and beat out the brains of the captive chiefs, who had attempted to break their fetters and regain their liberty.

The battle began at day-break, and was continued till night, while fresh assailants, with a firmness worthy of a better fate, constantly occupied the places of those that were slain. In the meantime, the commander of the fort, Alonzo Monroy, found means during the confusion to dispatch a messenger to Valdivia, who returned immediately, and found the ditch filled with dead bodies, and the enemy, notwithstanding the loss they had sustained, preparing to recommence the combat; but, joining the besieged, he advanced in order of battle against their forces, which were posted on the shore of the Mapocho. There the battle was again renewed, and contested with equal valour, but with great disadvantage on the part of the natives, who were far inferior to their enemies in arms and discipline. The musketry and the horse made a dreadful slaughter among men, who were armed only with bows and slings; but, obstinately contending with even their own impotence, they furiously rushed on to destruction until, wholly enfeebled, and having lost the flower of their youth, they fled dispersed over the plains.

Yet, notwithstanding this defeat, and others of not less importance that they afterwards experienced, they never ceased, for the space of six

years, until their utter ruin, to keep the Spaniards closely besieged, attacking them upon every occasion that offered, and cutting off their provisions in such a manner, that they were compelled to subsist upon unwholesome and loathsome viands, and on the little grain which they could raise beneath the cannon of the place. The fertile plains in the neighbourhood had become desert and uncultivated, as the inhabitants had destroyed their crops, and retired to the mountains.

A mode of life so different from what they expected, wearied and disgusted the soldiers, and they finally resolved to kill their general, whom they believed obstinately attached to his plans, and to return to Perù, where they hoped to enjoy more ease and tranquillity. This conspiracy having fortunately been discovered by Valdivia, he began by conciliating the least seditious, which he readily effected, for he possessed great prudence and address. As he had yet only the title of general, he assembled the magistracy of the city, and persuaded them to appoint him governor. Invested with this imposing, though less legitimate character, he punished with death the authors of the conspiracy; but perceiving that this exertion of a precarious authority could not be productive of a durable effect, he prudently applied himself to soothe these turbulent spirits, and to divert their minds from such dan

gerous schemes, by painting to them in seducing colours the happy prospect that awaited them.

Valdivia had often heard in Peru that the valley of Quillota abounded in mines of gold, and imagined that he might obtain from thence a sufficient quantity to satisfy his soldiers. In consequence, notwithstanding the difficulties with which he was surrounded, he sent thither a detachment of troops, with orders to superintend the digging of this precious metal. The mine that was opened was so rich that its product surpassed their most sanguine hopes. Their present and past sufferings were all buried in oblivion, nor was there one among them who had the remotest wish of quitting the country. The governor, who was naturally enterprising, encouraged by this success, had a frigate built in the mouth of the river Chilè, which traverses the valley, in order more readily to obtain succours from Peru, without which, he was fully sensible, he could not succeed in accomplishing his vast undertakings.

CHAP. VII.

The Copiapins defeat a body of Spaniards; Successful stratagem employed by the Quillotanes; Valdivia receives reinforcements from Peru; He founds the city of Coquimbo, which is destroyed by the natives; The Promaucians form an alliance with the Spaniards; Foundation of the city of Conception.

In the meantime, as the state of affairs was urgent, Valdivia resolved to send to Peru by land two of his captains, Alonzo Monroy and Pedro Miranda, with six companions, whose spurs, bits, and stirrups he directed to be made of gold, hoping to entice, by this proof of the opulence of the country, his fellow-citizens to come to his 'assistance. These messengers, although escorted by thirty men on horseback, who were ordered to accompany them to the borders of Chili, were attacked and defeated by a hundred archers of Copiapo, commanded by Coteo, an officer of the ulmen of that province, Of the whole band none escaped with life but the two officers, Monroy and Miranda, who

were brought covered with wounds before the ulmen.

Whilst that prince, who had resolved to put them to death as enemies of the country, was deliberating on the mode, the ulmena, or princess, his wife, moved with compassion for their situation, interceded with her husband for their lives, and having obtained her request, unbound them with her own hands, tenderly dressed their wounds, and treated them like brothers. When they were fully recovered, she desired them to teach her son the art of riding, as several of the horses had been taken alive in the defeat. The two Spaniards readily consented to her request, hoping to avail themselves of this opportunity to recover their liberty. But the means they took to effect this were marked with an act of ingratitude to their benefactress, of so much the deeper dye, as, from their not being strictly guarded, such an expedient was unnecessary.

As the young prince was one day riding between them, escorted by his archers, and preceded by an officer armed with a lance, Monroy suddenly attacked him with a poniard, which he carried about him, and brought him to the ground, with two or three mortal wounds; Miranda at the same time wresting the lance from the officer, they forced their way through the guards who were thrown into confusion by such an unexpected event. As they were well mounted