258 



encouraged the inhabitants, who had not yet re- 

 linquished the idea of quitting Chili. 



After a siege of two jeais and eleven months 

 Villarica, a very populous and opulent city, fell 

 at length, in 1692, into the hands of the Arau- 

 canians. A similar fate, after a short interval^ 

 was experienced by Imperial, the metropolis of 

 the southern colonies, which would have fallen 

 some months before, had not its fate been pro- 

 tracted by the courage of a Spanish heroine, 

 called Ines Aguilera. This lady, perceiving the 

 garrison to be discouraged and on the point of 

 capitulating, dissuaded them from surrendering, 

 and directed all the operations in person, until, a 

 favourable opportunity presenting, she escaped 

 by sea with the bishop and a great part of the 

 inhabitants. She had lost during the siege her 

 husband and brothers, and her valour was re- 

 warded by the king with an annual pension of 

 two thousand dollars. 



Osorno, a city not less rich and populous than 

 the preceding, was not able much longer to resist 

 the fate that awaited it. It fell * under the vio- 



Modern as Amcricaa history is, it bas had its full share of 

 fable, and this city of Osorno furnished a subject for tlie last 

 w hich has been invented. It is found in the twentieth volume 

 of the Semanario Erudito. 



In this great effort of the natives of Chili to recover their 

 country, Osorno resisted them vigorously, and held out for six 

 months : at the cod of that time the Spaniards repulsed the 



