133 



him by the Araucanians^ applied himself with 

 great diligence to building the new city. Al- 

 though he had fixed upon St. Jago for the capital 

 of t4ie colony, he nevertheless discovered a strong 

 predilection for this maritime settlement, con- 

 sidering it as the future centre of the communi- 

 cation with Peru and Spain. Here he likewise 

 intended to establish his family, selecting for his 

 habitation a pleasant situation, and in the division 

 of lands reserving for himself the fertile penin- 

 sula 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 Arauca- 

 nians, he had also resolved to ask of the court 

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

 jacent provinces of Arauco and Tucapel^ with 

 the title of Marquis. 



The building of the city having progressed 

 rapidly under his inspection in a short time, he 

 employed the remainder of the year in regulating 

 its internal police. For this purpose he pub- 

 lished forty- two articles or statutes, among which 

 are some that discover much prudence and hu- 

 manity respecting the treatment of the natives, 

 whom he left, however, as elsewhere, subject to 

 the private control of the citizens. Believing 

 that the courage of the Araucanians was now 

 completely subdued, as, since their second un- 

 successful expedition, they had made no attempt 

 to molest him, he resolved to attack them in their 



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