America: Being the Latest, and Most Accurate Description of the Nevv VVorld / Containing the Original of the Inhabitants, and the Remarkable Voyages Thither. The Conquest of the Vast Empires of Mexico and Peru, and Other Large Provinces and Territories, with the Several European Plantations in Those Parts. Also Their Cities, Fortresses, Towns, Temples, Mountains, and Rivers. Their Habits, Customs, Manners, and Religions. Their Plants, Beasts, Birds, and Serpents. With an Appendix, Containing, Besides Several Other Considerable Additions, a Brief Survey of What Hath Been Discover'd of the Unknown South-land and the Arctick Region.

by John Ogilby

The Towns of chiefest note and importance in this Province, are 1. Gopiapo, an old Town in the most Northerly parts of this Province towards the Sea, where it hath a very commodious Haven belonging to it.

2. La Serena, a Town situate on the Banks of Coquimbo, a pleasant River a little above its Influx into the Sea, built by Baldivia in the Year 1544. the Countrey about very rich in Mines of Gold, and the Town it self so well Garrison’d for fear of the Natives, that when the English under Sir Francis Drake, about fourscore years since, attempted the gaining of the Place, they found hot Service of it, being stoutly resisted and beaten back again to their Ships, by a Sally of no less than three hundred good Horse and two hundred Foot.

3. St. Jago, the principal Town of the Province, a Bishop’s See, and the ordinary Residence of the Governor, lying on the Banks of the River Tapocalma, in the thirty fourth Degree of Southern Latitude, fifteen Leagues distant from the South Sea, at which it hath a very commodious and much frequented Haven, which they call Valparayso, and where the English met with better fortune, as hath been said already in the report of Sir Francis Drake’s Voyage.

4. La Conception, a strong Town, seated on the Bay call’d Penco, sixty or seventy Leagues distant from St. Jago towards the South, a Place not a little fortifi’d both by Nature and Art, having the Bay and a certain Ridge of high Mountains begirting it almost round about; and where it is otherwise accessible, a Castle, and certain Bulwarks with Ordnance, besides a Garrison of five hundred Soldiers at least continually in it, and all little enough to defend it against the Araucanes, their deadly Enemies, who live thereabouts, and are ever and anon making Incursions almost up to the Walls of it. Over against this Place in Mare del Zur, but very near the Shore, there lieth a certain Island call’d St. Maries, exceeding plentiful in Swine and all sorts of Poultrey, which the Garrison of La Conception make good use of.

5. Los Confines, a Fronteer Town, built by the aforesaid Baldivia, for defence of the rich Mines of Gold at Angol, a Place near adjoyning.

6. La Imperiale, another strong Garrison of this Place on the Banks of the River Cauten, near to which that great Battel was fought, where Baldivia, with divers other Soldiers, were taken Prisoners, who were no otherwise overcome, but by being over-wearied with killing of their Enemies, and by that means not able to make their Retreat.

7. Villarica, another Colony of the Spaniards in these Parts, sixteen Leagues distant from Imperiale, and twenty five from the Sea.

8. Baldivia, so nam’d from the Commander Pedro Baldivia, who built it in the Valley of Guadallanquen, two or three Leagues distant from the Sea, where it hath a good and capacious Port; but nearer to it the best Mines of Peru, so rich, that ’tis said they yielded Baldivia every day so long as he could enjoy them, twenty five thousand Crowns.

9. Osorno, a Town lying in the Bay of Chilue in a barren Soil, but otherwise neither less rich, nor less populous than Baldivia it self.