^61 



bank of that river, and consists of the forts of x\rauco, Cnlciira, 

 St. Pedro, St. Joannaj Nascimento and Angeles. 



14th. VALDÎVÎA. 



THIS province is entirely separated from all the others possess- 

 ed by the Spanifirds in Chili, being situated in the inidót of the 

 country occupied by the Araucanians, which comprehends a tract 

 of about seventy leagues in length* It lies upon the sea coast, on 

 both sides of the great river Valdivia, and on the south is bounded 

 by the Guinchi, or Cunchi, who are in possession of its southern 

 part. It is about twelve leagues long and six broad, and abounds 

 with valuable timber^ and with gold dust, esteenried the purest of any 

 in Chili. Its capital is the famous city, fortress, and port of Valdi- 

 via, situated on the southern shore of the river of that name, at 

 three leagues distaoce from the sea, in 39. 58. degrees of latitude, 

 and 305. 2. of longitude. This city was founded in the year 1551, 

 by the conqueror Pedro de Valdivia, who gave it his name, and ob- 

 tained immense sums of gold from its vicinity. Its wealth allured 

 ^many inhabitants thither, and it became, even at its commence- 

 ment, one of the most populous cities in the kingdom. It was twice 

 besieged ineffectually by the Toqui Caupolican, but it was not so 

 fortunate in resisting the talents and activity of the celebrated 

 Paillamachu. In the year 1599 it was surprised at night by that 

 general with four thousand men, who killed the greater part of the 

 garrison, consisting of eight hundred soldiers, and, having burned 

 the city, carried oíF a million in gold, and a valuable booty, con-, 

 sisting of the effects of the inhabitants, together with a great num- 

 ber of prisoners. The Spaniards, convinced of the importance of 

 this situation, rebuilt it anew, and fortified it so strongly, that it re- 

 sisted all the attempts of the Araucanians. It was, however, ta- 

 ken in the year 1640 by the Dutch, who, notwithstanding they were 

 determined to keep it, were compelled to abandon it, being 

 frustrated in their attempts to form an alliance with the Arauca- 

 nians and the Cunchi, who even refused to supply them with pro- 

 visions, of which they were in great want. The Spaniards, who 

 had fitted out a considerable fleet to retake it, finding it on their 

 arrival abandoned, repaired and fortified it in a better manner 

 than before, adding four strong castles or forts upon both sides of 

 the river towards the sea to defend it from foreign invasion, and 

 another on the north to protect it from the incursions of the Arau- 

 canians. These precautions have hitherto succeeded in securing it 



