S3 



CHAPTER VI. 



The Spaniards return to Chili, under the command 

 of Pedro de Valdivia ; St. Jago the capital founded; 

 Various encounters -with the natives ; Conspiracy 

 of the soldiers against the general. 



FRANCIS PIZARRO having, by the death of 

 his rival, obtained the absolute command of the^ 

 Spanish possessions in South America, lost not sight 

 of the conquest of Chili, which he conceived might, 

 in any event, prove an important acquisition to him. 

 Among the adventurers who had come to Peru 

 were two officers, commissioned by the court of 

 Spain, under the titles of governor, to attempt this 

 expedition. To the first, called Pedro Sanchez de 

 Hoz, was committed the conquest of the country as 

 far as the river Maule ; and to the other, Car margo, 

 the remainder to the Archipelago of Chiloe. Pi- 

 zarro, jealous of these men, under frivolous pretexts 

 refused to confirm the royal nomination, and ap- 

 pointed to this expedition his quarter- master, Pedro 

 de Valdivia, a prudent and active officer, who had 

 gained experience in the Italian war, and, what was 

 a still greater recommendation, was attached to his 

 party, directing him to take de Hoz with him, who 

 was probably more to be feared than his colleague, 

 and to allow him every advantage in the partition 

 of the lands, 

 V©L..IL B 



