ovalle's historical relation of chile. 195 



Arauco by Puren and Tucapel, he caufed three flrong houfes to be erected in the 

 diftance of eight leagues from one another, and in fuch places as might have an eafy 

 communication together. Having thus fettled matters, he returned to the Conception, 

 and fo to St. Jago ; from whence he difpatched Captain Hyeronimo de Alderate to 

 Caftile, to give the King information of the riches that were difcovered in that country, 

 and its other good qualities ; as alfo a relation of the fettlements made there, in order 

 to obtain a fupply of people, which was granted. The cities newly founded were in 

 great danger of being loft ; for indeed they were more than our forces could protect, 

 and the Indians fhewed great impatience, and fretted to fee foreigners fettle cities in 

 their country, and eved: forts and ftrong places for their fecurity. 



The governor being informed of this difpofition of the Indians, fet out from St. 

 Jago with a fupply of men which he had received from Peru, under the conduft of 

 Don Martin de Avendano, and relieved all the garrifons ; which having done, and 

 prefuming they were fafe, without refleding on the danger that threatened him, he 

 applied all his intention to give a beginning to the working of the gold mines for a 

 defign he had. 



This was to go to Spain, and carry with him all the gold he could get together, to 

 fhew the King the vaft riches of the country, and to obtain from His Majefty thofe 

 titles of honour which were generally beftowed upon the conquerors and difcoverers 

 of thofe Indian kingdoms, and fo bring back a good force to fubdue them For this 

 end he did two things ; the firft, to fend to the ilraights of Magellan, in the year 

 1552, Francifco de Ulloa, that with two fhips, which were equipped on purpofe, he 

 might difcover all the ftraight, and give an account of it, fo that he might know how 

 to undertake the voyage to Spain that way : the other thing he did, was to fet people 

 to work to find out new gold mines, which they eafily did, there being (o many in 

 thefe parts ; among which, the moft famous were the mines of Quilacoya, four 

 leagues from the city of the Conception ; and others in Angol, to work which he em- 

 ployed twenty thoufand Indians. It is eafy to imagine how much gold fuch numbers 

 of men might get from thofe mines, which had never been touched till then ; it was 

 very great, and enough to enrich both governor and foldiers, which it did : and with 

 the acquifition of fo much treafure, they began likewife to defpife their enemies ; who, 

 while they were bufy in fearching the bowels of the earth for gold, were employed 

 in thinking how they fhould recover their loft liberty, and free themfelves from the 

 yoke of fubjedion, which they had never felt before. 



The city of the Conception went on profpering, becaufe of the great quantity of 

 gold brought into it every day ; by which means the minds of the inhabitants were 

 elevated in proportion, and the foldiers grew wanton and infolent. The governor 

 being tainted with the fame difeafe of too much, profperity, negleded to take notice of 

 thefe difordersj for the defire of liches increafmg by riches, which they faw every 

 day fill their coffers, they were lefs attentive to that which ought moft to have drawn 

 their attention, which was their own and the King's prefervation, and fo made way for 

 that blow of fortune that laid them all along. 



The Araucanos were as uneafy, and continually plotting how to compafs their de- 

 figns, and at laft refolved to rife unanimoufly againft the Spaniards, and take their 

 revenge of them. To try how it would be taken they began to talk big, and carry 

 themfelves haughtily, more like mafters of the land than like fervants ; they quarrelled 

 with one and the other, and lofing all refped drove the thing fo far as to kill fome 

 Spaniards in thefe contefts : and then perceiving that thefe things were dilfembled, and 

 that their boldnefs had its defired effed, they grew every day more infolent j and at 



c c 2 l^t 



