ip4 ovalle's historical relation of chile. 



This city, which was the fourth of this kingdom, being thus founded, the governor 

 divided the territory, and gave the lordlhips to his conquerors, according to the royal 

 privilege he had fo to do, that he might engage the Spaniards to enter more heartily 

 into his enterprize. He took for himfelf the lordfhips of Arauco and Tucapel, as far 

 as Puren, except fome manors that he gave to others, to content all. Having left a 

 force, which feemed fufficient in the city of Imperial, he marched as far as Valdivia. 

 Being come to that famous river, and defiring to pafs it, to conquer the land and 

 people on the other fide, the brave Indian lady, called Recloma, hindered him, offer- 

 ing to pafs the river alone fwimming, and to reduce the Indians to his obedience, 

 as fhe did, and we have already related in the ninth chapter of the firfl book ; and 

 there likewife is a full defcription of the fituation of the city, and all its other qualities, 

 which it was proper to make in that place, and fo it is not neceflary to, repeat here. 

 The governor having founded the city of Valdivia, erefted a fort, and fettled all things 

 as he had done at the Imperial. While he flayed there to purfue his fettlement, he 

 fent Captain Hyeronimo de Alderate to difcover the country as far as the Cordillera 

 Nevada ; and he having fent to the governor relations of his difcoveries, as he went 

 founded a town, which he called, by the excellency, Villa Rica, the appearances of the 

 riches of that country being greater than any yet had been difcovered. 



Though the fituation he chofe feemed at firft to be the befl, yet in time it was 

 refolved to change it, and place it upon a great lake, at the bottoin of the Cordillera, 

 and about fixteen leagues from the Imperial, and forty from the Conception. It has 

 not fuch a plenty of corn and wine as the others, but it has enough, and many other 

 good qualities, which I omit, becaufe it being fince deflroyed with other cities, already 

 mentioned, I am likewife forced to be filent of their particular properties, and refer 

 myfelf to the general hiflory of Chile, which will embrace all thofe particulars. 



Thefe were the cities planted and peopled by the governor Valdivia ; and though 

 I have not, as to thefe laft, made mention of the blood fpilt in gaining them, it is not 

 to be imagined but that they coft dear enough, fmce the contefl was with fuch war- 

 like nations, that it feemed a great rafhnefs (and would have been fo without a par- 

 ticular protection from heaven) to undertake fuch enterprizes. There are not wanting 

 thofe who blame the governor Valdivia, judging that he did not meafure well -his 

 flrength, but grafped more than he could hold, as he found by a fad experience at 

 his own peril in a little time. 



The authors who fpeak of thefe attemps are full of the commendation of the valour, 

 patience, and fufferings of the Caftilians ; but all this would not have done, nor have 

 fubjeded thofe people, nor twice that force could have prevailed againfl them, if, 

 becaufe they faw them on horfe-back, and killing people at a diflance, they had not 

 believed them to be Epunamones, by which name they called the gods they adored ;. 

 fo they imagined them to be immortal, and that they came from above with a power- 

 to fend out thunderbolts like God : for having never feen either fmall arms, or great 

 artillery, they thought the noife was thunder ; and to this day that fort of arms is 

 called Talca, which in their language fignifies thunder ; and out of the fame imagi- 

 nation they called the Spaniards Viracochas, which is as much as to fay, fcum of the 

 fea, or a people come by fea, giving to underftand, that thofe men, if they were 

 men, were fent from God to fubjeft them. This made them ready at firft to fliow all 

 refpeft to the Spaniards, and kept them from rebelling, and refifling fo vigoroufly 

 as they did afterwards, though they alv/ays made fome oppofition, particularly the 

 Araucanos, who have ever been the eagles among the Indians. Valdivia having well 

 , obferved this, was content at prefent with what he had conquered, and returning to- 



Arauco; 



