CHILIAN BOllDER WARFARE. 345 



the Araucanians ; but, although these alliances 

 proved invariably advantageous to both parties, 

 the next governor would, in all probability, go to 

 war ; considering it unworthy to remain on good 

 terms with a set of savages. From that moment, 

 a miserable conflict was commenced of inroads 

 on one side, and hard fighting on the other, 

 equally mischievous to Chilians and Araucanians. 

 These wars generally began by the Spanish dis- 

 ciplined troops entering the Indian territory, and 

 possessing themselves of the capital, Arauco, and 

 other towns; but, ere long, they were always 

 forced to retire before the bravery and numbers 

 of the Indians ; who, in their turn, entered and 

 laid waste the Chilian frontier, drove off the cat- 

 tle, and dispersed the inhabitants, acting pretty 

 much in the style of our Borderers of old. How- 

 ever spirited and romantic such a state of things 

 may sound in poetical description, it is very me- 

 lancholy to witness in real life. Indeed, while 

 this poor peasant was detailing to us the ruin and 

 misery which had befallen his country, from this 

 profitless and barbarous system of warfare ; and 

 when his narrative was confirmed by every cir- 



