INTRODUCTION. 5 



the short period of its existence, was the richest city in Chile ; Villa- 

 rica, on the banks of the lake Lauquen ; Valdivia on the Callacalla 

 which commands the most beautiful and commodious harbour of the 

 Pacific : Angol, or the City of the Frontiers ; and had built the fort- 

 resses of Puren, Tucapel, and Arauco, the two latter of which were 

 quickly destroyed by the Cacique Caupolican, who by the assistance 

 of Lautaro, a young hero of his nation, overcame the Spaniards in a 

 great battle, in which Valdivia was taken and put to death. 



Lautaro had been taken prisoner by Valdivia, who educated him, 

 and made him his page. He seemed attached to his conqueror, and 

 had never evinced a desire to join his countrymen, till, seeing them 

 routed in battle, and flying before the Spanish artillery, he was seized 

 with shame, stripped off his European garments, ran towards his 

 countrymen, and calling on them in the name of their country to 

 follow him, led them on to that victory which was confirmed by the 

 death of Valdivia. From that day he became their principal leader. 

 Villagran, who succeeded to Valdivia, immediately evacuated Con- 

 ception, which was burned to the ground by Lautaro ; but the small- 

 pox having appeared among the Araucanians, the Spaniards took 

 advantage of the distress occasioned by that dreadful malady, and 

 rebuilt Conception, 1555. Lautaro, however, immediately attacked 

 the new colonists, once more destroyed their city, and marched 

 directly towards Santiago. On the road, however, he was met by 

 Villagran, whom a spy had conducted by a secret path to the sea 

 shore, where the Araucanians had halted in a pass between a high 

 hill and the ocean. He came upon them at day-light, and just as 

 Lautaro, having watched during the night, had retired to rest. Lau- 

 taro, who ran to the front of his army as soon as he heard the 

 approach of the enemy, received an arrow through his heart ere he 

 could give directions for the fight ; but his people perished to a man ; 

 and their enemies record their unshaken valour, and the virtues of 

 the young hero, who, dying in his nineteenth year, has left a name 

 pie-eminent in the history of patriotism. 



After the death of Lautaro, Conception was rebuilt, Canete 



