The youth exercise themselves frequently in wrestling and running. They are also much attached to playing with the ball; it is called by them pilma, and is made from a species of rush. But of all their gymnastic games that require strength, the peuco and the palican are the best suited to their genius, as they serve as an image of war. The first, which represents the siege of a fortress, is conducted in the following manner: Twelve or more persons join hands and form a circle, in the centre of which stands a little boy; their adversaries, who are equal in number, and sometimes superior, endeavour by force or stratagem to break the circle, and make themselves masters of the child, in which the victory consists. But this attempt is by no means so easy as it may seem. The defenders make almost incredible efforts to keep themselves closely united, whence the beseigers are often compelled, by this obstinate defence, to relinquish the attempt through weariness.

The palican, which the Spaniards call chueca, resembles the arpasto or sphero machia of the Greeks, and the calcio of the Florentines. This game has every appearance of a regular battle, and is played with a wooden ball, called pali, on a plain of about half a mile in length, the boundaries of which are marked with branches of trees. The players, to the number of thirty, furnished with sticks curved at the end, arrange themselves in two files, disposed in such a manner that each of them stands opposite to his adversary; when the judges appointed to preside at the game give the signal, the two adversaries

who occupy the eighth station advance, and with their sticks remove the ball from a hole in the earth, when each endeavours to strike it towards his party; the others impel it forward or backward, according to the favourable or unfavourable course it is pursuing, that party obtaining the victory to whose limits it is driven. From hence proceeds a severe contest between them, so that it sometimes happens that a single match requires more than a half a day to finish it. This game has its established laws, which the judges oblige them very strictly to observe; notwithstanding which, many disputes oc-, cur. The successful players acquire great reputation, and are invited to all the principal parties that are made in the country. When two provinces challenge each other, as frequently happens, this amusement becomes a public spectacle. An immense crowd of people collect, and bet very largely. The peasants of the Spanish provinces have introduced among them this game, and their families, in reference to it, are divided into two parties called plazas and lampas. It has become one of their most favourite amusements, notwithstanding the proclamations issued from time to time by government against all those who encourage or pro

mote it.

What we have said of the Araucanians does not altogether apply to the Puelches, or inhabitants of the fourth Uthalmapu, situated in the Andes. These, although they conform to the general customs of the nation, always discover a greater degree of rudeness and savageness of manners. Their name sig

nifies eastern-men. They are of lofty stature, and are fond of hunting, which induces them frequently to change their habitations, and extend their settlements not only to the eastern skirts of the Andes, but even to the borders of the lake Naguelguapi, and to the extensive plains of Patagonia on the shores of the north sea. The Araucanians hold these mountaineers in high estimation for the important services which they occasionally render them, and for the fidelity which they have ever observed in their alliance with them.

THE

CIVIL HISTORY

OF

CHILI.

BOOK III.

CHAPTER I.

The Araucanians attack the Spaniards under the conduct of Aillavila, and afterwards that of Lincoyan ; Valdivia makes incursions into their territory and founds therein the cities of Imperial, Villarica, Valdivia and Angol, with several other places.

THE Araucanians having resolved, as was mentioned in the first book, to send succours to the inhabitants of Penco, who were invaded by the Spaniards, gave orders to the Toqui Aillavilu to march immediately to their assistance at the head of 4000 men. In the year 1550, that general passed the great river Bio-bio, which separates the Araucanian territory from that of the Pencones, and boldly of- ^ fered battle to these new enemies, who had advanced to meet him to the shores of the Andalien.

After the first discharge of musketry, which the Araucanians sustained without being terrified or