Almagro had been well received in these northern pro vinces, chiefly through the influence and authority of his Peruvian confederates. The inhabitants, however, no longer considered themselves as subject to Peru, which they now understood to be itself a conquered kingdom ; and they were likewise better acquainted with the Spa nish character. It was no longer veiled under the impi ous and imposing title of divinity. TI.e period of delu sion had passed away, and these iniquitous in ,tiers stood naked and exposed in all their startling deformity. The natives were every where in arms to repel the intrusion ; and had their power equalled the animosity with which it was c x2rted, they must have succeeded h. the end ; but their weapons and their discipline were alike incompe tent. Their most powerful efforts were weak, desultory, and ineffectual, and at best served rather to harass than destroy. Unguided and tumultuous, they made but little impression on the steady valour of their more skil ful opponents; and the Spaniards, though frequently interrupted, continued their march, and penetrated into the country, as far as the river Mapocho. It was in this rich and beautiful province, that Valdivia resolved, if possible, to effect a settlement. He laid the foun dation of St Jago, and immediately erected a strong citadel for its protection. It was not long before this cautious measure proved the safety of the colonists. The Spaniards were resolved to effect in Chili what they had so cruelly accomplished in Mexico and Peru : they had determined to make its free inhabitants the instruments of their avarice, and, in this manner, to subject them to the most degrading servitude. The Mapochinians, there fore, in whose territory they had now settled, and who seem at first to have given but little disturbance to their operations, quickly began to feel the weight of oppres sion, and, at the same time, to exhibit rather unequivocal symptoms of uneasiness. Upon the first appearance of disaffection, Valdivia seized and imprisoned their chiefs ; but the spirit of freedom was not thus to be suppressed, and such insulting severity had the effect only of excit ing a more implacable hostility. Seizing an occasion of Valdivia's absence, they effected a general insurrection, assaulted the town, ••pulsed its defenders, and demolish ed the half-raised liaildings. The Spaniards were now shut up in their fortress ; but the enemy fell in thousands around it, and the trenches were soon crowded with their dead. At length the after a clay of gallant exertion, found themselves compelled to re tire, both for the purpose of refreshment, and of recruit ing their exhausted numbers. In the mean time, Valdi via, secretly apprised of these proceedings, returned in haste to his friends, joined them with sixty horse, en gaged the enemy, at the moment they were preparing for a fresh assault, and, after a furious conflict, defeated and pursued them with overwhelming slaughter. The loss of a battle was a misfortune less severe to the Ma pochinians, than the murder of their chiefs. This had been effected, during the assault, by the cruel intrepidity of Inez Saurez, a Spanish female, who fearing lest, in the general confusion, they' might regain their liberty, and animate their countrymen, dashed out their brains with a hatchet. 'file spirit, however, of this enduring people, seemed to rise with their misfortunes. Henceforth they renounced every thought of accommodation with their oppressors. They continued for the space of six years with resolute but unavailing perseverance, ha rassing, but unable to expel the enemy ; till at length a feeble remnant, wasted by' the unequal contest, and no bly preferring freedom to their country, they destroyed their crops, and took•refuge in the mountains.
The Spaniards, during these transactions, were not without their share of distress. They had been lec pt al most in a state of perpetual blockade. Their provisions were long since exhausted or destroyed, the supplies constantly intercepted, and the pittance of grain they were able to raise within range of the batteries, proving insufficient for their support, they were reduced often to an extremity of want. Murmuring and discontent were
the consequence, and these grew, at length, into a formi dable conspiracy, which at once threatened the success of the expedition and the life of its conductor. The plot, however, was fortunately detected, its authors punished with death, and tranquillity restored ; while their toils and their dangers were alike quickly forgotten, in the pleasure of an unexpected gratification. An extremely rich mine of gold was discovered and opened in the pro vince of Quillota. This revived their hopes, and dissi pated all desire to abandon an enterprise, now of so much promise.
From the tedious opposition, already experienced, Val divia was sensible that, without additional forces, it would be impossible for him to pursue those vast schemes of conquest, which he had formerly projected, and still fondly indulged. The more readily to obtain the neces sary supplies, he dispatched messengers to Peru, whose spurs, bits, and stirrups, were of solid gold. This he hoped might excite expectation, and procure adventur ers. Of these messengers, only two, covered with Mounds and stripped of their trappings, escaped with difficulty to Cusco : the rest, with an escort of 30 horse men, were intercepted and slain by an hundred archers of Copiapo. Large reinforcements, however, both by sea and laud, were, by the exertions of Alonroy and Mi randa, the two survivors, sent off to Chili ; and these were followed soon afterwards by 300 more, under the command of Francis Villagran, and Christopher Esco bar.
Since the affair of Copiapo, the natives had every day become more daring and troublesome : among other in stances of this spirit, the Quillutans, by a successful stra tagem, had surprised and massacres-all the Spanish mi ners in their district. These proofs of inveterate hostility determined Valdivia, before extending his conquests, to secure what he had already gained ; and at the same time to take means of protecting his future communica tions w ith Peru. For these pm poses, lie erected a fort in the province of Quillota, and shortly afterwards pro ceeding- northwards to the mouth of the river Coquim bo, founded, in 1544, the town of La Serena, or qui mbo.
Having completed those requisite measures of securi ty, he now turned his thoughts to the long projected inva sion of the southern provinces ; and next year led his ar my against the Promaucians. History does not acquaint us with the progress of this interesting contest ; we are informed only of its final result ; a result which at once tarnished the glory, and annihilated the independence of that brave and once invincible people, which struck out their names from among the patriots of Chili, and drew upon them, ever afterwards, the execrations and the ven geance of their countrymen. They were ultimately se duced into a most inglorious compact with the Spa niards ; and Promaucian auxiliaries have, since that pe riod, supported the Spanish interests in Chili.
In the year 1546, Valdivia had pushed his conquests as far as the river Itata. Here, however, a circum stance took place, which, from a want of vigilance on his part, had nearly proved fatal to the whole army, and gave a check to his victorious career. During the night, his camp was attacked and forced by the natives, and the loss was so considerable as to compel a precipitate retreat.
Notwithstanding his late accession of force, Valdivia still found it unequal to his vast designs ; and to com plete his embarrassment, Pasteur, who had sailed for ad ditional reinforcements to Peru, now returned without having accomplished the object of his mission. Ile brought accounts of the civil war, between Gasea the royal delegate and Gonzalo Pizarro, who resisted his authority. Valdivia, hoping to benefit by these comm.. tions, instantly embarked for Peru, with a resolution to join Gasca, and support the royal standard.