i86 ovalle's historical relation of chile. 



This relief was received with great joy, as being in the beginning of the enterprize, 

 and extremely wanted, the foldiers being much fatigued and weakened with the con- 

 tinual aflaults of their enemies, without any other defence than their fort of St.Jago, 

 where they had enough to do to fhelter themfelves from their valour and fierce at- 

 tack ; but the arrival of thefe fuccours gave them new courage, and refolution to profe- 

 cute their enterprize. To undertake it with more regularity, and prevent what accidents 

 might happen from the fea, the governor fent Paftene with the title of lieutenant-general 

 in his own fhip, to difcover the coaft as far as the ftraights of Magellan, as he did j 

 and it appears by the letters of Their Catholick Majefties, Philip II. and his fon 

 Philip III. how agreeable this piece of fervice was to them. About this time the mines 

 of Quillota being working with great profit, and Don Gongales de los Rios being 

 captain-governor of the work, the Indians brought him a full pot of great grains of 

 gold, for a fhew of a great deal which they faid they had found in a certain place. 

 There they had laid an ambufcade of feveral of their beft men, to fall upon fuch as, 

 blinded with covetoufnefs, fhould go to feek this treafure. This happened . accord- 

 ingly, for they all run prefently to the place ; for there is no alarm never fo warm, 

 that rouzes better than this defire of growing rich at once did them : but they were 

 much miltaken ; for inflead of gold, they met with the iron of their enemies' lances, who 

 killed them all but their captain and a Negroe, who efcaped by the fwiftnefs of their 

 horfes : fo the Indians remained vidorious, and by the way of triumph, fet fire to a 

 frigate which the Spaniards had almofl finifhed to keep up their eorrefpondency 

 with Peru. 



CHAP. X. — The City of Serena is peopled. — Jolm Bapii/ie Fafiene goes for 7nore 

 Succours to Feruyfrom whence he returns to Chile ; and with Valdivia and other 

 Captains, goes to help the Royal Army againji Pizarro. 



HERRERA fays, that with this relief which Valdivia received, he purfued his 

 conqueft on the people called the Promocaes ; and that he was met by feveral 

 Indians in the valley Quillocma, whom he overcame cpurageoufly, though with the 

 lofs of fome horfes ; and at that time horfes were a thoufand crowns a-piece. Hav- 

 ing difcovered large provinces, and being fatisfied of the great number of inhabi- 

 tants in them, he returned to St.Jago. It is fuppofed the governor did all this in 

 halle, lince he returned without making any fort or fettlement : fo it is probable he 

 went this time only to difcover, in order to form a force proportionable of an 

 army : therefore the General John Baptifte Paftene being returned from difcovering of 

 the fea-coafts, he fent him back to Peru to endeavour to bring more fuccours, as he 

 had done the firft, and fo form an army capable of enlarging his conquefts upon fuch 

 powerful enemies, as he found the natives of Chile to be. Judging therefore that it 

 was not yet time to leave any thing behind him unfortified, he founded in the valley of 

 Coquimbo the city generally called by that name, but by him called La Serena, to 

 ferve for a refting-place or Scala for the people who came from Peru to Chile; for 

 being in great want of fupplies, he did endeavour to facilitate by all means their 

 palTage, and draw as many people as poffible to preferve his conqueft ; for afting 

 otherwife would only be to have fo much the more to lofe ; as indeed it happened, 

 and fhall be related in its due place. 



The city of La Serena was the fecond that was founded in Chile in the year 1544, 

 in a very pleafant and fruitful valley, watered by a very fine river, oiot of the biggeft, 



1 1 but 



