43 



Valdivia, on receiving advice of this disaster, 

 hastened thither with his troops, and having re- 

 venged, as far as in his power, the death of his sol- 

 diers, built a fort to protect the miners. Being af- 

 terwards reinforced with three hundred men from 

 Peru, under the command of Francis Villagran and 

 Christopher Escobar, he became sensible of the 

 necessity of establishing a settlement in the northern 

 part of the kingdom, that might serve as a place of 

 arms, and a protection for the convoys that should 

 come that way. For this purpose he made choice 

 of a beautiful plain at the mouth of the river Co- 

 quimbo, which forms a good harbour, where, in 

 1564, he founded a city called by him Serena, in 

 honour of the place of his birth ; it is not, however, 

 known at present by this appellation, except in geo- 

 graphical treatises, the country name having pre- 

 vailed, as is the case with all the other European 

 settlements in Chili. 



In the ensuing year he began to think of extend- 

 ing his conquests, and for that purpose proceeded 

 into the country of the Promaucians. Contempo- 

 rary writers have not made mention of any battle 

 that was fought upon this occasion ; but it is not 

 to be supposed that this valiant people who had 

 with so much glory repulsed the armies of the Inca 

 and of Almagro, would have allowed him, without 

 opposition, to violate their territory. It is, however, 

 highly probable, that Valdivia, in the frequent incur- 

 sions which he made upon their frontiers, had had 

 the art to persuade them to unite with him againsi 

 the other Chilians by seducing promises ; a mean 



