40 



CHAPTER VIL 



TJie Copiapïns dtj'eat a body of Spaniards ; Suc- 

 cessful stratagem employed by the Quillofa)2es ; 

 Valdivia receives reinforcements from Peru ; He 

 founds the city of Coquimbo, tvhich is destroyed 

 by the natives ; The Promaucians form a?i alliance 

 with the Spaniards; Fouiidation of the city of Con- 

 ception, 



IN the mean lime, as the state of affah-s was ur- 

 gent, Valdivia resolved to send to Peru by land two 

 of his eaptains, Alonzo Monro}' 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 fel- 

 low citizens to come to his assistance. These mes- 

 sengers, although escorted by thirty men on horse- 

 back, 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 üíñcer of the ulmen of that province. Of the 

 whole band none escaped with life but the two offi- 

 cers, Monroy and Miranda, who were brought co- 

 vered with wouFids before the ulmen. 



Whilst that prince, who had resolved to put them 

 to death as enemies of the country, was deliberating 

 on tlîe mode, the ulmena or princess, his wife, 

 moved with compassion for their situation, interced- 



