“ The fpcech of Field-Marfhal Don Ambrofio Higgins de Vallenar,
Prefidentj Governor, and Captain-General of the kingdom of
Chill, to the Auraucan and other Indian nations, met in convocation
in the camp of Negrete, on the 4th day of march, 1793..
“ Chiefs, my antient and honorable friends! full of joy and fatis-
faflion that I now meet upon this happy ground of Negrete, as formerly
on that of Longuilmo, the great chiefs and principal leaders of
the four Butalmapus, into which this valuable country is divided, that
ftretches from the fouth of this great river Biobio to the outer parts of
the moll fouthern continent, and' from the Cordilleras to the great ocean;
I falute you all with joy, and with the utmoll fincerity of my heart. I
am ordered. by the king, my maker, to falute you in His Majefty’s
name, and to congratulate you on the felicity of this aufpicious day,
which, through my mediation, on account of the love I bear you all;
has reftored the ineftimable bleffings of peace to the four Butalmapus.
“ With the utmoll precifion and difpatch, I have taken care to remove
every obftacle that impeded the attainment of this moll welcome objedl.
I have alfo been indefatigable in difpofing the minds of thofe to peace
who were refllefe and prone to revenge, or to take great umbrage on little
occafions; and I have been unweared in all the conferences I have had
with the feveral chiefs, fince my arrival at the fort of'Angels, and in
this encampment, during the time that I have waited for the arrival of
thofe more diftant leaders, who are now collected with the other members
of this affembly. I have patiently and fully examined the complaints'
of fome, and heard the excufes of others, on the diltrefling fubjeft . of
your diffentions, your animolities, and your wars, fo that nothing now
remains, for me to learn o f all their direful caufes. To-day, however,
the fun Ihines bright, and I fee, with heart-felt joy, that on my once
again drawing nigh-unto you, a kindly difpofition appears in all, to
terminate the unhappy differences which long, too long, have fubfifted
between you ; and I perceive that you are prepared, once more,- to unite
in thofe facred bonds o f peach, in the full enjoyment of which I left
you, on my feparation from you, and departure for St. Jago. I rejoice
that you all wilh to bury, under the fod of this encampment, all your
animolities,
animolities, heart-burnings, difputes, and differences; and may the pre-
fent meeting be a commencement of perpetual felicity to all the children
of man who refide in the countries that extend from Biobio to Chiloe.
“ Recoiled! your lituation, O my friends, when I was appointed by
His Majelty to the military command of this frontier, 'and deltined to fit
down among you. There are many amongll you, who can remember the
miferable ftate in which I found the whole country; it was deftroyed on
both lides the river, it was defolate and laid wake, and all its inhabitants
were buffering the dreadful calamities of unceafing furious wars, brought
on by their own intemperance and unruly paffions ; many of whom were
obliged to retire, with their women and children, to the mountains, and
were reduced at laft to the neceffity of feeding on their faithful dogs that
followed them ! The great chiefs and Indians of the Butalmapus were
witneffes of thefe things. Before I left you, however, (on His Majefty be-
ing gracioufly pleafed to promote me to the prefidency of the kingdom)
your houfes were rebuilt, your fields fmiled with a yellow harvelt, and
your paftiires were richly decorated with the herds of your cattle. Your
women provided you with comfortable garments ; the high-minded and
unruly young men obeyed the voice o f the chiefs; and none of thofe
exceffes were praftifed, -which, fince my departure, have exceeded the
cruelties and profligacy of your antient barbarifm ; to which you would
probably have altogether returned, had it not been for the zeal of your
Commander General, who reported your proceedings to me, and happily
fufpended, until I fhould be fent amongll you, the fatal effefls o f
your difcords.
“ I do not, however, wilh to fupprefs the merit to which you have a
juft’ claim, or to conceal, that, in the midfl of all thefe difturbances, you
rigoroufly obferved the promifes you made me in Longuilmo, The Spa-
nilh fettlements, fituated on the fouthern fide of this great river, have
been, by you, moll fcrupuloully refpected, their perfons have been held
facred, their cattle have not been difturbed, and in no one circumllance
have you broken the faith and goodwill which you pledged yourfelves
to maintain. O f all this have I been made acquainted, from time to time,
by the feveral commanders on the frontier; and. for this honorable part
3 of
* 7 9 5 ‘ April.