A description of Patagonia and the adjoining parts of South America: containing an account of the soil, produce, animals, vales, mountains, rivers, lakes, &c. of those countries; the religion, government, policy, customs, dress, arms, and language of the Indian inhabitants; and some particulars relating to Falkland Islands / By Thomas Falkner, who resided near forty years in those parts. Illustrated with a new map of the southern parts of America, engraved by Mr. Kitchin ... [Compiled by W. Combe].

Thomas Falkner

Date:: 1774

Credit: A description of Patagonia and the adjoining parts of South America: containing an account of the soil, produce, animals, vales, mountains, rivers, lakes, &c. of those countries; the religion, government, policy, customs, dress, arms, and language of the Indian inhabitants; and some particulars relating to Falkland Islands / By Thomas Falkner, who resided near forty years in those parts. Illustrated with a new map of the southern parts of America, engraved by Mr. Kitchin ... [Compiled by W. Combe]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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M • *' Cordillera: among which are thofe of Pcnco, Tucapel, and Arauco; from which laft, the Spaniards by miftake gave the name of Araucanos to all the reft of the Indians of Chili. Thofe who live to the eaft of the Gordiilera reach fomething lower than Mendoza, and are called by thofe on the other fide Puelches, puel fignifying eaft. But by others who live towards the fouth, they are called Picunches. I knew fome of their Caciques ] whofe names were Tfeucan-antu, Pilque- pangi, Caru-pangi, and Caru-lonco. The Pehuenches border on the Picunches to the north, and reach from over againft Valdivia to thirty five degrees of fouth latitude. They derive their name from the word pehuen, which ftgniftes pine-tree; becaufe their country abounds with thefe trees. As they live to the fouth of the Picunches, they are fometimes called by them Huilliches, or Southern People, but mo ft generally Pehuenches. Their Caciques were Colopichun, Amolepi, Non qua, Nicolafquen, Guenulep, Cufu-huanque, Col-nancon, Ayalep and Antin cule. The laft was a young Cacique, whom I knew very well. Thefe two nations were formerly very numerous, and Were engaged in long and bloody wars with the Spaniards, whom they alrnoft drove out of Chili, deftroyed the cities of the Imperial, Oforno, and Villarica, and killed two of their prefidents, Valdivia, and Don Martin de Loyola; but they are now fo much diminifhed, as not to be able to mufter four thoufand men among them all. This has been in fome mea- fure owing to their frequent wars with the Spaniards of Chili, Mendoza, Cordova, and Buenos-Ayres, with their neigh¬ bours the Puelches, and with one another. But what has made the greateft havock amongft them, is the brandy which they buy of the Spaniards, and their pulcu, or chicha, which they make themfelves. They often pawn and fell C c their

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