disconcerted, thus early manifesting how little they would regard it when rendered familiar by habit, Aillavalu, with a rapid movement, fell at once upon the front and flanks of the Spanish army. They on their part forming themselves into a square, supported by their cavalry, received the furious attacks of the enemy with their accustomed valour, killing a great number of them, but losing at the same time many of their own men. The battle remained undecided for several hours. The Spaniards were thrown into some disorder, and their general was exposed to imminent danger, having had his horse killed under him, when Aillavalu, hurried forwards by a rash courage, received a mortal wound. The Araucanians, having lost their general, with many of their most valiant officers, then retired, but in good order, leaving the field to the Spaniards, who had no disposition to pursue them.

Valdivia, who had been in many battles in Europe as well as America, declared that he had never been exposed to such imminent hazard of his life, as in this engagement; and much astonished at the valour and military skill of these people, he immediately set about constructing a strong fortification near the city, expecting shortly to be attacked again. In fact, no sooner were the Araucanians informed of the death of their general, than they sent against him another army still more numerous, under the command of Lincoyan. This officer from his gigantic stature, and a certain show of courage, had acquired high reputation among his companions in arms, but

he was naturally timid and irresolute, and was much better suited for a subaltern station than for that of commander in chief.

The new Toqui, in the year 1551, formed his troops into three divisions, and marched to attack the Spaniards. Such was the terror inspired by the approach of the Araucanians, that the Spaniards, after confessing themselves and partaking of the sacrament, took shelter under the cannon of their fortifications. But Lincoyan, finding the first attack unsuccessful, apprehensive of losing the army committed to his charge, ordered a precipitate retreat, to the great surprise of Valdivia, who, apprehensive of some stratagem, forbad his soldiers to pursue them. When it was discovered that the enemy had retreated in good earnest, they began to consider their flight as a special mark of the favour of heaven, and, in the fervour of their enthusiasm, there were not wanting some who declared that they had seen the Apostle St. James upon a white horse with a flaming sword striking terror into their enemies.* These

* This Apostle appears to have been a very convenient personage, and very ready with his aid upon all such occasions to the Spaniards of that period. Bernal Diaz, in his true history of the conquest of Mexico, in giving an account of a similar story, thus expresses himself with his peculiar naiveté. "In his account of this action Gomara says, that previous to the arrival of the main body of the cavalry under Cortes, Francisco de Moria appeared in the field upon a grey dappled horse, and that it was one of the holy apostles, St. Peter or St. Jago, disguised under his person. I say, that all our works and victories are guided by the hand of our Lord Jesus Christ, and that in this battle there were so many enemies to every one of us, that they could have buried us under the dust they could have held in their hands, but that the great mercy

declarations were readily believed, and the whole army, in consequence, unanimously agreed to build a chapel upon the field of battle, which a few years after was dedicated to that apostle. But this miracle, which is not entitled to greater credit from its having been so frequently repeated, proceeded alone from the circumspection and timidity of Lincoyan.

The Spanish general, who was now in some measure freed from the restraint imposed upon him by the Araucanians, applied himself with great diligence to building the new city. Although he had fixed upon St. Jago for the capital of the colony, he nevertheless discovered a strong predilection for this maritime settlement, considering it as the future centre of the communication with Peru and Spain. Here he likewise intended to establish his family, selecting for his habitation a pleasant situation, and in the division of lands reserving for himself the fertile peninsula lying between the mouths of the rivers Bio-bio and Andalien, and, as he fully expected in a short time to be able to subjugate the Araucanians, he had also resolved to ask of the court of Spain, in reward for his services, the two adjacent provinces of Arauco and Tucapel, with the title of Marquis.

of God aided us throughout. What Gomara asserts might be the case, and I, sinner as I am, was not worthy to be permitted to see it. What I did see was Francisco de Morla riding in company with Cortes and the rest upon a chesnut horse, and that circumstance, and all the others of that day, appear to me, at this moment that I am writing, as if actually passing in the view of these sinful eyes."

The building of the city having progressed rapidly under his inspection in a short time, he employed the remainder of the year in regulating its internal police. For this purpose he published forty-two articles or statutes, among which are some that discover much prudence and humanity respecting the treatment of the natives, whom he left, however, as elsewhere, subject to the private controul of the citizens. Believing that the courage of the Araucanians was now completely subdued, as, since their second unsuccessful expedition, they had made no attempt to molest him, he resolved to attack them in their own territory, with a reinforcement that he had just received from Peru.

With this intention, in the year 1552, he passed the Bio-bio, and proceeding rapidly through the provinces of Encol and Puren, unobstructed by the tardy operations of Lincoyan, came to the shores of the Cauten, which divides the Araucanian territory into two nearly equal parts. At the confluence of this river and that of Damas, he founded another city, to which he gave the name of Imperial, in honour of the Emperor Charles the Fifth; or, as is said by some, in consequence of finding there eagles with two heads cut in wood, placed upon the tops of the houses. This city was situated in a beautiful spot, abounding with every convenience of life, and during the short period of its existence became the most flourishing of any in Chili. Its position on the shore of a large river of sufficient depth for vessels to lie close to the walls, rendered it a highly advantageous situation for commerce, and would enable it to obtain imme

diate succour in case of siege. Modern geographers speak of it as a city not only existing at the present time, but as very strongly fortified, and the seat of a bishropric, when it has been buried in ruins for more than two hundred years.

Valdivia, intoxicated with this unexpected prosperity, displayed all that liberality which frequently marks the conduct of those who find themselves in a situation to give away what costs them nothing. Exulting with his officers in the supposed reduction of the most valiant nation of Chili, he assigned to them, conditionally, the extensive districts of the surrounding country. To Francis Villagran, his Lieutenant-General, he gave the warlike province of Maquegua, called by the Araucanians the key of their country, with thirty thousand inhabitants.* The other officers obtained from eight to twelve thousand natives,† with lands in proportion, according to the degree of favour in

After the death of Villagran, the province of Maquegua, was partitioned anew among the conquerors, the principal part of it being assigned to Juan de Ocampo, and the other to Andreas Matencio; but, in consequence of its recapture by the Indians, they reaped very little if any advantage from these commanderies. Ocampo afterwards obtained as a reward for his distinguished services, the Corregidorate of the city of Serena, and that of Mendoza and St. Juan, in the province of Cujo; in this last province was likewise granted him a commandery of Indians, which he afterwards ceded to the crown. He was from Salamanca, of a very illustrious family, a relation to the first bishop of Imperial, and one of the bravest officers that went from Peru to Chili.

† Among those most in favour with Valdivia, was Pedro Aguilera, who received the gift of a commandery, containing from ten to twelve thousand Indians.