760 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 102 



unmolested on their own land. He had got Lautaro and other im- 

 portant Indians who were somewhat favorable to his prayers, to 

 intercede for him, since they pitied his wretched state, when that 

 cruel old counselor of Caupolican's who had arranged the squadrons 

 and given them that new method of fighting, suddenly got up, and 

 with a bludgeon or war club (macana) dashed the poor Governor's 

 head to pieces, smashing and putting a stop to the agreements and 

 terms he was offering; he did the same to the cleric, upbraiding his 

 fellows for pitying or yielding to the prayers of a cruel enemy of 

 their nation and country, who had oppressed and subjugated them ; 

 and what could he accomplish if he saw himself free? 



2008. These sudden cruel murders distressed many of the Arau- 

 canians and in particular General Caupolican, [Cococolo] Colocolo, 

 and others, who were sorry for the poor Governor and set upon 

 freeing him. This is the most trustworthy account of the end of 

 poor Gov. Pedro de Valdivia, a valiant gentleman and great soldier, 

 and very fortunate up to the thirteenth year after his entry into 

 that Kingdom which he had subdued and subjugated with such 

 courage and success ; but he was so negligent as to divide his forces 

 and underestimate his enemies. 



2009. He entered that Kingdom in the year 1540, explored and 

 subdued large and wealthy provinces, and with his men underwent 

 unbearable hardships for a period of 13 years. He founded seven 

 cities — Santiago, La Serena, La Concepcion, La Imperial, Valdivia, 

 Villarica, and in the year 1552, Angol— and many forts for their 

 protection. He discovered and exploited very rich gold mines, and 

 derived huge wealth from them. He was successful in everything 

 till he divided his forces, and although he knew the great courage 

 of the Indians and their warlike spirit, he undervalued them, which 

 was his complete perdition, destruction, and ruin. So at the end of 

 the year 1553, the thirteenth of his governorship, he met this melan- 

 choly fate, having been a fortunate and successful soldier and captain 

 in the course of his life. He was a native of La Serena in Estre- 

 madura and the son of aristocratic parents; he was of great aid to 

 Marques Don Francisco Pizarro in the conquest of Peru and for 

 his good service Pizarro conferred that expedition upon him. 



2010. After the savages had spent all that night in festivities and 

 drunken orgies, having murdered the Governor and his chaplain in 

 the manner described, while they were discussing in their council 

 meeting how to end the war and do away with the Spaniards who 



