42 



Morrroy, who had the good fortune to conceal his 

 march from the Copiapins ; and at the same time 

 gave directions to Juan Batista Pastene, a noble 

 Genoese, to proceed thither by sea with a still 

 greater number. Valdivia, on receiving these two 

 reinforcements, which arrived nearly at the same 

 time, began to carry his great designs into execu- 

 tion. As he had been solicitous from the first to 

 have a complete knowledge of the sea coast, he or- 

 dered Pastene to explore it, and note the situation 

 of the most important parts and places, as far as the 

 straits of Magellan. On his return from this expe- • 

 dition, he sent him back to Peru for new recruits, 

 as, since the aíFair of Copiapo, the natives became 

 daily more bold and enterprising. 



Among others, the Quillotanes had, a little time 

 before, massacred all the soldiers employed in the 

 mines. For this purpose they employed the follow- 

 ing stratagem : one of the neighbouring Indians 

 brought to the commander, Gonzalo Rios, a pot full 

 of gold, telling him that he had found a great quan- 

 tity of it in a certain district of the country. Upon 

 this information, all were impatient to proceed thi- 

 ther to participate in the imagined treasure. As 

 they arrived tumultuously at the place described, 

 they fell into an ambuscade, from whence none es- 

 caped except the imprudent commander and a ne- 

 gro who saved themselves by the superior excel- 

 lence of their horses. The frigate that was then 

 finished was also destroyed, being burned together 

 with the arsenal. 



