highly delighted on seeing a boat make towards them, on board of which were fifteen persons handsomely clothed. Without the least apprehension they immediately leaped on shore, and saluting the Spaniards with much cordiality, inquired who they were, whither they were going, and if they were in want of any thing. The Spaniards asked them for provisions the chief of this friendly people immediately ordered all the provisions that were in the boat to be brought, and in the most hospitable manner distributed them among them, refusing to accept any thing in return, and promised to send them a large supply from the circumjacent islands. : Indeed, scarcely had these famished adventurers encamped when there arrived from all quarters piragues loaded with maize, fruit and fish, which were in like manner distributed to them gratuitously. The Spaniards, constantly regaled by these islanders, coasted the Archipelago to the bay of Reloncavi, and some went over to the neighbouring islands, where they found land well cultivated, and women employed in spinning wool mixed with the feathers of sea birds, from which they made their clothes. The celebrated poet Ercilla was one of the party, and solicitous of the reputation of having proceeded further south than any other European, he crossed the gulf, and upon the opposite shore inscribed on the bark of a tree some verses containing his name and the time of the discovery, the 31st of January, 1559. Don Garcia, satisfied with having been the first to discover by land the Archipelago of Chiloé, returned, taking for his guide one of those islanders, who conducted him safely to Imperial through the country of the Huilliches, which is for the most part level, and abounds in provisions. The inhabitants, who are similar in every respect to their western neighbours, the Cunchese, made no opposition to his passage. He there founded, or according to some writers, rebuilt the city of Osorno, which increased rapidly, not less from its manufactories of woollen and linen stuffs, than from the fine gold procured from its mines, which were afterwards destroyed by the Toqui Paillamacu. During this expedition Alonzo Reynoso, commander of Canete, after having for a long time attempted by offers of reward and by means of torture, to obtain from the natives information of the retreat of Caupolican, at length found one less inflexible, who promised to discover the place where he had concealed himself, since his last defeat. A detachment of cavalry was immediately sent under the guidance of this spy, and at day break made prisoner of that great man, but not till after a gallant resistance from ten of his most faithful soldiers, who would not abandon him. His wife, who never ceased exhorting him to die rather than surrender, on seeing him taken, indignantly threw towards him his infant son, saying, she would retain nothing that belonged to a coward. The detachment returned to the city amidst the rejoicings of the populace, and conducted their prisoner to Reynoso, who immediately ordered him to be impaled and dispatched with arrows. On hearing his sentence, Caupolican, without the least change of countenance, or abatement of his wonted dignity, coolly addressed Reynoso in these words: My death, general, can answer no possible end, except that of inflaming the inveterate hatred which my countrymen already entertain against yours. They will be far from being discouraged by the loss of an unfortunate chief. From my ashes will arise many other Caupolicans, who will prove more fortunate than I have been. But if you spare my life, from the great influence I possess in the country, I may be serviceable to the interests of your sovereign and the propagation of your religion, which, as you say, is the only object of this destructive war. But if you are determined that I shall die, send me to Spain, where, if your king thinks proper to condemn me, I may end my days without causing new disturbances in my country.” Vain were the attempts of the unfortunate general to prevail upon Reynoso, whose name is held in detestation, not only by the Araucanians, but by the Spaniards themselves, who have ever reprobated his conduct, as contrary to those principles of generosity on which they pride themselves as a nation. He ordered the sentence to be immediately executed; and a priest, who had been sent for to conversc with the prisoner, pretending that he had converted him, hastily administered the sacrament of baptism. After this mock ceremony, he was conducted, amidst a crowd of people, to a scaffold that had been erected for his execution: But when he saw the instrument of punishment, which until then he did not clearly comprehend, and a negro prepared to execute him, he was so exasperated that, with a furious kick, he hurled the executioner from the scaffold, exclaiming, "Is there no sword, and some less unworthy hand to be found to put to death a man like myself? This has nothing in it of justiceit is base revenge." He was, however, seized by numbers, and compelled to undergo the cruel and ignominious death to which he had been condemned. Successes of Caupolican the Second; Siege of Imperial; Battle of Quipeo fatal to the Araucanians; Death of Caupolican; Termination of the Government of Don Garcia. SOON were the predictions of the great Caupolican verified. Instigated by the most unbounded rage, the Araucanians immediately proceeded to elect a Toqui, capable of revenging the ignominious death of their unfortunate general. The majority of the electors were of opinion, that in the present circumstances the fierce Tucapel was better qualified than any other to sustain the important office. But this choice was by no means agreeable to the sentiments of Colocolo: he declared himself in favour of young Caupolican, the eldest son of the late general, who possessed the talents of his celebrated father. This opinion was adopted and confirmed by the Ulmenes. Tucapel, perceiving that the affections of the nation were placed upon his competitor, had a second time the magnanimity to yield his claim to the supreme command without murmuring; he only required to be elected Vice Toqui, which was granted him. The new general immediately collected an army, and crossed the Bio-bio, resolving to attack the city of Conception, which he had been informed was defended only by a few soldiers. Reynoso, having learned his intention, followed him with five hundred men, and coming up with him at Talcaguano, a place but a short distance from that city, offered him battle. The young commander, encouraging his soldiers by his words and his example, fell with such fury upon the Spaniards, that he entirely defeated them; Reynoso, pursued and wounded by Tucapel, had the good fortune to be able to repass the Bio-bio with a few horse that had escaped the slaughter. He immediately collected more troops, and returned to attack the Auraucanian camp; but meeting with no better success than before, he was compelled to abandon the enterprise. At the close of this second action, Millalauco, who had been sent to compliment the Spaniards in Quiriquina, returned with the news that Don Garcia had quitted Imperial, with a large body of troops, and was laying waste the neighbouring provinces. On this information Caupolican, by the advice of Colocolo, deferred the siege of Conception, and hastened to give them assistance, leaving a number. |