CHILI. 



187 



History. 



Garcia 

 leads hi; 

 army 

 through 

 the coun- 

 try of the 

 Cunche>, 

 and disco- 

 vers the 

 Archipela- 

 go of Chi- 

 Mb 



Caupolican 

 taken and 

 impaled. 



Hi on 



Caupolican 

 the Second 

 tuccceds 

 him >n the 

 Toquiate. 



In the confidence that Araucania was now in a state of 

 security, Garcia projected an expedition southwards ; 

 and leaving instructions for the rebuilding of Concep- 

 tion, led his army against the Cunclies. This people, 

 by the advice of an Araucanian exile, adopted a singu- 

 lar expedient for averting the threatened invasion ; an 

 expedient, however, perfectly suited to the sordid tem- 

 per of their invaders. While the inhabitants concealed 

 their property in the woods, an embassy, fitted out in 

 all the semblance of poverty and wretchedness, was dis- 

 patched to meet the Spanish commander. The whole 

 appearance of these ragged messengers, with the pre- 

 sent they laid before the governor, while it excited the 

 mirth, repressed the ardour of his soldiers. But Gar- 

 cia, though himself deceived, encouraged them with the 

 hopes of a happier country beyond this miserable region, 

 and required a guide from the inhabitants. One of the am- 

 bassadors undertook this office. In order to support the 

 delusion, he conducted the Spaniards by a rough and deso- 

 late route, along the sea coast, and after four days march, 

 having entangled them amidst a desert of precipices, se- 

 cretly returned to his friends. After surmounting the 

 severe-t privations, the Spaniards were at length glad- 

 dened with the prospect of relief, when, on the 31st of 

 January, they came in sight of the great Archipelago 

 of Ancund, or Chtloe, which lay extended before them. 

 They were saluted by the hospitable natives with a frank 

 and fearless cordiality, and supplied in abundance, and 

 gratuitously, with fish, fruit, and maize. These Island- 

 ers had evidently attained some degree of civilization. 

 They were handsomely clothed ; agriculture wa? prac- 

 tised among them, and in some of the islands had made 

 considerable progress : they employed sails, also, in na- 

 vigating their periaguas. Pleated with the discovery, 

 Garcia returned to Imperial, one of the friendly Chi- 

 lotes serving a a guide to his army ; and in passing 

 through the country of the Huiliches founded, or, ac- 

 cording to some, only rebuilt the town of Osorno. 



In the mean time, the illustrious Caupolican was be- 

 trayed into the power of Keynoso, and ignominiously 

 impaled. Ileynoso, after the infamous example of hi 

 superior, had long attempted, by tortures and promises, 

 to procure intelligence of his retreat. A traitor at last 

 appeared among that faithful people. Under his guid- 

 ance, a Spanish detachment was conducted to the moun- 

 tains, and surprised the general in the midst of his fami- 

 ly. The conduct of Caupolican's wife upon this occa- 

 sion is remarkable, and affords one example, among ma- 

 ny, of that lofty and implacable temper, which has long 

 supported, and still supports, the independence of Arau- 

 cania. Perceiving that Caupolican, notwithstanding her 

 unceasing exhortation, that he should die rather than 

 surrender, had, after a brave resistance, yielded himself 

 to the enemy, the tossed after him her infant son, with 

 this haughty exclamation, that " she would retain no- 

 thing that belonged to a coward." 



The Araucaman spirit was effectually roused by the 

 insulting execution of their Toqni. Young Caupolican, 

 who inherited the talents anH cool intrepidity of his fa- 

 ther, was immediately elected in his room. Twice he 

 defeated the Spaniards under Reynoso, but failed in his 

 attempts upon Imperial, where Garcia commanded in 

 person. The succeeding operations were conducted witli 

 various success. Many battles were fought, but with 

 little advantage to either party. At length, Caupolican, 

 perceiving that the enemy were continually strengthened 

 with fresh reinforcementg, and himself weakened even by 

 success, determined to prolong the war ; and, for this 

 purpose, fortified his army in a petition almost impreg- 



nable at Quipeo. Here Garcia brought all his troops History, 

 to the assault. The fierce Araucanians, impatient under ' "Y""' 

 a galling cannonade, were soon drawn to a rash and fu- 

 rious sally. The Spaniard saw his advantage, cut off la defeated 

 their retreat, and after a severe struggle, which, for ma- ' th ^ at ." 

 ny hours, remained doubtful, succeeded in overpower- c ^j" 

 ing them. The Araucanians were almost exterminated. p Ut janend 

 The loss of Caupolican, Tucapel, and Colocolo, with to his life, 

 most of their bravest chieftains, was the bitter fruit of 

 their temerity. Caupolican, finding retreat impractica- 

 ble, is said to have perished by his own hands, rather 

 than yield himself a prisoner. 



It was now concluded, with some appearance of reason, 

 by the Spaniards, that the bold spirit of the enemy was at 

 length completely subdued ; but the event once more de- 

 ceived them. They had still to be taught the supremacy of 

 freedom, of that native enthusiasm, that enduring energy, 

 and that gallant perseverance, which for ever accompany, 

 characterise, and render altogether invincible the efforts of 

 a free and high-minded people. While they were yet ex- 

 ulting in joyful anticipation, a newToqui was elected by 

 the relics of Quipeo. The few remaining Ulmens, more 

 resolute than ever to maintain their freedom, assembled in 

 a wood, and exalted to the supreme command Antigue- Antiguenu 

 nu, a man of low rank, but whose talents entitled him 

 to the preference. He retired, with his little band, to 

 the inaccessible marshes of Lumaco, where it was pro- 

 posed to concentrate their shattered resources, and strike 

 once more for the deliverance of their country. 



While these matters were secretly transacting among R f e ^ u "'?L 

 the enemy, Garcia, finding himself possessed of a large the SL 

 disposable force, dispatched Pedro Castillo for the re- niardi. 

 duction of Cujo. More successful than Aguirre, he suc- 

 ceeded in establishing in that country the colonies of St 



Juan and Mendoza. Francis Villagran was about this Ihecom- 

 * i , , r i r maud re- 



time reinstated by the court of Spain in his former com- , , . 

 i i j~< -i * r i - stored to 



mand, and Garcia, in consideration of his eminent servi- Villagran. 



ces, was transferred, at the same time, to the government 

 of Peru. 



Antiguenu, when he found himself in a condition to Antiguenu 

 annoy the enemy, sallied from his retreat. Though his e ^ e " y 8 an j 

 first attempts, from the inexperience of his soldiers, were ] a y s siege 

 feeble and unsuccessful, he soon taught them to conquer, to Arauco, 

 to confide in their own strength, and in the conduct of 

 their leader ; and having obtained some slight advantage* 

 over the Spaniards, seized upon the strong position of 

 Mariguenu. Villagran himself, being at this time indis- 

 posed, one of his younger sons advanced to dislodge the 

 Araucanians, but lost, in the attempt, both his own life, 

 and the flower of his army. This defeat was followed 

 by the immediate evacuation of Canete and the loss of 

 Villagran, whose death, accelerated by grief, anxiety, and 

 disappointment, was much regretted by the Spaniards, 

 who regarded him as a brave and prudent leader. Pedro 

 his eldest son, respected for the same estimable endow- 

 ments, was appointed to fill the station of his father. 

 The Araucanians set fire to Canete, and levelled its forti- 

 fications with the ground. Antiguenu then undertook 

 the siege of Arauco, with a body of 4000 men, but in or- 

 der to create a diversion detached a part of them to invest 

 Conception. The siege of Arauco is remarkable for the 

 signal vengeance which this general contrived to obtain 

 upon the Chilese auxiliaries, by whose intelligence hit 

 best officers were perpetually marked out, for the aim of 

 the Spanish artillery. By means of secret emissaries, 

 the Spanish commander was made to suspect their fide- 

 lity ; and in the violence of his displeasure, in spite of all 

 their remonstrances, having driven them from the fortress, 

 would not permit himself to be undeceived, till he be- 



