isoner his lieutenant and three of his
men, whom they detained.

Sir John, it is said, contemplated rescuing his men by force, but the
fate of the unfortunate Sir Walter Raleigh, according to some ancient
historians, stayed his hand, and he reluctantly sailed from the coast,
leaving these four members of his crew prisoners of the Spaniards.

Rolt, who published a "History of South America" in 1766, has a rather
curious account of the methods by which the inhabitants of the town of
Concepcion in Chile carried on their business with the Indians.

"There is a beneficial trade carried on by the inhabitants of the
city of Conception, with the Indians behind them, who trade with
the Spaniards in a very peculiar manner, though they have never
negociated a peace with Spain. These Indians are called Aucaes, and
inhabit the mountains, where they retain the primitive customs and
manners of their ancestors. When a Spaniard comes to trade with
them, he addresses himself to the Cacique, or Chief, who, on
perceiving a stranger, cries out, _What, are you come?_ The
Spaniard answers, _Yes, I am come._ Then the Cacique says, _Well?
What have you brought me?_ The merchant answers, _A present._ And
the prince replies, _Then you are welcome._ 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