26 



CHAP. VI. 



The Spaniards return to Chili, under the com- 

 mand of Pedro de Valdivia; St. Jago the 

 capital founded ; Various encounters with the 

 natives; Conspiracy of the soldiers against 

 the general. 



Francis Pizarro having, by the death of his 

 rival, obtained the absolute command of the 

 Spanish possessions in South America, lost not 

 sight of the conquest of Chili, which he con- 

 ceived might, in any event, prove an important 

 acquisition to him. Among the adventurers 

 who had come to Peru were two officers, com- 

 missioned by the court of Spain, under the titles 

 of governor, to attempt this expedition. To the 

 first, called Pedro Sanchez de Hoz, was com- 

 mitted the conquest of the country as far as the 

 river Maule ; and to the other, Carmargo, the 

 remainder to the Archipelago of Chiloe. Pi- 

 zarro, jealous of these men, under frivolous 

 pretexts refused to confirm the royal nomination, 

 and appointed to this expedition his quarter- 

 master, Pedro de Valdivia, a prudent and active 



