Narrative of the surveying voyages of his majesty's ships Adventure and Beagle (vol.2): between the years 1826 and 1836 : describing their examination of the southern shores of South America, and the Beagles's circumnavigation of the globe

440 ELF.CTION OF SUPREME CHIEF. chiefs, in which, after expostulating with them upon their ruinous rivalry ; he exhorted them to choose a leader by some trial of ability, which should be publicly made ; and suggested that the man who could bear a heavy weight for the longest time must be the fittest to endure the burthen of governing. The caciques agreed to his proposal, and prepared a large trunk of a tree for this great trial of strength. Colocolo well knew that the qualifications of an Indian general were not bodily strength and activity, unless accompanied by qualities of mind proportionably superior ; but it happened that Cau- polican exceeded all his countrymen in mental, and all but Lincoya in bodily qualifications. Accident had impeded his attendance at the ' gathering,' and the object of Colocolo in proposing so tedious and otherwise absurd a trial was to gain time for Caupolican's arrival. Fourteen chiefs successively bore the ponderous tree upon their shoulders. No one gave up the trial, until he had endured more than four hours' oppression ; some even sustained the burthen six, eight, or ten hours ; and one hardy mountaineer carried the tree for fifteen. But the famed Lincoya claimed the prize ; confiding in his Herculean strength, he had allowed all others to precede him in the trial. When at last he threw the mantle from his Atlas shoulders, he took the tree from the ground as if it had been a stick ; ran, jumped, and danced with it on his back, seeming to feel no weight ; and the multitude, astonished, exclaimed, ' Lincoya shall be general ! the rest are infants in comparison!' but the wise Colocolo insisted upon the completion of the trial, knowing that Caupolican would soon arrive, and that Lincoya's antics would exhaust even his great strength, and make it possible for an infei'ior to carry the tree longer. The crafty veteran had himself excited Lincoya to the unnecessary exertions which he knew would undermine him. From sunrise, until noon of the following day, full thirty hours, did the gigantic Lincoya sustain his immense- load. While the air yet resounded to the shouts of ' Lincoya,' Cau- polican arrived, and demanded to try his strength ; but Colo- colo interposed, saying that Caupolican had arrived from a