In the mean time his rival in Chili, the unfortunate de Hoz, fell a sacrifice to his jealousy. On pretence of aim ing at that government, which, as we have before noticed, was legally his own, he was seized and publicly beheaded by Francis V illagran, who was no doubt sufficiently in structed for this infamous proceeding. About the same time a detachment of Spaniards, to the number of 40, was cut in pieces, in their march from Peru, by the inha bitants of Copiapo ; and the Coquimbanes, tumllaflHg their vigorous example, extirpated the colony of La Se rena. This city, however, was quickly afterwards rebuilt by Fi ancis Aguirre.
After the defeat and death of Pizarro, Valdivia re turned to Chili, followed by a crowd of adventurers, men of whose seditious turbulence Gasca was happy to be relieved. Before, however, resuming offensive opera tions, he distributed the conquered provinces among his adherents ; and in this manner effectually secured their fidelity, while he inspired them with a more permanent interest, in the country for which they contended. lie now penetrated southwards, without almost any opposi tion, to the bay of Pcnco ; and, according to hiC usual policy, took possession of the country, by the establish ment of a new colony, and the foundation of another city. To this city he gave the name of Conception it stands on a fruitful soil, and has a fine commercial situa tion.
From this period we may date the commencement of a mere combined, a more vigorous, and a more success ful resistance than the Spaniards had yet experienced. A field of more hazardous contention was now opened to tnem,—a field in w Lich they were not unfrequently to feel the impotence and the pressure of an unrighteous cause. They were now to encounter, not the timid slaves of luxury and prejudice, but a nation of indignant heroes, roused to exertion in defence of their liberty and posscssioas, who held in defiance their boasted supe riority, and set at naught even " the thundering arms of Europe." This new power was the Araucanians, a name bestowed indiscriminately upon several distinct, though confederate tribes : they occupy that portion of Chili which extends between the rivers Biobio and Calacalla. Regarding with indignation the insolence, the rapacity, and the growing power of these formidable strangers, and perceiving that the next blow must inevitably fall upon themselves, the Araucanians resolved to send im mediate relief to their neighbours of Penco. For this purpose, Aillavalu, their Togui or dictator, crossed the Biobio, and, ut the head of 4000 men, gave battle to the Spaniards. After the first discharge of musketry, the Chilcsc, by a bold and dextrous movement, pouring at once upon the whole Spanish line, brought it to close fight, while at the same time the Spaniards, having in stantly assumed the form of a square, firmly maintained their ground. The conflict was severe and bloody, and for several hours was bravely supported on both sides. At length Valdivia being dismounted, confusion began to shew itself among his troops ; when Ahlavalu, eager to seize the momentary- advantage, by a rash but gallant im petuosity, fell in the front of battle. His soldiers in stantly began to retreat, maintaining, however, so much appearance of intrepidity and order, that the Spaniards dared not to pursue. After the battle Valdivia testified his amazement, at the skill, the valour, and the disci , Mine of his new opponents. He had often encountered
all the terrors of European warfare, but never before this engagement had his life been put to such imminent hazard. The boldest of his soldiers dreaded the return of so daring an enemy ; and, to prepare for the worst, a strong fortification was immediately erected near the • town.
In the mean time, the Araucanians were again advan cing with a more numerous army than before, but under the auspices of a very different leader. Lyncoyan, the new Toqui, possessed neither the skill nor the courage of his predecessor. His strength and his stature were enormous, and it would seem that a regard to these, more than to his mental abilities, had exalted him to the vacant dignity. The Araucanians, while under his gui dance, seemed to have dropped all the energy of their true character, and the succeeding operations were eve ry where marked with weakness, incapacity, and failure. The Spaniards, however, heard of their approach with some degree of alarm, and immediately drew up under protection of their batteries. But they had little to fear from the irresolute temper of their opponent. The first attack proving unsuccessful, he retreated with precipi tation, leaving the enemy in equal joy and astonishment. So powerfully, however, were their minds impressed who the magnitude of the danger, and the importance of their sudden deliverance, that these faithless robbers pre sumptuously ascribed their safety to the miraculous in terposition of heaven. During a whole year, employed by Valdivia to enlarge the city, and settle the affairs of his new colony, no molestation was offered by the Arau canians. At length the Spaniards, recovering from their apprehensions, began to ascribe to the fears and weak ness of the enemy, what was due only to the misconduct of their leader. Being newly reinforced from Peru, Val dit resolved to venture an incursion into their territory. He traversed it with unexpected facility, and was per mitted, without almost any resistance, to lay the founda tion of three other settlements ; of Imperial, (1552,) at the confluence of the rivers Dumas and Canton ; of Vil larica, by one of his officers, at the great lake Lauquen ; and of Valdivia, named after himself, at the southern ex tremity of Araucania. The better to maintain footing in country of which heanow deemed himself the master, he elected a strong fort in each of the most warlike pro vinces of Puren, Arauco, and Tucapel. He even pro ceeded so far as to portion out the country and its inha bitants. among his principal officers. After these impor tant operations, Valdivia retired to St Jago, now as much elated with confidence, as he was formerly de pressed by apprehension ; and having about this time re ceived fresh reinforcements, his ambition began to grasp at still dominion. He commissioned Francis Aguirre to subdue the two provinces of Cujo and 'l'u coman, which lie east of the Cordillera ; while he him self entered once more the Araucanian territories, and founded a seventh city in the province of Encol. lie called this the city of the frontiers, an appellation which, at an after period, became strictly apin iate.* About this time also, with a iew, if pcssibic, tiv a direct com munication with Europe, to lender his future supplies independent of Peru, a vessel was disoatcned, under the command of Francis Ulloa, to examine, tile straits of Ma gellan.