266 



peace with the Araucanians, by establishing the 

 river Bio-bio as the line of division between the 

 two nations. With a view to insure the more 

 punctual execution of his orders, he also deter- 

 mined to exalt the zealous missionary to the 

 episcopal dignity, and commit to him the charge 

 of the government of Chili ; but Valdivia re- 

 fused to accept of any thing except the privilege 

 of nominating in his place a governor whose 

 views were in conformity to his own. This was 

 no other than Alonzo Rivera, who, as we have 

 already observed, had been exiled to Tucuman. 



Satisfied with the prosperous issue of his 

 voyage, Valdivia returned to Chili in 1612, with 

 a letter from the king himself to the Araucanian 

 congress, relative to the establishment of peace 

 and the promotion of religion. Immediately on 

 his arrival he hastened to the frontiers, and com- 

 municated to the Araucanians by means of some 

 prisoners whom he brought with him from Peru, 

 the commission with which he was intrusted by 

 the court. Aillavilu, who at that time held the 

 chief command, paid little attention to this in- 

 formation, considering it as merely a story in- 

 vented for the purpose of deceiving and sur- 

 prising him; but he soon after dying or resign- 

 ing his office, his successor Ancanamon thought 

 proper to inquire into the truth of the report. 

 With this view he directed the Ulmen Caram- 

 pangui to converse with Valdivia, and learn his 

 proposals in an assembly of the l.'luicnrs. 



