116 



declarations were readily believed, and the whole 

 army, in consequence, unanimously agreed to build 

 a chapel upon the field of battle, which a few years 

 after was dedicated to that apostle. But this miracle, 

 which is not entitled to greater credit from its having 

 been so frequently repeated, proceeded alone from 

 the circumspection and timidity of Lincoyan. 



The Spanish general, Avho was now in some mea- 

 sure freed from the restraint imposed upon him by 

 the x\raucanians, applied himself with great dili- 

 gence to building the new city. Although he had 

 fixed upon St. Jago for the capital of the colony, he 

 nevertheless discovered a strong predilection for 

 this maritime settlement, considering it as the fu- 

 ture centre of the communication with Peru and 

 Spain. Here he likewise intended to establish his 

 family, selecting for his habitation a pleasant situa- 

 tion, and in the division of lands reserving for him- 

 self the fertile peninsula lying between the mouths 

 of the rivers Bio-bio and Andalien, and, as he fully 

 expected in a short time to be able to subjugate the 

 Araucanians, he had also resolved to ask of the court 

 of Spain, in reward for his services, the two adja- 

 cent provinces of Arauco and Tucapel, with the ti- 

 tle of Marquis. 



of God aided us throHghout. Whnt Gomara asserts might be the 

 case, and I, sinner as I am, was not worthy to be permitted to see 

 it. What I did see was Francisco de Moría riding in company 

 with Cortes and the rest upon a chesnut horse, and that circum- 

 stance, and all the others of that day, appear to me, at this mo- 

 ment that I am writing, as if actually passing in the view of these 

 sinful êtes." 



