Cristóbal Talcapillán (born 1649), also known as Don Cristóbal,de Vea 1886, p. 574 was a Chono man who became known for his role in ushering the expeditions of Bartolomé Gallardo (1674–1675) and Antonio de Vea (1675–1676) into the

archipelagoes of Patagonia The landmass known as Patagonia hosts a series of archipelagoes, all of them located on its western and southern coast. These archipelagoes, with the exception of Tierra del Fuego (which is shared with Argentina), lie in Chile and in the Pacific Oc ...

Talcapillán's allegations and map

In the early 1670s the English sailor

John Narborough Rear-Admiral Sir John Narborough (or Narbrough, c. 1640–1688) was an English naval commander. He served with distinction in the Anglo-Dutch Wars and against the pirates of the Barbary Coast. He is also known for leading a poorly understood e ...

explored the coasts of Patagonia. This caused great alarm among Spanish authorities who feared the establishment of an English base in Patagonia. As concequence various expeditions were sent from the Spanish settlements of Chiloé to the south. Jerónimo Díaz de Mendoza led an expedition in 1674 that having failed to find any Europeans in Patagonia went back to Chiloé with Cristóbal Talcapillán and other indigenous Chono they encountered. In 1674 he was about 25 years old according to estimations of the Spanish. In Chacao Cristóbal Talcapillán rapidly learned Veliche which was the main language of Chiloé –including the Spanish settlements– at the time. While there he began to give indications about the existence of European settlements in the archipelagoes of Patagonia. Spanish authorities learned about this and interviewed him. He drew accurate "maps" of the territory south of Chiloé giving credibility to his allegations. Authorities went was far as sending Cristóbal Talcapillán to Lima, the capital of the viceroyalty, to investigate his claims. Cristóbal Talcapillán was sent back to Chiloé and it was then decided that a major expedition should be sent to the verify the presence of Englishmen or other Europeans.

Guide and translator in the Antonio de Vea expedition

Thus an expedition led by Antonio de Vea departed from

El Callao Callao () is a Peruvian seaside city and region on the Pacific Ocean in the Lima metropolitan area. Callao is Peru's chief seaport and home to its main airport, Jorge Chávez International Airport. Callao municipality consists of the whole Call ...

in September 1675. Picking Cristóbal Talcapillán in Chiloé where the expedition was also outfitted with nine

dalca The dalca or piragua is a type of canoe employed by the Chonos, a nomadic indigenous people of southern Chile, and Huilliche people living in Chiloé archipelago. It was a light boat and ideal for navigating local waterways, including between is ...

s.de Vea 1886, p. 557 During the navigation in the fjords and channels, the Spanish began to doubt the indications of Cristóbal Talcapillán. Cristóbal Talcapillán help in translating interrogations of a captured Chono woman suggested his translations were fabrications. Don Cristobal retracted indications about where to find iron anchors and said he had been coerced to lie by Bartolomé Gallardo and his father Francisco Gallardo.de Vea 1886, p. 578 It is possible that the fabrications of Cristóbal Talcapillán were done to appease the Spanish as he learned about Spanish culture and what kind things were of their interest. Having realised that Cristóbal Talcapillán was highly unreliable the expedition returned to Chiloé in late January 1676.de Vea 1886, p. 586 The possibility of Talcapillán's reports being false was already considered when Antonio de Vea received his instructions in Peru.de Vea 1886, p. 580de Vea 1886, p. 581 In such case Talcapillán was to be left in Chiloé at the disposal of Spanish authorities.

Prisoner in Peru

Eventually Talcapillán was punished for the false alarm. According to the Viceroy of Peru Baltasar de la Cueva Talcapillán was condemned to two hundred lashes in addition to a lifetime sentence of penal labour. He was to quarry stone in San Lorenzo Island for use in the walls of the local

presidio A presidio ( en, jail, fortification) was a fortified base established by the Spanish Empire around between 16th century, 16th and 18th century, 18th centuries in areas in condition of their control or influence. The presidios of Captaincy Genera ...

.Barros Arana 1884, p. 120

References

;Bibliography * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Talcapillan, Cristobal Chono people 17th century in the Captaincy General of Chile History of Aysén Region History of Chiloé People from Aysén Region 17th-century indigenous people of the Americas Prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment by Peru Prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment by Spain Prisoners in San Lorenzo Island Indigenous sailors of the Americas