CHAP. V.
Chile.
Situation and Description of Chile.
Following the Coast of Mare del Zur, or the South Sea, the next great Province pertaining formerly to the Kingdom of Peru, is that of Chile. This is the most Southerly Province of the whole Countrey of America, reaching up as far as the Magellane Straights, with which to the Southward it is bounded; Northward it hath a Desart, and an undiscover’d Countrey lying betwixt it and the Confines of Peru, call’d Atacama; on the West it hath Mare del Zur; and on the East, up to Rio de la Plata, the Atlantick, or North Sea, with some Countreys undiscover’d, which interpose betwixt it and Paraguay to the North-East: It lieth all of it beyond the Tropick of Capricorn, in a temperate Zone, and extendeth it self in length from the Borders of Peru, to the Mouth of the Straights five hundred Leagues or more; but the breadth of it neither equal nor certain: They say ’tis call’d Chile from the word Chil, which signifies Cold it seems in their Language as well as ours, it being generally a cold and bleak Countrey, the Air in many parts of it so extreamly sharp and piercing, that both Horse and Rider sometimes in travelling are frozen to death, as the Spaniards found by experience in their first Search and Discovery of the Countrey, under the Conduct of Diego Almagro, who is said to have left the greatest part of his Men dead behind him: But this is chiefly towards the Andes, and on the Sea-Coast, the more Inland parts of it, though mountainous also in some parts, yet are more temperate, and being also well water’d with Rivers, are much more fruitfull than the other, affording both Wheat and Maiz, and likewise other Grain, excellent Pasturage in many places, and great store of Cattel, Wine, Honey, and not without many and rich Mines both of Gold and Silver.
Pedro Baldivia taken Prisoner and put to death by the Arucans.
The Natives of this Countrey were found to be the most stout and warlike of all the Americans that the Spaniards had hitherto met withal, fighting with them, and oftentimes defeating them in the open Field, surprizing and sacking their Towns, and last of all taking their Captain and Commander in Chief Prisoner: This was Pedro Baldivia, one of those good Men that consented to the death of Attabaliba, the last King of Peru, after a greater Ransom accepted and paid, then perhaps the King of Spain could well raise on a sudden, if he had occasion to use it for himself. The Arucans (for so are the People call’d that had him Prisoner) are said to have Entertain’d him for a while with great Jollity and Feasting, but for his last Draught gave him a Cup of melted Gold, which the poor Man was forc’d to take down, and so died a cruel, though costly Death.
The whole Province generally is divided first into Chile, specially so call’d, and secondly Magellanica, or that part which lieth more Southward down to the Straights of Magellan.
Sect. II.
Chile, properly so call’d.
The Bounds of Chile specially so call’d.
Chile, specially so call’d, is border’d Northward with the Desart and barren Countrey of Atacama above mention’d; on the South, with Magellanica; on the West, with Mare del Zur; Eastward, and to the North-East, with some parts of Paraguay, or rather with some undiscover’d Countreys lying betwixt them both: The length of it from North to South is reckon’d to be little less than three hundred Leagues, and generally of a fruitful Soil, affording besides abundance of Gold and Silver, both Corn, Cattel, Vineyards, and divers sorts of Fruits, equal both for kind and plenty to Spain it self, and sundry other parts of Europe. The Air likewise temperate, and the People in their Manners and Conditions come much nearer to the Civility, and likewise subtilty of the Europeans, than other Americans did; which doubtless may be attributed to the conformity of the Climates under which they lie, agreeable to those of Europe; though otherwise in respect of the Sphere and Seasons of the Year, there be a diametrical difference betwixt us; As for Example, their Spring beginning in September, which is our Autumn, and their Autumn in March, which is our Spring; their longest Day being that of St. Lucy, on the eleventh of December, which is our shortest; and their shortest being St. Barnabas, viz. the eleventh of June, which is our longest, &c.
Towns and Places of Importance.