Page:A history of Chile.djvu/129

 THE COLONIAL PERIOD 117 by the captain-general, owing to the great distance of the country from Spain. The subdelegates had juris- diction over civil and military affairs and their pay depended upon fees; which fact led to many abuses in office. In Peru the hated office had been abolished in 1784, after the uprising headed by Tupac Amaru in 1781, which uprising was not fully suppressed until 1783. This office, together with the old Spanish ^^/ar- timientos and forced labor, were the main causes of that rebellion. There were also in Chile municipal magis- tracies, called cabildos, composed of several regidores. These were appointed for life. A standard-bearer, a pro- curator, a judge, called the Provincial Alcalde, a high- sheriff (^Alguazil),X.^o consuls (^Alcaldes') chosen annually from the cabildos, were also among the officers. At this time the inhabitants were divided into regi- ments consisting of 15,856 militia troops in Santiago and Concepcion, 10,218 in the first, 5,688 in the sec- ond place. These corps were established by Jauregui. Besides this militia there was a force of regular troops, numbering 1,976 men. In this brief review of Chile as it appeared at the close of the eighteenth century, we may mention sla- very. Negroes had been introduced by contraband means and were subjected to a mild form of servitude. They were employed chiefly as domestics, and could ransom themselves by paying their very humane mas- ters. Those who were ill-treated could demand letters of sale and seek a purchaser. Slavery did not thrive in Chile, and almost the first act of the patriots when forming a government for themselves was to liberate the slaves. The peasantry, a healthy, robust race, gay and fond of games, enjoyed considerable liberty, and this class was not subjected to the same harsh indig- nities as the Indians and peons of Peru. They dressed