IS4 



own territory, with a reinforcement that he had 

 just received from Peru. 



With this intention^ in the year 1552^ he passed 

 the Bio-bio, and proceeding rapidly through the 

 provinces of Encol and Puren, unobstructed by 

 the tardy operations of Lincoyan came to the 

 shores of the Cauten, which divides the Arau- 

 canian territory into two nearly equal parts. At 

 the confluence of this river and that of Damas, 

 he founded another city, to which he gave the 

 name of Imperial, in honour of the Emperor 

 Charles the Fifth ; or, as is said by some, in 

 consequence of finding there eagles with two 

 heads cut in wood, placed upon the tops of the 

 houses. This city was situated in a beautiful 

 spot, abounding with every convenience of life, 

 and during the short period of its existence he- 

 came the most flourishing of any in Chili. Its 

 position on the shore of a large river of sufiicicnt 

 depth for vessels to lie close to the walls, ren- 

 dered it a highl}' advantageous situation for 

 commerce, and would enable it to obtain imme- 

 diate succour in case of siege. Modern geo- 

 graphers speak of it as a city not only existing 

 at the present time, but as very strongly for- 

 tified, and the seat of a bishopric, when it has 

 been buried in ruins for more than twg hundred 

 years. 



Valdivia, intoxicated with this unexpected 

 prosperity, displayed all that liberality which 



