[Footnote 121:  This account differs essentially from the history we have just given from the writings of Molina, an intelligent native of Chili, which cannot be repeated in the short compass of a note.—­E.]

The Huilliches possess the country from Valdivia to the Straits of Magellan.  They are divided into four tribes, who are improperly classed together as one nation, since three of them are evidently of a different race from the fourth.  That branch which reaches to the sea of Chiloe and beyond the lake of Nahuelhuaupi speaks the general language of Chili, differing only from the Pehuenches and Picunches in pronunciation.  The others speak a mixed language, composed of the Moluche and Tehuel tongue, which latter is the Patagon; and these tribes, from their great stature, are evidently of Patagonian origin.  Collectively these three tribes are called the Vuta-Huilliches, or great southern-people; separately they are named Chonos, Poy-yes, and Key-yes.  The Chonos inhabit the archipelago of Chili, and the adjoining shores of the continent.  The Poy-yes or Peyes possess the coast from lat. 48 deg. to something more than 51 deg.  S. The Key-yes or Keyes extend from thence to the Straits of Magellan.  The Moluches maintain some flocks of sheep, principally for the sake of their wool, and cultivate a small quantity of corn.

The Puelches or eastern people, which name they receive from the natives of Chili, are bounded on the west by the Moluches, on the south by the Straits of Magellan, on the east by the sea, and on the north by the Spaniards.  They are subdivided into four tribes, the Taluhets, Diuihets, Chechehets, and Tehuelhets.  The first of these or Taluhets, are a wandering race who prowl over the country, from the eastern side of the first desaguadero as far as the lakes of Guanacache in the jurisdiction of San Juan and San Luiz de la Punta.  Some of them are also to be found in the jurisdiction of Cordova, on the rivers Segundo Terzo and Quarto.  When the Jesuits were expelled from the missions, this tribe could scarcely raise two hundred fighting men, and even in conjunction with all their allies not above five hundred.  The second of these tribes, called the Diuihets, is, also a wandering race, which borders westwardly on the Pehuenches, between the latitudes of 35 deg. and 38 deg.  S. They extend along the rivers Sanguel Colorado and Hueyque, and nearly to the Casuhati on the east.  This nation and that of the Taluhets are collectively called Pampas by the Spaniards, whose settlements in Tacuman and on the southern shore of the La Plata they have always infested, and sometimes even endangered.  The third tribe of the Puelches is named the Chechehets, or eastern-people.  The country which they chiefly frequent is situated between the rivers Hueyque and the first desaguadero or Rio Colorado, and from thence to the second desaguadero or Rio Negro.  They are a tall and stout wandering