ip8 OVALLE*S HISTORICAL RELATION OF CHILE. 



CHAP. XV. — The Governor Pedro de Valdivia, and all his People, are killed by the 

 Indians. — The famous Adion of LaiUaro is related, that being the chief Caufe of this 

 Event, 



THE time of this great captain's death was now come ; all things, therefore, feemed 

 to concur to that end. The prefent remedy that was to be applied to this niifchief, to 

 flop its progrefs, and the delay of thofe fuccouis he expected from the other garrifons, 

 were all combining caufes : his heart mifgave him at his fetting out from Tucapel. He 

 had fent out parties to bring him an account of the ftate of the enemy, but none came 

 back : this gave him fome apprehenfion, but being engaged, it was neceffary to go on. 

 He had fent out fcouts, as I faid, and had fcarcely gone two leagues on his way to them, 

 but he faw the heads of two of them hanging upon a tree : this increafed his fear, and 

 he confulted with thofe with him, whether it would not be ralh to proceed. The young 

 men were of opinion, that it would be a leflening of their reputation to turn their backs 

 to danger, though there came to them an Indian of their friends, and defired them not 

 to proceed, becaufe Caupolican was at Tucapel with twenty thoufand Indians, and that 

 the hazard they ran was manifeft ; but he followed on his way, and came within fight 

 of the enemy : they foon engaged, and the battle was cruel on both fides, fo that for 

 a great while no advantage could be perceived, becaufe the brave adions on both fides 

 kept vidtory in fufpence. 



After a good while of this contention, the Spaniards began to prevail, and to cry 

 Viva Efpanna, or Live Spain ; with which, recovering new vigour, the Indians feemed 

 to give way, when (as Arzilla, in his Araucana, fays) the famous Lautaro, an Indian, 

 who had been bred page to the governor Valdivia, having more regard to the love of 

 his native country and his liberty, than for the education he received, and the fidelity 

 he owed his mailer, went over to the Indians, and fpoke to them in this manner : — 

 " W^hat is this, brave Araucanos ? Do you turn your backs when your liberty is con- 

 cerned, your country, your liberty, your pofterity ? Either recover your liberty, or 

 lofe your lives ; for it is a lefs misfortune to die, than to live Haves. Do you intend to 

 ftain the glory of your ancedors, acquired for fo many ages paft, in one hour ? Re- 

 member you are defcended from thofe who gained that renown by refilling their enemies, 

 and not flying from them ; and fuch as feared not to lofe both lives and fortunes to 

 preferve their fame : drive away all fear, generous foldiers, and either live free, or die." 

 With thefe words he fo inflamed the minds of his friends, that, defpifing death, they 

 returned with fury to invade thofe whom before they flew from. Lauta-ro, to encourage 

 thern the more, led them on, fhaking his lance againft the governor, his mafler ; who, 

 furprifed at his aftion, cried, " Traitor, what doll thou do ?" To which he anfwered 

 only with a thruft or two, animating his people to do the fame. This renewed the fight, 

 and they all refolved, by the example and exhortations of Lautaro, to conquer, or die ; 

 which they performed with fo much fury, that the concern of both fides was now at the 

 highefl, and the contention only who fhould venture farthefl into danger. Many Spa- 

 niards and Indians fell on both fides, and Lautaro (till encouraged his countrymen with- 

 out any relenting. Valdivia did the fame by the Spaniards, and fhewed himfelf every 

 where, in the greatefl danger, without the leafl apprehenfion, though he faw many of 

 the bravefl of his men fall by the fword. One would have thought the Indians had 

 but jufl begun to engage, to fee how like lions they fell on, and begun to find viftory 

 incline to their fide, till at lafl there fell fo many Spaniards, that Valdivia was almoft: 



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