Lonco, the head or the hair
Voso, the teeth or bones
Az, the face
N'ge, the eyes
Yu, the nose
Wun, or huun, the mouth
Gehuun, the tongue
Anca, the body
Pue, the belly
Cuugh, the hand
Namon, the foot
Pinque, the heart
P'nen, a child
Nahue, a daughter
Peni, a brother
Penihuen, own brothers
Con'n, to enter
Tipan, to go out
Cupaln, to bring
Entun, to take away
Huinca, a Spaniard
Seche, an Indian
Huenuy, a friend
Cainie, an enemy
Aseln, to be adverse
Aselgen, to hate
M'len, to be, to possess
Mongen, life to live
Mongetun, to revive
Swam, the will
Swamtun, to will
Pepi, power
Pepilan, to be able
Huincha, a head fillet
Makun, a mantle
Lancattu, glass beads
Cosque, bread
Ipe, food
In, or ipen to eat
Ilo, flesh
Ilon, to eat flesh
Putun, to drink
Putumum, a cup
Quimn, knowledge, to know
Quimeln, to learn
Quimelcan, to teach
Chilca, writing
Chilcan, to write
Sengu, a word, language, or a thing
Pangi, a lion
Choique, an ostrich
Achahual, a cock or hen
Malu, a large lizard
Huayqui, a lance
Huay-quitun, to lance
Chinu, a knife or sword
Chinogoscun, to wound
Chinogosquen, to be wounded
Conan, a soldier
Conangean, one who is to be a soldier
Cusa, a stone an egg
Saiguen, a flower
Milya, gold
Lien, silver
Cullyin, money payment
Cullingen, to be rich
Cum panilhue, red metal, copper
Chos panilhue, yellow metal, brass
Cunnubal, poor, miserable, an orphan
Amon, to walk
Anun, to sit
Anupeum, a stool or seat
Anunmahuun, to feel inwardly
Gepun, colour, painting
Poyquelhuun, to feel or perceive
Cuyem, Kiyem a mouth, the moon
Saman, a trade an artificer
Tissantu, a year
K'tal, fire
Asee, hot
Chosee, cold
Mamel, a tree
Mamel-Saman, a carpenter
Suca, a house
Sucu-Saman, a house builder
Atutuy, it is shivering cold.
The beginning of the Lord's Prayer.
Inchin in Chao, huenumenta m' leymi, ufchingepe mi wi;
(Our Father, in heaven thou that art, hallowed be thy name;)
eymi mi toguin inchinmo cupape; eymi mi piel, chumgechi
(thy kingdom to us may it come; thy will, as it is)
vemgey huenu-mapumo, vemgechi cay vemengepe
(done in heaven, so likewise may it be done)
tue-mapumo, &c.
(on earth, &c.)
The History of Chili and its inhabitants does not precede the middle of the fifteenth century, and what little is known respecting it is contained in the traditionary accounts of the Peruvians, who first invaded the northern province of Chili about the middle of that century, not an hundred years before the overthrow of the Peruvian empire by Pizarro, and the first Spanish invasion of Chili under Almagro.
About the year 1450, while the Inca Yupanqui reigned over the Peruvian empire which had then extended its limits from Cuzco northwards to the equator and southwards to the tropic of Capricorn, the ambition of the Peruvian government was attracted to the acquisition of the important country of Chili, a rich and delightful region of great extent, immediately adjacent to the southern extremity of Peru. Favoured by the fertility of the country and the salubrity of the climate, the population of Chili may be readily supposed to have then been considerable, as we know that the whole extent of its territory was occupied by fifteen independent tribes or communities, each of which was governed by its respective chiefs, or Ulmens. These, tribes, beginning at the north on the confines of the desert of Atacama, were called Copaipins, Coquimbans, Quillotans, Mapochians, Promaucians, Cures, Cauques, Pencones, Araucanians, Cunches, Chilotes, Chiquilanian, Pehuenches, Puelches, and Huilliches; which last tribe inhabited the south of Chili, adjoining the archipelago of Chiloe.
Informed of the natural advantages possessed by the inhabitants of this delightful region, the Inca Yupanqui resolved to attempt the annexation of Chili to his extensive empire. He accordingly marched with a powerful army to the frontiers of the country: But, either from apprehensions of his personal safety, or to be in a favourable situation for reinforcing the invading army and directing its operations, he established himself with a splendid court in the province of Atacama, the most southerly district of Peru, and confided the command of the invading army to Sinchiruca, a prince of the blood royal of Peru. Preceded, according to the specious custom of the Peruvians, by several ambassadors, and attended by a considerable military force, this general reduced under the Peruvian government, more by persuasion than force, the four most northerly tribes of the Chilese, named Copaipins, Coquimbans, Quillotans, and Mapochians. After this, not being able by his ambassadors to persuade the Promaucians into submission, who inhabit the delightful country between the river Rapel on the north and Maule on the south, he passed the river Rapel with his army to reduce them by force of arms. The name of the Promaucians, which signifies free-dancers56, had been given them on account of their fondness for every kind of amusement, and their peculiar attachment to dancing; yet the love of pleasure had not rendered them effeminate. With the assistance of their allies, they drew together a formidable army and fought the Peruvians with such heroic valour as to defeat them in a battle, which, according to Garcilasso, was continued during three successive days.
On learning the defeat of his army and the invincible valour of the Promaucians, the Inca gave orders that the river Rapel should remain the southern boundary of his dominions, and all attempts to reduce the rest of Chili were laid aside. According to Garcilasso, the river Maule was established as the frontier of the Peruvian conquests: But this is by no means probable; as in this case the country of the conquerors would have been included within the territories of the vanquished. In fact, not far from the river Cachapoal, which with the Tinguiririca forms the Rapel, the remains of a Peruvian fortress are still to be seen on the top of a steep hill, which was undoubtedly built to protect that part of the frontier against the unconquered Promaucians. By this conquest of its four northern provinces, Chili became divided into two distinct portions; all to the south of the Rapel remaining free, while the districts to the north of that river were subjected to the dominion of the Incas. These four tribes, who had so readily submitted to the Inca Yupanqui, were subjected to an annual tribute in gold; but the conquerors never introduced their peculiar form of government into these provinces, the inhabitants of which remained subject to their own native ulmens, and preserved their original manners until the arrival of the Spaniards.
56
On a former occasion their name is explained as signifying