Narrative of the surveying voyages of his majesty's ships Adventure and Beagle (vol.1): between the years 1826 and 1836 : describing their examination of the southern shores of South America, and the Beagles's circumnavigation of the globe

CHAPTER XVII. Chiloe the last Spanish possession in South America — Freyre's Expe- dition — Failure — Second Expedition under Freyre and Blanco — Quintanilla's capitulation — Chiloe taken — Aldunate placed in com- mand — Chil6e a dependency of Chile — Beagle sails to sea coast of Tierra del Fuego — Adelaide repaired — Adelaide sails — Adventure goes to Valparaiso — Juan Fernandez — Fishery — Goats — Dogs — Geology Botany — Shells — Spanish accounts — Anson's voyage — Talcahuano Concepcion — Pinoleo — Araucanian Indians — Re-enter the Strait of Maghalhaens — Fuegians, The island of Chiloe was the last place the Kingof Spain pos- sessed in South America ; and even to this day he is not without friends there, who would gladly restore his absolute monarchy, notwithstanding the advantages that are acknowledged to have been derived from the change of masters, and the consequent opening of trade, which has added very much to the comfort, as well as civilixation of the inhabitants. During the struggle for independence, this island was too distant from the seat of war to render it important ; but when all other parts of Chile were freed from the king's troops, the new government despatched an expedition, consisting of between three and four thousand men, commanded by the Director- General Freyre, to attack it. Upon the appearance of this expe- dition ofF the harbour of San Carlos, the Spanish governor, Quintanilla, was inclined to capitulate ; but, instead of anchor- ing in the roads, the squadron proceeded to Chacao, landed troops there, and despatched some of their forces to Castro, where they were repulsed by the Spanish and native troops, and obliged to re-embark. In this interval, one of the ships left the squadron, and returned to Valparaiso, whence she was imme- diately ordered back ; but meanwhile the Director had embarked his troops, and returned to Concepcion. Not long afterwards, in January 1826, a second expedition, under the same general, sailed from Valdivia, convoyed by a strong squadron, under the command of Admiral Blanco.