' TUCAPEL VIEJo' VALDIVTA. 447 



able headland, called the ' Heights of old Tucapel,' — (' Altos 

 de Tucapel viejo.') The breadth of the river is about one 

 hundred yards. Tucapel was the name of one of the more 

 powerful caciques who united under Caupolican, to resist and 

 expel the Spaniards. In his district and near his usual resi- 

 dence, which bore the same name, the daring but avaricious 

 Valdivia was overwhelmed by numbers and taken prisoner, 

 though not until every one of his small party had desperately 

 fought and devotedly died for the cause which many among 

 them considered that of God and their king. 



Religion had so much influence over the minds of the earlier 

 Spaniards, and was so warped and misinterpreted by the 

 priests of their day, that actions, in themselves most unjusti- 

 fiable, found defenders and active supporters among church- 

 men, and energetic performers among those who trusted their 

 consciences to other men's keeping. An enthusiastically reli- 

 gious feeling, strengthened them to persevere under all trials 

 and disappointments, and helps to account for the wonderful 

 energy and constancy, shown in discovering, exploring and 

 subduing the New World. This high sentiment of religion, 

 urging them to conquer in order to convert to Christianity, 

 and to honour God by serving their king, was an impelling 

 motive in the minds of the early adventurers, at least as strong 

 as the desire of riches. I here allude to those leaders who first 

 opened the roads, which crowds of inferior men afterwards 

 followed. One proof of this feeling is the fact, that the last of 

 Valdivia's faithful companions who fell, was his chaplain, with- 

 out whom, it appears, he did not even go to battle. 



Valdivia had set out in the morning with only fifty 

 Spaniards, besides a body of friendly Indians, intending to 

 attack and disperse the multitude of his opponents. As he 

 approached Tucapel, some fugitive friends* entreated him not 

 to proceed, assuring him that twenty thousand Indians were 

 there who had sworn to take his life, or sacrifice their own. 

 Despising the natives and used to conquer, Valdivia listened 



• Friendly Aborigines. 



