AN UNEXPECTED PILLAGE. 19 
of universal want and misery. Such are the 
heavy sacrifices with which Chili has purchased 
her independence. May she enjoy their fruits 
under a government sufficiently wise and pow- 
erful to restore her prosperity ! 
Our two hours’ ride afforded ample time and 
scope for these reflections ; and on reaching the 
town, we were concerned to find similar symp- 
toms of misfortune. A great part of it lay in 
ruins; and the houses yet standing were occu- 
pied, not by useful citizens, or active, speculating 
merchants, but by soldiers. The former have, 
with few exceptions, withdrawn from Concep- 
tion to Mexico and Peru. But the war of the 
Revolution is not chargeable with all the deso- 
lation which has befallen this unhappy town. 
A year before it broke out, a great horde of 
wild Araucanians, availing themselves of an 
opportunity when the Chilian troops were 
elsewhere employed, fell so suddenly upon the 
town during the night, that the inhabitants, 
who had not the slightest warning till the enemy 
was within their walls, were unable to defend 
themselves. Well knowing that they could not 
maintain their post, the Araucanians were active 
