres Cruces, they were joined on
the 17th by about sixty Indians.’ °-. attend .
«, 4 The appearance of these Indians, (continues Dr, L.) by no
means came up to the idea I had previously formed of them ;—
they appeared exceedingly effeminate and tame, they are be-
low the common stature, of a dark complexion, round and full-
faced, with small keen black eyes, little forehead, the hairy
scalp in many cases almost reaching the eye-brows; flat noses
with wide nostrils, large mouths,, their teeth white and regular,
with the exception of the. superior dentes canini, which are in
general very large and long; they have no beards, their bodies
are large, their limbs very muscular, their legs disproportiona-
bly short, and generally bandy.. The cacique wore a hat ani
feathers; the others were in. general .bareheaded; some: had
their long black hair flowing loosely over their shoulders, while
others tied it in a knot on the crown of the head; but all had
their heads encircled by a piece of ribband or tape, generally
red, which added greatly to the effeminacy of countenance: so
remarkable among them.” ,: “ Several were dressed in old Spa-
nish uniforms ; some had stockings without feet, but none wore
shoes, nor any substitute forthem: some had brass spurs, the
rowels of which were an inch and a half in diameter; but for
the most part their heels were ornamented with wooden spurs,
i Each Indian carried his lance, an ex-
tremely awkward-looking weapon ; the head is generally the
blade of a knife, a broken bayouet, or*a piece of hoop ground
sharp, and tied at the end of a cane from eight to twelve yards
long.” :‘* ‘he lance is used on horseback, or on foot where the
field of action is mountainous or woody; it is never thrown,
but when a charge is made, the shaft is pressed hard between
the right elbow and side, which serves both as a rest and ful-
is always poised and directed by the right hand, When
Indian is pursued, he never quits his lance, but drags it af-
ter him... The caciques had swords, and all the: Indians had
machetes, lung, heavy, broad-bladed knives, which serve for
cutting and chopping; and without these they could not find
* way through the thickets of trailing shrubs which cover
the country,” nae . iagees 5
3
Marching on steadily, and passing rumed cottages, and a
devastated tract instead of a once thickly-inhabited and well
cultivated district— % eT yo
On the 19th says the diarist, “ about ‘noon, we halted at the
side of asmall rivulet, Here several old Indians brought us a
milky-looking liquor, in earthen pipkins, which [ tasted, and
found to be a fermented liquor of 2 pleasant subacid flavour ;
being fatigued and thirsty, | took a very hearty draught, and
found it very refreshing, I then invited my companions to par-
take of my feast, but they refused, laughing merrily at me, and
explained to me what I had been drinking. I was told that the
liquor was prepared from apples while very young; having yet
acquired very little saccharine matter in this stage, the old wo-
men chew them, and spit the juice, mixed with saliva, into an
earthen pot, when it speedily ferments,’ and forms the liquor 1
had just tasted. ' [soon ejected all [had taken, and tacitly
made a vow never again to eat or drink any thing prepared by
the hands of an Indian. [had the curiosity to go and see this
nauseous beverage prepared: four hideous old women and a
child were sitting on their hams upon the ground, busily’ em-
ployed in masticating ‘apples,’ and squirting the juice into a
large earthen pan which stood in the centre; they occasionally
took a mouthful of water, ‘and the’ child frequently. stirred the
liquid with a small stick of canclo.. ‘In the afternoon we arrived
at Calfacura, the residence of a powerful cacique of that name,
‘This man had formerly given his uid to the Spanish refugees;
but having been severely chastised last year by Major Rodri-
guez, he had become a patriot. | He waited on the colonel upon
his arrival, He wasa very ugly old man, and so extremely
corpulent that wondered. how he could possibly walk; he
made a long speech in extenuation of his former conduct, and
concluded by making a propitiatory offering of five fat oxen,
which at this time was a very seasonably supply. Major, Ro-
dviguez here pointed put to me the spot where he had shot an
Indian last year; his account made my blood.run cold, It
seems, that on attacking the place, he caquid only surprise a
woman, her son, and her daughter;, the Jatter was a child. The
tribe had suceceded in escaping to their ‘hiding-places in the
woods? in vain did he menance the woman and her sou with
immediate death if they did not discover the hiding-places of
the lodians; nor-were promises of reward more successful;
till, infuriated by their obstinacy, the inhuman major obliged
the soa to kneel, iu which posture he was shot in the presence
of the distracted mother and affrighted child. . Suill the woman
remained obdurate, and she was made to. kneel down, and on
the musket being levelled at her, the child rushed towards the
murderers, begging them to spare her mother’s life, and she
would conduct them to the retreat of her father and brothers:
the mother, infuriated, started upon her legs, rushed upon her
daughter, whom she attempted to strangle. . The child was res-
cucd from her grasp, and dragged: to the spot towards which
AND WILL PREVAIL. ne
she had pointed as leading to the place of retreat, while she up-
braided the child with degeneracy‘ and want of courage. © She
nally expired in agony on beholding the massacre of her whole’ ‘*
family, giving her last breath in curses apon the relentless
murderers! Our Indian auxiiaries aow amounted to about 2G0,
and were under the command of a chief, who bore the rank of
captain in our army, the title of commissary for the In-
dians; he officiated as their magistrate in time of peace, and a3
their general-in war.” °5,. °° eG oo
* “At night, a fine view of the volcano of Villa Rica exhibited a
scene of natural desolation not so hideous as the destructive acts
of man.’ The state of the country where not cleared is well /
described in the two annexed notices: / "| ‘
“ December 20.—We marched about. five leagues, the road.
lying through a thick forest, and being very bad. We reached
a clear spot of ground ia the afternoon, where we pitched our
tents forthe night, I was very much fatigued with this day's
journey, for we had passed through a dull and dreary. forest,
in which nota bird could be seen for its thickness, e nar-
rowness and badness of the road precluded all opportunity for
conversation, and as my whole attention was required to pre-
vent my horse from siumbling, 1 was even debarred from’*
meditation. ‘ ety . uo : :
* “December 21.—We commenced our march before sun-rise,
and continued it with great perseverance during the day, in or--
der that we might arrive at Pitovquin before dark ; the roads -.
were very bad, and in some parts rendered impassable by a°
sort of creeping shrub, called quilo, whichis of remarkable ‘
quick growth, and chokes up the’ paths ina few days. :The-.,
very narrow and little-frequented roads through these forests,
therefore are soon rendered impassable. . ‘This caused us much
annoyance; the troops were frequently obliged to halt, standing
up to their knees in water, while the Indians were clearing the «
obstructions with their machetes. Qur faeces and hands were
severely scratcbed, and our clothes torn. We who were moun-
ted, received the greatest annoyance, for we were frequently
so entangled that the horses marched from under us.”
By the 23d, through such ways, the expedition came up with
theenemy, in avery embarrassed position. “They soon, how-
ever, overthrew their feeble opposition ; and we are told, .
“The fifty Indians whom we had sent in advance had unex-
pectedly fallen in with the evemy, and were instantly routed,
when, falling back on our cavalry, and these again retreating:
upon our infantry, we were all pent up in the small area before’;
described. Order was soon re-established by forming the in- <
fantry into line, the cavalry drawing up on the right flank, the
Indians on the left. We now perceived the enemy staring
down upon us from above; the horrible yells that rent the air
announced to us that the wood was filled with them. In this
moment of suspense, a courier was despatched back to Pitov-
quin, ‘to inform the colonel of our situation. There were only -
two alternatives; eitherto retreat upon our head quarters, or to
force the pass in the possession of the Indians; the latter was
resolved upon: a coporal and five men led the advance, the fe
charge being preceded by a discharge of muskets ; for we could ‘ 4
not, in consequence of the thickuess of the wood, sce ten yards Med esis
beforeus. The infantry then advanded in acolumn, andafter — * ‘ i
the first discharge of musketry, the shouts of our Indian ausili- 9°’ . sw
aries, and clattering of the horses, hoofs, announced to us that, * ‘ Oty
the enemy had fled. _ For my part, I was hurried along in the - fh
rear guard, first over broken lances, and then over the bodies “
of the dead and dying Indians, who presented the most shock- -
ing sight I ever beheld; they had previously stripped for the © «.
combat, and were seen extended on the ground, writhing in - ¢ ) ”
the agonies of death, and biting the dust; while the blood fowed Tet
slowly through the large gashes, except when propelled more> .*." mee
profusely by their deep sighs and lamentations,. These poor - . ‘
wretches were despatched outright by our soldiers as they pas-.- " ty
sed along, not from any feeling of humanity, but from one of . *y
savage barbarity. We soon arrive n extensive place, ‘ .
whence the flying enemy could be distinguished in the distance, : ~
enveloped ina cloud of dust: they succeeded in effecting their -
opt.
stem cn: a
<
ee
a
escape; for as they were much better mounted than our caval-
i ip. While resting on ourarms, we cos me
were agreeably surprised at the return of Mr. Arengeon, a . re
Swedish gentleman, who had accompanied the advance party ‘
of Indians, and whom we fancied had been taken prisoner. He
related to us, that at first he rode boldly into the midst of the .
enemy, thinking it was @ party of Indians on their road to join
us, and he discovered his error only on receiving the charge of
an Indian lance, which he parried by firing a pistol atthe ac~
gressor: he then clapped spurs to his horse, and rode into the
thicket, whence he heard distinctly the firing of the musk
which had brought him towards them. Soon after, a pri
d
tors; he was brought before the major upon a mule,
he attempted to deny having borne arms against the
when proof was offered to the contrary, not a word el:
be extracted from him he was again delivered over to the In-
dians, who led him a few paces off, and proceeded deliberately
to put him to death. * Little did I expect such barbarity wonld
have been permitted before Christian soldiers, and I was great.
ly shocked to witness such inhumanity, A cacique first struck
him a blow on the head with a sabre, after which he was dess
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