_ He then provides a
lodging for the merchant near his own, where all the family go to
visit the stranger, in expectation of some present; and, in the
meantime, a horn is sounded to give notice to the Indians who are
abroad that a merchant has arrived. This soon assembles them
together about the merchant, who exhibits his treasure, consisting
of knives, scissors, pins, needles, ribbands, small
looking-glasses, and other toys, which the Indians carry away,
after settling the price, without getting anything in exchange;
but, after a certain time has elapsed, the horn is sounded again,
by the direction of the Cacique; when the Indians immediately
return, and punctually perform their respective engagements, the
goods they deal in being cattle, skins of wild beasts, and some
gold; but they bring very small quantities of the latter, as they
are sensible how dear the possession of that metal cost their
ancestors and their neighbours."
In the various treaties which were engineered from time to time between
the Spaniards and the Araucanians, one of the most important clauses
which the Spaniards invariably endeavoured to insert was to the effect
that the Indians were to oppose to the utmost of their power by force of
arms the founding of any foreign colony in the territories occupied by
them.
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