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harassing war against the Spaniards, in which the above-mentioned
cities were all destroyed, and the greater number of their
inhabitants put to death.
The destruction of the city of Osorno caused the province
of Chiloe, or, at least, the adjacent districts of Calbuco and
Carelmapu, to be occupied. This town, being more distant
from the seat of war, where the main body of the Indian army
was actively employed, was enabled to hold out for some time ;
but, at last, cut off from assistance, prevented from communicating
with friends, and utterly destitute of supplies, the
inhabitants retired to the fort, or citadel; which they maintained,
until compelled, by absolute want of provisions, to
abandon their position, and proceed to the south, with a view
of establishing themselves in Carelmapu and Calbuco ; where
they hoped to be safe from attack.
Their retreat was attended by much suffering ; many died
from fatigue, and many were cut off by the Indians, who hovered
about them and murdered all who fell into their hands.* At
last they reached their destination, and established themselves
first at Carelmapu, which is on the main-land, on the north side
of the Boca de Childe, opposite to San Carlos; and afterwards
at Calbuco, on an island at the entrance to the Gulf of Relon-
cavi. The latter position by its insularity, was effectually protected
against any attack from Indian tribes, who, for many
years, continually harassed the inhabitants of Carelmapu.
At what date this journey was made does not appear; nor is
it certain that these places were occupied before the foundation
of the city of Castro, in 1566, by the Licentiate Lope Garcia
de Castro, in pursuance of an order from the Viceroy of Peru,
Marshal Don Martin Ruiz de Gamboa.f
The island of Chiloe, from its situation, is a place of considerable
importance, and may be termed the key of the Pacific.
• A very full and detailed account of this journey is given by A güeros,
in his ‘ History of the Province of Chiloe,’ pp. 50 to 56, as well as in the
‘ Chronicles of the Province of Ijima, by Padre F r. Diego de Cordova,’
Salinas, chap. xvii. p. 485.
t Agüeros, 1. c, p. 5 /.
It is the northernmost of that vast archipelago, which borders
the coast from latitude 42° south to Cape Horn.
The province of Childe, one of the eight divisions of the
Chilian Republic, includes several islands, and extends on
the main-land, as far as the south hank of the River Maulliii;»
which takes in the districts of Carelmapu and Calbuco. Its
southern extent is not defined; but as the existence of Chilian
authority is not known, to the southward of the Chonos Archipelago,
certainly not farther south than the land of Tres
Montes, the parallel of 47° may be considered its southern
limit. The country thence, to the Strait of Magalhaens, is
known by the appellation of Western Patagonia.
Besides the Isla Grande, as Childe is called, the following
islands are inhabited :—Achao, or Quinchao, Lemuy, Quehuy,
Chelin, Linlin, Llignua, Quenac, Meulin, Caguach or Cahua-
che, Alao, Apiao, Chaulinec, all in front of Castro; the Changues
Islands, opposite to Tenoun ; Calbuco, Llaichua, Quenu,
Tabor, Abtao, Chiduapi (on which is the fort) ; Pluar in the
neighbourhood, and district of Calbuco; and, to the South,
Tanqui, to which may be added Caylin, which is also called
Ll fin de la Cristiandad.f
Of the above, next to the Isla Grande, the principal are
Quinchao and Lemuy, both of which are very populous, and
• Agüeros describes its boundary thus :—I t is situated between the
latitudes 41° .30' and 44° ; from Point Capitanes to Quilan. On the north
it is hounded by the territories of the Indian tribes Juncos and Rancos,
which extend to V aldivia; on the N .E . by those of the ancient but
destroyed city Osorno ; on the south by the archipelago of Guaitecas
and Guaianeco, and others which extend to the S trait of Magalhaens ;
on the east by the C o rd ille ra ; and on the west by the sea. (Agüeros,
p. 61.)
t When the Yntendente, or governor of the province, visited Castro
for the purpose of taking a census of the population, a family of Indians
waited upon him to render an account of the ir p ro p e rty ; who, upon being
asked whence they came, replied, “ Del fin de la Cristiandad.” The name
being new to the Yntendente, it was explained to him th a t they belonged
to Caylin, which was more generally known by the above name, because
there existed no Christian population beyond, or to the southward of,
th a t island.
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