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diff --git a/14984.txt b/14984.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b365b4a --- /dev/null +++ b/14984.txt @@ -0,0 +1,20472 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of A General History and Collection of Voyages +and Travels, Vol. 5, by Robert Kerr + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels, Vol. 5 + Arranged in Systematic Order: Forming a Complete History of the + Origin and Progress of Navigation, Discovery, and Commerce, by Sea + and Land, from the Earliest Ages to the Present Time + + +Author: Robert Kerr + +Release Date: February 8, 2005 [EBook #14984] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A GENERAL HISTORY, VOL. 5 *** + + + + +Produced by Robert Connal, Graeme Mackreth and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team. This file was produced from images generously +made available by the Canadian Institute for Historical +Microreproductions. + + + + + +[Transcriber's Note: The spelling inconsistencies of the original have +been retained in this etext.] + +A +GENERAL +HISTORY AND COLLECTION +OF +VOYAGES AND TRAVELS, +ARRANGED IN SYSTEMATIC ORDER: + +FORMING A COMPLETE HISTORY OF THE ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF NAVIGATION, +DISCOVERY, AND COMMERCE, BY SEA AND LAND, FROM THE EARLIEST AGES TO THE +PRESENT TIME. + + * * * * * + +BY ROBERT KERR, F.R.S. & F.A.S. EDIN. + + * * * * * + +ILLUSTRATED BY MAPS AND CHARTS. + +VOL. V. + +MDCCCXXIV. + +CONTENTS + +OF + +VOL. V. + + * * * * * + +PART II. BOOK II. CONTINUED. + +CHAP. VII. _Continued_. Continuation of the early history of Peru, after +the death of Francisco Pizarro to the defeat of Gonzalo Pizarro, and the +reestablishment of tranquillity in the country; written by Augustino +Zarate, + +SECT. III. Continuation of the Viceroyalty of Blasco Nunnez Vela, to his +deposition and expulsion from Peru, + +SECT. IV. History of the usurpation of Gonzalo Pizarro, from the +expulsion of the Viceroy to his defeat and death, + +V. Continuation of the Usurpation of Gonzalo Pizarro, to the arrival of +Gasca in Peru with full powers to restore the Colony to order, + +VI. History of the Expedition of Pedro de la Gasca, the death of Gonzalo +Pizarro, and the Restoration of Peru to Tranquillity, + +VII. Insurrection of Ferdinand and Pedro de Contreras in Nicaragua, and +their unsuccessful attempt upon the Royal Treasure in the Tierra Firma, + +CHAP. VIII. Continuation of the early history of Peru, from the +restoration of tranquillity by Gasca in 1549, to the death of the Inca +Tupac Amaru; extracted from Garcilasso de la Vega, + +SECT. I. Incidents in the History of Peru, from the departure of Gasca, +to the appointment of Don Antonio de Mendoza as Viceroy, + +II. History of Peru during the Viceroyalty of Don Antonio de Mendoza, + +III. Narrative of the Troubles in Peru, consequent upon the Death of the +Viceroy Mendoza, + +IV. Continuation of the Troubles in Peru, to the Viceroyalty of the +Marquis de Cannete, + +V. History of Peru during the Viceroyalty of the Marquis del Cannete, + +VI. Incidents in the History of Peru, during the successive Governments +of the Conde de Nieva, Lope Garcia de Castro, and Don Francisco de +Toledo, + +CHAP IX. History of the Discovery and Conquest of Chili, + +SECT. I. Geographical View of the Kingdom of Chili, + +II. Of the Origin, Manners, and Language of the Chilese, + +III. State of Chili, and Conquests made in that Country by the +Peruvians, before the arrival of the Spaniards, + +IV. First Expedition of the Spaniards into Chili under Almagro, + +V. Second Expedition into Chili, under Pedro de Valdivia, to the +commencement of the War between the Spaniards and Araucanians, + +VI. Narrative of the War between the Spaniards and Araucanians, from +the year 1550, to the Defeat and Death of Pedro de Valdivia on the 3d of +December 1553, + +SECT. VII. Continuation of the War between the Spaniards and +Araucanians, from the death of Valdivia, to that of Caupolican, + +VIII. Continuation of the Araucanian War, after the Death of Caupolican, +to the Reduction of the Archipelago of Chiloe by the Spaniards, + +IX. Continuation of the Araucanian War to the Destruction of all the +Spanish Settlements in the territories of that Nation, + +X. Farther Narrative of the War, to the Conclusion of Peace with the +Araucanians, + +XI. Renewal of the War with the Araucanians, and succinct Narrative of +the History of Chili, from 1655 to 1787, + +XII. State of Chili towards the end of the Eighteenth Century, + +XIII. Account of the Archipelago of Chiloe, + +XIV. Account of the native tribes inhabiting the southern extremity of +South America, + +CHAP. X. Discovery of Florida, and Account of several ineffectual +Attempts to Conquer and Settle that Country by the Spaniards, + +SECT. I. Discovery of Florida, by Juan Ponce de Leon, + +II. Narrative of a Disastrous attempt by Panfilo de Narvaez to conquer +Florida; together with some account of that Country, + +III. Adventures and wonderful escape of Cabeza de Vaca, after the loss +of Narvaez, + +Sect. IV. Narrative of a new attempt to Conquer Florida, by Ferdinand +de Soto, + +V. Continuation of the Transactions of Ferdinand de Soto in Florida, + +VI. Conclusion of the Expedition to Florida by Ferdinand de Soto, + +[Illustration: VICEROYALTY OF NEW GRANADA] + +A +GENERAL HISTORY +AND +COLLECTION +OF +VOYAGES AND TRAVELS. + + * * * * * + +PART II. BOOK II. CONTINUED. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER VII _Continued_. + +CONTINUATION OF THE EARLY HISTORY OF PERU, AFTER THE DEATH OF FRANCISCO +PIZARRO, TO THE DEFEAT OF GONZALO PIZARRO, AND THE RE-ESTABLISHMENT OF +TRANQUILITY IN THE COUNTRY; WRITTEN BY AUGUSTINO ZARATE. + + +SECTION III. + + +_Continuation of the Viceroyalty of Blasco Nunnez Vela, to his +deposition and expulsion front Peru_. + + +The viceroy received immediate intelligence of the revolt of Puelles, as +mentioned in the foregoing section, which; was brought to him by a +Peruvian captain named Yllatopa; and, though he considered it as a very +unfortunate incident, he took immediate measures to counteract their +intentions of joining the enemy, by sending a detachment to occupy the +passes of the valley of Jauja, through which they must necessarily march +on their way from Guanuco to join Gonzalo. For this purpose, he +immediately ordered his brother Vela Nunnez to march in all haste with +a detachment of forty light armed cavalry, and thirty musqueteers under +the command of Gonzalo Diaz, besides whom ten of the friends and +relations of Nunnez went as volunteers on this expedition. On purpose to +expedite the march of this detachment as much as possible, the viceroy +caused thirty-six mules to be purchased, which cost 12,000 ducats, the +money being taken from the royal treasury. Being thus excellently +equipped, they set out from Lima, and marched to Guadachili[1], about +twenty leagues from Lima on their way to the valley of Jauja. At this +place a plot was formed by the soldiers for killing Vela Nunnez and +deserting to the army of Gonzalo, which was revealed by the following +incident. Certain scouts who preceded the detachment about four leagues +beyond Guadachili in the district of Pariacaca, met the friar Thomas de +San Martino, provincial of the Dominicans, who had been sent by the +viceroy to Cuzco to try if it were possible to come to some agreement +with Gonzalo; on this occasion one of the soldiers secretly informed the +provincial of the particulars of the conspiracy, begging him to take +immediate means of prevention, as it was to be executed on the following +night. The provincial accordingly hastened his journey to Guadachili, +taking all the scouts he could meet with along with him, as he told them +their present expedition was entirely useless, as Puelles and his troops +had passed through Jauja two days before, and it was now impossible to +intercept them. On his arrival in Guadachili, the provincial immediately +informed Vela Nunnez of the danger to which he was exposed, who +accordingly consulted with some of his friends and relations on the +means of escape. In the evening, they ordered out their horses, as if +for the purpose of sending them to water, and mounting them immediately, +they saved themselves by flight under the cloud of night, being guided +on their way by the provincial. + +[Footnote 1: The place mentioned in the text is probably what is now +named Guarochiri, which is in the direction of the march, and nearly at +the distance indicated.--E.] + +When the flight of Vela Nunnez and his friends was known, Juan de la +Torre, Pedro Hita, Jorge Griego, and the other soldiers who had formed +the conspiracy, went immediately to the main guard, where they compelled +all the other soldiers, under threats of instant death, to promise going +off along with them to join Gonzalo. Almost the whole of the detachment +promised compliance, and even the captain Gonzalo Diaz was of the +number; but he was apparently more harshly treated by the conspirators +than the others. They tied his hands as if fearing he might use measures +against them; yet he was not only believed to have been a participator +in the plot, but was even supposed to be its secret leader. Most of the +inhabitants of Lima expected Diaz to act in the way he did, as he was +son-in-law to Puelles against whom he was sent, and it was not to be +supposed he would give his aid to arrest his father-in-law. The whole +party therefore, immediately set out in search of Gonzalo, mounted on +the mules which had cost so high a price, and joined him near the city +of Guamanga, where Puelles had arrived, two days before them. At that +time of their junction, the adherents of Gonzalo were so much +discouraged by the lukewarmness of Gaspard Rodriguez and his friends, +that in all probability the whole army under Gonzalo would have +dispersed if they had been three days later in arriving. But the arrival +of Puelles gave the insurgents great encouragement, both by the +reinforcement which he brought of forty horse and twenty musketeers, and +by his exhortations; as he declared himself ready to proceed against the +viceroy even with his own troops, and had no doubt of being able to take +him prisoner or to drive him out of the country, he was so universally +hated. The encouragements derived by the insurgents from the junction of +Puelles, was still farther strengthened by the arrival of Diaz and his +companions. + +Vela Nunnez got safe to Lima, where he informed the viceroy of the +unfortunate result of his expedition, who was very much cast down on the +occasion, as his affairs seemed to assume a very unpromising aspect. +Next day Rodrigo Ninno, and three or four others who refused to follow +the example of Diaz, arrived at Lima in a wretched condition, having +suffered a thousand insults from the conspirators, who deprived them of +their horses and arms, and even stripped them of their clothes. Ninno +was dressed in an old doublet and breeches, without stockings, having +only a pair of miserable pack-thread sandals, and had walked all the way +with a stick in his hand. The viceroy received him very graciously, +praising his loyalty, and told him that he appeared more nobly in his +rags than if clothed in the most costly attire. + +When Balthasar de Loyasa had procured the safe conduct from the viceroy +for his employers, he set out without loss of time for the army of +Gonzalo Pizarro. As his departure and the nature of his dispatches were +soon known in Lima, it was universally believed there that the troops +under Pizarro would soon disperse of their own accord, leaving the +viceroy in peaceable and absolute command of the whole colony, upon +which he would assuredly put the ordinances in force with the utmost +rigour to the utter ruin of every one: For this reason, several of the +inhabitants, and some even of the soldiers belonging to the viceroy, +came to the resolution of following Loyasa and taking his dispatches +from him. Loyasa left Lima in the evening of a Saturday, in the month of +September 1545, accompanied by Captain Ferdinand de Zavallos. They were +mounted on mules, without any attendants, and had no baggage to delay +their journey. Next night, twenty-five persons set out from Lima on +horseback in pursuit of them, determined to use every possible +expedition to get up with Loyasa that they might take away his +dispatches. The chiefs in this enterprize were, Don Balthasar de Castro, +son of the Conde de la Gomera, Lorenzo Mexia, Rodrigo de Salazar, Diego +de Carvajal usually called the gallant, Francisco de Escovedo, Jerom de +Carvajal, and Pedro Martin de Cecilia, with eighteen others in their +company. Using every effort to expedite their journey, they got up with +Loyasa and Zavallos about forty leagues from Lima, and found them asleep +in a _tambo_ of palace of the Incas. Taking from them the letters and +dispatches with which they were entrusted, they forwarded these +immediately to Gonzalo Pizarro by means of a soldier, who used the +utmost diligence in travelling through bye ways and short cuts through +the mountains, with all of which he was well acquainted. After this, de +Castro and the rest of the malecontents continued their journey towards +the camp of Gonzalo, taking Loyasa and Zavallos along with them under +strict custody. + +Upon receiving the intercepted dispatches which were brought to him by +the soldier, Gonzalo Pizarro secretly communicated them to Captain +Carvajal, whom he had recently appointed his lieutenant-general, or +maestre de campo, in consequence of the sickness of Alfonzo de Toro, who +held that commission on commencing the march from Cuzco. After +consulting with Carvajal, he communicated the whole matter to the +captains and those other chiefs of the insurgent-army who had shewn no +intentions of abandoning him, as they had not participated in applying +for the safe conduct from the viceroy. Some of these, from motives of +enmity against individuals, others from envy, and others again from the +hope of profiting by the forfeiture of the lands and Indians belonging +to the accused, advised Gonzalo to punish these persons with rigor, as a +warning to others not to venture upon similar conduct. In this secret +consultation, it was determined to select the following from among those +who were clearly implicated in taking part with the viceroy, by their +names being contained in the safe conduct taken from Loyasa: Captain +Gaspard Rodriguez; Philip Gutierrez, the son of Alfonso Gutierrez of +Madrid who was treasurer to his majesty; and Arias Maldonado, a +gentleman of Galicia, who had remained along with Gutierrez at Guamanga, +two or three days march in the rear of the army, under pretence of +having some preparations to make for the journey. Accordingly, Gonzalo +sent off Pedro de Puelles to Guamanga accompanied by an escort of +cavalry, who arrested these two latter gentlemen and caused them to be +beheaded. + +Gaspar Rodriguez was in the camp, where he commanded a body of near two +hundred pikemen; and as Gonzalo and his advisers dared not to put him to +death openly, as he was a very rich man of considerable influence and +much beloved, they had to employ a stratagem for his arrestment. Gonzalo +ordered a hundred and fifty musqueteers of the company commanded by +Ceremeno to hold themselves in readiness around his tent, near which +likewise he caused his train of artillery to be drawn up ready for +service, and then convened all the captains belonging to his troops in +his tent, under pretence of communicating some dispatches which he had +received from Lima. When the whole were assembled, and Rodriguez among +them, he became alarmed on seeing that the tent was surrounded by armed +men and artillery, and wished to have retired under pretext of urgent +business. At this time, and in presence of the whole assembled officers, +the lieutenant-general Carvajal, came up to Rodriguez as if without any +premeditated intention, caught hold of the guard of his sword, and drew +it from the scabbard. Carvajal then desired him to make confession of +his sins to a priest, who was in attendance for that express purpose, as +he was to be immediately put to death. Rodriguez used every effort to +avoid this sudden and unlooked for catastrophe, and offered to justify +himself from every accusation which could be brought against him; but +every thing he could allege was of no avail, as his death was resolved +upon, and he was accordingly beheaded. + +The execution of these three leaders astonished every one, being the +first which were ventured upon since the usurpation of Gonzalo; but they +more especially terrified those other persons who were conscious of +having participated in the same plot for which their chiefs were now put +to death. A few days afterwards, De Castro and his companions arrived at +the camp of the insurgents, with their prisoners Loyasa and Zavallos. It +has been reported that, on the very day of their arrival, Gonzalo sent +off his lieutenant-general Carvajal to meet them on the road by which +they were expected, with orders to have Loyasa and Zavallos strangled: +But, fortunately for them, their conductors had left the ordinary road, +taking a circuitous and unfrequented path, so that Carvajal did not fall +in with them; and, when they were brought before Gonzalo, so many of his +friends and accomplices interceded for their pardon, that he agreed to +spare their lives. Loyasa was commanded immediately to quit the camp, on +foot and without any provisions. Zavallos was detained in the camp as a +prisoner; and, rather more than a year afterwards, was appointed +superintendent of those who were employed in digging for gold in the +province of Quito. While in that employment, it was represented to +Gonzalo that Zavallos had become so exceedingly rich, that he must have +purloined a great proportion of the gold which was drawn from the mines. +Being predisposed against him by his former conduct in the service of +the viceroy, Gonzalo was easily persuaded to believe him guilty, and +ordered him to be hanged. + +The departure of De Castro and his companions from Lima, as already +mentioned, though conducted in great secrecy, was soon discovered. On +the same night, as Diego de Urbina, the major general of the army +belonging to the viceroy, was going the rounds of the city, he happened +to visit the dwellings of several of those who had accompanied De +Castro; and finding that they were absent, and that their horses, arms, +servants, and Indians were all removed, he immediately suspected that +they were gone off to join Gonzalo. Urbina went directly to the viceroy, +who was already in bed, and assured him that most of the inhabitants had +fled from the city, as he believed that the defection was more general +than it turned out to be. The viceroy was very justly alarmed by this +intelligence, and ordered the drums to beat to arms. When, in +consequence of this measure, all the captains and other officers in his +service were assembled, he gave them orders to visit the whole houses of +the city, by which means it was soon known who had deserted. As Diego +and Jerom de Carvajal, and Francisco Escovedo, nephews of the commissary +Yllan Suarez de Carvajal were among the absentees, the viceroy +immediately suspected Yllan Suarez of being a partisan of Gonzalo +Pizarro, believing that his nephews had acted by his orders, more +especially as they dwelt in his house, and could not therefore have gone +away without his knowledge; though assuredly they might easily have +escaped by a different door at a distance from the principal entrance. +Actuated by these suspicions, the viceroy sent his brother, Vela Nunnez, +with a detachment of musqueteers, to bring Suarez immediately to the +palace for examination. On arriving at his house, Suarez was in bed, but +was brought immediately before the viceroy, who was now dressed is his +armour, and reposing on a couch. It is reported by some who were +present, that the viceroy addressed Suarez on entering the following +words. "Traitor! you have sent off your nephews to join Gonzalo +Pizarro." "Call me not traitor, my lord," replied Suarez, "I am as +faithful a subject to his majesty as you are." The viceroy was so much +irritated by the insolent behaviour of Suarez, that he drew his sword +and advanced towards him, and some even allege that he stabbed him in +the breast. The viceroy, however, constantly asserted that he did not +use his sword against Suarez; but that the servants and halberdiers who +were in attendance, on noticing the insolent behaviour of the commissary +to their master, had put him to death, without allowing him time for +confession, or even for speaking a single word in his own defence. The +body was immediately carried away for interment; and as the commissary +was very universally beloved, it was thought dangerous to take his dead +body through the great court of the viceregal palace, where there were +always a hundred soldiers on guard during the night, lest it might +occasion some disturbance. For this reason, it was let down from a +gallery which overlooked the great square, whence some Indians and +negroes carried it to a neighbouring church, and buried it without any +ceremony in his ordinary scarlet cloak. + +Three days after this tragical event, when the judges of the royal +audience made the viceroy a prisoner, as shall be presently related, +among their first transactions, they made a judicial examination +respecting the circumstances attendant upon the death of Suarez. It was +ascertained in the first place, that he had disappeared since the time +when he was carried before the viceroy at midnight; after which, the +body was dug up, and the wounds examined[2]. When the intelligence of +the death of Suarez spread through Lima, it gave occasion to much +dissatisfaction, as every one knew that he had been always, favourable +to the interest and authority of the viceroy, and had even exerted his +whole influence in procuring him to be received at Lima, in opposition +to the sentiments of the majority of the magistrates of that city. His +death happened on the night of Sunday the 13th of September 1544. Early +next morning, Don Alfonzo de Montemayor was sent by the viceroy with a +party of thirty horse, in pursuit of De Castro and the others who had +gone after Loyasa and Zavallos. When Montemayor had travelled two or +three days in the pursuit, he learnt that De Castro and his companions +were already so far advanced in their journey that it would be utterly +impossible to get up with them. He accordingly turned back, and +receiving information on his return towards Lima, that Jerom de Carvajal +had lost his companions during the night, and, being unable to discover +the road by which they were gone, had concealed himself in a marsh among +some tall reeds, where Montemayor found him out, and carried him +prisoner to Lima, on purpose to give him up to the viceroy. Fortunately +for Carvajal, the viceroy was himself a prisoner when Montemayor +returned to Lima. + +[Footnote 2: This judicial examination, so formally announced, is left +quite inconclusive by Zarate.--E.] + +When the anger of the viceroy had somewhat subsided, he used great pains +to justify himself, in regard to the death of Suarez, explaining the +reasons of his conduct in that affair to all who visited him, and +endeavouring to convince them that he had just reasons of suspicion, +giving a detailed account of all the circumstances respecting the arrest +and death of Suarez. He even procured some judicial informations to be +drawn up by the licentiate Cepeda, respecting the crimes which he laid +to the charge of the commissary, of which the following is an abstract. + +"It appeared reasonable to suppose that Suarez must have been privy to +the desertion of his nephews, as they lived in his house and could not +have gone off without his knowledge. He alleged that Suaraz had not +exerted all the care and diligence that were necessary and proper, in +several affairs connected with the present troubles which had been +confided to him. It was objected to him, that he was particularly +interested in opposing the execution of the obnoxious regulations; +since he would have been obliged, along with the rest, to give up the +lands and Indians he then held as an officer of the crown, which he had +not done hitherto on account of the subsisting disturbances in the +country. Lastly, the viceroy charged against him, that having entrusted +Suarez at the very beginning of the troubles with certain dispatches for +his brother, the licentiate Carvajal, who then dwelt at Cuzco, intended +for procuring intelligence by his means of what was going on in that +city, he had never given or procured any answer on that subject; +although it must certainly have been easy for him to have procured +intelligence from his brother, by means of the Indian vassals of both, +and by those belonging to the king who were at his disposal officially, +all of whom dwelt on the road between Lima and Cuzco." Besides that all +these allegations carry very little weight in themselves, as evidences +of the presumptive guilt of Suarez, none of them were ever +satisfactorily established by legal proof. + +As the viceroy found that all his affairs had turned out unfortunate, +and that every person seemed much discontented in consequence of the +death of Suarez, he changed his intention of waiting for Gonzalo Pizarro +at Lima, which he had caused fortify in that view with ramparts and +bastions. He now resolved to retire to the city of Truxillo, about +eighty leagues from Lima, and entirely to abandon and even to dispeople +the city of Lima; in the execution of this project he meant to send the +invalids, old persons, women, children, and all the valuable effects and +baggage belonging to the inhabitants by sea to Truxillo, for which +purpose he had sufficient shipping, and to march all who were able to +carry arms by land, taking along with him all the European inhabitants +of every settlement in the plain between Lima and Truxillo; and sending +off all the Indian population of the plain to the mountainous region. By +these decisive measures, he hoped to reduce the adherents of Gonzalo +Pizarro to such straits, by depriving them of every possible succour and +refreshment, after the fatigues of a long and painful march, encumbered +with baggage and artillery, as might constrain them to disband their +army, when they might find the whole way between Lima and Truxillo +reduced to a desert entirely devoid of provisions. The viceroy +considered himself under the necessity of employing these strong +measures, as some of his people deserted from him almost daily to the +enemy, in proportion as the insurgents approached towards Lima. + +In pursuance of this resolution, on Tuesday the 15th of September, two +days after the slaughter of the commissary Suarez, the viceroy gave +orders to Diego Alvarez de Cueto, with a party of horse, to convey the +children of the late Marquis Pizarro on board ship, and to remain in +charge of them and the licentiate Vaca de Castro. On this occasion, he +gave the command of the fleet to Cueto, being afraid lest Don Antonio de +Ribera and his wife, who then had the charge of young Don Gonzalo and +his brothers, children of the late marquis, might conceal them and give +them up to their uncle. This measure occasioned much emotion among the +inhabitants of Lima, and gave great offence to the oydors or judges of +the royal audience, particularly to the licentiate Ortiz de Zarate, who +made strong remonstrances to the viceroy against sending Donna Francisco +Pizarro among the sailors and soldiers, where she could not reside in +decent comfort. This young lady, who was both beautiful and rich, was +now almost grown a woman, and the conduct of the viceroy towards her on +this occasion was considered as harsh, tyrannical, and unnecessary. +Ortiz was unable to prevail on the viceroy to recall his orders +respecting the children of the late marquis; and he even openly declared +that he had come to the resolution of abandoning Lima in the way already +mentioned. All the oydors considered these intended steps as highly +improper and ruinous to the colony; and declared, that as they had been +ordered by his majesty to take up their residence in Lima, they were +determined not to quit that place without a new royal order for the +express purpose. As the viceroy found that every thing he could say was +quite ineffectual to bring over the oydors to his sentiments, he +resolved to gain possession of the _royal seal_, and to carry it off +with himself to Truxillo, by which measure the oydors would be reduced +to the state of private persons in Lima, and unable to hold any sitting +of the royal audience, unless they chose to accompany him to Truxillo. +When this resolution of the viceroy was communicated to the oydors, they +called the chancellor before them, from whom they took the seal, which +they committed to the custody of the licentiate Cepeda, the senior +oydor. This was done by three of the oydors, Cepeda, Texada, and +Alvarez, Ortiz being absent at the time. + +On the same evening, all the four oydors assembled in the house of +Cepeda, and agreed to present a formal requisition to the viceroy to +bring back the family of the late marquis from the fleet in which he had +embarked them. After this resolution had been engrossed in the register, +the licentiate Ortiz retired to his own house, being indisposed. The +other three oydors continued in consultation on the measures which were +proper to be adopted, for defending themselves against the power of the +viceroy, in case he should persist in his plans, and endeavour to make +them embark by force, which they publickly asserted was his intention. +On this occasion, they drew up an ordinance or public act, by which, in +the name and authority of the king "they commanded all the inhabitants +of the city of Lima, captains, soldiers, and others, civil and military, +in case the viceroy should give orders to remove them, the oydors of the +royal audience, by force and violence from Lima, that they should aid, +assist, and defend them, in opposition to such a measure, as illegal and +unjust, and contrary to the orders of his majesty, clearly expressed in +the new regulations, and in the commission granted to them as oydors of +the royal audience." + +Having formally extended and authenticated this _act_, they communicated +it in secret to Captain Martin de Robles, whom they desired to hold +himself and his soldiers in readiness to defend them in case of need. De +Robles engaged to stand by them; for though one of the captains in the +troops, he was not on good terms with the viceroy. Several other persons +of importance in the city, to whom the oydors communicated the +resolutions which they had formed, promised likewise to stand by them +against the tyranny of the viceroy. That same evening, all who were in +concert with the oydors held themselves in readiness, anxiously waiting +the event of an open breach between the viceroy and the judges of the +royal audience. However secret the steps taken by the oydors might have +been, they became known to the viceroy, or at least he entertained +violent suspicions of their nature and tendency. At night-fall, Martin +de Robles went privately to the house of the oydor Cepeda, to whom he +communicated his opinion that the viceroy was already informed of all +their proceedings, and that, unless prompt measures were taken for their +security, they would all be put to death. Cepeda sent immediately for +Alvarez and Texada, two others of the oydors; and these three came +immediately to the determination of openly defending themselves against +the viceroy, if he should attempt their arrest. For this purpose, +several of their friends, and some of the soldiers of the company, +commanded by De Robles, assembled in arms at their residence. While this +was going on, Urbina the maestre de campo or major-general, when going +his rounds met several of these soldiers in the street, and immediately +suspected the truth. He went, therefore, straight to the viceroy, to +whom he communicated the suspicious circumstances he had observed, that +some prompt measures might be concerted for counteracting the +machinations of the oydors. The viceroy desired him to fear nothing, as +they had only civilians to deal with, who had not sufficient courage to +concert any enterprize against his authority. Urbina went away +accordingly to continue his round; but as he still continued to meet +several armed horsemen in the streets, all of whom were going towards +the house of Cepeda, he returned again to the palace, and remonstrated +with the viceroy on the absolute necessity of taking instant measures of +defence. The viceroy immediately put on his armour and ordered to sound +an alarm, after which he went out into the great square before the +palace, accompanied by his nightly guard of a hundred soldiers and all +his domestic establishment, meaning to have proceeded to the house of +Cepeda, to arrest the oydors, to chastise the mutineers, and to +re-establish order in the city. While in the great square near the gate +of the palace, he noticed that it was impossible to prevent the soldiers +from going to join the oydors, as the horsemen who filled all the +streets constrained them to take that direction. If, however, the +viceroy had persisted in his first design, he could hardly have found +much difficulty or considerable resistance, as he then had a greatly +superior force to what had assembled with Cepeda and the other judges. +He was disuaded from executing these intentions by Alfonzo Palomino, +alcalde or police-judge of Lima, who asserted that a great majority of +the troops were assembled at the house of Cepeda, and were about to +attack him; for which reason, the best measure was to fortify himself in +the palace, which could easily be defended; whereas he had not a +sufficient force to assail the oydors and their adherents. Influenced by +this advice, the viceroy retired into the palace, accompanied by his +brother Vela Nunnez, Paul de Meneses, Jerom de la Cerna, Alfonso de +Caceres, Diego de Urbina, and others of his friends and followers, with +all his relations and servants. The hundred soldiers of the nightly +guard were posted at the great gate of the palace, with orders to +prevent any one from going in. + +While these vacillatory measures were going on at the viceregal palace, +information was brought to the oydors, that the viceroy had drawn out +his troops in the great square, with the intention of attacking them. +Having as yet collected only a small force for their protection, they +resolved to go out into the street; believing, if the viceroy should +come to blockade them, and should occupy the streets leading to the +house of Cepeda, that all those who were disposed to aid them would be +intercepted. They advanced therefore by the streets which led towards +the great square, and were soon joined by others of their adherents, to +the number of about two hundred men. To justify their conduct on this +occasion, they caused the act which they had drawn up to be publickly +read; but so great was the noise and confusion, that very few of those +present were able to hear its tenor. On the arrival of the judges and +their partizans in the great square, day began to dawn. At this time, +the troops attached to the viceroy fired a few musket-shots, from the +corridore of the palace, and began to extend themselves in front of the +main gate. The soldiers who accompanied the oydors were much displeased +at this procedure, and proposed to assault the palace, and to slay all +that resisted them; but the oydors restrained and appeased them. The +oydors then deputed Gaspard de Carvajal, the superior of the Dominicans, +and Antonio de Robles, to inform the viceroy, that their only demand +from him was an assurance that they should not be compelled to embark +against their will and contrary to the express orders of his majesty, +which fixed their residence at Lima. They farther required, that, +without proceeding to hostilities, the viceroy should come to the great +church, where they proposed, going to meet him, and where all their +differences might be amicably settled; as otherwise he would put both +himself and all who were with him in extreme danger. While these envoys +were in the palace in the execution of their commission, the hundred +soldiers who formed the guard of the viceroy went over in a body to the +oydors; by which, as the entrance to the palace was left entirely +unguarded, several of the malecontents got admission to the chambers +belonging to the officers of the viceroy in the outer court, which they +pillaged. At this time, the licentiate Ortiz de Zarate went from his +house towards the palace, meaning to have joined the viceroy; but +meeting the other oydors on his way, and seeing that it was impossible +for him to prosecute his original design, he accompanied them to the +church. + +When the viceroy received the message of the oydors from Carvajal and +Antonio de Robles, considering at the same time that his palace was +already in possession of the insurgents, and that his own troops had +abandoned him, he determined to proceed to the church, and to give +himself up to the oydors who there waited for him. They carried him +directly, in his coat of mail and cuirass, to the house of Cepeda; +where, seeing Ortiz along with the other judges, he exclaimed: "Is it +possible that you, in whom I had so much confidence as one of my best +friends, have joined with the rest in making me a prisoner." To this the +licentiate replied, "Whoever has told you so spoke falsely, as it is +known to every one who those are that have caused you to be arrested, +and that I have no share in the matter." The three other judges gave +immediate orders to convey the viceroy on board ship, that he might be +sent to Spain; justly fearing, if Gonzalo Pizarro should find him in +custody on his arrival at Limn, that he would put him to death, or that +the relations and friends of the commissary Suarez might kill him in +revenge for the murder of that officer; as in either of which cases the +blame might be imputed to them, the judges were much embarrassed how +best to act in this delicate emergency, considering that if they merely +sent the viceroy on board the fleet which lay at anchor off the harbour +of Calao, he might be soon in condition to return in force against them. +In this dilemma, they appointed Cepeda, one of their number, to act as +captain-general of the colony; who, with a strong guard, conducted the +deposed viceroy to the sea side on purpose to put him on board one of +the ships. They found some difficulty in executing this measure, as +Diego Alvarez de Cueto, who commanded the fleet, on seeing the +assemblage of people on the shore, and learning that they had the +viceroy among them as a prisoner, sent Jerom de Zurbano, one of his +captains in an armed boat to collect all the boats of the fleet, with +which, accompaniment he approached the shore and demanded the liberation +of the viceroy from the judges. This measure was altogether ineffectual, +as the judges refused to listen to the demands of Cueto; who, after +exchanging a few shots with those on shore, went back to his ships. + +After this, the judges sent off a message to Cueto, by means of Friar +Gaspard de Carvajal, in which the deposed viceroy concurred, ordering +him to surrender the command of the fleet, and to give up the children +of the late marquis, in return for which they would place the viceroy +under his charge, who would otherwise be in great peril of his life. On +getting aboard ship, Friar Gaspard presented his commission to Cueto and +gave him a full account of the state of affairs, in presence of the +licentiate Vaca de Castro, who still remained a prisoner in that vessel. +In consideration of the danger to which the viceroy was exposed, Cueto +sent the children of the marquis on shore together with Don Antonio de +Ribera and his wife who had the care of them. The judges still insisted +that Cueto should surrender the fleet to their command, threatening to +behead the viceroy if he refused; and though Vela Nunnez, brother to the +viceroy, went several times with messages to induce compliance, the +captains of the ships would not consent to that measure, so that the +judges were constrained to return to Lima with the viceroy still in +custody. + +Two days afterwards, the commanders of the ships were informed that the +judges and their partizans had come to the resolution of sending a +strong force of musqueteers in boats to make themselves masters of the +ships by force. They might perhaps have easily persuaded Cueto to give +up the fleet, of which in reality Jerom de Zurbano had more the command +than he, as all the soldiers and sailors who were attached to the +deposed viceroy were at his disposal; but Zurbano, to whom the judges +made great offers, was quite inflexible. The captains of the fleet came +even to the resolution of quitting the port of Lima, to cruise upon the +coast of Peru, till such time as they might receive orders from his +majesty how to conduct themselves in the present crisis. They believed +that the viceroy had many friends and adherents in Lima and other parts +of Peru; as many persons who had not taken any share in the deposition +and imprisonment of the viceroy, and several of those who were best +disposed to the royal service continued almost daily to make their +escape on board the fleet. The ships were tolerably well armed and +appointed, having ten or twelve iron cannon, and three or four of brass, +besides forty quintals of powder. As to provisions, they had above four +hundred quintals of biscuit, five hundred bags of maize, and a large +store of salt meat; so that they were victualled sufficiently for a +considerable time, and they could easily procure water on any part of +the coast. Their force however was very small, as they had only twenty +five soldiers, and by no means a sufficient number of mariners for the +ten ships which composed their fleet. They resolved therefore to abandon +four of the smallest vessels, which they were unable to man; and not +thinking it right to leave these behind, lest they might have been +employed against themselves by the partizans of the judges, they set +these small vessels on fire the day after the imprisonment of the +viceroy, as likewise two fishing barks which were in the harbour, and +then set sail. The four small ships were entirely destroyed, but the two +fishing vessels were saved after sustaining very little damage. + +The fleet went into the harbour of Guavra, which is eighteen leagues +_below_[3] the port of Lima, where they took in a supply of wood and +water. They carried the licentiate Vaca de Castro along with them, and +resolved to wait at Guavra to see what consequences might follow from +the imprisonment of the viceroy. When this came to the knowledge of the +judges, who believed the ships might not go to any considerable distance +from Guavra, on account of the attachment of their commanders to the +viceroy whose life was in danger, they determined to send a force both +by sea and land to attempt acquiring possession of the ships almost at +any risk. For this purpose, they gave orders to Diego Garcias de Alfaro, +an inhabitant of Lima who was versant in maritime affairs, to repair and +fit out the two barks which had drifted on shore. When that was done, +Alfaro embarked in them with thirty musqueteers, and set sail towards +Guavra. At the same time, Don Juan de Mendoza and Ventura Beltran,[4] +were sent off by land with a party of soldiers in the same direction. On +coming to Guavra in the night, Garcias de Alfaro concealed his two barks +behind a light house[5], in the harbour very near the ships, where he +could not be seen. At the same time, the party which went by land began +to fire off their muskets, and the people in the ships believed they +were some friends of the viceroy who wished to embark. Vela Nunnez was +sent accordingly in a boat to the shore, to learn what was meant by the +firing, on which Diego Garcias pushed on his barks between Vela Nunnez +and the ships, firing upon him and obliged him to surrender. +Intelligence of this event was immediately sent to Cueto, with a message +assuring him that both the viceroy and his brother would be immediately +put to death unless he surrendered his ships to the judges. Cueto[6] +accordingly submitted, being afraid lest the threat might be executed; +but had certainly not been allowed to do so if Zurbano had been present, +who had sailed from Guavra with his ships, two days before the arrival +of Diego Garcias, with the intention of going all along the coast +between Lima and Tierra Firma to take possession of every ship he might +fall in with, to prevent them from being employed by the oydors. + +[Footnote 3: The expression in the text _below_, is probably an error in +the French translator in rendering _barlovento_ which signifies to +leeward. Accordingly, to the north of Lima, and about the indicated +distance, there is a sea-port or coast town named Huaura, certainly the +place meant by Zarate. _Hua_ and _Gua_ are often inchanged by the +Spaniards in the names of places in America, probably from the g having +a guttural sound, or strong aspiration.--E.] + +[Footnote 4: Garcilasso names this person Ventura Veltran.--E.] + +[Footnote 5: In Garcilasso de la Vega, obviously copying this part of +the story from Zarate, Garcias is said to have concealed his barks +behind a rock.--E.] + +[Footnote 6: This person is always named Cuero, by Garcilasso; who +likewise informs us that he was brother-in-law to the viceroy.--E.] + +Immediately after the departure of the fleet under Cueto from the port +of Lima, the judges became apprehensive lest the relations of the +commissary might put the viceroy to death, which they actually +threatened; on which account they came to a resolution, to transport him +to an island about two leagues from the coast. For this purpose he was +embarked along with a guard of twenty men in one of those barks or +floats made of dried reeds which the Indians call _henea_. When the +judges learnt the surrender of the fleet under Cueto, they determined +upon sending him as a prisoner to Spain, with a formal memorial of all +that had passed, and deputed the licenciate Alvarez, one of their number +to take charge of him thither, and to support their memorial at the +court of Spain, giving him 8000 crowns to defray the expences of the +voyage. For this purpose all the necessary dispatches were prepared, +which were signed by all the judges of the royal audience, excepting +Ortiz de Zarate, who refused his concurrence. Alvarez went by land to +Guavra, to which place the viceroy was transported in one of the barks +fitted out by Diego Garcias, and given into the custody of Alvarez, who +immediately set sail with three ships that had been placed at his +disposal, without waiting even for the dispatches from his brother +judges. At this time, Vaca de Castro was carried back to the port of +Lima, still a prisoner. + + +SECTION IV. + +_History of the usurpation of Gonzalo Pizarro, from the expulsion of the +Viceroy to his defeat and death_. + + +While the viceroy remained in the small island, as formerly mentioned, +Alfonso de Montemayor and those who had gone along with him to succour +Loyasa and Zavallos, returned to Lima, upon which the judges caused them +to be arrested and disarmed, ordering them, and several of the captains +who were attached to the viceroy, to be detained as prisoners in the +house of Martin de Robles, and in the houses of several of the citizens +of Lima. These prisoners were persuaded, if the viceroy could regain his +liberty, that he would still be able to prevent the arrival of Gonzalo +Pizarro at Lima, and to avert the disorders and evils which must flow +from his successful usurpation, prejudicial to the rights of the crown +and the interest of the colony. With this view, therefore, they +concerted to unite together under arms, to bring back the viceroy from +the place of his confinement, and to reinstate him in his authority; +resolving in the execution of this project, to make the judges +prisoners, or even to kill them if necessary, and to take possession of +the city in the name of his majesty. They had assuredly executed their +project, had they not been betrayed by a soldier, who discovered the +whole plot to Cepeda. Immediately on receiving notice of this +conspiracy, Cepeda in concert with the other judges apprehended all the +leaders, namely Alfonso de Montemayor, Paolo de Meneses, Alfonso de +Caceres, Alfonso de Barrionuevo, and some others. Several of these when +put to the torture, had sufficient resolution to refuse confession; but +Barrionuevo confessed partly, in hopes of satisfying the judges, and +that they might not continue his torments. Upon his confession, he was +at first condemned to lose his head; but in the sequel the judges +satisfied themselves with causing his right hand to be cut off; and all +the other leaders of the conspiracy, who persisted in refusing to +confess, were banished from Peru. + +After all these revolutionary events, information of every thing that +had occurred in Lima, was transmitted to Gonzalo Pizarro, the judges and +their friends being in hopes that, he would now be induced to dismiss +his army. They were however quite mistaken in this expectation; for he +believed that every thing, even the imprisonment of the viceroy, was a +false rumour, or a mere concerted trick to force him to lay down his +arms, and that they would put him to death when left without support. + +In the mean time the licentiate Alvarez, as already mentioned, set sail +from Guavra having charge of the viceroy and his brothers. +Notwithstanding that this judge had been the chief promoter of every +thing that had been done against the viceroy, having even especially +contributed to make him a prisoner, and been most active in punishing +those who had conspired to restore him to the government; yet, on the +very first day of the voyage, he went into the cabin which had been +appointed for the captive viceroy, declaring his repentance for all that +he had done against him, and his earnest desire for a reconcilement. He +assured him, that, in accepting the charge of his conveyance as a +prisoner, he had been entirely actuated by the desire of serving him, +that he might get him from under the power of Cepeda, and prevent him +from falling into the hands of Gonzalo Pizarro, who was expected to +arrive shortly at Lima. To satisfy the viceroy of his sincerity, Alvarez +assured him that he was from that moment at full and perfect liberty, +and that he now surrendered the command of the vessel into his hands; +humbly beseeching him to forgive all that was passed, and declaring +himself ready to obey his commands in all things. Alvarez then gave +orders to the ten men who had been given him as guards over the viceroy, +that they were now to obey the viceroy and not him. The viceroy +expressed his entire satisfaction at this conduct in Alvarez, and took +the command accordingly; yet in a very short time he treated Alvarez +very ill, often calling him villain, traitor, mutineer, and other +opprobrious names, and threatening that, though he spared his life for +the present because he had occasion for his service, he would certainly +have him hanged in the sequel. Yet they continued together till their +arrival at Truxillo, as shall be related in the sequel. + +It was soon suspected at Lima that Alvarez had entered into terms with +the viceroy, from certain circumstances which had transpired before he +embarked, but more especially from his having set sail without waiting +for the dispatches of the royal court of audience, which had been +delayed a day in waiting for the consent of Ortiz. While they were still +in some degree of uncertainty on this subject, and waiting anxiously to +know the whole truth, they judged proper to send a representation on +the state of affairs to Gonzalo Pizarro, of which the following was the +tenor. "That, in consequence of their commissions, and of the express +powers confided to them by his majesty of doing every thing which might +be necessary for the due administration of justice, and to place the +country in good order, they had suspended the execution of the obnoxious +regulations, as demanded by the colonists, and had even sent off the +viceroy to Spain, which was more than had been required or could have +been reasonably asked. As, therefore, there now remained no call or +pretence for the military preparations which he had set on foot, they +commanded him immediately to dismiss his troops: But, if he were +inclined to come to Lima, he must come there as a man of peace, without +warlike array; yet, if he considered it necessary to his safety to have +an escort, they granted him permission to bring fifteen or twenty +horsemen along with him." + +When these orders were prepared, the judges were desirous of sending +some of the inhabitants of Lima to carry them to Gonzalo Pizarro; but no +one would undertake the commission, which they considered as extremely +hazardous. They represented to the judges, that Gonzalo and his officers +would reproach them for opposing the just measures in which they were +engaged; as they had associated for the general interest of the colony. +On this refusal of the inhabitants, the judges gave orders to Augustino, +the royal treasurer of Peru[7], and Don Antonio de Ribeta, one of the +citizens of Lima, to carry this order to Gonzalo. To these messengers +they gave formal letters of credence, with which they set out upon their +journey for the valley of Jauja, in which Gonzalo Pizarro was then +encamped with his army. Gonzalo had already received notice of this +intended embassy; and was afraid, if the envoys should give a public +notification of the message with which they were entrusted, that his +troops might mutiny; as he knew they were exceedingly desirous of +marching to Lima in full force, that they might be in condition to +pillage that city on the first pretext that offered. To prevent this, he +sent Jerom de Villegas with thirty mounted musqueteers to intercept the +two messengers now on their way to the army. According to his +instructions, Villegas allowed Ribera to continue his journey to the +camp; but made Augustino de Zarate a prisoner, and deprived him of his +dispatches. Zarate was carried back by Villegas to the province of +Pariacaca[8], where he was detained a prisoner for ten days, and every +means were employed to intimidate him that he might not execute the +commission with which he was entrusted. + +[Footnote 7: The author of the History of the Discovery and Conquest of +Peru, which forms the subject of the present article; who accordingly, +might justly say of these events, _quorum pars magna fui_. His associate +on this occasion was the person who had charge of the family of the late +marquis Don Francisco Pizarro, and had married the widow of Francisco +Martin de Alcantara, as we learn from Garcilasso.--E.] + +[Footnote 8: No such province is now to be found in the best maps of +Peru; but seventy or eighty miles to the north of Jauja, there is a +district called the valley of Pari, with a town of the same name on the +_Chinchay Cocha_, or lake of Chinchay, which may then have been called +Pari-cocha, or Pari on the lake. From this circumstance, it appears the +messengers had been obliged to make a great circuit towards the north, +on purpose to get a passage across the main western ridge of the +Andes.--E.] + +At the end of that period Gonzalo Pizarro arrived with his army at +Pariacaca, and called Zarate into his presence to give an account of the +subject of his mission: Zarate had been already made to understand that +his life would be in danger if he attempted to execute the orders he had +received literally: For which reason, after having explained the whole +distinctly to Gonzalo in private, on being taken into the tent where all +the insurgent captains were assembled, he proceeded, as instructed by +Gonzalo, to discharge his commission with prudent reserve. Gonzalo +desired him to repeat all that he had already communicated to him, but +Zarate, understanding distinctly what was expected of him by Gonzalo, in +addressing the assembled officers in the name of the judges of the royal +audience, used considerable address, and availed himself of the full +powers contained in his credentials. He was silent therefore regarding +the dismissal of the troops, which was the point of delicacy, and +confined himself to such other matters as seemed proper for the service +of his majesty and the good of the colony. In this view, he represented +to them, "that, since the viceroy was deported, and their demand for +suspending the obnoxious ordinances was granted, it seemed just that +they should repay the sums which Blasco Nunnez Vela had taken from the +royal treasury, as they had promised. That they should forgive those +inhabitants of Cuzco who had deserted from their camp to join the late +viceroy, since it could not be denied that these men had substantial +reasons for what they had done; and that they ought to send a humble +deputation to his majesty, to excuse and exculpate themselves from the +measures in which they had been engaged." Zarate added several things of +a similar nature; to all of which the only answer given by the council +of officers, which he was directed to carry back to the judges was, +"that it was indispensably necessary for the well being of the colony, +that they should appoint Gonzalo Pizarro governor of Peru. After which +every thing that was required should be done: But if this were refused, +the military council was determined to give up Lima to be plundered by +the soldiers." + +Zarate would willingly have excused himself from bearing this answer; +but as no other could be procured, he was obliged to return to Lima, +where he reported it to the judges, to whom it gave much uneasiness and +dissatisfaction. Gonzalo Pizarro had not hitherto carried his +pretensions so high, having only insisted for the departure of the +viceroy from Peru, and the suspension of the obnoxious regulations, and +the judges were much at a loss how to conduct themselves under this new +and unexpected demand. After mature deliberation, they sent to inform +the insurgent officers, "that they were unable to grant their demand, or +even to take it into consideration, unless some person should appear +before them authorised to present the request according to the +accustomed forms." Upon this message, all the procurators or deputies of +the cities who were in the insurgent army repaired to Lima; where, in +conjunction with such other deputies of the cities as were resident in +that place, they presented a formal request in writing, demanding the +same thing which had been formerly done by a verbal message. The +auditors, considering this affair as exceedingly delicate, and that they +neither had any right to grant what was now demanded, nor sufficient +power to refuse it, as Gonzalo was now very near Lima which he held +strictly blockaded; they resolved to submit the whole to the +consideration of the principal persons of the city, that they might +receive their sentiments and advice in the present crisis. For this +purpose, they drew up a formal instrument of the whole matter, which was +communicated to Don Jerom de Loyasa archbishop of Lima, Don Juan Solano +archbishop of Cuzco, Don Garcia Diaz bishop of Quito, Fray Thomas de San +Martino provincial of the Dominicans, Augustino de Zarate the treasurer, +and to the royal accountant and controller general[9]. This +extraordinary council was desired to consider maturely the demands of +the deputies, and to give their opinion freely on what was proper to be +done in consequence. In this instrument, the judges explained at full +length the reasons which induced them to require advice on this +important subject, openly avowing that this measure was not resorted to +in the view of following what the council might judge best, since +neither the judges nor the council had any power in the present +situation of affairs to act otherwise than as prescribed by Gonzalo +Pizarro and his officers; but that the judges had called in this manner +on the members of this extraordinary council, as recorded witnesses of +the constraint and oppression under which they all now acted. + +[Footnote 9: By Garcilasso, Zarate is represented as holding all the +three offices, Treasurer, accountant, and controller.--E.] + +While these deliberations were going on in Lima, Gonzalo Pizarro drew +nigh with his army and encamped about a quarter of a league from the +city, drawing up his numerous train of artillery in readiness for +service. As a whole day elapsed without the formal appointment as +governor being transmitted to him, he became impatient; and dispatched +thirty musqueteers into the city under the command of his +lieutenant-general, who made prisoners of twenty-eight persons, among +whom were those who had formerly deserted him at Cuzco, and others who +were most obnoxious for having taken part with the viceroy. Among these +were Gabriel de Roias, Garcilasso de la Vega, Melchior Verdugo, the +licentiate Carvajal, Pedro de Barco, Martin de Florencia, Alfonso de +Caceres, Pedro de Manjares, Luis de Leon, Antonio Ruys de Guevara, and +some others of highest consideration in the colony. These were committed +to the common prison, of which the lieutenant-general took possession, +taking away the keys from the alcalde or keeper. The judges were utterly +unable to make the smallest opposition to this strong measure, and dared +not even to express their disapprobation, as there did not now remain +fifty soldiers in the city; all those who had been formerly attached to +them or to the viceroy having gone over to the camp of Gonzalo, who had +now a force of twelve hundred men completely armed, including his +original troops and those who deserted to him on this occasion. + +Next morning, several of the insurgent officers came into the city, and +required the judges to make out the commission for Gonzalo, and to +proclaim him governor-general of Peru without delay, otherways +threatening to give up the city to plunder, and to massacre the +inhabitants, in which case they would begin by putting the judges to +death. The judges endeavoured to excuse themselves, alleging that they +had neither right nor authority to do what was desired. Whereupon +Carvajal, the lieutenant-general under Pizarro, caused four of his +prisoners to be brought from the prison, and ordered three of them to be +hanged on a tree near the city. These unfortunate men were Pedro de +Barco, Martin de Florencia, and Juan de Saavedra. Carvajal only allowed +them a short half hour to confess their sins and to prepare for death, +adding insult and mockery to his cruelty. He particularly indulged in +raillery against Pedro de Barco, who was last executed; saying, as he +was a brave commander who had made several conquests, and was one of the +most considerable and richest men in Peru, he was inclined to allow him +some distinction in his death, and that he therefore granted him the +high and honourable privilege of choosing which branch of the tree he +preferred for being hanged upon. Luis de Leon escaped at the +intercession of his brother who served under Gonzalo. + +On seeing these arbitrary proceedings, and being threatened by Carvajal +with a similar treatment of all the other prisoners, and that the city +should be given up to pillage if they did not execute the required +commission without delay, the judges sent to the members of the +extraordinary council formerly mentioned, desiring them to give their +undisguised sentiments: upon what was proper to be done. They +accordingly agreed unanimously that it was necessary to comply with the +demands of Gonzalo; and the judges immediately made out a commission +appointing Gonzalo Pizarro governor-general of Peru, until his majesty +might give orders to the contrary, and without prejudice to the rights +and authority of the royal audience, to which Gonzalo was required to +make oath that he would renounce his authority whenever it might please +his majesty or the audience to demand it from him, and likewise engaging +to submit to their authority in the event of any complaints against him, +either as an individual, or in the execution of his high office. + +On receiving his commission, Gonzalo Pizarro made his public entry into +Lima, with all his troops in martial order. Captain Bachicao marched at +the head of the vanguard with the artillery, consisting of twenty field +pieces, which with all their ammunition, carriages, and other +equipments, were carried on the shoulders of six thousand Indians, who +completely filled all the streets through which they had to pass. The +artillery was accompanied by a guard of thirty musqueteers and fifty +canoneers. The company of two hundred pikemen commanded by Diego de +Gumiel followed next. Then two companies of musqueteers, commanded by +the Captains Guevara and Pedro Cermeno, the former consisting of 150, +and the latter of 200 men. After these followed three companies of +infantry who preceded Gonzalo Pizarro as his body guards, who followed +on horseback in his coat of mail, over which he wore a robe of cloth of +gold. He was followed by three captains of cavalry: Don Pedro de Porto +Carrero in the middle carrying the royal standard belonging to his +troop, having Antonio de Altamirano on his right with the standard of +Cuzco, and Pedro de Puelles on his left with a standard of the arms of +Gonzalo Pizarro. The whole cavalry of the army brought up the rear in +regular order. In this array, the whole column of march moved towards +the house of the oydor Ortiz de Zarate, where the other judges were +assembled. Ortiz had feigned sickness, on purpose to avoid attending the +royal court of audience at the reception of Gonzalo, but his brethren +adjourned the sitting to his house on the occasion. + +Leaving his cavalry drawn up in the great square, Gonzalo made his +appearance before the assembled judges, who received him in form, and +administered to him the oath as governor. From thence he proceeded to +the town house, where all the magistrates of the city were assembled, +and where he was received with all the usual solemnities. Having gone +through all the ceremonies, he retired to his own house, and the +lieutenant-general Carvajal dismissed the army to its quarters upon the +citizens, who were ordered to entertain them at free quarters. Gonzalo +Pizarro continued to reside in Lima, exercising his authority as +governor in all things pertaining to military affairs, without +interfering in the administration of justice, which he confided entirely +to the oydors, who held their sittings for that purpose in the house of +the treasurer Alfonso Riquelme. Immediately after assuming the office of +governor, Gonzalo sent Alfonso de Toro as his lieutenant to Cuzco, Pedro +de Fuentes to Arequipa, Francisco de Almendras to La Plata, and others +in the same quality to the other cities of Peru[10]. + +[Footnote 10: According to Garcilasso, the entry of Gonzalo Pizarro into +Lima was in October 1544, forty days after the deposition and +imprisonment of the viceroy. In the History of America, II. 373, this +event is dated on the 28th October.--E.] + +As in the sequel of this history we shall have much to say respecting +Gonzalo Pizarro and his lieutenant-general Francisco de Carvajal, it may +be proper in this place to give a short account of the age, qualities, +and characters of these two men. At this period, Gonzalo Pizarro was +about forty years of age, large made and tall, well proportioned, of a +dark brown complexion, with a long black beard. He was well versant in +military affairs and took great delight in war, of which he endured the +labours and privations with much patient fortitude. He was an excellent +horseman; and though his genius was rather confined, and his language +vulgar, he could express his sentiments with sufficient clearness. He +was exceedingly remiss in keeping his secrets to himself, by which +weakness he often suffered much prejudice in his affairs and military +transactions. He was rather avaricious, and disliked much to give away +money; owing to which want of liberality his affairs frequently suffered +material injury. He was exceedingly amorous, not confining himself like +his brother the marquis to the native women, but gave much offence by +his intrigues among the Spanish ladies in Peru. + +Francisco de Carvajal was a man of low descent, the son of a person +employed in collecting the tax on salt, and was born in the village of +Ragama near Arevala. He had served long in the wars of Italy under Count +Pedro de Navarre, having been in the battle of Pavia, where the king of +France was taken prisoner. On his return to Spain he was accompanied by +a lady of a good family, Donna Catalina de Leyton, to whom he was said +to be married; though most people believed otherwise, and some even +alleged she had been a nun. After his return to Spain, he lived for some +time at the commandry of Heliche, in the capacity of a steward; and went +afterwards into New Spain with the lady who passed for his wife. He was +for some time employed in Mexico, where he held some office; whence he +was sent by the viceroy of that kingdom to Peru, along with +reinforcements to the marquis Pizarro, at the time when the Indians +revolted, as formerly related. On this occasion, the marquis gave him +some lands and Indians at Cuzco, where he resided till the arrival of +the viceroy; when he was about to have returned into Spain with a +considerable sum which he had amassed from the Indians of his +repartimiento; but not being able to procure an opportunity, he had +remained in the country. When Gonzalo Pizarro assumed the government of +Peru, Carvajal was said to be eighty years of age. He was of the middle +stature, but very gross, full-faced, and high-complexioned. He was +skilled in warlike affairs, having had long experience, and was able to +undergo fatigue infinitely better than could have been expected at his +advanced age. He hardly ever quitted his armour, either by day or night; +and scarcely ever slept, except on a chair, leaning his head on his +hand. He was so much addicted to wine, that when he could not procure +such as was brought from Spain, he used to content himself with the +strong liquors made by the Indians, of which he drank more freely than +any other Spaniard. His disposition was addicted to cruelty, insomuch +that he frequently put people to death upon very slight grounds, +sometimes even without any reason at all, except merely under pretence +of keeping up proper military discipline. Even when ordering any +unfortunate persons to condign punishment, he was wont to crack his +jokes, and to pay them ironical compliments. He was a bad Christian, and +much addicted to impiety, as was manifest in all his words and actions; +and was prodigiously avaricious in the acquisition of money, for which +purpose he pillaged many of their wealth, by threatening to put them to +death, and then letting them free for a good round sum. He ended his +days in a miserable manner, with small hope of salvation, as will appear +in the sequel. + +To return to the incidents of our history: Our readers may recollect +that Luis de Ribera, lieutenant governor in La Plata, and Antonio +Alvares alcalde or judge ordinary of that city, with most of its +inhabitants, had taken the field with the purpose of joining the +viceroy. After journeying a long way in the deserts without receiving +any intelligence of the events which were passing at Lima, they at +length learnt that the viceroy was deposed and that Gonzalo Pizarro had +usurped the government of Peru. As Ribera and Alvarez were the chief +leaders and instigators of the citizens of La Plata, they did not dare +to return to that city in the present situation of affairs, and took +therefore the resolution of seeking refuge among the Indians in the +inaccessible mountains. Some of their associates, however, ventured to +return to their city, while others went to Lima, where they obtained +pardon from Gonzalo; but he forfeited their lands and Indians, and sent +Francisco de Almendras to take possession of their repartimientos in his +name, as funds for reimbursing the expences of the war. + +We must now advert to the deposed viceroy. After he had been set at +liberty by the oydor Alvarez, as has been already related, and the two +other vessels which carried his brother, friends, and servants, had +likewise submitted to his authority, he continued his voyage with all +the three ships to the port of Tumbez, where he and Alvarez landed, +leaving proper persons to take charge of the ships. Immediately on +landing, the viceroy and oydor began to exercise their respective +authorities, by constituting a royal audience, and proclamations were +dispersed through every part of the country, giving an account of the +illegal deposition and imprisonment of the viceroy and the usurpation of +Gonzalo, and commanding all faithful subjects of his majesty to join the +standard of the viceroy. He issued these orders to the cities of Quito, +San Miguel, Puerto Viejo, and Truxillo; and commissioned captains to go +to different places to raise troops; sending, among others, Jerom de +Pereira on this errand into the province of Bracamoras. In consequence +of these proceedings, many persons came to Tumbez to join his standard. +He applied himself likewise to collect provisions and ammunition, +strengthening his party as much as possible; and issued orders to +transmit to him all the money which was contained in the royal coffers, +which was obeyed in many places. Some of the inhabitants however, fled +into the mountains, being unwilling to attach themselves to either of +the parties which now divided the unhappy colony, while others went to +join Gonzalo Pizarro. Intelligence was soon carried to Gonzalo of the +arrival of the viceroy at Tumbez, and of his preparations for recovering +his authority, and some even of the proclamations and orders of the +viceroy were brought to him at Lima. Gonzalo was by no means negligent +in endeavouring to counteract the proceedings of the viceroy; for which +purpose he sent orders to Ferdinand de Alvarado, his lieutenant at +Truxillo, and the captains. Gonzalo Diaz and Jerom Villegas, to collect +as many soldiers as possible in that part of the country, lest they +might have gone to Tumbez to join the party of the viceroy. He commanded +these officers to give every possible interruption to the preparations +of the viceroy, yet ordered them on no account to risk coming to a +battle with the royalists, however powerful and numerous they might +conceive their troops to be in comparison with those of the viceroy. + +It had been long proposed to send a deputation from Gonzalo and the +communities of Peru into Spain, to lay an account before his majesty of +all that had occurred in the colony; and many of the principal +insurgents insisted on the necessity of this measure, to justify their +conduct. Others again, among whom the principal persons were the +lieutenant-general Carvajal and Captain Bachicao, were of an opposite +opinion; insisting that it were better to wait till his majesty might +think proper to send out persons to inquire into the cause of his +revenues being detained. They alleged that the viceroy must have already +fully informed his majesty upon all the late transactions, and would +doubtless be listened to in preference to any thing which they could say +in defence of their conduct. On this account, the leaders of the +insurgents regretted that they had not at the first sent over the judges +of the royal audience into Spain, to give an account of their reasons +for having made the viceroy a prisoner. And, after many deliberations on +this subject, it was at length determined to send home the Doctor +Texada, one of the oydors, in the name of the royal audience, to lay an +account of the whole before the king. It was at the same time resolved, +that Francisco Maldonado, who was master of the household of Gonzalo +Pizarro, should accompany Texada, carrying justificatory letters from +his master; but without any title, credence, or powers whatever. By +these measures, two purposes were served at the same time, both of which +were deemed useful: In sending a deputation to the king to justify their +proceeding, those of their party who pressed that measure were +satisfied; and by employing Texada on this errand, the court of royal +audience was virtually broken up, as Ortiz de Zarate could not then hold +sittings by himself[11]. When this proposal was communicated to Texada, +he readily consented to undertake the office, on condition that he were +furnished with 6000 crowns to defray the expences of his voyage. +Accordingly, Cepeda and he composed all the memorials and dispatches +which were deemed necessary, which were signed by these two judges only, +as Ortiz refused his concurrence. + +[Footnote 11: Zarate seems to forget the existence of Cepeda, one of the +judges; but he seems to have entirely devoted himself to the party of +the usurper, while Ortiz affected at least to retain a sense of +loyalty.--E.] + +When all was in readiness for the dispatch of Texada and Maldonado, a +ship which lay in the harbour of Lima was ordered to be fitted out for +their reception, of which Captain Bachicao was to have taken the +command, with a sufficient number of cannon, and twenty soldiers; having +orders to take possession of all the ships he might fall in with along +the coast. At this time, Vaca de Castro, the ex-president, who still +remained a prisoner in this ship, contrived to gain over a majority of +the seamen belonging to the vessel, with the assistance of his friend +Garcia de Montalva who occasionally visited him. By these means he +acquired the command of the vessel, which was already provided with +every thing needful for the voyage, and immediately set sail. This +untoward incident gave much uneasiness to Gonzalo Pizarro, both because +it delayed the departure of Texada, and because he judged that it could +not have happened without the concurrence of several concealed enemies +to the present state of affairs. On this the troops were ordered under +arms, and all the principal persons who were suspected of disaffection +to the party of Pizarro were taken into custody and committed to the +common prison of the city, both those who had fled from Cuzco, and those +belonging to other cities who had not joined his party. One of the +persons committed to prison on this occasion was the licentiate +Carvajal, to whom the lieutenant-general Carvajal sent a message, +desiring him to confess and make his will, as he was immediately to be +put to death. The licentiate did accordingly what he was desired, and +prepared himself to die with much firmness and resolution; yet he was +urged to be more expeditious, and the executioner was present, provided +with cords for tying his hands and strangling him. Every one believed +the last hour of the licentiate was come; more especially as, +considering his rank and quality, it was not thought possible that he +could be treated in this manner merely to frighten him. It was likewise +universally believed, that the execution of the licentiate would be +speedily followed by that of all the other prisoners; which it was +conceived would prove of material detriment to the colony, as they +consisted of the very principal people of the country, and of those who +had always evinced the most zealous loyalty to the service of his +majesty. + +While matters seemed fast tending to this extremity, several of the most +judicious persons went to Gonzalo Pizarro, and requested of him to +reflect that the licentiate Carvajal was one of the principal persons in +the country, and that his brother had been already unjustly put to +death by the viceroy, under pretence of the licentiate having joined the +party of Pizarro. They urged that it was exceedingly imprudent at this +time to put the licentiate to death, as that would necessarily renew the +discontents which had formerly taken place on the death of his brother +the commissary. They even added, that much good service might be +expected from the licentiate, were it only in pursuit of revenge for the +death of his brother. They insisted that neither the licentiate nor any +of the other prisoners had any hand in the flight of Vaca de Castro; but +that it might easily be seen that the slightest pretexts were resorted +to on purpose to accuse them, who were already under suspicion as +disaffected to the ruling party. Teased and fatigued by these +solicitations, Gonzalo Pizarro refused to be spoken to on the subject; +so that the licentiate and his friends were induced to try another +expedient for his release. They conveyed to the lieutenant-general an +ingot of gold weighing forty marks[12], with a promise of a much larger +present if he would save the life of the licentiate. The +lieutenant-general accepted their offers, delayed the execution of the +licentiate, and prevailed on Gonzalo Pizarro to set him and all the +other suspected persons at liberty. + +[Footnote 12: The weight of this is 820 ounces, which at L. 4 an ounce +comes to L. 1280, and was then worth as much as L. 7680 is in efficient +value.--E] + +After the conclusion of this business, measures were taken for the +dispatch of Texada and Maldonado; and at this time there happened to +arrive a brigantine from Arequipa, which was fitted out along with some +other vessels, and armed with a part of the artillery which had been +brought down from Cuzco. In these vessels Bachicao embarked along with +the deputies, accompanied by sixty musqueteers, who were all that could +be prevailed upon to undertake the voyage. They proceeded on their +voyage along the coast to the northwards, and arrived one morning early +at Tumbez, where they understood the viceroy then resided. Immediately +on their being perceived making for the coast, the adherents of the +viceroy gave the alarm and stood on their defence: But as the viceroy +believed that Gonzalo Pizarro was on board in person accompanied by a +formidable body of troops, he retired in all haste from Tumbez +accompanied by an hundred and fifty men, taking the road for Quito. +Several of his people however did not think fit to accompany his flight, +and preferred giving themselves up to Bachicao, who likewise took +possession of two ships which happened to be in the port of Tumbez. From +thence, Bachicao went to Puerto Viejo and other places, where he drew +together about an hundred and fifty men, all of whom he took along with +him in the ships of his squadron. Among these were Bartholomew Perez, +and Juan Delmos, respectable inhabitants of Puerto Viejo. + +Continuing his voyage towards Panama, Bachicao put in at the Isle of +Pearls, about twenty leagues from Panama to procure refreshments. While +at that place, the inhabitants of Panama received notice of his arrival, +and sent two deputies to learn his intentions, requesting at the same +time that he would not come into their boundaries with his troops. +Bachicao sent back word, that although he happened to be accompanied by +armed men, it was merely on purpose to defend himself against the +viceroy, and that he had not the most distant intention of injuring or +even displeasing the inhabitants of Panama. He informed them, that he +was entrusted with the transport of the Doctor Texada, one of the royal +judges, who was charged with a commission from the court of audience to +give an account to his majesty of the events which had occurred in Peru. +He farther declared that he should only land in Panama to provide +necessaries for his voyage back to Peru, and would reimbark without +delay. Lulled into security by these assurances, the inhabitants of +Panama took no measures for defence. On coming into the port, two ships +which happened to be there, made sail to go away; one of which was taken +possession of by one of the brigantines belonging to Bachicao, and +brought back to the harbour, with the master and chief mate hanging from +the yard arms. This sad spectacle gave great uneasiness to the +inhabitants, who judged from this tragical event, that the purposes of +Bachicao were very different from his words and promises. But it was not +now time to think of defence, and they were constrained to submit, +though filled with terror and dismay, leaving their lives and properties +entirely at the discretion of Bachicao, who was no less cruel than the +lieutenant-general Carvajal, or even more so if possible; being at the +same time exceedingly addicted to cursing and blasphemy, and among all +his vices not a single spark of virtue could be found to relieve the +picture. + +At this time Captain Juan de Gusman was in Panama raising soldiers for +the service of the viceroy; but he found it advisable to retire on the +arrival of Bachicao, with whom all these soldiers now inlisted. Bachicao +likewise got possession of the artillery which had belonged to the +vessel in which Vaca de Castro escaped from Lima. Seeing himself master +of Panama, Bachicao who was a brutal passionate fellow, exercised the +command there in a cruel and tyrannical manner, disposing at his will of +the goods and properties of every one, violating every rule of law and +justice, oppressing the liberties of the community, and holding every +individual under such slavish constraint, that no one dared to act +otherwise than as he pleased to dictate. Learning or suspecting that two +of his captains had formed the design of putting him to death, he +ordered them both to be beheaded without any form of trial; and in +similar acts of injustice, and in every transaction, he used no other +formality than ordering it to be intimated by the public crier, "That +Captain Ferdinand Bachicao had ordained such and such to be done." He +thus usurped supreme and absolute authority, paying not the smallest +regard to the laws, or even to the external forms of justice. + +The licentiate Vaca de Castro, who was at Panama when Bachicao arrived, +fled immediately across the isthmus to Nombre de Dios on the Atlantic, +where he embarked accompanied by Diego Alvarez de Cueto and Jerom +Zurbano. Doctor Texada and Francisco Maldonado escaped likewise to the +same port, where they all embarked together for Spain. Texada died on +the voyage while passing the Bahamas. On their arrival in Spain, +Moldonado and Cueto went directly to Germany, where the emperor Don +Carlos then was, where each gave an account of the business with which +they were entrusted. Vaca de Castro remained for some time at Tercera in +the Azores; whence he went to Lisbon, and afterwards to the court of +Spain; alleging that he did not dare to go by way of Seville, on account +of the influence in that place of the brothers relations and friends of +Juan Tello, whom he had put to death after the defeat of the younger +Almagro. On his arrival at court, De Castro was put under arrest in his +own house by order of the council of the Indies. He was afterwards +brought to trial on a variety of accusations, in the course of which he +was kept prisoner for five years in the citadel of Arevalo. He was +afterwards removed to a private house in Simanca, from which he was not +permitted to go out: And in consequence of a subsequent revolution in +the court of Spain, he was allowed to remain a prisoner at large in the +city and territory of Valladolid, till his cause was finally adjuged +[13]. + +[Footnote 13: We learn from Garcilasso, that Vara de Castro was in the +end honourably acquitted, and that in the year 1461, when Garcilasso was +at Madrid, De Castro was senior member of the council of the Indies. His +son, Don Antonio, was made knight of St. Jago, and had a grant of lands +and Indians in Peru to the extent of 20,000 pieces of eight yearly.--E.] + +On the flight of the viceroy from Tumbez with an hundred and fifty men, +as before related, in consequence of the arrival of Bachicao, he retired +to Quito, where he was honourably received. In this place he increased +his force to two hundred men, and finding the country fertile and +abounding in provisions, he determined to remain there till he might +receive ulterior orders from his majesty, in reply to the informations +he had transmitted by Diego Alvarez de Cueto. In the mean time he +appointed strong guards to defend the passes in the mountains, and +stationed spies on the different roads, that he might have early +intimation of the procedure of Gonzalo Pizarro at Lima, which is three +hundred leagues from Quito. About this time four soldiers belonging to +Gonzalo deserted on account of some injurious treatment, and seized a +small bark in the port of Lima, in which they sailed northwards to a +place where they landed, and whence they travelled by land to Quito. On +their arrival, they represented to the viceroy, that the inhabitants of +Lima and other places were exceedingly discontented by the conduct of +Gonzalo, who subjected them to the most harassing and vexatious tyranny, +driving them from their houses, and despoiling them of their goods, so +that many of the colonists were reduced to depend on other persons for +their subsistence. That Gonzalo imposed such burthensome contributions +on the whole inhabitants, that they were unable to endure them; and that +all were so weary of his tyranny, that they would gladly join any person +who might come among them in the name of the king, to relieve them from +the cruel oppression and tyrannous violence of the usurper. In +consequence of this statement, the viceroy was induced to march from +Quito towards San Miguel, appointing to the command of his troops one +Diego de Occampo, an inhabitant of Quito, who had joined him on his +arrival at Tumbez, and had expended large sums in his service from his +own private fortune. + +The licentiate Alvarez always accompanied the viceroy, and these two +established themselves as the court of royal audience, in virtue of a +commission from his majesty which the viceroy still held. By this royal +order, the viceroy was authorised after his arrival at Lima, to hold +audience in conjunction with two or one of the oydors who might first +arrive, or even in case that any two or three of them should chance to +die. In pursuance of this authority, the viceroy ordered a new seal to +be made, which he committed to the custody of Juan de Leon, alcalde or +police judge of Lima, who had been nominated by the Marquis of Camarosa, +grand-chancellor of the Indies, as his deputy or chancellor of the +audience of Lima. De Leon had fled from Gonzalo Pizarro, and had joined +the viceroy at Quito. In consequence of this arrangement, the viceroy +issued such orders and proclamations as seemed needful or expedient, in +the name of the emperor Don Carlos; authenticating them with the royal +seal, and by the signatures of himself and the licentiate Alvarez. By +these means there were two royal audiences in Peru, one at the city of +Lima, and the other wherever the viceroy happened to reside; so that it +frequently happened that two opposite and contradictory decrees were +pronounced and promulgated, in one and the same cause. + +On taking the resolution of marching from Quito, the viceroy sent his +brother-in-law, Diego Alvarez de Cueto, to inform his majesty of the +state of affairs, and to solicit such reinforcements as might enable him +to re-establish his authority in Peru, by waging war against Gonzalo +Pizarro. Cueto went accordingly to Spain in the same fleet with Vaca de +Castro and Texada, as already related. The viceroy advanced southwards +to San Miguel, which is an hundred and fifty leagues from Quito, +determining to remain at that place till he might receive farther orders +from his majesty. The inhabitants of San Miguel gave him the best +reception in their power, and furnished him as far as they were able +with every thing he was in want of. He continually kept his small army +on foot, to preserve the honour and reputation of his character as +viceroy, and that he might be in a convenient situation for receiving +such reinforcements as might come from Spain or from any of the American +colonies; as every one coming by land from these quarters must +necessarily pass by the way of San Miguel, especially if accompanied by +horses or beasts of burthen. He expected therefore to be able in this +place to collect reinforcements to his army, so as to be in condition to +renew the war, and employed himself to collect men, horses, and arms, so +that he was soon at the head of five hundred men, tolerably equipped. +Some of these indeed were in want of defensive armour, which they +endeavoured to supply by fabricating cuirasses of iron, and of hard +leather. + +At the time when Gonzalo Pizarro sent Bachicao with the brigantines to +get possession of the ships belonging to the viceroy, he dispatched +Gonzalo Diaz de Pinera and Jerom de Villegas to collect the soldiers who +dwelt in Truxillo and San Miguel, that they might make head against the +viceroy in the north of Peru. These officers remained in San Miguel with +about eighty men whom they had drawn to their party, till they heard of +the approach of the viceroy; on which, not being in sufficient force to +oppose him, they retreated towards Truxillo, and established themselves +in the province of _Collique_, about forty leagues[14] from San Miguel. +From thence they sent intimation to Gonzalo of the advance of the +viceroy, and that his army increased daily in numbers, insomuch that it +behoved him to think of some appropriate measures to avert the +threatened danger. Diaz and Villegas were likewise informed that the +viceroy had sent Juan de Pereira, one of his officers, into the province +of Chachapoyas, in which there were very few Spanish settlers, to +endeavour to collect reinforcements. As they believed that Pereira and +his followers entertained no suspicions of their being in the +neighbourhood, Diaz and Villegas determined on attempting to surprize +them, which they did so effectually one night, that they made the whole +party prisoners without resistance. Having beheaded Pereira and two of +his principal followers, they obliged the rest of the party, about sixty +horsemen, to enter into the service of Gonzalo, by threats of putting +them all to death if they refused; after which they returned to their +post. + +[Footnote 14: The distance in the text is probably a mistake for +_fourteen_ leagues, as about that distance to the S.E. of San Miguel +there is a river named _Chola_, which may have given name to the +district or valley in which it runs.--E.] + +The viceroy was greatly incensed by this untoward event, and determined +to seek an opportunity of revenge. With this view he departed secretly +from San Miguel with a body of an hundred and fifty horse, and took such +judicious measures that he arrived one night undiscovered at _Collique,_ +where he surprized the enemy, and obliged them to fly in all directions. +Diaz made his escape almost alone into a district inhabited by hostile +Indians, who assailed him and put him to death. Villegas and Ferdinand +Alvarado were more fortunate in their escape, as they were able to +collect some of their dispersed troops, with whom they took up a new and +more secure position not far from Truxillo, and at a safer distance from +San Miguel. + +As Gonzalo Pizarro was informed that the viceroy augmented his army +from time to time, more especially after this successful enterprize, he +resolved to march against him without delay; as hardly a day passed in +which the viceroy was not joined by soldiers, horses, and arms from +Spain, or some of the American colonies, all of which were landed at the +port of Tumbez. He was likewise in dread lest some dispatch might arrive +from the emperor, favourable to the viceroy, by which his own adherents +might be intimidated, and numbers might be induced to change sides. With +this view he assembled his army, determined to march in person against +the viceroy, and if possible to bring him to action. He issued therefore +the proper orders to all his officers, reviewed and mustered his troops, +advanced them the necessary funds for taking the field, and sent off the +baggage, artillery, ammunition and provisions, with the main body of the +army towards Truxillo, remaining behind at Lima with some of his +principal officers, to follow in proper time. About this time a vessel +arrived from Arequipa with a very seasonable supply of 100,000 crowns; +and another vessel from Tierra Firma, belonging to Gonzalo Martel, sent +by his wife to enable him to return home. The arrival of these two +vessels was very opportune for Gonzalo Pizarro, as they served to +transport great quantities of musquets, pikes, ammunition, and other +implements of war, together with a guard of an hundred and fifty men, +and greatly facilitated the intended expedition against the viceroy. + +On quitting Lima, Gonzalo Pizarro thought proper to take the oydor +Cepeda and Juan de Caceres the accountant-general along with him, both +to give the more eclat and appearance of legal authority to his +measures, and on purpose to break up the court of royal audience, as +Ortiz de Zarate would then be the only judge remaining at Lima, who was +not thought of much importance, as he was in bad health. Besides, Blas +de Soto, his brother, had married the daughter of that judge; and +although that marriage had been effected contrary to the wish of Ortiz, +it was considered as some tie upon his conduct. For greater security, +however, Gonzalo used the precaution of carrying the royal seal along +with him. Gonzalo Pizarro chose to go by sea; and on leaving Lima, he +appointed Lorenzo de Aldana as lieutenant-governor of that city, with a +garrison of eighty soldiers, to preserve tranquillity during his +absence. This small number was considered sufficient to prevent any +attempt towards a revolutionary movement, as most of the inhabitants of +Lima accompanied the expedition. Gonzalo embarked in March 1545, and +landed at the port of Santa, fifteen leagues south from Truxillo, at +which city he arrived on Palm Sunday. He remained at this place for some +time, waiting the junction of his troops, sending messages in various +directions to expedite their march. After some time, he marched from +Truxillo into the province of Collique, where the whole of his army +assembled. At this place he reviewed his army, which amounted to above +six hundred horse and foot. The troops under the viceroy were nearly as +numerous; but those under Gonzalo were much better armed, and better +supplied with every thing requisite for war, as well as being all +veteran soldiers, accustomed to war and discipline, and well acquainted +with all the difficult passes of the country. The troops of the viceroy +on the contrary, had for the most part come recently from Spain, were +quite unaccustomed to war, and ill armed; besides which their powder was +bad in quality. + +Gonzalo used every effort to collect provisions and all kinds of +necessaries for his army, more especially as he had to pass through a +desert country which intervened between the province of Motupe[15] and +the city of San Miguel, a distance of twenty-two leagues without any +inhabitants, and entirely destitute of water or other means of +refreshment, consisting every where of burning sands without shelter +from the heat of the sun and almost under the equinoctial line. As this +march was necessarily attended with much inconvenience and difficulty, +Gonzalo used every proper precaution that his troops might be supplied +abundantly with water and other necessaries. For this purpose all the +neighbouring Indians were ordered to bring a prodigious quantity of jars +and other vessels calculated to contain water. The soldiers were ordered +to leave at Motupe all their clothes and baggage of which they were not +in immediate want, which were to be brought forward by the Indians. +Above all things, it was taken care that a sufficiency of water should +accompany the army, both for the troops, and for the horses and other +animals. Every thing being in readiness, Gonzalo sent forwards a party +of twenty-five horsemen by the ordinary road through the desert, that +they might be observed by the scouts belonging to the viceroy, and that +he might be led to believe the army came in that direction. He then took +a different route through the same desert with the army, marching as +expeditiously as possible, every soldier being ordered to carry his +provisions along with him on his horse. By these precautions, and the +rapidity of the march, the viceroy was not informed of the approach of +Gonzalo and his army, till they were very near San Miguel. Immediately +on learning their approach, he sounded the alarm, giving out that he +intended to meet and give battle to the insurgents; but as soon as his +army was drawn out from the city, he took a quite opposite course, +directing his march with all possible expedition towards the mountain of +Caxas. + +[Footnote 15: Named Morrope in modern maps. The desert in the text is of +great extent, reaching from the river Leche to the Piura, a distance of +above eighty English miles.] + +Gonzalo Pizarro got notice of the retreat of the viceroy about four +hours afterwards, in consequence of which he made no halt at San Miguel, +except to procure guides to direct him in the road which the viceroy had +taken. In the first night of this pursuit, the army of Gonzalo marched +eight Spanish leagues, or near thirty English miles, and several of the +royalists who had lagged behind the rest, together with the whole +baggage belonging to the retreating army fell into his hands. Gonzalo +hanged such of his prisoners as were most obnoxious to him, and +continued the pursuit of the flying royalists with the utmost diligence, +through difficult and almost impracticable roads, where no provisions +could be procured, always coming up with some of the hindmost of the +enemy. Gonzalo likewise sent on several Indians with letters to the +principal officers who served under the viceroy, urging them to put him +to death, and offering them their pardons for the past and to give them +high rewards. He continued the pursuit above fifty leagues or two +hundred miles, till at length the horses were no longer able to carry +their riders, and the men were incapable of proceeding, both from +excessive fatigue and by the failure of provisions. The insurgent army +at length arrived at Ayabaca[16], where the hot pursuit of the viceroy +was discontinued, and the troops of Gonzalo halted for rest and +refreshment. Besides the difficulty of overtaking the royalists, Gonzalo +had received assurances from some of the principal followers of the +viceroy that they would either put him to death, or deliver him up as a +prisoner; and, as this came afterwards to the knowledge of the viceroy, +he put several of these officers and gentlemen of his army to death. +After Gonzalo had supplied his army with such provisions as could be +furnished at Ayabaca, he resumed the pursuit, but with less rapidity +than before, and keeping his army always in compact order; yet at this +time some of his troops remained behind, partly owing to extreme +fatigue, and partly from discontent. Leaving the viceroy to continue +his retreat to Quito, and Gonzalo in pursuit, it is proper to mention +some events that occurred at this time in other parts of Peru. + +[Footnote 16: Notwithstanding the distance mentioned in the text, +Ayabaca is only about 60 miles, or fifteen Spanish leagues in a straight +line N.N.E. from San Miguel.--E.] + +In this march, Gonzalo did not think proper to carry along with his army +any of the soldiers belonging to the viceroy whom he had taken during +the pursuit, both because he could not confide in them, because he had +already a sufficient force in proportion to the enemy, and because +provisions were very difficult to be procured, as the viceroy had +stripped every place through which he passed as much as possible. For +this reason, Gonzalo Pizarro sent back all his prisoners to Truxillo, +Lima, or such other places as they thought proper, having in the first +place put to death such of their chiefs as he considered most strongly +attached to the viceroy. As these soldiers were dispersed over several +parts of the country, they began to declaim in favour of the viceroy and +against the tyrannical conduct of Gonzalo, and found many persons +abundantly disposed to listen to their harangues; both because what they +alleged was true in itself, and because most of the Spanish inhabitants +of Peru were much inclined to revolution and change of party, especially +the soldiery and those who were lazy and unoccupied. The real settlers +and principal inhabitants of the cities were quite of an opposite +description, being friends of peace and order, as most conducive to +their interest and happiness, and necessary to the preservation of their +properties, and being more exposed in time of civil war than even the +soldiers to be harassed and tormented in many ways, as the ruling party +was apt on the slightest pretexts to put them to death on purpose to +seize their effects, with which to gratify and reward the partizans of +their tyranny and injustice. These seditious discourses were so openly +indulged in, that they reached the knowledge of the lieutenants of +Gonzalo; who, each in his peculiar jurisdiction, punished the authors as +they deemed right. At Lima, to which most of these prisoners had gone, +Pedro Martin de Cecilia the provost marshal was a violent partizan of +Gonzalo, and caused several of these malecontents to be hanged. Lorenzo +de Aldana, who had been left by Gonzalo as lieutenant-governor of Lima, +was a prudent man, and conducted himself in a quite different manner, +being disinclined from acting with such violence as might occasion +displeasure to either party in the sequel; for which reason he used all +his influence to prevent putting any one to death, or from injuring any +person in any manner. Although he held his office from Gonzalo, he never +exerted himself zealously in his service, so that the partizans of that +usurper considered him as secretly gained by the other party, more +especially as he always behaved well to the known friends of the +viceroy. On this account, all these men flocked to Lima, where they +believed themselves in greater security than anywhere else. The +partizans of Gonzalo, on the other hand, made loud complaints against +the favourable behaviour of Aldana to the royalists; and in particular +one of the alcaldes of Lima, named Christopher de Burgos, spoke of it so +openly that Aldana thought it necessary to give him a public reprimand, +and even committed him to prison for some time. Several even went so far +as to communicate their suspicions of the fidelity of Aldana to Gonzalo +Pizarro by letters, and even persuaded him of the truth of their +allegations: But he refrained from manifesting his want of confidence in +the lieutenant-governor, considering it dangerous to deprive him of his +office while the army was at so great a distance, more especially as +Aldana had a respectable military force, and was much esteemed by the +citizens of Lima. + +We have formerly mentioned that several inhabitants of the city of La +Plata in the province of Las Charcas, on receiving orders to that effect +from the viceroy, had set out from that city on purpose to offer him +their services against Gonzalo; but having learnt his imprisonment while +on their way to Lima, they returned to their habitations. Gonzalo +Pizarro was particularly displeased with these men, as he expected to +have been especially favoured by the inhabitants of his own peculiar +district, and sent therefore a person named Francisco de Almendras as +lieutenant-governor to La Plata, a coarse brutal fellow without feeling +or humanity, and one of the most cruel satellites of his tyrannical +usurpation; whom he instructed to be peculiarly watchful of the +behaviour of those who had shewn an intention of joining the viceroy, +and to make them feel on every opportunity how much he was dissatisfied +with their conduct on that occasion. In pursuance of his instructions, +Almendras deprived the principal persons among these loyalists of their +lands and Indians, and exacted heavy contributions from them towards +defraying the expences of the war. He likewise affronted and used them +ill on all occasions, and even on very frivolous pretences. One Don +Gomez de Luna, a principal person among the loyalists of La Plata, +happened one day to observe in conversation at his own house, that the +emperor Don Carlos must assuredly at length recover the command over +Peru. This loyal sentiment was reported to Almendras, who immediately +ordered De Luna to be arrested and thrown into the common prison. The +magistrates of the city went in a body to supplicate Almendras either to +liberate De Luna, or at least to confine him in a place more conformable +to his rank; and as Almendras refused to give a satisfactory answer to +their representation, one of the magistrates declared publicly, that, if +he would not liberate de Luna, they would do so in spite of him. +Almendras dissembled his sentiments at the time, but went next night to +the prison, whence he caused De Luna to be taken out to the public +square and beheaded. + +The inhabitants of the city were exceedingly disgusted by this cruel act +of tyranny, which they considered as an outrage against the whole +community; and particularly one Diego Centeno was most sensibly +affected, as he and De Luna had been extremely intimate. At the +commencement of the troubles respecting the obnoxious regulations, +Centeno had attached himself to Gonzalo Pizarro, whom he had accompanied +to Cuzco, in the capacity of procurator from the province of Las +Charcas, being one of the principal persons of his party. Having noticed +the bad intentions of Pizarro, and that he did not limit his designs to +those objects which he at first proposed, Centeno abandoned the party of +Gonzalo and returned to his own house. He now determined to use his +utmost endeavours to revenge the cruel death of his friend De Luna, that +he might save himself and others from the tyrannous rule of Almendras, +and on purpose to restore the country to obedience to its legitimate +sovereign. With this view, he communicated his sentiments to some of the +principal settlers, among whom were Lopez de Mendoza, Alfonso Perez de +Esquivel, Alfonzo de Camargo, Fernando Nunnez de Segura, Lopez de +Mendiera, Juan Ortiz de Zarate, and several others whom he believed to +have loyal intentions, all of whom he found disposed to second him in +executing the enterprize which he had in view. In the prosecution of +this purpose, they all assembled one Sunday morning, according to +custom, at the house of Almendras, under pretence of accompanying him +to church. When all were assembled, although Almendras had a +considerable guard, Ceuteno went up to him as if to converse on some +affair of moment, and stabbed him repeatedly with his dagger. The +conspirators then dragged him out to the public square and cut off his +head, declaring him a traitor, and proclaiming that they had done so for +the service of the king. + +Considering that Almendras was universally detested, the conspirators +had not thought it necessary to use any precautions for conciliating the +people; yet all the inhabitants declared for the king, and took +immediate measures to support his authority and to defend themselves +against the resentment of Gonzalo and the insurgents. For this purpose, +they elected Centeno as commander in chief of the province; in which +capacity he appointed proper persons to be captains of cavalry and +infantry under his authority, and used every effort to inlist a body of +troops, which he paid out of his own funds, being one of the richest men +in the country; but in this he was assisted by the other inhabitants of +the province, who contributed towards the expence. Centeno was of an +honourable family, being descended from Hernan Centeno who had made +himself illustrious in the wars of Castillo. He was about thirty-five +years of age, of very agreeable manners, of a liberal disposition, +personally brave, of an excellent character and universally respected. +At this time he enjoyed a revenue exceeding 80,000 crowns; but about two +years afterwards, on the discovery of the famous mines of Potosi, he +became possessed of above 100,000 crowns of annual rent by means of his +Indians, as his estate lay very near these mines. + +Having assembled a body of troops, Centeno used every effort to provide +them with arms and all other necessary equipments. He placed guards at +all the passes, to prevent any intelligence from being conveyed to the +enemy till his affairs were in proper order. He sent likewise Lopez de +Mendoza one of his captains, first to Porco and thence to Arequipa to +collect as many men as possible, and to endeavour to arrest Pedro do +Puentes the lieutenant of Gonzalo at Arequipa. But Puentes fled +immediately from Arequipa on receiving intelligence of the events which +had occurred at Las Charcas. Mendoza therefore took possession of +Arequipa without resistance; whence he reinforced himself with all the +men, arms, and horses, he could procure, and carried off all the money +he could find, with which and his reinforcement he returned to Centeno +at La Plata. + +On the return of Mendoza, Centeno found himself at the head of two +hundred and fifty men well equipped for war, to whom he explained his +sentiments and views, and gave an account of the criminal usurpation of +Gonzalo Pizarro, in the following terms. "You know that Gonzalo, on +leaving Cuzco, pretended merely to present the humble remonstrances of +the colonists respecting the obnoxious regulations; and you have been +informed that, even at the outset, he put to death Gaspard de Roias, +Philip Gutierrez, and Arias Maldonado. You have learnt how he conspired +with the judges of the royal audience and other inhabitants of Lima, to +arrest and depose the viceroy, both of which were done accordingly. +After this, while at the very gates of Lima, and before his public entry +into that city, he sent in his lieutenant-general, who arrested many of +the most considerable and richest inhabitants of the country, under the +eyes of the judges, merely because these men had joined the viceroy, and +even hanged three of them without any form of trial, Pedro de Barco, +Martin de Florencia, and Juan Saavedra. He in the next place has broken +up the royal court of audience, sending off its judges to different +places, having in the first place obliged them to appoint him to the +government. He has since, as you well know, caused many others to be put +to death, merely on suspicion that they were favourable to the viceroy, +and intended to join his party. Not satisfied with all this, he has +seized all the treasure belonging to his majesty in the different +receipts of the colony, and has imposed excessive contributions on the +inhabitants, from whom he has exacted above 150,000 ducats by means of +taxes imposed at his own pleasure. Adding crime to crime, he has again +levied forces against the authority of his majesty, with which he has +marched against the viceroy, and has carried insubordination and +confusion into every part of the country; permitting and encouraging +many to hold public discourse contrary to the respect and obedience +which is due to his majesty. They were likewise aware, that Gonzalo had +token away the repartimientos, or allotments of lands and Indians from +many persons, and had converted them to his own emolument. Finally, he +laid before them the strong obligations by which they were all bound, as +faithful subjects, to exert their utmost endeavours in the service of +their sovereign, lest they should draw upon themselves the imputation of +being rebels and traitors." By these representations, and others which +it were tedious to repeat, he disposed his auditors to concur in his +loyal sentiments, and willingly to obey his orders. After this, Centeno +sent one of his captains with a detachment to Chicuito, a place +belonging particularly to the king, between Orcaza and Las Charcas, with +orders to guard the passes with the utmost vigilance, till he and the +royalists were in full readiness to execute their principal enterprize, +as will be related in the sequel. + +Notwithstanding every precaution employed by Centeno to conceal his +operations and intentions, it was impossible to prevent intelligence +from spreading in various directions, more especially after the +expedition of Mendoza to Arequipa. Every thing he had already done, even +the number of his troops, and of the musquets and horses he had +collected, was fully known, by means of Indians and Spaniards who had +escaped from La Plata, in spite of the guards which had been set, to +watch the passes of the mountains. Alfonso de Toro, who acted as +lieutenant governor of Cuzco under Gonzalo Pizarro, happened at this +time to be a hundred leagues to the northward of that city, keeping +guard in one of the passes of the mountains, as by letters from Gonzalo +the viceroy was reported to have gone into the mountainous country, and +was supposed to have directed his march by that road toward the south of +Peru. On receiving notice of the late revolution at La Plata, De Toro +returned in all diligence to Cuzco, where he levied forces to oppose +Centeno; and, having assembled the magistrates and principal inhabitants +of Cuzco, he informed them of what had occurred at Las Charcas, and as +there was a sufficient force in Cuzco to suppress the royalists, he +thought it incumbent on him to march to La Plata for that purpose. To +gain them over to his purpose, he represented that Centeno had revolted +without any just cause, and had usurped authority in Las Charcas for his +own private ends, under pretence of serving the king; whereas Gonzalo +Pizarro, being actual governor of the kingdom of Peru, ought to be +obeyed as such till his majesty sent orders to the contrary. That the +revolt of Centeno, being both criminal in itself and contrary to the +law, every one was bound to resist him, and to punish his temerity. He +recalled to their remembrance, that Gonzalo Pizarro was engaged in +serving the general interest of the colonists, to procure the revocation +of the obnoxious ordinances, in which common cause he had exposed his +fortune and personal safety to every hazard, as it was well known that +every inhabitant of Peru would be stripped of his property if the +regulations were put in force. That besides the general advantage +procured by Gonzalo in setting aside the obnoxious regulations, for +which all were infinitely indebted to him, it was obvious that he had +not in any respect conducted himself contrary to the royal orders, and +had not in any manner set himself against the authority of the +sovereign; since, on his arrival at Lima for the purpose of presenting +their remonstrances, the judges of the royal audience had already +arrested the viceroy and sent him out of the kingdom, of which these +judges had appointed Gonzalo interim governor; and that in marching in a +warlike manner against the viceroy, he had acted at the request and by +the orders of the royal audience; as was manifest by his being +accompanied by Cepeda, one of the royal judges and chairman of the +audience. He asserted that no person in Peru could take upon him to +determine whether the audience had acted right or otherwise in +conferring the government on Gonzalo; and that it was the duty of all to +support him in that office, till they received the ulterior orders of +the sovereign. + +At the close of this discourse, every one acknowledged the justice of +what he had represented, and voluntarily offered to support Gonzalo with +their lives and fortunes; although in reality most of them did so more +from fear than good will, as they stood in great awe of De Toro, who had +hanged several persons in a summary manner, and had made himself +universally dreaded by his cruel and ferocious disposition and conduct, +so that no one dared to oppose or contradict him in any thing. After a +short deliberation, a set of resolutions were entered into, in which the +transactions of Centeno in Las Charcas were recited as seditious and +unlawful, and he was declared to have assassinated Francisco de +Almendras, the lieutenant governor, to have levied forces in rebellion +against the legitimate government, and to have passed the boundaries of +the province of Las Charcas in hostile manner; for all which reasons it +was just and proper to make war upon him, and to reduce him to +obedience. All this was done principally to satisfy or to amuse the +people, and to make them believe that the partizans of Gonzalo acted +reasonably and lawfully, as all those who signed these resolutions were +perfectly aware of the real state of affairs. In reality, although +matters were thus represented in the popular assemblages, in +justification of the measures of the insurgent party, or at least to +excuse their actions under specious pretences, those who took an active +part on the present occasion, used often to declare, both in the +presence and absence of Gonzalo, that the king would certainly give, or +ought to give him the government of Peru, as they were resolved not to +receive any other person in that capacity, such being the resolution of +Gonzalo in which they all concurred. + +Alfonso de Toro now proceeded to levy an army, of which he declared +himself captain general and commander in chief, and appointed captains +and other officers to command under his authority. In all his +proceedings he carried himself with a high hand, employing force and +violence, instead of persuasion and good treatment. He protested +publickly and with many oaths, that he would hang up every one who did +not assist and contribute to the cause; and even had several persons +carried to the foot of the gallows, whose lives he was induced to spare +by dint of solicitations. He abused and maltreated others, using +everyone in the most outrageous manner who did not give way to him in +all things. By this violent procedure he completed his warlike +preparations at very small expence; insomuch that it appeared afterwards +by his accounts, that he had not expended above twenty thousand crowns +in this expedition, as he took away gratuitously all the horses that +were to be found in Cuzco, and constrained all the inhabitants who were +able to carry arms to accompany him in the expedition against Centeno. +By these means De Toro collected three hundred men, tolerably armed and +equipped, with which he marched from Cuzco to a place named Urcos, about +six leagues from that city, where he remained three weeks in anxious +expectation of intelligence from Las Charcas: But all the roads and +passes between and La Plata, were so well guarded by the Indians, who +were entirely disposed to favour Centeno, that he was unable to learn +any thing of the movements or intentions of the royalists in Las +Charcas, so that he was constrained to remain continually on the alert +lest he might have been surprized. Besides these military precautions, +he rigorously punished all who presumed to show the slightest +disinclination towards the interest of the Pizarrian faction, or to +express their sentiments in any respect in disapprobation of his own +designs; insomuch that all were constrained from dread of punishment to +appear heartily attached to the cause in which he was engaged. + +After remaining three weeks encamped at Urcos, he determined to march in +search of Centeno, and advanced for that purpose to the village named +Del Rey. As the troops of Centeno happened to be a good deal scattered +at this time, he was under the necessity of retreating on the approach +of De Toro. These hostile chiefs being encamped at the distance of about +twelve leagues, entered into a negotiation to endeavour to form an +accommodation; but, as they were unable to agree upon any terms, De Toro +advanced for the purpose of attacking Centeno; who, on the other hand, +was unwilling to risk the chance of an engagement, owing to the +inferiority of his force, and because a defeat might have dispirited his +own party and have been of great advantage to the cause of the +insurgents. On this account he retired in proportion as De Toro +advanced, accompanied by a great number of large Peruvian sheep loaded +with provisions and ammunition, and carrying along with him all the +principal _curacas_ or native chiefs, to prevent De Toro from being able +to avail himself of the assistance of the Indians. In this manner +Centeno continued to retreat across a desert and uninhabited country of +forty leagues extent, till he arrived at a place named _Casabindo_, +through which Diego de Roias had formerly descended from the elevated +region of Peru into the eastern plain of the Rio de la Plata. Alfonso de +Toro continued the pursuit as far as the city of La Plata, which is an +hundred and eighty leagues to the south of Cuzca. Finding that place +abandoned and entirely stript of every thing which might contribute to +the subsistence of his troops, and being unable to procure provisions on +account of the absence of all the curacas or caciques, he was under the +necessity to discontinue his pursuit of Centeno, and even found himself +compelled to return towards Cuzco. In this retreat, De Toro took the +command of the advanced guard of fifty men, ordering the main body to +march at leisure, and left a rear-guard of thirty of his best mounted +cavalry under Alfonso de Mendoza, with orders to use every possible +means of procuring intelligence of the motions of Centeno; that, in case +of his following, the troops might be collected together in good order +to rejoin the van. + +The departure of De Toro from La-Plata on his return to Cuzco was soon +communicated to Centeno by means of the Indians. He was astonished at +this sudden alteration of affairs; and, as he understood that De Toro +marched in great hast, without keeping his troops in close array, he +supposed that circumstance to have been occasioned by De Toro +entertaining suspicions of the fidelity of his followers, and that he +had found them ill-disposed towards the party of the Pizarrians. On +these considerations, Centeno resolved to pursue in his turn, in hope of +drawing some advantage to the cause in which he was engaged from this +measure, and even expecting that several of the followers of Toro might +come over to his side. He sent off therefore the captain Lope de Mendoza +with fifty light armed cavalry in pursuit of the enemy. Mendoza got in a +short time to Collao; and, although de Toro and most of his troops had +already passed beyond that place, he made prisoners of about fifty who +remained behind, whom at first he deprived of their horses and arms. +Soon afterwards, however, he returned these to his prisoners, and even +distributed some money among them, receiving their engagements upon oath +to join him when required; but he hanged a few of them who were +suspected of being particulary attached to De Toro. After this +successful exploit, Lope returned in great haste to La Plata, in hope of +being able to cut off Alfonzo de Mendoza and his small party, who still +occupied that place. But Alfonzo had received intelligence of what had +happened at Collao, and had already quitted La Plata in great haste, +taking a different road from that pursued by Lope, by which means he got +safe to Cuzco. + +Centeno arrived soon afterwards at La Plata with the remainder of his +troops, where he assembled all the force under his command, and where he +made every possible preparation for continuing the war to advantage, and +in particular caused a number of musquets to be made. De Toro continued +his retreat to Cuzco, dreading much to be pursued, and lest Centeno +might have acquired possession of Cuzco, which he might easily have +accomplished in the present situation of affairs; but Centeno thought it +more prudent to remain at La Plata, where he augmented the number of his +troops and collected treasure which was found in great plenty in the +province of Las Charcas. + +The events which had taken place in Las Charcas were soon known at +Lima; and as several of the soldiers in that city were attached to the +party of the viceroy, they spoke almost openly of going away to join +Centeno; and, from the small attention paid by Lorenzo de Aldana to +repress these men, he was even suspected of favouring the same cause. +Antonio de Ribera likewise, although the brother-in-law of Pizarro, was +strongly suspected of being secretly devoted to the royal interest, as +indeed his conduct in the sequel evinced; and several other persons of +consideration lay under suspicions of the same nature. All this gave +much uneasiness to the friends of Pizarro: Yet those persons at Lima who +wished well to the interests of his majesty, did not think it prudent at +this time to make any open attempt, being satisfied that it was better +to wait a more favourable opportunity, and that De Aldana would prepare +matters for that purpose, as he seemed clearly favourable to the same +cause. His abilities were universally acknowledged, and his good +intentions were not doubted, so that all were satisfied that he would +conduct matters with much prudence to a favourable issue. + +At this time it became known at Lima that the viceroy had retreated with +a small body of troops into the province of Popayan; and that during his +retreat he had put to death several of the officers and other persons of +consideration in his army; among whom were Rodrigo de Ocampo, Jerom de +la Cerna, Gaspard Gil Olivarez and Gomez Estacio; some of these because +they were inclined to abandon him, and others for corresponding with +Gonzalo Pizarro, and conspiring to put the viceroy to death. On the +communication of this intelligence at Lima, it produced different +effects according to the different inclinations and views of the +inhabitants. It occasioned more reserve among those who were of loyal +dispositions; whereas the partizans of the Pizarrian tyranny considered +themselves more at liberty to avow their sentiments to Aldana. They went +therefore to him in a body, and represented that there were many persons +in Lima who were strongly suspected of being hostile to Gonzalo Pizarro, +and only waited a favourable opportunity to take up arms against him; +and that it was incumbent therefore on the lieutenant governor to punish +these men for the scandalous freedoms in which they had indulged, or at +least to banish them from the city. They offered to furnish sufficient +proof of these facts, and urged him to exert his authority on the +occasion. Aldana assured them that none of these things had ever come +to his knowledge; and that if he knew who those were against whom they +complained, he would take such measures as were necessary on the +occasion. + +The partizans of Pizarro became at length so bold that they arrested +fifteen of those whom they most strongly suspected of attachment to the +deposed viceroy, among whom was Diego Lopez de Zuniga. Having thrown +these men into prison, the Pizarrians were inclined to have given them +the torture to extort confession, and afterwards to have procured their +condemnation by Pedro Martin the provost marshal of the city; so that +they were in imminent danger of being put to death, if Lorenzo de Aldana +had not exerted himself promptly and effectually to take them out of the +hands of the Pizarrians. For this purpose, he caused them all to be +brought to his own residence, on pretence that they would be there in +more safe custody, and provided them with every thing of which they +stood in need, even secretly furnishing them with a vessel in which they +embarked and saved themselves from their enemies. This transaction gave +much dissatisfaction to the friends of Pizarro, both on account of the +escape of the prisoners, and because Aldana refused to allow of any +formal investigation into the circumstances of their escape; on which +account the Pizarrians firmly believed that Aldana was in secret league +with the opposite party. They wrote therefore to Gonzalo Pizarro, giving +him an account of all these events, and urging him to give proper orders +on the occasion. But Gonzalo did not think it prudent at this time to +make any change in affairs at Lima, or to attempt any thing against +Aldana; because, as it has been reported, he was afraid of matters +taking an unfavourable issue while he was at so great a distance. + +When Gonzalo Pizarro was informed of what had been done by Centeno in +the province of Las Charcas against his interest and authority, he +believed it necessary to use prompt measures for reducing that country +to subjection, and not to give his enemies time and opportunity for +strengthening themselves and increasing the number of their partizans; +as he flattered himself that he would become absolute master of the +whole kingdom of Peru, if he were able to get rid of Centeno. After +several consultations with the principal officers of his army, on the +measures necessary to be pursued on this emergency, in which Gonzalo +could not act in person as he had still to oppose the viceroy in the +north, it was determined to confide the care of an expedition against +Centeno to the lieutenant-general Carvajal. For this purpose all the +necessary orders and commissions were made out immediately in the name +of Gonzalo Pizarro, by which Carvajal was authorized to levy what men +and money he might deem necessary. This employment was very acceptable +to Carvajal, as he believed he might derive considerable profit to +himself in its execution; and he set out from Quito accompanied only by +twenty persons, in whom he had great confidence. The council of Gonzalo +Pizarro had other and secret motives for recommending the employment of +Carvajal on this occasion, besides those which they publickly avowed. +Some were desirous of acquiring by his absence a greater share in the +management of affairs; while others were anxious to send him to a +distance, from the terror inspired by his cruel and ferocious conduct, +and his passionate temper, owing to which he used often to put people to +death on the most trifling offences or the slightest suspicions. But all +the leaders in the army disguised their real sentiments on this +occasion, pretending that the importance of the affair required the +talents and experience of Carvajal to bring it to a successful issue. + +Leaving Quito, Carvajal went, directly to San Miguel, where the +principal inhabitants went out to meet him, and conducted him with much +respect to the house which was prepared for his reception. On arriving +there, he desired six of the most considerable persons belonging to the +city to dismount and accompany him into the house, under pretence that +he had something of importance to communicate to them from the governor. +Having caused the doors to be shut, and posted centinels to prevent any +communication with the rest of the inhabitants, he represented to these +men, that Gonzalo was much incensed against them for having always taken +part with his enemies, and more especially on account of having received +and favoured the deposed viceroy, and of having readily supplied his +army with every thing of which they stood in need. On this account it +had been his first intention to have destroyed the city with fire and +sword, without sparing a single inhabitant. But, on reflecting that the +magistrates and principal inhabitants only were to blame, the people at +large having been constrained by force or fear, he was now determined to +punish only the most guilty and to pardon the rest. Yet, having certain +private reasons for dissembling for the present with some of the +principal persons of the place, he had selected the six who were now +present, as principal inhabitants, to punish them as they richly +deserved, that they might serve as a warning to all Peru. For this +reason, therefore, he desired them to confess their sins in preparation +for death, as he was resolved to have them all executed immediately. + +They used every argument to exculpate themselves from the crimes kid to +their charge, but all they could say was without avail; and Carvajal +even caused one of them to be strangled, against whom he was +particularly incensed, as he had been principally instrumental in +constructing the royal seal which the viceroy employed in his +dispatches. In the mean time, a rumour of what was going forward at the +residence of Carvajal spread over the city, and came to the knowledge of +the wives of the prisoners. These ladies immediately implored the +priests and monks who dwelt in San Miguel to accompany them to the place +where their husbands were in so great danger. They all went there +accordingly, and got in by a private door which had not been noticed by +the people belonging to Carvajal, and which had consequently been +omitted to be guarded. Coming into the presence of Carvajal, the wives +of the prisoners threw themselves at his feet, and implored mercy for +their husbands. He pretended to be softened, and granted pardon to the +prisoners, so far as their lives; yet reserving to himself to punish +them in such other manner as he might see fit. Accordingly, he banished +them from the province, depriving them of their lands and Indians, and +condemned them in the payment of heavy fines towards defraying the +expences of the war. + +From San Miguel Carvajal went to Truxillo, collecting every where on his +route all the soldiers, horses, arms, and money he could find. Carvajal +had resolved to have put one Melchior Verdugo to death, who dwelt in +Truxillo; but as Verdugo got intimation of this intention, he fled to +the province of Caxamarca, where his repartimiento of Indians was +situated. The bussiness on which Carvajal was engaged was of too great +importance to admit of pursuing Verdugo; wherefore, after having got +possession of as much money as possible under pretence of a loan, he +went on to Lima, always collecting all the soldiers he could procure. He +gave no money to his recruits, only supplying them with horses and arms, +which he took wherever they could be found. He kept all the money he +could find for his own use, every where pillaging the royal coffers and +public funds, and even searching for treasure among the ancient tombs. +After arriving at Lima, he completed his military preparations, and +departed for Cuzco by way of the mountain and the city of Guamanga, at +the head of two hundred men well equipped, and carrying with him a great +sum of money which he had collected during his march; and at Guamanga he +conducted himself in the same rapacious manner as in other places. + +Seven or eight days after the departure of Carvajal from Lima, a +conspiracy was detected among those who were well affected to the royal +cause, in consequence of which fifteen of the principal persons of that +city were committed to prison. Among these were, Juan Velasquez, Vela +Nunnez nephew to the viceroy, Francisco Giron another gentlemen of his +household, and Francisco Rodriguez. By means of the torture, these +unhappy persons were made to confess that they had concerted with Pedro +Manxarres, an inhabitant of Las Charcas, to kill the lieutenant-governor +Aldana, the provost marshall Pedro Martin, and other friends and +partizans of Gonzalo Pizarro, after which they proposed to induce the +citizens of Lima to declare for his majesty, confidently expecting that +all those who now followed Carvajal by constraint would join their +party; and they intended finally to have gone off with all the strength +they could muster to join Centeno. Upon this forced confession, Giron +and one other of these prisoners were strangled. By the intercession of +several respectable persons the life of Juan Velasquez was spared, but +his right hand was cut off. All the rest of these prisoners were so +severely tortured that they continued lame for the rest of their lives. +Manxarres saved himself by flight, and continued to conceal himself +among the mountains for more than a year; but fell at last into the +hands of one of the officers in the interest of Gonzalo, who caused him +to be hanged. + +As Pedro Martin, the provost-marshal, strongly suspected that some of +those who accompanied Carvajal had participated in this plot; he +endeavoured to discover this by torturing Francisco de Guzman, one of +the prisoners. Finding that Guzman made no confession on this head, he +interrogated him particularly respecting a soldier along with Carvajal +named Perucho de Aguira, and some of his friends, demanding to know +whether these men were in the secret. On purpose to free himself from +the torture, Guzman said they were. After this confession, Guzman was +formally condemned to become a monk in the convent belonging to the +order of mercy, in which he accordingly assumed the habit. After this, +Martin demanded from the registrar a certificate of the confession of +Guzman, by which Aguira and others were implicated in the plot, and +Martin immediately sent off this writing by an Indian messenger to +Carvajal who was then at Guamanga. On the receipt of this paper, +Carvajal ordered Aguira and five others to be hanged, without any +further proof or examination. A short time afterwards, the registrar +being sensible of the error he had committed in supplying the +certificate, sent off a full copy of the confession made by Guzman, in +which was an ample revocation of all he had said under torture, +declaring that he had falsely charged Aguira and the others, merely to +get free from torture. This was however of no avail, as it arrived too +late, Aguira and the others having been already executed, although they +asserted their innocence to the last moment of their lives, as was +certified by the confessors who attended them at their execution; but +Carvajal was inexorable. + +Learning while at Guamanga, that Centeno had retired through the desert +to Casabindo as he was unable to cope with Toro, Carvajal was satisfied +that the affaire of the insurgent party were in a fair train in Las +Charcas, where his presence was not now needed, and determined therefore +to return to Lima. He was besides induced to take this step in +consequence of a difference which subsisted between Toro and himself, +occasioned by the charge of lieutenant general under Gonzalo having +originally belonged to Toro, of which he had been deprived in favour of +Carvajal. He feared therefore, lest Toro, on his victorious return from +Las Charcas, being at the head of a much stronger force, might renew +their former quarrel. Carvajal had likewise received letters from some +inhabitants of Lima, remarking the lukewarmness of Aldana to the cause +of Gonzalo Pizarro, and requesting his presence to place affairs at that +city on a more secure footing. He returned therefore to Lima; but +learning shortly afterwards the successful return of Centeno against De +Toro, he again collected his troops and prepared to march against +Centeno. With this view, he had his standards solemnly consecrated, not +forgetting to impose fresh exactions on the inhabitants of Lima. On this +occasion, he designated his army, _The happy army of Liberty, against +the Tyrant Centeno._ + +Before leaving Lima, he sent off messengers to Cuzco by way of the +mountain, but chose to march by the route of the plain or low country of +Peru to Arequipa, exacting money from the inhabitants wherever he +passed. At Arequipa he received letters from the magistrates of Cuzco +and De Toro, earnestly requesting his immediate presence in that city; +whence, as being the capital of the kingdom, it was proper that the army +should march against the rebels. They assured him of being there +provided with considerable reinforcements of men arms and horses, and +that all the principal persons of the city were ready to accompany him +on the expedition: adding, that being himself a citizen of Cuzco it +seemed reasonable he should honour that city by his presence. By these +and other considerations he was induced to march for Cuzco, though still +entertaining some distrust and even fear of Toro, who he was informed +had often spoken against him in his absence. When De Toro was informed +of the approach of Carvajal to Cuzco, he made every necessary +preparation for reinforcing the army, and providing for the intended +expedition against Centeno; yet could not conceal his dissatisfaction, +that he who had begun the war, and had already suffered great fatigues, +and even had gained material advantages, should be superseded by another +commander whom he must now obey, and more especially that it should be +Carvajal who was put over him, with whom he had been already engaged in +disputes. He dissembled however as much as possible, and concealed his +resentment, saying publickly that his only wish was for the fortunate +management of affairs, whoever might command. Yet with all his caution, +he could not so carefully conceal his sentiments, but that he +occasionally dropped expressions of resentment. + +The discontent of De Toro was well known to the inhabitants of Cuzco, +yet they were in hopes that Carvajal would set every thing to rights on +his arrival. Carvajal having arrived in the neighbourhood of the city, +which he was to enter next day at the head of two hundred men, part +cavalry and part musqueteers, De Toro was very anxious to muster all +that were able to carry arms; and from this measure, and the precautions +he took that every one should be in the most perfect equipment, and the +troops steady in their ranks, it was suspected that he entertained some +evil design. De Toro was thus posted with his troops, as if in ambush, +in the way by which Carvajal had to march into the city. As these +circumstances were made known to Carvajal, he ordered his troops to +march in close array, and even ordered their arms to be loaded with +ball, prepared for whatever might happen. On entering the city, De Toro +and his troops were seen on one side, as if ready to dispute the +passage. Carvajal halted his men, and the two parties remained for some +time observing each other with mutual distrust. At length, as neither +side seemed inclined to commence hostilities, both parties broke their +ranks, and intermingled as friends. + +Carvajal was exceedingly irritated against De Toro for his conduct on +this occasion, but dissembled till he had entered into Cuzco, where he +was received in the most honourable manner. A few days afterwards, he +caused four of the principal inhabitants to be arrested, and ordered +them to instant execution, without consulting De Toro, or even assigning +any reason for this cruel and arbitrary proceeding. Some of those whom +he put to death were among the most intimate friends of De Toro, who +deemed it prudent and necessary to be silent on the occasion. The +unexpected cruelty of Carvajal occasioned much astonishment and +consternation among the inhabitants of Cuzco, insomuch that none of them +dared to refuse accompanying him on the expedition, and he was enabled +to leave Cuzco at the head of three hundred well appointed soldiers with +which he marched by Collao in the way towards the province of Las +Charcas in search of Centeno. As the latter had a considerably stronger +force, it was believed by many that Carvajal would be unsuccessful in +this expedition, more especially as most of his followers acted more +from force than good will, because he allowed them no pay and treated +them with much severity. In his whole conduct and deportment Carvajal +acted in a brutal and passionate manner, evincing himself on all +occasions the enemy of good men; for he was a bad Christian, constantly +addicted to blasphemy, and of a cruel and tyrannical disposition, +insomuch that it was generally expected his own people would put him to +death to rid themselves of his tyrannous and oppressive conduct. Besides +all this, it was obvious to many, that right and justice were on the +side of Centeno, who was a man of honour and probity, and, being +exceedingly rich, had both the power and inclination to reward his +followers. It is necessary to quit Carvajal and his expedition for the +present, that we may relate the events which took place at Quito. + +We have already mentioned that Gonzalo Pizarro pursued the viceroy from +San Miguel to Quito, a distance of 150 leagues or 600 miles, with much +perseverance and rapidity, insomuch that almost every day the light +armed men belonging to the two armies had opportunities of speaking with +each other. During the whole of that long march, neither party had an +opportunity to unsaddle their horses. Those belonging to the viceroy, +owing to the necessity they were under of escaping from a force so much +superior, were even more alert than their pursuers. When at any time +they stopped to take a short rest during the night, they slept on the +ground in their clothes, holding their horses by the halters, without +wasting time in fixing up piquets, or making any of the usual +preparations for accommodating themselves and horses during the night. +It is true that piquets are seldom used in the sands of Peru for the +horses, as it would be necessary to drive these very deep to take +sufficient hold; and as there are no trees to be met with in many parts +of that country for making piquets, necessity has introduced a +substitute in some measure equivalent: For this purpose each horseman +has a small bag, which he fills with sand and burries in a hole of +sufficient depth, having one end of the halter fixed to the bag, the +hole being afterwards filled up and pressed well down to prevent the bag +from being drawn up by the efforts of the horse. But on this urgent +occasion, the troops of the viceroy did not take time for this measure, +but held the halters in their hands, that they might be ready to mount +and set out the moment it was necessary by the approach of their +pursuers. + +In this long march, both the pursuers and the pursued suffered +exceedingly from want of provisions; more especially the Pizarrians, as +the viceroy used the precaution of removing the curacas and Indians from +all the country through which he passed, that his enemy might find every +part of the country deserted and unprovided with any means of +subsistence. During this precipitate retreat, the viceroy carried along +with him eight or ten of the best horses he had been able to procure, +which were led by Indians for his own particular use; and when any of +these became so tired as to be unable to proceed, he ordered them to be +hamstrung, to prevent them from being useful to the enemy. While on this +march in pursuit of the viceroy, Gonzalo Pizarro was joined by Captain +Bachicao, who now returned from Tierra Firma with a reinforcement of +three hundred and fifty men and a large quantity of artillery, having +disembarked, from twenty vessels which he had procured, on a part of +the coast as near as possible to Quito, and had made his way in such a +manner across the mountains that he got to Quito rather before Gonzalo. +On the junction of Bachicao, Gonzalo found himself at the head of more +than eight hundred men, among whom were many of the principal people in +South America, both townsmen or burgesses, planters, and soldiers. Owing +to this large reinforcement, Gonzalo Pizarro found himself in such a +state of tranquil security at Quito as hardly any usurper or tyrant had +ever before enjoyed; as besides that this province abounded in +provisions of every kind, several rich mines of gold had been recently +discovered; and as most of the principal people of the province were +either now along with the viceroy, or had attached themselves to him +while at Quito, Gonzalo Pizarro appropriated all their Indians to +himself, employing them in the collection of gold. From the Indians +belonging to the treasurer, Rodrigo Nunnez de Bonilla, he procured about +800 marks [17] of gold in the course of eight months; besides that there +were other repartimientos of greater value, and that he appropriated all +the revenues and rights belonging to the crown, and even pillaged the +tombs of the ancient sovereigns of Quito in search of treasure. + +[Footnote 17: Eight hundred marks of gold, or 6400 ounces, at L.4 an +ounce; are worth L.25,600: and at six for one, the value put upon +bullion in those days by the Historian of America, are now worth at +least L.153,600, perhaps a quarter of a million. As there were other +repartimientos of more value than those of the treasurer, besides others +not so valuable, it is not beyond bounds to suppose that Gonzalo may +have acquired as much treasure at Quito as was equal to a million of our +present money: A prodigious sum, considering that his army did not +exceed 800 men; being equal to L.1250 for each soldier.--E.] + +After a short stay at Quito, Gonzalo learnt that the viceroy had halted +at the city of Parto, about forty leagues from thence, at the frontiers +of the government of Benalcazar. Resolving to follow him, Gonzalo pushed +on as he had done from San Miguel, and the light troops of the hostile +parties had some interference at a place called Rio Caliente. When the +viceroy was informed of the approach of Gonzalo, he hastily quitted +Parto and retired to the city of Popayan at a greater distance from +Quito, and was pursued by Gonzalo for twenty leagues beyond Parto. As +Gonzalo found that he would have to march through a desert country, +altogether destitute of provisions, he here discontinued the pursuit, +and returned to Quito. Perhaps this was the longest and hottest pursuit +ever made in war; as, counting from La Plata whence Gonzalo first set +out, to Parto where the pursuit was discontinued, the distance is not +less than 700 large Spanish leagues, or 2800 miles. + +On his return to Quito, Gonzalo Pizarro was so puffed up with the +success which had hitherto attended him, that he frequently spoke of his +majesty with much disrespect; alleging that the king would be reduced to +the necessity of granting him the government of Peru, and even went so +far as to say, if this favour were denied him, he would throw off his +allegiance. For the most part indeed, he concealed these ambitious +sentiments, pretending that he was always ready to submit to the orders +of his majesty; but all his officers were satisfied that he meant to +assert an independent dominion, and publickly avowed these absurd and +criminal pretensions. On returning from Parto, he remained a long while +at Quito, continually feasting and rejoicing; he and his adherents +abandoning themselves to every degree of licence and debauchery, +particularly in regard to the sex. It is even asserted that Gonzalo +caused a citizen of Quito to be assassinated, whose wife he publickly +lived with, and that he hired a Hungarian soldier, named Vincente Pablo +to execute this infamous deed. This man was afterwards hanged at +Valladolid, in the year 1551, by a sentence of the royal council of the +Indies. + +As Pizarro found himself in the command of a strong body of excellent +troops, which appeared entirely attached to his service, some of their +own accord and others by constraint, he persuaded himself that no one +could oppose him, or prevent him from enjoying his present elevation in +peace and tranquillity. He was even convinced that the emperor would be +obliged to treat him with cautious respect, and must find himself under +the necessity of entering into a compromise. It was at this time, when +Gonzalo considered himself as unresisted master of all Peru, that +Centeno revolted from his tyrannical usurpation in the province of Las +Charcas, and that he dispatched Carvajal for the reduction of that loyal +officer, as has been already mentioned. + +Having continued a long time at Quito without receiving any intelligence +of the measures which were taken by the viceroy, Gonzalo became anxious +to learn what was become of him. Some alleged that he would return to +Spain by way of Carthagena, while others gave it as their opinion that +he would retire to Tierra Firma, to keep possession of the isthmus, to +assemble troops, arms, ammunition, and provisions, and to wait for +orders from his majesty; and a third opinion was that he would wait for +these orders in Popayan, where he now was. No one suspected that he +would be able to collect a sufficient number of troops in that place to +enable him to undertake any enterprise for recovering his authority in +Peru; yet it seemed advisable to Gonzalo and his officers to take +possession of the Tierra Firma, on purpose to occupy the only direct +passage between Spain and Peru. For this purpose, Gonzalo Pizarro +appointed Pedro Alfonzo De Hinojosa to command the fleet which Bachicao +had collected, giving him a detachment of two hundred and fifty men to +enable him to occupy the isthmus, and directed him while on his voyage +to Panama to coast along the province of Buenaventura and the mouth of +the river of San Juan. + +Hinojosa set out immediately on this expedition, dispatching a single +vessel, commanded by Captain Rodrigo de Carvajal direct for Panama, with +letters from Gonzalo to some of the principal inhabitants of that city +urging them to favour his designs. In these letters, he pretended that +he was exceedingly displeased on hearing of the violence and rapacity +with which Bachicao had conducted himself towards the inhabitants of +Panama, in direct contradiction to his orders, which were to land the +Doctor Texada without doing injury to any one. He informed them that +Hinojosa was now on his way to their city, for the express purpose of +indemnifying all those who had been injured by Bachicao; and desired +them not to be under any apprehension of Hinojosa, although accompanied +by a considerable force, as it was necessary for him to be on his guard +against the viceroy and some of his officers, who were understood to be +then in the Tierra Firma levying soldiers for their master. On the +arrival of Rodrigo Carvajal at a place named Ancona about three leagues +from Panama, he learnt that two officers belonging to the viceroy, Juan +de Guzman and Juan Yllanez, were then in Panama, having been sent to +that place to procure recruits and to purchase arms, with which they +were to have gone to Popayan. They had already enrolled above an hundred +soldiers, and had procured a considerable quantity of arms, among which +were five or six small field-pieces; but, instead of going with these to +join the viceroy, they remained to defend Panama against Gonzalo +Pizarro, who they expected might send a force to occupy that important +station. + +As Rodrigo Carvajal had only fifteen men along with him, he did not +think it prudent to land in person; but sent secretly by night one of +his soldiers to deliver the letters with which he was entrusted. The +soldier accordingly delivered them to the inhabitants for whom they were +addressed, who immediately communicated them to the magistrates and the +officers of the viceroy. The soldier was taken into custody, from whom +they learnt the coming of Hinojosa, and the orders with which he was +entrusted. Upon this intelligence, they armed the whole population of +Panama, and fitted out two brigantines which were sent off on purpose to +capture Rodrigo Carvajal; but, as his messenger did not return, Carvajal +suspected what had actually taken place, and set sail for the Pearl +Islands to wait the arrival of Hinojosa, by which means he escaped from +the brigantines. Pedro de Casaos was then governor of the Tierra Firma; +and to be in readiness to defend his province against Hinojosa, he went +immediately to Nombre de Dios, where he collected all the musquets and +other arms he could procure, arming all the inhabitants of that place +who were fit for service, whom he carried along with him to Panama, +making every preparation in his power for defence. The two captains +belonging to the viceroy, Guzman and Yllanez, likewise put their troops +in order for resistance, and at first there was some jealousy between +them and Casaos as to the supreme command; but it was at length agreed +that Casaos should command in chief, as governor of the province, while +they retained the immediate authority over their own men, and bore their +own standards. Differences had subsisted for some time between these +officers and the governor, because he had repressed some disorderly +conduct in which they had indulged, and had advised them to set off with +their men to the assistance of the viceroy for whom they were employed +to levy troops; while they were averse from that measure, and finding +themselves at the head of a respectable force, they made light of the +orders of Casaos, and refused to obey him: But the necessity they were +now under of providing for their mutual defence, occasioned them to +enter into an accommodation of their disputes. + +After the dispatch of Carvajal to Panama, as already mentioned, Hinojosa +set sail with ten vessels, and continued along the coast to the north +till he arrived at Buenaventura, a small sea port at the mouth of the +river San Juan which forms the southern boundary of Popayan, the +government of Benalcazar. He proposed to learn at this place the +situation and intentions of the viceroy, and to have seized any vessels +that might be at this harbour, to prevent them from being employed by +the viceroy for returning to Peru. On arriving at Buenaventura, Hinojosa +sent some soldiers on shore, who brought off eight or ten of the +inhabitants, from whom he learnt that the viceroy remained at Popayan, +engaged in assembling troops and military stores for attempting to +return into Peru; and that finding Yllanez and Guzman delayed their +return from Panama, he had sent off his brother Vela Nunnez with several +corporals on their way to Panama, to expedite the transmission of such +reinforcements as could be procured, and had supplied him for that +purpose with all the money belonging to the king at Popayan. Hinojosa +was likewise informed that Vela Nunnez had the charge of a bastard son +of Gonzalo Pizarro of twelve years old, who was found by the viceroy at +Quito, and was now sent away to Panama, in the hope that the merchants +of Panama might ransom him at a high price to acquire the good will of +Gonzalo. The individual who communicated all this information added that +the viceroy had employed a number of Indians to cut down a quantity of +timber, which was to be conveyed to Buenaventura, on purpose to build a +small vessel for the accommodation of Vela Nunnez; who must now be +within a short distance of Buenaventura, and had sent this person before +to inquire if he might come in safety to that place. + +On receiving this intelligence, Hinojosa landed two confidential +officers with a party of soldiers, giving them orders to take two +several routes into the interior, as pointed out by the informant, on +purpose to take Vela Nunnez. Accordingly, one of these officers came up +with Vela Nunnez, and the other got hold of Rodrigo Mexia and Saavedra +with the son of Gonzalo Pizarro [18]. Both of these parties carried +considerable sums of money, which was pillaged by the soldiers of +Hinojosa; and the prisoners were brought on board the vessels, where +great rejoicings were made for the happy success of this enterprize, by +which their acquisition of Panama must be facilitated, and because they +had done especial good service to Gonzalo by the liberation of his son. + +[Footnote 18: By Garcilasso de la Vega, this son of Gonzalo Pizarro is +named Rodrigo Mexia; but Zarate could hardly be mistaken in giving that +name to one of his conductors.--E.]. + +Hinojosa now resumed his voyage, in the course of which he fell in with +Rodrigo de Carvajal, who gave him an account of the situation of affairs +at Panama, and recommended the propriety of using judicious measures +against that place, as it was provided for defence. Hinojosa accordingly +appeared before Panama with eleven ships and two hundred and fifty +soldiers. At this time there were more than five hundred men in Panama, +all tolerably well armed, who were drawn, out under the command of +Casaos to oppose the landing of the Pizarrians. But among these there +were many merchants and tradesmen, little adapted for war, who hardly +knew how to use their weapons, and many of whom were even unable to fire +off a musquet. Many among them had no intention of fighting or of +opposing the descent of the insurgents of Peru, whose arrival they were +disposed to consider as more advantageous than prejudicial. The +merchants expected to be able to sell their commodities, and the +tradesmen were in hope of procuring profitable employment, each +according to his occupation. Besides, the rich merchants had partners or +factors who resided in Peru, and had charge of their most valuable +effects; and were afraid, if they concurred in opposing Hinojosa, that +Gonzalo Pizarro might revenge himself by seizing their goods and +maltreating their partners and factors. Those who were principally +inclined to oppose the landing of Hinojosa, were Pedro Casaos the +governor, Guzman and Yllanez the captains belonging to the viceroy, +Arias de Azevedo, Juan Fernandez de Rebollido, Andrew de Arayza, Juan de +Zabala, Juan Vendrel, and some other considerable inhabitants of Panama; +some from principles of loyalty, others from fear of future evils, lest +Hinojosa might act with the same violence as had been done by Bachicao. + +Finding himself resisted, Hinojosa landed with two hundred men about two +leagues from Panama, towards which place he marched close along the +shore, being, protected on one flank by a range of rocks from the attack +of cavalry, and on the other by the boats of his squadron armed with +some pieces of artillery. Fifty of his soldiers were left on board for +the defence of the ships, and orders were given to hang up Vela Nunnez +and the other prisoners whenever the enemy were seen to attack him. +Casaos marched with all his troops from Panama to meet Hinojosa, with +the determination of giving battle: But when the hostile parties were +almost within musquet shot and ready to engage, the whole priests and +monks of Panama interposed between in procession, having their +crucifixes veiled and every other demonstration of mourning, and +prevailed on both sides to agree to a truce for that day, that +endeavours might be used to bring about an accommodation. For this +purpose negotiators were appointed on both sides; Don Balthasar de +Castilia, son of the Conde de Gomera, was named by Hinojosa, and Don +Pedro de Cabrera on the part of Casaos, and hostages were mutually +interchanged. + +The deputy of Hinojosa affected to be astonished at the opposition of +the governor and inhabitants of Panama, since he not only meant no harm +to any one, but had come expressly to repair the injuries which had +formerly been done by Bachicao, to purchase such provisions and clothing +as they wanted, and to repair their ships; declaring that their only +object was to oblige the deposed viceroy to return to Spain, pursuant to +the orders of the royal audience, as his continuance in the country +occasioned perpetual discord in Peru. But, as the viceroy was not there, +Hinojosa intended to make only a short stay in the place, having orders +from Gonzalo to offer no injury to any one unless attacked, in which +case he must defend himself as he best could. The opposite party alleged +that the presence of Hinojosa in warlike guise was sufficient to excite +suspicion; since, even allowing the government of Gonzalo in Peru to be +legitimate as they pretended, he had no jurisdiction in Panama, and had +no right to direct the proceedings of any one at that place. That +Bachicao had formerly come among them under pretence of peace, yet had +committed all those violences and injuries, which Hinojosa now pretended +he was come to repair. After a long conference, it was at length agreed +that Hinojosa should be permitted to take up his residence in Panama for +thirty days, accompanied by fifty soldiers to serve as a guard for his +personal safety; but that the fleet and all the other soldiers of his +party should repair to the Pearl Islands, where workmen and all +necessaries for the reparation of the ships could be procured; and that +at the expiry of these thirty days, Hinojosa and his armament were to +return to Peru. + +On the conclusion of this convention, which was confirmed by mutual +oaths and the interchange of hostages, Hinojosa took up his residence in +Panama with a guard of fifty picked men, and hired a house in which he +kept open table for every one who pleased to visit him, all of whom he +allowed to divert themselves in play or otherwise as they pleased. By +this procedure, he gained over most of the soldiers of Yllanez in a few +days, and many other idle fellows joined themselves secretly to his +party. It was even said that all these men had previously engaged by +letter to have gone over to him if he and the governor had come to a +battle on the former occasion. Indeed the governor and other principal +persons of Panama had been chiefly induced to agree to the present +accommodation by distrust of their soldiers, who were all eager for an +opportunity of getting to Peru. By the above-mentioned means, Hinojosa +soon saw himself at the head of a considerable body of troops, while the +captains Yllanez and Guzman were almost deserted by all their men. As +they saw likewise that the convention was in other respects ill +observed, they secretly withdrew with fifteen men who yet remained, and +endeavoured to get to Carthagena. Yllanez was taken soon afterwards by +one of Hinojosas officers; on which he entered into the service of +Gonzalo Pizarro, and was afterwards engaged on that side in the +engagement at Nombre de Dios against Verdugo, to be afterwards related. +Hinojosa continued to reside in Panama, where no one dared to oppose +him. He increased the number of his troops from day to day, and kept +them under excellent discipline, without allowing them to do injury to +any of the inhabitants; neither did he intermeddle in any thing whatever +except what concerned his troops. At this time Don Pedro de Cabrera and +his son-in-law Hernan Mexia de Guzman, who had been banished from Peru +by the viceroy, resided in Panama; and these two gentlemen were sent by +Hinojosa, with a party of soldiers, to keep possession of the port of +Nombre de Dios, which was of great importance to his security, and +whence he might receive early intelligence from Spain and other places. + +Melchior Verdugo, an inhabitant of the city of Truxillo, was one of the +richest men in Peru, being proprietor of the entire province of +Caxamarca. On the arrival of the viceroy Blasco Nunnez Vela, Verdugo, +who was originally from the same city in Spain, engaged heartily in his +service, and continued in his suite at Lima, till the time when the +viceroy proposed to dismantle that city and retire to Truxillo. At that +period he commanded Verdugo to go before, that he might secure +possession of Truxillo, with orders to levy soldiers and provide arms; +and Verdugo accordingly embarked all his baggage and effects, intending +to have set sail on the very day when the viceroy was imprisoned. As all +the vessels at the port of Lima were then detained, Verdugo was unable +to proceed; and, as Verdugo was particularly obnoxious to Gonzalo and +his partizans, on account of his known attachment to the viceroy, he was +one of the twenty-five who were committed to prison by Carvajal on his +arrival at Lima, when De Baro and several others were hanged, as +formerly related. For a long while afterwards he was in continual danger +of being put to death; but at length Gonzalo granted him a pardon, +though he still entertained suspicions of his conduct, but had no +convenient opportunity of getting rid of him, till the departure of +Carvajal against Centeno, when it was proposed by the lieutenant-general +to have surprised him while at Truxillo, as formerly mentioned: But +having some suspicions of his intention, Verdugo saved himself by +flight, and concealed himself among his Indians in the province of +Caxamarca. + +After Carvajal quitted Truxillo, Verdugo returned to that city; but as +he expected Gonzalo might soon become master of that place, and would +make him feel the effects of his displeasure, he resolved to abandon the +country, yet wished to do it in such a manner as might distress Gonzalo +as much as possible. While waiting a favourable opportunity for this, he +made every preparation in his power for his intended enterprize, +collecting as many men in his service as he possibly could, and employed +workmen secretly to construct musquets, iron chains, fetters, and +manacles. At this time a vessel arrived from Lima in the harbour of +Truxillo, on which Verdugo sent for the master and pilot, under pretence +of purchasing some of their commodities; and on their arrival at his +house he confined them in a deep dungeon which he had previously +prepared. After this, he returned to his chamber, causing his legs to be +swathed with bandages, under pretence of certain malignant warts or +ulcers to which he was subject, and sat down at one of his windows which +looked towards the public square in which the magistrates and principal +inhabitants used to assemble every day. When the magistrates came as +usual to the square, he requested them to come into his house, as he +wished to execute certain deeds in their presence, and the disorder in +his legs rendered him unable to go out. Immediately on entering, he +caused them to be carried into the dungeon, where they were deprived of +their badges of office and put in chains. Leaving them under the guard +of six musqueteers, he returned to the window of his chamber, whence he +gradually enticed about twenty of the principal citizens into his house, +all of whom he put in chains and fetters. He then went out into the city +accompanied by a guard of soldiers, and proclaimed the king with much +loyal solemnity, making prisoners of all who presumed to oppose him; +which were very few, as Gonzalo had carried off most of the inhabitants +on his expedition to Quito. Having thus made himself master of the city, +and returned to his house, he addressed his prisoners, whom he reviled +for having embraced the party of Gonzalo, and declared that he was +resolved to withdraw from under the usurpation of the tyrant to join the +viceroy, and meant to take along with him all the men and arms he was +able to procure. For this purpose, he demanded that all his prisoners +should contribute in proportion to their abilities, as it was quite +reasonable they should give assistance to the royal cause, having +frequently made large contributions to the usurper. He insisted +therefore that every one of them should instantly subscribe for such +sums as they were able to furnish, all of which were to be paid +immediately, as he was otherwise resolved to carry them all along with +him as prisoners. Every one of them accordingly agreed to advance such +sums of money as they were able to procure, which were all instantly +paid. + +Having brought this contrivance to a favourable issue, Verdugo made an +agreement with the master and pilot of the vessel, and had every thing +that could be useful or necessary carried on board. He then carried all +his prisoners in irons in carts or waggons to the shore, and embarked +with about twenty soldiers, and a considerable sum of money, partly +exacted from the inhabitant, partly from the royal funds belonging to +the city, and partly, from his own extensive revenues. Leaving his +prisoners still in fetters on the carriages, to be liberated as they +best might, he set sail along the coast to the northwards. In the course +of his voyage he fell in with and captured a vessel belonging to +Bachicao, containing a great deal of valuable articles which that +officer had acquired by plunder in Tierra Firma, all of which Verdugo +divided among his soldiers. He at first inclined to have landed at +Buenaventura, on purpose to join the viceroy; but considering the small +amount of his force, and the danger of falling in with the fleet of +Gonzalo Pizarro, he directed his course for the province of Nicaragua, +where he landed and applied to the principal persons there for +assistance against the usurper. Finding small encouragement in that +quarter, he addressed himself to the royal audience, which was +established on the frontiers of Nicaragua, who promised him protection +and aid, and sent for that purpose one of their number, the oydor +Ramirez de Alarcon to Nicaragua, with orders to the inhabitants of that +city to hold themselves in readiness to march with their arms and +horses. + +Intelligence was soon received at Panama of the exploit of Verdugo at +Truxillo, and his having gone to Nicaragua; and as Hinojosa suspected he +might increase his force in that province so as to be enabled to disturb +him in the possession of the Tierra Firma, he sent Alfonso Palamino with +two ships and an hundred and eighty musqueteers to endeavour to dislodge +Verdugo. Palamino easily took possession of the ship belonging to +Verdugo; but as the inhabitants of Grenada and Leon, the two principal +cities in the province of Nicaragua assembled in arms, under Verdugo and +the licentiate Ramirez, to oppose his landing, and were much superior in +number to his troops and provided with cavalry, he found himself unable +to land with any prospect of success. After waiting some time in vain, +he was obliged to sail back to Panama, taking several vessels along with +him which he had captured on the coast, and burning several others which +he could not carry away. + +On the departure of Palomino, Verdugo levied about an hundred well armed +men, with whom he resolved to give as much interruption as possible to +the schemes of the insurgents in the Tierra Firma. With this view he +determined to make an attempt on Nombre de Dios, which he learnt was +occupied only by a small detachment, which had no suspicion of being +attacked. For this purpose, he fitted out three or four small vessels, +in which he embarked his troops on the lake of Nicaragua, whence he +descended into the gulf of Mexico by the river Chagre, which discharges +the waters of that lake into the Atlantic. Finding some trading vessels +at the mouth of that river, he received accurate information from their +commanders of the state of affairs in Nombre de Dios, the number of the +soldiers which occupied that place, and the different quarters in which +they were lodged. Taking some of these mariners along with him as +guides, he contrived to arrive at Nombre de Dios undiscovered about +midnight, and went immediately to the house of Juan de Zabala, in which +the captains Pedro de Cabrera and Hernan Mexia were quartered with some +soldiers; who, roused by the noise, put themselves in a state of +defence. Verdugo and his people set the house on fire, so that Mexia and +his soldiers, who defended the staircase, were constrained to rush from +the house to save themselves from the flames; and as the night was +exceedingly dark, they escaped unseen, and saved themselves in the woods +near Nombre de Dios, whence they escaped across the isthmus to Panama. + +Hinojosa was much chagrined at this exploit, and determined on revenge; +but as he wished to give his conduct on the occasion some appearance of +justice, he directed some of the inhabitants of Nombre de Dios to enter +a regular accusation before the Doctor Ribera, the governor of that +place, giving an exaggerated account of the insolent invasion of his +government by Verdugo, who without any just pretence, had levied +contributions, imprisoned the magistrates, and invaded the town of +Nombre de Dios on his own private authority. They were likewise +instructed to request Ribera to march in person to chastise the +insolence of Verdugo, and Hinojosa offered to accompany him on this +expedition with his troops. Ribera, who appears to have been then +resident in Panama, agreed to all that was desired, and, accepted the +proffered military aid to drive Verdugo from his government; on which +Hinojosa and his officers swore to obey his orders as their commander on +this expedition, and the troops were put in motion to march across the +isthmus. On receiving notice of the approach of Hinojosa, Verdugo +disposed his troops to defend the place, and caused the inhabitants of +Nombre de Dios to take up arms, in addition to his own men. But as it +was obvious that the inhabitants shewed no inclination for fighting, +Verdugo suspected they might abandon him while engaged, and came +therefore to the resolution of abandoning the town, and took post on the +shore near his small barks. He waited for Hinojosa in that situation, +having some boats in his rear, which he had seized to enable him to +secure his retreat in case of necessity. Immediately on his arrival, +Hinojosa attacked Verdugo, and several persons were killed at the first +brunt. As the inhabitants of Nombre de Dios who were along with Verdugo, +observed their governor acting as commander of the adverse party, they +withdrew on one side from the engagement into an adjoining wood; by +which the soldiers belonging to Verdugo were thrown into disorder, and +they were forced to take to their boats and retreat on board their +barks. + +After this repulse, Verdugo took possession of several ships that lay at +anchor near Nombre de Dios, the largest of which he armed with some +pieces of artillery and endeavoured to cannonade the town. But finding +that he could do very little injury to the place, which was situated in +a bottom, and as he was in want of provisions, and most of his soldiers +had been left on shore, he retired with his small vessels and the ship +he had seized to Carthagena, to await a more favourable opportunity of +annoying the insurgents. Having restored Nombre de Dios to order, Ribera +and Hinojosa left a sufficient garrison in the place, under the command +of Don Pedro de Cabrera and Hernan Mexia, and returned to Panama, where +they proposed to wait for such orders as might be sent from Spain +respecting the troubles in Peru. + +On arriving at Popayan, as formerly related, the viceroy collected all +the iron which could be procured in the province, erected forges, and +procured workmen, so that in a short time he got two hundred musquets +constructed, besides other arms both offensive and defensive, and +provided every other species of warlike stores. Learning that the +governor, Benalcazar, had detached a brave and experienced officer, +named Juan Cabrera, to reduce some refractory Indians, with an hundred +and fifty soldiers; the viceroy wrote a letter to Cabrera, in which he +gave a detailed account of the insurrection and usurpation of Gonzalo +Pizarro, and of his own determination to restore the kingdom of Peru to +allegiance whenever he could collect a sufficient number of troops for +that purpose. He earnestly intreated therefore, that Cabrera would +immediately join him at Popayan with all his men, that they might +commence their march together for Quito, to punish the rebellious +usurper. To induce compliance, he represented in strong colours to +Cabrera, the great and signal service which he had in his power to +perform for the sovereign on this occasion; which likewise would be far +more advantageous to his own personal interests, than any which could +accrue from the expedition in which he was now engaged; as, on the +defeat of Pizarro, he would be entitled to partake in the distribution +of the lands belonging to Gonzalo and his partizans, and he might +depend on being gratified with ample possessions for himself and his +followers in the best districts of Peru. Farther to encourage Cabrera, +the viceroy informed him of the events which had lately occurred in the +south of Peru, where Centeno had erected the royal standard at the head +of a respectable force; so that the present conjuncture was extremely +favourable for an attack on Gonzalo, who could hardly resist when +pressed from both extremities of the kingdom at once; and besides, that +the inhabitants of Peru were now quite weary of the tyrannical violence +and extortion of Gonzalo, and would doubtless revolt against him on the +first favourable opportunity. As an additional inducement to Cabrera to +join him, the viceroy sent him an order by which he was authorized to +take from the royal coffers at Carthagena, Encelme, Cali, Antiochia, and +other places, to the extent of 30,000 pesos for the pay and equipment of +his troops; and as Cabrera acted under the orders of Benalcazar, he +procured letters to him from that governor by which he was commanded +immediately to obey the requisition of the viceroy. On receiving these +dispatches, Cabrera immediately secured the funds which he was +authorized to take, which he divided among his men, and set out with all +possible expedition to join the viceroy at Popayan with an hundred well +appointed soldiers. The viceroy had likewise sent orders for +reinforcements from the new kingdom of Grenada, the province of +Carthagena, and other places, so that his troops daily increased; and +having learnt the capture of his brother Vela Nunnez, and the loss of +Yllanez and his troops, he had no expectation of procuring any +additional reinforcements. + +At this time, Gonzalo Pizarro was very anxious to devise some stratagem +for inveigling the viceroy into his hands, as he considered his +usurpation unsafe so long as that officer remained alive and at the head +of a military force. With this view, that the viceroy might return into +Peru where he might have it in his power to bring him to action, Gonzalo +gave out that he intended to proceed to Las Charcas at the southern +extremity of Peru, to repress the disorders occasioned by Centeno, +leaving Captain Pedro de Puelles at Quito with three hundred men to +oppose the viceroy. He proceeded even ostensibly to take such measures +as were proper for executing this design; selecting such troops as were +to accompany himself to the south, and those who were to remain at +Quito; even distributing money to both divisions, and set off on his +march for the south after a general muster and review of his army. +Gonzalo contrived that intelligence of these proceedings should be +conveyed to the viceroy, by means of a spy in the employment of that +officer, who had betrayed his trust, and had even communicated to +Gonzalo the cypher which he used in corresponding with his employer. +Gonzalo made this person send intelligence to the viceroy of these +pretended motions; and Puelles wrote likewise to some friends in +Popayan, as if privately to inform them that he was left in the command +at Quito with three hundred men, with which he believed himself able to +resist all the force the viceroy might be able to bring against him; and +these letters were sent purposely in such a manner that they might fall +into the hands of the viceroy. Gonzalo likewise took care to spread +these reports among the Indians who were present at the review, and who, +having seen Gonzalo set off on his march to the south, were perfectly +acquainted with the number of troops which accompanied him on the march, +and of those which remained under Puelles at Quito. To give the greater +appearance of truth to these reports, Gonzalo actually set out on his +march; but halted at two or three days journey from Quito, under +pretence of falling sick. + +On receiving intelligence of these circumstances, which he implicitly +believed, the viceroy determined to march from Popayan to Quito, +satisfied that he should be easily able to overpower the small force +left there under Puelles, who had no means of being reinforced. He +accordingly began his march, during which he was unable to procure any +intelligence whatever respecting Gonzalo and his troops, so carefully +were all the passes guarded to prevent either Christians or Indians from +conveying advices on the road towards Popayan. While, on the contrary, +Gonzalo procured regular notice of every step taken by the viceroy, by +means of the Indians called _Cagnares_, a cunning and intelligent race. +Accordingly, when the viceroy was arrived within a few days march of +Quito, Gonzalo returned thither with his troops to join Puelles, and +they marched together to meet the viceroy, who was then at Oravalo about +twelve leagues from Quito. Although the viceroy was at the head of eight +hundred men, and his force increased daily on his approach to Quito, +Gonzalo confided in the valour and experience of his troops, among +which were many of the principal persons in Peru, his soldiers being +inured to war, accustomed to hardships and fatigue, and full of +confidence in themselves from the many victories they had gained. +Gonzalo did every thing in his power to satisfy his troops of the +justice of the cause in which he and they were engaged; representing to +them that Peru had been conquered by him and his brothers; recalling to +their remembrance the cruelties which had been exercised by the viceroy, +particularly in putting to death the commissary Yllan Suarez and several +of his own captains. In the next place, he gave an exaggerated picture +of the tyrannical conduct of the viceroy during the whole period of his +government, owing to which he had been deposed by the royal audience, +and sent out of the country to give an account to the king of his +conduct: Instead of which, he now endeavoured to disturb the colony by +sowing dissensions and encouraging insurrections, and had even levied an +army in other provinces, with which he intended to reduce the country +under his tyrannous rule, and to ruin all its inhabitants. After a long +speech, by which he endeavoured to animate his troops with resentment +against the viceroy, they all declared their readiness to march against +him and bring him to battle. Some were actuated by interested motives, +to prevent the enforcement of the obnoxious regulations; others by a +desire of avenging private injuries; and others again by the fear of +punishment for having taken up arms. But it is not to be concealed, that +the majority acted from dread of the severity of Gonzalo and his +officers, who had already put several persons to death, merely for +having shewn some degree of coldness or disinclination towards the cause +of the insurgents. + +On reviewing and mustering his force, Gonzalo found himself at the head +of 130 well mounted cavalry, 200 musqueteers, and 350 armed with pikes, +or near 700 in all, with abundance of excellent gun-powder[19]. Learning +that the viceroy had encamped on the banks of the river about two +leagues from Quito, Gonzalo advanced to meet him. Juan de Acosta and +Juan Velez de Guevara were his captains of musqueteers, Hernando +Bachicao commanded the pikemen, and the horse were led by Pedro de +Puelles and Gomez de Alvarado. On this occasion there was no person +appointed to the office of major-general, the duties of which Gonzalo +chose to execute in person. He detached seventy of his cavalry to occupy +a ford of the river, by which he meant to cross over towards the camp +of the viceroy, over whom he expected to gain an easy victory. It was +now Saturday the 15th of January 1546, and the two armies remained all +night so near each other that the advanced posts were able to converse, +each calling the other rebels and traitors, those on each side +pretending that they only were loyal subjects to the king. + +[Footnote 19: According to Garcilasso, the army of Gonzalo on this +occasion amounted to 700 men, 200 of whom were armed with firelocks, 350 +with pikes, and 150 were cavalry. In the History of America, II. 375, +the force under the viceroy is only stated at 400; but both in Zarate +and Garcilasso the royalists are mentioned as 800 strong.--E.] + +At this time, Gonzalo Pizarro was accompanied by the licentiate Benedict +Suarez de Carvajal brother to the commissary Yllan Suarez de Carvajal +who had formerly been put to death at Lima in presence of the viceroy. +At that former period Benedict was on his journey from Cuzco to Lima, +intending to have joined the viceroy against Gonzalo, and had arrived +within twenty leagues of Lima when he learnt the murder of his brother, +after which he dared not to trust himself in that city until the viceroy +had been deposed and sent on board ship. He was afterwards made prisoner +by Gonzalo, who was even on the point of putting him to death; but on +setting out for Quito, Gonzalo took him into favour. Carvajal now +followed him with good will against the viceroy, upon whom he was eager +to take signal vengeance for the unmerited death of his brother; and was +even followed on this occasion by about thirty of his friends and +relations, who formed a separate company under his immediate command. + +The viceroy had arrived at a village called Tuza, about twenty leagues +from Quito, when he learnt that Gonzalo Pizarro was returned to that +city, and was now at the head of about seven hundred men. Believing +himself however in sufficient force to attempt the recovery of his +authority in Peru, the viceroy communicated this intelligence to his +principal officers, whom he commanded to have every thing in readiness +for battle. On his arrival at the river within two leagues of Quito, and +in presence of the enemy who occupied the slope of a hill on the other +side, he determined to endeavour to get into their rear, for which +purpose he advanced with his troops by a road in a different direction +from that on which the insurgents were posted, expecting to derive great +advantages from this measure, as the whole infantry of Gonzalo, which +formed his principal force, were posted on the slope of the hill +directly in front, and his rear-guard of cavalry could have no +suspicion of being liable to attack. The viceroy accordingly began his +march on the night of the 15th January, leaving his camp standing with +all his Indians and dogs, and with fires burning in many places, to +deceive the enemy into a belief that he still remained in the camp. +Marching therefore in perfect silence by the road which had been pointed +out to him for gaining the rear of the insurgents, he expected to have +attained his object before day: But as the road, had not been frequented +for a long time, he encountered so many obstructions and difficulties, +in consequence of the road being broken up in many places, that when day +broke he was still a league from the enemy, by which all hope or +opportunity of surprizing them was entirely lost. In this dilemma, he +came to the resolution of marching straight upon Quito, in which there +were very few to oppose him, and which was in no situation to give any +resistance. He was in hopes of finding several loyal subjects in that +place, who might have contrived to elude following the usurper to the +field, and might now join his army, and he expected to find some arms +and military stores left there by Gonzalo. On arriving at Quito, the +soldiers of the viceroy learnt that Gonzalo was present with all his +troops, which circumstance had hitherto been carefully concealed from +their knowledge. + +In the morning of the 16th, the scouts of Gonzalo were surprised to hear +so little noise in the camp of the viceroy; and having cautiously +advanced, they learnt from the Indian followers of the royalist army in +what manner the viceroy had passed the insurgents during the night. The +scouts therefore made haste to apprize Gonzalo of this event, who learnt +soon afterwards by messengers from Quito that the viceroy had taken +possession of that city. Gonzalo therefore immediately marched for +Quito, determined to give battle to the viceroy without delay; and +although the viceroy was perfectly aware of the advantages possessed by +Pizarro in the superior discipline and equipment of his troops, he +courageously resolved to run the risk of battle, and even to expose +himself personally to all its dangers. In this determination, he boldly +marched from the city of Quito directly towards the enemy, as if assured +of gaining a victory. To Don Alfonzo de Montemayor, who commanded his +first company with the royal standard, he assigned the office of +lieutenant-general, commanding every one to obey him in that capacity. +Cepeda and Bazan led the cavalry, and Ahumada carried the great +standard. Sancho Sanchez de Avila, Hernandez Giron, Pedro Heredia, and +Rodrigo Nunnez de Bonilla were captains of infantry, over which Juan de +Cabrera commanded as major-general. The viceroy was earnestly requested +by all his officers not to engage in the front of battle as he intended, +but to take post in the rear with fifteen horsemen, whence he might send +succours to wherever they might be required; yet, when the engagement +was about to commence, the viceroy rode up to the vanguard, and took his +place beside the lieutenant-general, Don Alfonzo, in front of the royal +standard. On this occasion the viceroy was mounted on a grey horse, +dressed in an upper garment of white muslin, with large slashes, shewing +an under vest of crimson satin fringed with gold. Just before beginning +the engagement, he addressed his troops to the following effect: "I do +not pretend, my loyal friends, to encourage you by my words and example, +as I rather look for an example of bravery from your courageous efforts, +and am fully convinced you will do your duty as brave and faithful +subjects of our gracious sovereign. Knowing therefore your inviolable +fidelity to the king our common master, I have only to say that we are +engaged in the cause of God." These last words he repeated several +times, exclaiming, "It is the cause of God! It is the cause of God!" + +After this short exhortation, the viceroy with Don Alfonzo and Bazan +advanced to the charge, being opposed on the other side by the +licentiate Carvajal. Gonzalo Pizarro had likewise intended to have taken +post in the front of battle, but his officers insisted upon his +remaining in the rear with eight or ten horsemen. In the first charge +the cavalry shivered their lances, after which they continued to fight +obstinately with swords, battle-axes and war-clubs or maces. In this +part of the battle the cavalry of the viceroy were much galled by a line +of musqueteers of the adverse army which plied them in flank. While +fighting bravely, the viceroy beat down one of the insurgents named +Montalva; but immediately afterwards received so severe a blow on the +head with a battle-axe from Ferdinand de Torres, that he fell stunned +from his horse. Indeed, both he and his horse had been so excessively +fatigued by the difficult march of the preceding night, in which they +had neither been able to take food or rest, that they were both easily +overthrown. While this was passing with the cavalry of the van, the +infantry on both sides advanced to engage, setting up such loud shouts, +that one would have believed them much more numerous than they were in +reality. Juan de Cabrera was slain at the very commencement of this part +of the battle. Sancho de Avilla, advanced boldly at the head of his +company to attack the enemy, brandishing a two-handed sword, which he +employed with so much strength and address that he soon broke through +and defeated half of the company by which he was opposed. But as the +soldiers of Pizarro were more numerous in this part of the field than +those who followed Avilla, he was surrounded on all sides, and he and +most of his men slain. Until the death of the viceroy was known, the +battle was very bravely contested by his infantry; but as soon as the +knowledge of that unfortunate event had spread through their ranks, they +lost heart and relaxed in their efforts, and were soon entirely defeated +with considerable slaughter. At this time, the licentiate Carvajal +observed Pedro de Puelles about to end the life of the unfortunate +viceroy, already insensible and almost dead in consequence of the blow +he had received from De Torres and a wound from a musquet ball: Carvajal +immediately dismounted and cut off his head, saying, "That his only +object in joining the party of Gonzalo was to take vengeance for the +death of his brother." + +When the victory was completely decided, Gonzalo Pizarro ordered a +retreat to be sounded to recal his troops who were engaged in pursuit of +the enemy. In this battle, the royalists lost about two hundred men, +while only seven were slain on the side of the victors. Pizarro ordered +the slain to be buried on the field of battle, and caused the bodies of +the viceroy and Sancho de Avilla to be carried to Quito, where they were +buried with much solemn pomp, attending himself at the funeral and in +mourning[20]. He soon afterwards ordered ten or twelve of the principal +royalists to be hanged, who had taken shelter in the churches of Quito, +or had concealed themselves in other places. The oydor Alvarez, +Benalcazar governor of Popayan, and Don Alfonzo de Montemayor, were +wounded and made prisoners in the battle. Gonzalo intended to have +ordered Don Alfonzo to be beheaded; but as he had many friends among the +insurgents who interceded for his life, and who assured Gonzalo that he +could not possibly recover from his wounds, he was spared. Some time +afterwards, Gomez de Alvarado sent notice to Benalcazar that it was +intended to administer poison to these three prisoners in the dressings +applied to their wounds or in their food; and accordingly he and Don +Alfonzo took great precautions to avoid this treachery. As the oydor +Alvarez was lodged in the same house with his brother judge Cepeda, he +had not in his power to use similar precautions, and died soon after; +and every one believed that he was poisoned in some almond soup. + +[Footnote 20: This authentic circumstance by no means agrees with the +assertion in the History of America, II. 376, that the head of the +viceroy was affixed on the public gibbet in Quito. From the text of +Zarate, this battle appears to have been fought on the 16th January +1546. In the History of America, it is dated on the 18th; but the +difference is quite immaterial.--E.] + +Finding that he could not get secretly rid of Don Alfonzo as he wished, +and having no hope of gaining him over to his party, Pizarro resolved to +banish him into Chili, above a thousand leagues from Quito, and to send +to the same place Rodrigo de Bonilla the treasurer of Quito, and seven +or eight other persons of importance, who had always faithfully +accompanied the viceroy under every change of fortune. Gonzalo did not +put these men to death, as several of his own partizans interceded for +their lives; and he did not deem it prudent to keep them near his +person, or to permit them to remain in Peru. These exiles were +accordingly sent off for Chili, under the charge of Antonio de Ulloa +with a party of soldiers. After a march of more than four hundred +leagues, mostly on foot, although their wounds were not entirely healed, +these prisoners determined to make an effort to recover their liberty, +or to lose their lives in the attempt. They accordingly rose against +Ulloa and his men with so much courage and resolution that they +succeeded in making him and most of his men prisoners. Being near a +sea-port, they contrived by great address to gain possession of a +vessel, in which were several soldiers and others of the insurgent party +whom they overpowered; and leaving all their prisoners, they embarked +without either sailors or pilot, and though none of them were in the +least acquainted with navigation, they had the good fortune to reach New +Spain. + +Not satisfied with wreaking his vengeance on those of his enemies who +had fallen into his hands in consequence of the victory of Quito, +Gonzalo sent Guevara to the city of Parto to apprehend some of his +enemies who resided in that place, one of whom only was put to death, +and all the rest sent into exile. He pardoned Benalcazar, who promised +faithfully to become attached to his party, and sent him back to his +government of Popayan, with part of the troops he had brought from +thence in the service of the viceroy. He likewise assembled all the +fugitive troops of the viceroy, to whom he in the first place urged the +many causes of displeasure which he had for their past conduct, yet +pardoned them as he knew they had either been misled or forced to act +against him, and promised, if they served him faithfully in the sequel, +that he would treat them as well as those who had been on his side from +the beginning, and would reward them equally when the country was +restored to peace. He sent off messengers in every direction, to +announce the victory he had obtained, and to encourage his partizans, so +that his usurpation seemed established in greater security than ever. +Captain Alarcon was sent to Panama, to communicate the intelligence to +Hinojosa, with orders to bring back along with him Vela Nunnez and the +others who had been made prisoners in that quarter. + + +SECTION V. + +_Continuation of the Usurpation of Gonzalo Pizarro, to the arrival of +Gasca in Peru with full powers to restore the Colony to order._ + + +At this period, some of Gonzalo's adherents advised him to send his +fleet to scour the coasts of Nicaragua and New Spain, on purpose to take +or burn all the vessels which might be found in these parts, by which he +would effectually secure himself from any attack by sea. By this means, +they alleged, when the dispatches and orders from his majesty should +arrive in the Tierra Firma, finding no means of sending these into Peru, +the ministers of the crown would be under the necessity of granting him +favourable terms of accommodation almost equal to his wishes. Pizarro +however had great confidence in the fidelity and attachment of Hinojosa +and those who were with him, believing that he might trust implicitly to +their vigilance, and refused to follow the measures proposed, as tending +to evince too much weakness and want of confidence in the goodness of +the cause in which he was engaged. He was besides so puffed up by the +victory which he had gained over the viceroy, that he believed himself +able to resist any power which could now be brought against him. + +Alarcon went accordingly to Panama, whence he brought back to Peru the +prisoners who had been taken at that place by Hinojosa, and was +accompanied on his return by the son of Gonzalo. When near Puerto Viejo +on his voyage back, Alarcon ordered Saavedra and Lerma, two of his chief +prisoners, to be hanged on account of some words they were said to have +spoken against the insurgents. He was disposed to have put Rodrigo +Mexia, another of these prisoners, to death at the same time; but the +son of Gonzalo pleaded strongly to save his life, by representing how +kindly he had been used by Mexia while in his custody. Vela Nunnez was +conducted to Quito, where he was pardoned by Gonzalo, yet admonished to +behave very carefully for the future, as the slightest suspicion would +be fatal. Cepeda, one of the oydors of the royal audience, always +continued to accompany Gonzalo, so that Ortiz de Zarate, the only judge +who remained in Lima was unable to act in the absence of all the other +judges. Indeed he was now less feared, ever since Gonzalo Pizarro had +almost by force procured a marriage between one of the daughters of that +judge and his brother Blas Soto[21]. Still however this judge retained +every proper sentiment of loyalty to the king, although constrained by +the exigency of the times to conceal his principles, and to seem in some +measure reconciled to the usurper. + +[Footnote 21: Of this brother of the Pizarro family, no other notice +occurs in Zarate.--E.] + +While these transactions were going on in the north of Peru, the +lieutenant-general Carvajal continued his operations in the south +against Centeno. As formerly related, he departed from Cuzeo with three +hundred men, well provided with horses, musquets and other arms, +marching by way of the Collao for the province of Paria, in which +Centeno then was with about two hundred and fifty men, determined to +await the arrival of the enemy and to run the chance of battle. When +Carvajal was come within about two leagues of that place, Centeno +retired a short space to the other side of the city, taking post on the +side of a river in what appeared to him strong ground, and Carvajal took +possession of the _tambo_ of Paria, about a league from the camp of +Centeno. Next day, Centeno sent fifteen well mounted musqueteers to bid +defiance to Carvajal, and to challenge him to battle. On arriving within +a stones throw of the tambo, they required a conference with Carvajal, +to whom they delivered the following message: "That Centeno was ready to +give battle in the cause of his majesty; but if Carvajal, who had grown +old in the royal service, would return to his duty and abandon the +service of the usurper, Centeno and all his followers would be happy to +serve under his command." To this message Carvajal only returned abusive +language, and the two parties mutually reproached each other as rebels +and traitors. After some time spent in this manner, the fifteen +royalists discharged their musquets and returned to Centeno, to whom +they gave an account of the number and disposition of the enemy. This +occurrence took place on Holy Friday in the year 1546. + +Immediately after this defiance, Carvajal put his troops in motion to +attack the royalists, but Centeno thought proper to retire to a more +advantageous post, not deeming it prudent to run the risk of a pitched +battle, and meaning rather to harass the enemy by means of skirmishes +and night attacks. He was likewise in hopes that a good many of those +who followed Carvajal might come over to his side as opportunity +offered, as he understood many of them were much discontented with the +harsh and brutal behaviour of the lieutenant-general, whom they served +from fear and constraint, not from attachment. Besides, Centeno was +unwilling to run the risk of battle, as Carvajal though inferior in +cavalry to the royalist party was greatly superior in point of fire +arms. In fact this resolution of retreating was much against the +inclination of Centeno, who wished to have given battle to Carvajal; but +as all the inhabitants of La Plata on his side opposed that measure, he +was obliged to conform to their wishes, yet always determined to give +battle on the first favourable opportunity. Centeno accordingly +retreated fifteen leagues that day, and was followed by Carvajal with +great diligence, insomuch that the hostile parties encamped at night +very near each other, on which occasion Carvajal confided the guard of +his camp to such of his followers as he could most surely depend upon. +Towards midnight, Centeno detached eighty horsemen to assault the camp +of the insurgents, which they did accordingly with much spirit, making +several discharges of their fire arms, but without any favourable +impression; as Carvajal drew up his troops in order of battle, and kept +them all night in their ranks, strictly forbidding any one to quit their +post on any pretence, lest some might desert over to the enemy. At break +of day, Centeno decamped and resumed his march, and was followed by +Carvajal with equal diligence always very near. In this second day of +the retreat the two parties marched ten leagues, or near forty miles; +and towards evening Camijal came up with one of the soldiers belonging +to Centeno, who had lagged behind owing to extreme fatigue. Carvajal +ordered him immediately to be hanged, swearing that he would treat every +one of the enemy who fell into his hands in the same manner. + +Centeno continued always to retreat, and Carvajal to pursue close in his +rear, both parties using the utmost possible diligence, insomuch that +they every day marched twelve or fifteen long leagues, almost always +within sight of each other. After some days, Centeno made a countermarch +upon Paria by taking a different road, and even directed his march, +towards the Collao, always followed by Carvajal. At Hayohayo[22] +Carvajal came up with twelve soldiers belonging to Centeno, who had +fallen behind, all of whom he ordered to be hanged. In consequence of +these continued rapid marches, several of the soldiers of both sides +used daily to lag behind from excessive fatigue, all of whom endeavoured +to hide themselves as well as they could to avoid being made prisoners. +Finding his force daily diminishing, Centeno complained loudly of his +officers and followers for having prevented him from fighting; and as he +found the whole country through which he now marched attached to the +enemy, he determined to direct his march towards the coast intending to +escape if possible by sea. For this purpose he took the direction of +Arequipa, and sent off one of his officers named Ribadeneyra to +endeavour to procure a ship somewhere on the coast, which he was to +bring to Arequipa, that it might be in readiness to embark the whole +remnant of the retreating party immediately on their arrival[23]. +Ribadeneyra fell in with a ship on the coast which was ready to sail for +Chili, of which he easily took possession, and found it well adapted for +his purpose. + +[Footnote 22: The Callao is a district at the north end of the great +lake of Titicaca. Paria and Hayohayo are two towns on the east side of +the Rio Desaguadero, which flows from the south into the lake of +Titicaca.--E.] + +[Footnote 23: Arequipa is not less than twenty-five miles from the +nearest coast, at which place there is a bay or port named La +Guata.--E.] + +"In the course of this pursuit, it happened, one day that Centeno had to +pass a deep dell or narrow valley between two mountains, as often +happens in that country, the descent to which was about a league from +the top to a stream of water in the bottom, yet the hills were so +precipitous and close together that their tops hardly exceeded a musquet +shot. As Carvajal was well acquainted with this pass, he was confident +of catching his enemy at this place as in a trap; believing that while +Centeno was descending to the bottom, he should be able to gain the top +of the hill, whence he might greatly annoy Centeno and his men while +clambering up the opposite hill. Centeno was however fully aware of his +danger, and was accordingly very careful to provide against the mischief +which he foresaw might occur. He therefore placed six of his best +mounted cavalry in ambush near the top of the first mountain, with +directions to assail the rear of Carvajal's troops after the van and +main body were past, so as to make a diversion and oblige Carvajal to +return to succour his people, by which he and his men would be enabled, +to get beyond the pass in safety. The ambush accordingly remained +concealed until Carvajal and the best part of his troops were gone past; +after which they sallied forth, and fell with great resolution on the +rear which was marching on in disorder, consisting of a mixed multitude +of Indians, Negroes, and straggling Spaniards, with horses mules and +other beasts of burden, all in confusion and disorder, among whom they +did great execution. Although he heard the noise occasioned by this +unexpected assault, Carvajal continued his march for some time, +believing it only a false alarm. The six horsemen therefore continued +their assault almost unopposed, carrying all before them, and doing +incredible mischief. Among the rest they overthrew a loaded mule which +carried several quintals of gun-powder, which they blew up with so +violent a noise that Carvajal was convinced of the serious nature of the +assault, and found it necessary to desist from the pursuit of Centeno, +and to return for the protection of his rear. When the six horsemen +belonging to Centeno observed the approach of the troops of Carvajal, +they immediately fled by cross ways and bye paths, under the guidance of +some friendly Indians, and rejoined Centeno six or seven days +afterwards. By this successful stratagem Centeno was enabled to escape +across the dangerous pass, and even gained considerably in the retreat, +as Carvajal was obliged to remain on the top of the first mountain all +the rest of that day and the following night. Carvajal was much +displeased at being thus foiled by one so much less experienced than he +in the art of war, and observed to his officers, that during forty years +service in the wars of Italy, where he had seen many fine retreats, +accomplished by the king of France, by Antonio de Leyva, Count Pedro de +Navarro, Mark Antony Colona, and other famous captains, he had never +seen one so excellently contrived as this by Centeno[24]." + +[Footnote 24: This paragraph, marked by inverted commas, is inserted +from Garcilasso de la Vega in the text, as too long for a note.--E.] + +Centeno arrived soon afterwards at Arequipa, and in less than two days +Carvajal arrived there in pursuit. As the vessel procured by Ribadeneyra +was not come to that part of the coast, and Centeno had not even +received notice of its capture, he determined to dismiss his followers, +now reduced to eighty men, that they might endeavour to escape +separately, being utterly unable to make head against the enemy who was +fast approaching. Centeno, accompanied only by two friends, withdrew, +into the mountains, where he remained concealed in a cave till the +arrival of the licentiate Gasca, being all the time supplied with +provisions by a friendly cacique. On arriving at the coast of Arequipa, +Carvajal was informed that Centeno and his people were dispersed; and +hearing that Lope de Mendoza was at no great distance with eight or ten +of the royalists, he detached one of his officers with twenty mounted +musqueteers in pursuit. Mendoza however fled with so much diligence, +that although followed for more than eighty leagues, his pursuers were +unable to overtake him, and were at last obliged to return. Mendoza +continued his retreat beyond the ridge of the Andes, into the eastern +plain of the Rio Plata, where we must leave him for the present to +continue the narrative of events in Peru. + +Soon after the arrival of Carvajal in Arequipa, the ship which, had been +seized by Ribadeneyra appeared on the coast, and Carvajal was informed +by some of the soldiers of Centeno who remained at Arequipa of the +intention of this vessel, and of the signal which had been agreed, upon +between Centeno and Ribadeneyra. Wishing to gain possession of the +vessel, Carvajal concealed twenty musqueteers near the coast, and made +the appointed signal. Ribadeneyra at first believed that the signal was +made by order of Centeno and sent the boat on shore; but having some +suspicions of the actual state of affairs, he directed the people in the +boat to be extremely cautious against surprize before venturing on +shore. They accordingly, refused to land, unless Centeno himself made +his appearance; and as this of course could not be complied with, they +returned to the ship, with which Ribadeneyra immediately set sail for +Nicaragua. As no part of the late force under Centeno remained in the +field, Carvajal resolved to take up his residence for some time in the +city of La Plata, as he was informed that Centeno and his friends had +concealed a large quantity of treasure at that place, and that he might +both endeavour to discover that deposit, and might draw as large a sum +as possible from the rich mines in that neighbourhood. Carvajal was +willing to communicate to Gonzalo a portion of the wealth he expected to +acquire in that district, for defraying the expences of the war; but he +proposed especially to enrich himself on this occasion, being +exceedingly covetous, as has been already remarked. He accordingly went +to La Plata, which submitted without resistance, and remained there for +a considerable time amassing wealth, till obliged to take the field +against Mendoza. + +Lope de Mendoza, as already mentioned, made his escape from Arequipa +with a small number of followers, and was pursued for a long way. He for +some time followed the line of the coast, and after he had eluded the +pursuit of the party sent after him by Carvajal, he and his companions +resolved so endeavour to penetrate into the government of Diego de Roias +on the Rio Plata, as all the country of Peru had universally submitted +to the domination of Gonzalo. For this purpose Mendoza followed the same +route which Centeno had formerly taken when retreating from Alfonso de +Toro; both because he thought his enemies would not pursue him by that +road and because the Indians belonging to Centeno and himself dwelt in +that part of the country, and he expected to procure provisions and +other assistance from them. While travelling across these deserts, +Mendoza met with Gabriel Bermudez, who had accompanied Diego de Roias on +his expedition into the country on the Rio Plata. From this person +Mendoza was informed of the events which had occurred to the expedition +under De Roias, of which the following is an abstract: + +Diego de Roias, Philip Gutierrez and Pedro de Heredia, who went upon +this expedition, had to fight their way among hostile Indians, in the +course of which De Roias was slain. After his death, violent disputes +arose between Francisco de Mendoza who succeeded in the command and the +other officers engaged in the expedition, in the course of which +Gutierrez was cashiered and banished. They continued after this to +prosecute their discoveries all the way to the Rio Plata, receiving +information that great riches were to be found in some districts in the +neighbourhood, in which there were certain Spaniards who had penetrated +into the country by ascending the Rio Plata from the Atlantic, and had +formed establishments in the interior. In prosecuting the exploration, +of that great river, they had fallen in with some forts which were built +by Sebastian Gabota; and reported many other surprizing and wonderful +things which they had seen in that country. In the course of their +proceedings, Francisco de Mendoza was assassinated by Pedro Heredia, +owing to which violent disputes had taken place among them, by which and +the smallness of their force they had been rendered unable to proceed in +conquering the country, so that at length they had come to the +resolution of returning into Peru, that his majesty or the viceroy of +that kingdom might nominate a new commander. They were likewise +persuaded, when the riches of the country in which they had been came to +be known, that they would be able to procure a considerable accession of +new adventurers, so as to enable them to atchieve the conquest. + +In the course of their expedition they asserted that they had penetrated +six hundred leagues to the eastwards of La Plata, through a champaign +country of very easy access, and tolerably abounding in provisions and +water. Bermudez added, that within a very few days they had learnt, from +some Indians who occasionally traded into the province of Las Charcas, +of the revolt which had taken place in Peru, but had been unable to +procure information respecting the causes of this insurrection or as to +who were chiefly engaged in it; for which reason he had been sent on +before to inquire into these circumstances, and had received orders from +the captains and other principal persons in the expedition, to offer +their services to the party that acted for the royal interests, in which +cause they might be of material importance, as they had a considerable +number of excellent horses and plenty of arms. After the conclusion of +this narrative, Mendoza gave Bermudez an account of all the late events +in Peru; on which, in, virtue of the commission with which he had been +entrusted, Bermudez promised in the name of all his companions to march +against the lieutenant-general. + +Lope Mendoza and Bermudez went after this to meet the troops which were +returning from the Rio Plata, which were at no great distance. When they +were informed of the situation of affairs in Peru, they received Lope +with every demonstration of respect, and confirmed the offers of +assistance which Bermudez had already made in their name, declaring +their resolution to devote themselves heartily to the service of the +king. Lope de Mendoza gave them hearty commendations for their loyalty, +and represented to them how honourable and praiseworthy it was to exert +their utmost endeavours in the cause of their lawful sovereign; assuring +them that they might all depend upon being amply provided for, when the +country was restored to obedience. Lope de Mendoza was unanimously +received as their chief, and conducted them to the village of Pocona, +about forty leagues to the north-east of La Plata; whence he sent some +confidential persons to certain secret places where he and Centeno had +hidden above a thousand marks of silver under ground. On recovering this +treasure, he proposed to divide it among those persons who had so nobly +offered to follow his orders; but most of them refused his preferred +bounty, either because they were already sufficiently rich, or because +hitherto the soldiers who had been engaged in the wars of Peru had been +unused to any regular pay, and only accepted money to answer their +immediate wants, and to provide themselves with horses and arms. Even +the lowest soldier, in those days expected, when the enterprizes of +their leaders succeeded, to be rewarded for his services in repartitions +or advantageous establishments in the country, by which they flattered +themselves to acquire riches, so great was the reputation of the +richness of Peru. By means of these men from the Rio Plata, Lope Mendoza +found himself unexpectedly at the head of an hundred and fifty well +mounted cavalry; all excellently armed and equipped for service. It was +a great misfortune to the royal cause, that Centeno was now concealed, +instead of having retreated into the interior along with Mendoza as he +had done formerly; as if he had now been at the head of the royalists, +with this important reinforcement, affairs might have taken a better +turn than they actually did. + +While Carvajal was on his way from Arequipa for the city of La Plata, he +received intelligence of the success of Gonzalo Pizarro at Quito, and +that all Peru was entirely reduced under his command. He resolved +therefore to repair to La Plata, as formerly mentioned, intending to +regulate the affairs of the province of Las Charcas, and to collect +treasure. On his arrival however at Paria on his way to La Plata he +received intelligence of the arrival of the troops from the Rio Plata +and of their junction with Lope Mendoza. Being informed at the same time +that these unexpected opponents were by no means united among +themselves, and that they marched very carelessly in separate and +unconnected detachments, most of which refused to acknowledge any one as +their commander, he determined to set out against them with the utmost +diligence, that he might fall upon them in their present divided state. +Being rejoined by the detachment which had pursued Lope Mendoza, and +having put his men in order for a fresh expedition, Carvajal set out +from La Plata and marched towards the enemy with the utmost possible +speed, encouraging his troops by the assurance of an easy and bloodless +victory, even asserting that he had received letters from the principal +officers among the enemy in which they offered their services to him, so +that they would only have the trouble of marching, without any danger of +fighting. + +During this march Carvajal was joined by thirty men in addition to his +former force, so that he was now at the head of two hundred and fifty +men. At length he came in sight of Pocona, which is eighty leagues from +Paria, about four o'clock of an afternoon, and made his appearance in +good order, on the top of a rising ground within view of Lope de +Mendoza, who was then making a distribution of money among such of his +new companions as were willing to accept his bounty: Mendoza had already +got some intimation of the approach of Carvajal; and as his own force +consisted entirely of cavalry, most of whom were persons of some +consideration, remarkably well mounted and armed, he drew up his men in +good order in a plain at some distance from the village, in which he +left the baggage and his money; saying, that he trusted through their +bravery to be soon able to recover both, and even to increase their +store by that belonging to their enemies. Carvajal immediately descended +from the hill he had first taken possession of, and took post in the +place which Mendoza had just quitted, which was an inclosare of +considerable extent surrounded with walls, in which there were openings +in several places. Carvajal chose this as a convenient post for the +night, in which the enemy would not be able to attack with their +cavalry. On learning that Lope de Mendoza and his men had left their +baggage in the town of Pocona, the troops of Carvajal immediately +quitted their ranks to go in search of plunder, insomuch that Carvajal +was left in his camp with hardly eight men. If Mendoza had availed +himself of this opportunity to attack Carvajal, he might have gained an +easy victory, and might have boasted of having left his baggage exposed +to plunder as a stratagem of war, which on similar occasions had often +been the cause of signal victories. On purpose to recall his troops to +their duty, Carvajal ordered a false alarm to be sounded, which +occasioned the return of the greater part of his men; but so strong was +their avidity for spoil that most part of the night was spent before +they all returned to the camp. + +At this time there was a secret conspiracy entered into by many of +Carvajal's followers, with the intention of putting him to death out of +revenge for his harsh and tyrannical conduct towards them, and one Pedro +de Avendano, his secretary, in whom he reposed entire confidence was the +principal ringleader of the conspirators. To facilitate the execution of +this enterprize, Avendano, sent a message by a clever fellow of an +Indian to give Mendoza notice of the intentions of the conspirators, and +to request he would make an attack upon Carvajal's camp in the course of +the night, in the confusion attendant upon which he and the other +conspirators might have an opportunity of executing their intended plot. +Mendoza had previously determined upon withdrawing about four or five +leagues from Pocona, to a level plain in which his cavalry would be able +to act with much advantage. But on receiving the message of Avendano, he +ordered his men to hold themselves in readiness to attack the camp of +Carvajal at the going down of the moon, preferring the obscurity of +night in order to avoid the danger of the more numerous firearms of the +enemy. At that time he advanced in good order towards the enemy, sending +some scouts in advance, who made prisoner of one of Carvajal's soldiers. +After interrogating this man, they advanced to the openings of the wall +which surrounded the camp, which they found guarded by some musqueteers +and pikemen. Mendoza made a brisk attack, but was bravely resisted by +the enemy, and so great was the confusion and noise that it was +impossible to enter upon any parley, as no one could be heard by reason +of the continual firing and the shouts of the combatants. + +Immediately on the alarm, Carvajal used his utmost efforts to get his +troops into order and to animate and encourage them to exert themselves +against the enemy. At this period, Avendano pointed out Carvajal to a +musqueteer who was one of the conspirators, and encouraged him to take a +steady aim at the lieutenant-general; but owing to the darkness, the +shot missed of its intended effect; and only wounded him in one of his +thighs. Finding himself wounded, and being satisfied it had been done by +one of his own people, Carvajal deemed it prudent to conceal the +circumstance for the present; and retired along with Avendano, of whose +fidelity he had no suspicion, on purpose to disguise himself in an old +brown coat-and a shabby hat, that he might not be conspicuous, after +which he returned to animate his men to defend the camp. Avendano again +pointed him out to another conspirator, who fired a second time at +Carvajal, but entirely missed his aim. In the meantime the assailants +frequently called out to know if Carvajal were dead; but receiving no +answer, and finding that all the avenues to the camp were bravely +defended, Lope de Mendoza drew off his men. In this night engagement +about fourteen were slain on both sides, and several wounded. Carvajal +got his wound secretly dressed, so that none of his people knew that +such a thing had happened. + +After the cessation of the engagement, one Placentia deserted from +Carvajal's camp, and informed Mendoza that all the baggage belonging to +Carvajal and his troops had been left at a place which he described +about five or six leagues from Pocona, among which was a large quantity +of gold and silver, several horses, and some musquets and powder. On +this information, Meodoza set off immediately with his troops for that +place, guided by the deserter; and marching diligently all the remainder +of the night, he arrived quite unexpectedly at the place where Carvajal +had secured his baggage; but as the night was exceedingly dark, above +seventy of his men lost their way and fell behind. Yet, with such of his +people as had kept up with him, Mendoza took possession of the whole +without any resistance. After this, being sensible that he was not in +sufficient force to cope with Carvajal, Mendoza resolved to retreat by +way of the desert in which Centeno had formerly taken shelter, which he +did accordingly with about fifty men, all the rest of his troops having +fallen behind during the night, as already mentioned. In the prosecution +of this plan of retreat, Mendoza and his people reached a certain river +about two leagues and a half from Pocona, where they halted to take some +rest and refreshment after the excessive fatigues of the past night. +Carvajal was soon apprised of the capture of his baggage and the route +which Mendoza had taken, and immediately set off in pursuit with about +fifty of his best mounted troops; and, using every possible diligence, +he came to the place where Mendoza had halted, about noon of the next +day, and immediately attacked the royalists, some of whom were asleep, +while others were taking food. Thus unexpectedly assailed, and believing +that Carvajal was followed by his whole force, the royalists made a +feeble resistance, and very soon took to flight, dispersing themselves +in every direction. Lope de Mendoza and Pedro de Heredia, with a good +many others, were made prisoners and Carvajal immediately ordered these +two chiefs, and six or seven other principal persons among the royalists +to be beheaded. + +On this occasion Carvajal recovered the whole of his own baggage, and +got possession of all that had belonged to the enemy, with all of which +and the prisoners he had made, he returned to Pocona, engaging to do no +injury to those who had escaped from the soldiers in the late attack, +and even restored their horses arms and baggage to his prisoners, most +of whom he sent off to join Gonzalo Pizarro. On leaving Pocona, he took +Alfonso de Camargo and Luis Pardamo along with him, who had formerly +fled along with Mendoza, and whose lives he now spared, as they gave him +information respecting a considerable treasure which Centeno had +concealed under ground near Paria, and where in fact he discovered above +50,000 crowns. After this, he went with his troops to the city of La +Plata, where he proposed to reside for some time. At this place he +appointed persons in whom he could confide to the offices of judges and +magistrates, and dispatched intelligence of the success of his arms over +the whole kingdom of Peru. He remained for some time at La Plata, where +he collected treasure from all the surrounding country, under pretence +of supplying Gonzalo Pizarro, but in reality he retained much the larger +share for himself. + +Having thus succeeded, in all his enterprizes and established his +authority in the south of Peru on such firm foundations that no +opposition remained in the whole country, fortune seemed to determine to +exalt him to the summit of his desires by the discovery of the richest +mines which had ever been known. Some Indians who belonged to Juan de +Villareal, an inhabitant of La Plata, happening to pass over a very high +isolated mountain in the middle of a plain, about eighteen leagues from +that city, named Potosi, noticed by some indications that it contained +mines of silver. They accordingly took away some specimens of the ore +for trial, from which they found that the mineral was exceedingly rich +in pure silver; insomuch that the poorest of the ore produced eighty +marks of pure silver from the quintal of native mineral[25], being a +more abundant production than any that ever had been heard of before. +When this discovery became known in the city of La Plata, the +magistrates went to the mountain of Potosi, which they divided among the +inhabitants of their city, setting up boundary marks to distinguish the +allotments or each person in those places which appeared eligible for +workings. So great was the resort to these new mines, that in a short +time there were above seven thousand _Yanaconas_, or Indian labourers, +established in the neighbourhood, who were employed by their Christian +masters in the various operations of these mines. These men laboured +with so much industry, that each Indian, by agreement, furnished two +marks or sixteen ounces of silver weekly to their respective masters; +and so rich was the mine, that they were able to do this and to retain +an equal quantity to themselves[26]. Such is the nature of the ore +extracted from the mineral veins of this mountain, that it cannot be +reduced in the ordinary manner by means of bellows, as is customary in +other places. It is here smelted in certain small furnaces, called +_guairas_ by the Indians, which are supplied with a mixed fuel of +charcoal and sheeps dung, and are blown up by the wind only, without the +use of any mechanical contrivance. + +[Footnote 25: This produce is most extraordinarily large, being equal to +_four_ parts of pure silver from _ten_ of ore, or 640 ounces of silver +from the quintal or 1600 ounces of ore. At the present time, the silver +mines in Mexico, which are the most productive of any that have ever +been known, are remarkable for the poverty of the mineral they contain. +A quintal or 1600 ounces of ore affording only at an average 3 or 4 +ounces of pure silver. The profit therefore of these must depend upon +the abundance of ore, and the facility with which it is procured and +smelted.--E.] + +[Footnote 26: The gross amount of this production of silver, on the data +in the text, is 11,648,000 ounces yearly; worth, at 5s. 6d. per ounce, +L. 3,203,200 sterling; and, estimating silver in those days, at six +times its present efficacy, worth L. 19,219,200 of modern value. In the +present day before the revolutionary troubles, Humboldt estimates the +entire production of gold and silver from Spanish and Portuguese America +at L. 9,787,500; only about three times the quantity said to have been +at first extracted from Potosi alone, and only about half the effective +value.--E.] + +These rich mines are known by the name of Potosi, which is that of the +district, or province in which the mountain is situated. Owing to the +easy labour and great profit experienced by the Indians at these mines, +when any of the Yanaconas was once established at this place it was +found almost impossible to induce them to leave it or to work elsewhere; +and indeed, they were here so entirely concealed from all dangers, and +so much exempted from their usual severe drudgery and the unwholesome +vapours they had been subjected to in other mines, that they preferred +working at Potosi to any other situation. So great was the concourse of +inhabitants to Potosi, and the consequent demand for provisions, _that +the sack of maize was sold for twenty crowns, the sack of wheat for +forty, and a small bag of _coca_ for thirty dollars; and these articles +rose afterwards to a higher price. Owing to the astonishing +productiveness of these new mines, all the others in that part of Peru +were speedily abandoned. Even those of Porco, whence Ferdinand Pizarro +had formerly procured great riches, were left unwrought. All the +Yanaconas who had been employed in searching for gold in the province of +Carabaya, and in the auriferous rivers in different parts of southern +Peru, flocked to Potosi, where they were able to make vastly more profit +by their labour than in any other place. From various indications, those +who are most experienced in mining believe that Potosi will always +continue productive and cannot be easily exhausted[27]. + +[Footnote 27: It has however become very much exhausted, and has been in +a great measure abandoned. The mines of Lauricocha, in a different part +of Peru, are now in greater estimation. But those of Guanaxuato and +Zacatecas in Mexico, notwithstanding the poverty of their ore, have been +long the most productive of the American mines.--E.] + +Carvajal did not fail to take advantage of this favourable discovery, +and immediately set about the acquisition of treasure for himself by +every means which his present uncontroulable power afforded. In the +first place, he appropriated to his own use all the Yanaconas, or Indian +labourers in the mines, which had belonged, to such of the inhabitants +as had opposed him, or to those who had died or fled from the province. +He likewise appropriated to his own use above 10,000 Peruvian sheep, +belonging to the Yanaconas of the crown or to individuals, which were +employed in transporting provisions for the miners. By these means, he +amassed in a short time near 200,000 crowns, all of which he retained to +his own use. His soldiers were so much dissatisfied with his conduct, as +he gave them no share of his exactions, that they plotted together +against him. Luis Pardamo, Alfonso de Comargo, Diego de Balsameda, and +Diego de Luxan, with thirty others, who had entered into this +conspiracy, had determined to put him to death about a month after his +arrival in La Plata from his expedition against Mendoza; but, owing to +some obstacles, they had been induced to deter the execution of their +enterprize to a future period. By some unknown means the circumstances +of this plot came to the knowledge of Carvajal, who put to death the +before-mentioned leaders of the conspiracy, and ten or twelve others, +and banished all the rest. By these merciless executions, in which he +indulged on all occasions, Carvajal inspired so much terror that no one +dared in future to make any similar attempt; as he not only punished in +the severest manner all who evinced any intention of revolt, but put +people to death on the slightest suspicion. Owing to this the loyal +servants of his majesty may assuredly be exculpated from the blame which +has been imputed to them, for not putting Carvajal to death: In reality, +there were many persons sufficiently anxious to have done so, on purpose +to escape from the cruel tyranny under which they groaned in secret; and +four or five conspiracies were entered into for the purpose, which were +all discovered, and occasioned the destruction of at least fifty +individuals. By these means every one was terrified from attempting any +thing against him, more especially as he gave high rewards to all who +communicated any intelligence of the kind, so that all were forced to +temporize and to wait in anxious hope of some favourable opportunity to +deliver them from his cruel tyranny. Carvajal continued to remain at La +Plata, frequently publishing accounts of the successes of Gonzalo +Pizarro, to whom he often sent large remittances; derived from his own +resources, from the royal fifths which he appropriated, and from the +confiscated estates of those whom he put to death, all of which he +seized upon, under pretence of supplying funds for prosecuting the war. + +From the 18th of January 1546, the day on which he defeated the viceroy, +Gonzalo Pizarro continued to reside at Quito till the middle of July of +that year, accompanied by a force of about five hundred men, occupied in +almost continual feastings and revelry. Various reasons were assigned +for his long residence in that place; some alleging that it was on +purpose to be more at hand for receiving early intelligence from Spain; +while others attribute it to the great profits he derived from the gold +mines which had been recently discovered in that neighbourhood; and +others again alleged that he was detained by attachment to the lady +formerly mentioned, whose husband he had procured to be assassinated by +Vincente Pablo. That woman was delivered, after the death of her +husband, of a child which was put to death by her father; for which +inhuman action he was ordered to be hanged by Pedro de Puelles. + +During his residence in Quito, Gonzalo Pizarro sent off several +detachments of soldiers to different places, giving commissions and +instructions to their commanders in his own name as governor of Peru. +Among these, the lieutenant Benalcazar was sent back to his former +government; having been pardoned and even taken into favour by Gonzalo. +A reinforcement was also sent to Pedro de Valdivia who commanded in +Chili, under the command of Captain Ulloa, whom he had sent to ask +assistance to enable him to continue and maintain his conquests in that +country. Other officers and soldiers were sent to other parts, which are +unnecessary to be particularized. At length Gonzalo determined to leave +Quito, and to establish his residence in Lima; and it has been alleged +that he was principally induced to take this step from suspicion of the +fidelity of Lorenzo de Aldana, his lieutenant at Lima, who was so much +beloved by all the inhabitants of that city as to be almost in condition +to have revolted to the royal cause. Gonzalo is said likewise to have +been somewhat suspicious of his lieutenant-general Carvajal, being +afraid lest he might be so puffed up by the many victories he had +gained, and by his immense distance, as to be induced to set up for +himself. He accordingly left Quito under the command of Pedro de +Puelles, whom he appointed his lieutenant and captain-general in that +province, with a force of three hundred men, having great confidence in +his attachment ever since he had succoured him when in straits on his +march from Cuzco to Lima, and when his army was on the point of +abandoning him. He reposed so entirely on Puelles, that he believed, if +the king were to send any force against him by the route of the province +in which Benalcazar commanded, that Puelles would prevent them from +being able to penetrate into Peru. + +While on his progress from Quito towards Lima, Gonzalo assumed in +everything the deportment and authority of governor of Peru, and was +treated in every respect as such by all the inhabitants of the country. +He seemed to believe that his authority was so well and firmly +established that he had nothing to fear from the attempts of his +enemies, and that even the king would be obliged to grant him any terms +he might require. All his officers soldiers and dependents obeyed and +respected him entirely, as if satisfied that they were always to be +subject to his authority, and to depend upon him alone for advancement +and reward. In the exercise of his usurped authority, he made many +grants or repartitions of lands and Indians, all of them for long +periods, which every one considered as secure of being continued. He and +his principal officers pretended that they frequently received letters +from some of the highest of the nobles in Spain, praising his conduct +and approving of every thing he had done, which these pretended letters +justified on account of the infringements which had been made on the +rights and privileges of the colonists. In these letters likewise, the +pretended Spanish grandees were made to engage their favour and credit +at court to support his interest and authority with the sovereign. The +well informed among the followers of Gonzalo Pizarro saw clearly that +these letters were mere fabrications to impose upon the vulgar, and had +no foundation whatever in truth. + +On his arrival at the city of San Miguel, Gonzalo learned that there +were a considerable number of Indians in that neighbourhood who had not +been reduced under subjection; for which reason he gave orders to +establish a military post in the province of _Garrochamba[28]_, the +command of which he conferred on Captain Mercadillo, with a force of an +hundred and thirty men, and gave him instructions for completing the +conquest of that district, and for dividing the lands and Indians into +repartitions like the rest of the country. At this time likewise, he +detached Captain Porcel with sixty soldiers to complete the conquest of +the Bracamoros. In these proceedings, he wished it to be believed that +his sole object was for the advantage of the colony; but his real +purpose was to keep his troops on foot and in employ, in case of needing +them at a future period for his own defence in support of his +usurpation. Before leaving Quito, Gonzalo sent off the licentiate +Carvajal by sea with a party of soldiers, in the ships which Juan Alonzo +Palomino had brought from Nicaragua after his pursuit of Verdugo. +Carvajal was ordered to proceed along the coast towards Lima, and to +settle all the maritime towns in his way in good order. + +[Footnote 28: No such province or district is now found in the maps of +Peru; but it appears to have been on the confines between the northern +part of Peru Proper and the southern extremity of Quito, where +Valladolid now stands.--E.] + +The licentiate Carvajal after executing the before-mentioned orders, +came to Truxillo to meet Gonzalo Pizarro, whence they went together to +Lima, accompanied by a force of two hundred men. On approaching Lima, +there was a diversity of opinions among the followers of Pizarro, +respecting the ceremonies with which he should be received into the +capital of Peru. Some of his officers were desirous that the magistracy +should come out to meet him with a canopy, under which he should make +his entry after the manner usually practised with kings. Some even +proposed that a breach should be made in the walls, and some of the +houses of the city thrown down, so as to make a new entrance on purpose +in memory of his victory over the viceroy, as used to be done anciently +in Rome for the reception of triumphant generals. In this, as in all +other important affairs, Gonzalo was guided by the advice of the +licentiate Carvajal, and entered the city on horseback, preceded by all +his captains on foot leading their horses by the bridles. On this +occasion he was accompanied by the archbishop of Lima, the bishops of +Cuzco and Quito, and the bishop of Bogota, who had come into Peru by way +of Carthagena on purpose to receive consecration. He was likewise +accompanied by Lorenzo de Aldana, his lieutenant-governor of Lima, and +by all the magistrates and inhabitants of the city; no one daring to +remain at home lest they might be suspected of disaffection. The streets +were all ornamented with green herbs and flowers; all the bells of the +churches and monasteries were kept ringing; and the cavalcade was +preceded by a numerous band of trumpets kettle-drums and other warlike +instruments of music. In this pompous manner, Pizarro was conducted in +the first place to the great church, and thence to his own residence. + +From this time, Gonzalo Pizarro conducted himself with much more pride +and haughtiness than formerly, conceiving high ideas of his own +importance from these public ceremonials of respect, as usually happens +to men of feeble minds on any sudden elevation. He had a guard for his +person of eighty halberdiers, besides several horsemen, who acompanied +him wherever he went. No person whatever was permitted to be seated in +his presence; and there were very few persons whom he designed to honour +so far as to return their salute. By these haughty manners, and still +more by his frequent disobliging and even abusive manner of speaking, he +displeased every one and became universally disliked. It must likewise +be mentioned, that the soldiery, to whom he owed everything, became +exceedingly discontented with him, as he gave them no pay. All this had +a powerful influence on his downfall in the sequel; though for the +present every one concealed their real sentiments, waiting for a more +favourable opportunity. + + * * * * * + +"Following Garcilasso de la Vega and other authors, the Historian of +America[29] alleges that Gonzalo Pizarro was urged by several of his +adherents, and in particular by Carvajal, to assume the sovereignty of +Peru; to attach the Spaniards to his interest by liberal grants of lands +and Indians, and by the creation of titles of nobility similar to those +in Europe; to establish military orders of knighthood, with privileges +distinctions and pensions, resembling those in Spain, as gratifications +to the officers in his service; and to gain the whole body of natives to +his service, by marrying the Coya, or Peruvian princess next in relation +to the reigning Inca. Thus at the head of the ancient inhabitants of the +country and of the colonists, he might set the power of Spain at +defiance, and could easily repel any force that might be sent from Spain +to such a distance. These counsellors who urged Pizarro to adopt this +plan, insisted that he had already gone too far to expect pardon from +the emperor; and endeavoured to convince him that all the founders of +great monarchies had risen by their personal merit and their own valour, +without any pretensions to ancient lineage or valid rights of +sovereignty; and that, besides, his family had a strong title to the +dominion of Peru, founded on the rights of discovery and conquest. But +the inferior talents of Gonzalo circumscribed his ambition within more +narrow bounds, and confined his views to the obtaining a confirmation of +the authority which he now possessed from the emperor; for which purpose +he sent an officer of distinction to Spain, to give such a +representation of his conduct and the state of the country, as might +induce the court, from inclination or necessity, to continue him as +governor of Peru for life. Although Garcilasso de la Vega gives full +warrant for this account of the proposals of the insurgents, Zarate, who +was then resident in a public character in Peru, makes no mention of any +such plan having been agitated, which could hardly have happened +without his knowledge: It is probable therefore that these additional +circumstances were invented by the enemies of Gonzalo after his fall, on +purpose to blacken his memory by the imputation of even deeper crimes +than those he was actually guilty of."--E. + +[Footnote 29: History of America, II. 378.] + + +SECTION VI. + +_History of the Expedition of Pedro de la Gasca, the Death of Gonzalo +Pizarro, and the Restoration of Peru to Tranquillity._ + + +While these things were transacting in Peru, the emperor Charles V. was +residing in Germany, where he had gone on purpose to overthrow the party +of the Lutherans and others who had separated from the church of Rome. +The emperor was desirous to receive an account of the disturbances in +that distant and valuable colony from Diego Alvarez Cueto, the +brother-in-law of the late viceroy, and Francisco Maldonado the +messenger of Gonzalo Pizarro, both of whom went into Germany for that +purpose. At this time, however, though acquainted with the revolt of +Peru, the imprisonment of the viceroy, and the usurpation of the +government by Pizarro, the court necessarily remained ignorant of the +death of the viceroy. Frequent deliberations were held for devising +proper remedies to restore tranquillity to Peru; but the matter lay over +for some considerable time, in consequence of the absence of the emperor +from Spain, and because he was at this time frequently attacked by +illness. At length it was determined to send over into Peru the +licentiate Pedro de la Gasca, at that time a counsellor of inquisition. +The prudent and intelligent character of this man was already well +known, from the skill and success with which he had already conducted +several affairs of consequence with which he had been entrusted, and +particularly by the excellent dispositions and preparations which he had +made, only a few years before, to defend the kingdom of Valencia against +an expected invasion of the Turks and Moors, and in various matters +respecting the new converts in that kingdom, which he took the +management of while occupied in some of the affairs of the holy office +on which he had been sent thither by the emperor. + +The title granted to Gasca on occasion of going into Peru, was only that +of president of the royal court of audience. But, by his commision, he +was invested with full powers in every thing respecting the government +of the country; to pacify the troubles and restore peace; and to pardon +as he might see proper all crimes, whether committed before his arrival +or during his residence in the country. Along with Gasca, the +licentiates Ganas and Renteria went out to Peru, as judges or oydors of +the supreme tribunal or royal court of audience. Gasca was likewise +furnished with full powers to raise troops in case of necessity, and to +do every thing that the exigency of affairs might require, without +waiting for orders or instructions from Spain. His powers and orders +however were kept secret, as it was wished to attempt the restoration of +order by gentle means; for which reason nothing was spoken of but pardon +and indemnity, and he was desired to endeavour to restore the colony to +peace and tranquillity by means of clemency if possible. + +Gasca embarked from Spain in the month of May 1546, on purpose to quell +the formidable rebellion which had long subsisted in Peru, without +either money or troops, and merely accompanied by such servants and +officers of his household as were requisite to support the dignity of +his office as president of the high court of audience. On arriving at St +Martha, he received information of the defeat of Melchior Verdugo, +formerly mentioned, and that Verdugo waited for him at Carthagena with +the small remnant of his men who had escaped on that occasion. Knowing +that Hinojosa and his people were exceedingly irritated against Verdugo, +Gasca resolved to go by way of Nombre de Dios, to prevent the insurgents +from entertaining any suspicions of his pacific intentions, as he +believed they would prevent him from having any access into the country +if he held any intercourse with Verdugo, and still more if he were +joined by that obnoxious person. Gasca cast anchor in the harbour of +Nombre de Dios on the 27th of July 1546, where Hernan Mexia had been +posted by Hinojosa with an hundred and eighty men, to protect that place +and neighbourhood against Melchior Verdugo. The president sent on shore +Alfonzo de Alvarado, who had accompanied him from Spain, to notify his +arrival and the purposes of his mission to Mexia. After some conference, +they separated without communicating their real sentiments to each +other, as both were suspicious and kept up much reserve. On the return +of Alvarado to the ship, Mexia sent to request the president to +disembark, which he did accordingly. On this occasion Mexia went to meet +him, in a barge attended by twenty musqueteers, leaving the rest of his +troops drawn up on the beach. Mexia immediately left his own barge, and +accompanied the president in his boat to the shore, where he caused him +to be received with every mark of respect, under a salute from the +troops. + +After landing, the president, in a private conference, gave Mexia an +account of the object of his voyage to Peru; on which Mexia expressed +his determined resolution to yield implicit obedience to the royal +orders, and to devote his services accordingly to the president. He +declared, that he had long and anxiously waited the arrival of some +person possessing authority to put an end to the troubles; and that, +fortunately, circumstances were now extremely favourable for this +purpose, without any one to oppose, as he was now the sole commander of +most of the troops belonging to Gonzalo Pizarro in that neighbourhood, +the greater part of which were now in Nombre de Dios. Mexia said farther +that, Hinojosa and the other captains having gone to Panama, he found +himself at liberty to declare himself openly for his majesty, if that +were judged proper by the president; and that they might then go in +company to Panama, where they would easily become masters of the fleet +in that port, by means which he explained; and that he was likewise +convinced that, when Hinojosa and the other captains were informed of +the powers and intentions of the president, they would receive him with +all submission. The president thanked Mexia for his good intentions, +observing that it was necessary to use lenient measures on this +occasion, as his majesty was very desirous to restore the country to +peace and good order, without having recourse to warlike measures, if it +could possibly be accomplished. As it was obvious to every one, that the +chief cause of the disturbances was owing to the inflexible rigour of +the late viceroy, he wished, therefore, that it might be known by all, +that his majesty wished to remedy all grievances in the most gracious +manner; and he trusted, therefore, when it was publickly known that all +might expect safety and pardon by returning to their duty, that all the +colonists would evince their respectful loyalty by tendering their +services, rather than continue in rebellion against the sovereign. The +president concluded by declaring his resolution to refrain from any +endeavour to use force, till all the colonists were apprized of his +intentions as now expressed. + +Mexia assured the president, that he was ready to obey his orders in +all things; yet considered it proper for him to observe, that although +he was now able to command the soldiers then at Nombre de Dios; matters +might assume a very different aspect on proceeding to Panama, where the +soldiers would be under the orders of Hinojosa. The president expressed +his determination, however, to proceed in his enterprize, to which Mexia +consented; and they mutually agreed to keep their intentions secret till +affairs should take a favourable turn, as will be seen in the sequel. + +When Hinojosa, who acted as general under Pizarro in the Tierra Firma, +learnt the reception which the president had met with from Mexia, he was +much dissatisfied, both because he was ignorant of the orders and +instructions under which the president acted, and because Mexia had not +communicated his intentions. Hinojosa wrote therefore to Mexia in a +harsh and peremptory manner, reflecting bitterly on his conduct, and, at +the same time, some friends of Mexia, who were then resident in Panama, +wrote to dissuade him from coming to that place, as Hinojosa was much +irritated against him for the friendly reception he had given to the +president. Notwithstanding this, it was agreed upon in a conference +between the president and Mexia, that the latter should go immediately +to Panama to confer with Hinojosa, lest the minds of the soldiery should +take any adverse turn by delay. Despising the dangers with which he was +threatened, and the suspicions that had been endeavoured to be instilled +into his mind, Mexia set out for Panama, confiding in the friendship +which subsisted between him and Hinojosa, and in his knowledge of the +character and dispositions of that officer. In an interview with +Hinojosa, he fully explained the reasons of his conduct in receiving the +president; adding, that whatever party they might choose ultimately to +favour, all that had hitherto been done could do no harm. Hinojosa was +entirely satisfied with this explanation, and allowed Mexia to return to +Nombre de Dios. + +After the return of Mexia, the president went across the isthmus to +Panama, where he held separate conferences with Hinojosa and the +different captains, which he conducted with so much prudence and +secrecy, that he gained them all over to the royal cause, without any of +them having any communication with the others on the subject, so that he +was soon in condition to speak with them publickly on the objects of +his mission, having brought them all over to his sentiments and engaged +them to second his intentions. By supplying the soldiers with every +thing of which they were in need, he brought them all easily into his +measures, believing that the most effectual means of succeeding in his +mission, was by acting gently and in a conciliating manner with every +one: yet in all this he acted without meanness or servility, constantly +preserving the dignity becoming his rank and authority. In all his +negociations, the president was ably and faithfully seconded by his +major-general Alfonzo de Alvarado, who was exceedingly serviceable on +every occasion, both in consequence of having many friends among the +officers, and because those even who were not among the number were much +influenced by his authority and character. At first Hinojosa hesitated +about declaring for the president, and even notified his arrival to +Gonzalo Pizarro. Some of the captains and other principal persons at +Panama had likewise written to Gonzalo, even before the arrival of the +president at Panama, giving it as their advice that he ought not to be +allowed to enter Peru; but in the sequel these persons changed their +opinion by the persuasion of Gasca. During his residence at Panama, the +president contrived to manage so judiciously with Hinojosa, whom he +frequently visited, that he procured his consent to send Pedro Hernandez +Paniagua, a gentleman who had accompanied him from Spain, with letters +to Gonzalo Pizarro apprizing him of his arrival in Tierra Firma, and the +object of his mission. Among these letters was one from the king, to the +following effect: + + +THE KING, TO GONZALO PIZARRO. + +"Gonzalo Pizarro, from your letters and the information of other +persons, we have been informed of the commotions and disorders which +have arisen in all the provinces of Peru, since the arrival of the +viceroy Blasco Nunnez Vela and the judges of the royal audience. We are +convinced that these troubles have been produced by endeavouring to +establish and enforce, in their utmost rigour, the new laws and +regulations which we had judged proper for the government of that +country, and for insuring good treatment to the native inhabitants. We +are satisfied that you, and those who have acted along with you during +these troubles, have not been actuated by any disinclination to your +obedience and loyalty towards us, but merely in opposition to the +extreme rigour and inexorable obstinacy of the viceroy, who refused to +listen to the supplications and remonstrances which were made to him on +the new regulations." + +"Being well informed in regard to all these affairs, and having heard +every thing that Francisco Maldonado had in charge to say on the subject +from you and the inhabitants of these provinces, we have thought proper +to send over as our president the licentiate De la Gasca, a member of +our council of the holy inquisition, to whom we have given full power +and authority to do every thing that he may deem proper and necessary +for restoring tranquillity and good order in the country, to replace its +affairs on a proper footing, and to introduce such regulations as may +tend to the good of our service and the glory of God, and the advantage +of the country and its inhabitants, both such as are our natural +subjects and the original inhabitants. For this reason we will and +command, and expressly desire, that you may be punctually obedient to +every thing which the said Gasca shall order you in our name, in the +same manner as if his commands were from ourselves; and that you give +him every assistance in your power in every thing which he may require, +and which may be necessary for executing the orders which we have given +him, according as he may inform you, or shall require in our name, +conform to the confidence we repose in your fidelity. On our part, we +assure you that we entertain a just estimation of the services which you +and your brother the marquis have done, and that we shall reward the +same in time and place convenient to his children and brothers by +effective marks of our good will. Given at Venlo, this sixteenth of +February in the year of grace one thousand five hundred and forty-six." + +I THE KING. _By order of his Majesty,_ FRANCISCO DE ERASO. + +Along with this letter from the emperor, the president wrote to Gonzalo +Pizarro, dated on the 26th of September 1546 from Panama, and addressed +to the illustrious senior Gonzalo Pizarro, in the city of Lima, of which +the following is the substance. + +"I have delayed sending the letter of his imperial majesty, which +accompanies this present communication, till now, in the hope of being +able to set out for Peru immediately after my arrival in this country, +and because it appeared more conformable to the respect and obedience +which I owe to his majesty to have delivered his royal letter in person +than to allow it to be preceded by any writing from myself. Finding, +however, that my voyage is necessarily delayed, and being informed that +you have called a meeting of the colonists at Lima to consult upon the +past transactions, and on what may be proper in the present situation of +affairs, I have thought it improper any longer to delay sending his +majestys letter, together with this from myself which I transmit by +Pedro Hernandez Paniagua, a person of honour and merit, who professes to +be your friend and servant." + +"After the most mature and careful deliberations respecting all that has +occurred in Peru, since the arrival of the late viceroy in that country, +his majesty is satisfied that the commotions have not been excited by a +spirit of rebellion and disobedience in the Spanish inhabitants, but +through the inflexible rigour with which the viceroy endeavoured to +enforce the regulations, in spite of the supplications of the colonists +and their appeal to his majesty, by which they were justified in +defending themselves against so great severity, at least until they +should learn the royal will on the subject in answer to their +remonstrances. All this appears from the letter which you addressed to +his majesty, in which you declared that the principal reason which had +induced you to accept the situation of governor of Peru, was that it had +been given to you by the royal audience, in the name and under the seal +of his majesty; by the acceptance of which employment you were enabled +to do good service to the royal interests, which might otherwise have +suffered much prejudice; and as you have declared these to be your +motives for assuming the government, until his majesty might think +proper to issue his commands, which you were ready to obey like a good +and loyal subject." + +"Therefore, his majesty, having seen and duly considered all these +things, and heard the opinions of his councillors thereupon, has sent me +for the express purpose of restoring peace, tranquillity, and good order +to the country, by the revocation of the obnoxious regulations, with +full power to extend his royal pardon for all that has already +occurred, and to take the opinion and advice of the colonists upon those +measures that may be most proper and advantageous for the royal service, +the glory of God, the good of the country, and the benefit of its +inhabitants. In respect to such Spaniards as cannot be provided in the +country with repartitions of lands and Indians, I have orders to employ +them in new discoveries, where they may acquire honour and riches, as +has already been done by so many other persons. I earnestly entreat you +therefore, as a Christian, and a wise and prudent gentleman of honour, +to reflect seriously on all these things. As you have hitherto always +evinced much affection and attachment to the welfare of the country and +its inhabitants, you certainly have great reason of thankfulness to the +Almighty, that in so important and delicate an affair, neither his +majesty nor his councillors have been disposed to consider your past +conduct in the light of revolt and rebellion against the legitimate +authority of the sovereign, but have rather been pleased to view it in +the light of a just and necessary defence of your own rights, and those +of the Spanish inhabitants of Peru, until the decision of his majesty +upon your supplications and remonstrances might be made manifest. +Therefore, since his majesty has been graciously pleased to grant to you +and the other colonists all that you required by your supplications, by +abrogating the obnoxious regulations, it is incumbent upon you, as an +obedient and loyal subject, to evince a respectful and prompt obedience +to the royal orders[30]." + +[Footnote 30: In translating this letter the substance has been +materially compressed; omitting much loose and declamatory +argumentation, with several instances of the irresistible power of the +emperor, to convince Pizarro of the absolute necessity of submission. +Among other arguments, Gasca quotes with approbation an instance of a +Spaniard who had assassinated his brother in the midst of the German +Lutherans for deserting the religion of his country; and threatens him +with the vengeance of his brother Ferdinand if he should persist in +rebellion against his sovereign.--E.] + +"I have represented all these things to you, that you may not flatter +yourself by a false confidence of being able to resist the power of his +majesty, who is able if it should so please him to employ irresistible +force in repressing the commotions and disorders of Peru, instead of +those measures of clemency, which it has pleased God that he should now +resort to; and that if reduced to the necessity of using force, it will +be necessary for his majesty to take care not to ruin the country by +sending too great a number of troops, instead of being under any +difficulty as to sending a sufficient power to overcome all possibility +of resistance. You ought likewise to reflect that matters will +necessarily take a quite different turn than they have hitherto done. +Hitherto your followers have been influenced by their own self-interest, +not only considering the late viceroy as your enemy and your cause as +good, but all of them looked upon him as their personal enemy, who +wished to deprive them of their properties, and to put to death every +one who opposed his designs. Under these circumstances your followers +were necessarily impelled to adhere to your party in the defence of +their own lives and properties. But as both are now secured, by the +revocation of the obnoxious regulations, and the amnesty granted by his +majesty, the Spanish inhabitants of Peru have now their legitimate +sovereign as their friend and protector, to whom we all owe the most +entire loyalty and obedience. I entreat you to reflect seriously on +these things, and to consider that, in the present situation of affairs, +and the turn which they must assuredly take in the sequel, you cannot +count upon the adherence of any one, if you unfortunately choose to +follow wrong measures. By contributing your assistance to put an end to +the commotions which have distracted the kingdom of Peru, the whole +inhabitants of that country will remain indebted to your exertions for +the maintenance of their rights and privileges, in having opposed the +execution of the obnoxious regulations, and having procured a favourable +attention to their supplications and remonstrances; insomuch that his +majesty has been pleased to send me with an express commission to listen +to and redress all grievances. Should you unfortunately resolve upon +refusing submission to the royal authority, you will obliterate all the +merit you derive from your past conduct; as by endeavouring to continue +the troubles and commotions, you will shew yourself actuated by motives +of personal interest and ambition, instead of any regard for the good of +the public. Instead of serving the interests of the Spanish inhabitants +of Peru, you will become the cause of infinite injury to all, and will +be considered as the enemy of the kingdom, by perpetuating the troubles, +and occasioning the destruction of the lives and fortunes of your +friends and adherents. You ought likewise to consider that, by +continuing the war, you will render it necessary to bring over a +numerous army into Peru, so that you will become accountable to God and +man for all the miseries and disorders which may follow, and for the +entire ruin of the country and its inhabitants, by which you will incur +the hatred of all the principal colonists, merchants, and other rich +persons." + +"To conclude, I pray God to take you and all your followers under his +most holy protection, and that he may inspire you with proper sentiments +on this occasion, for the good service of his majesty, the eternal +welfare of your souls, and the preservation of your lives, honours, and +estates; and I remain; illustrious Sir, yours, &c. + +PEDRO DE LA GASCA." + +Gonzalo had only been a few days in Lima on his return from Quito, when +he received letters from Hinojosa informing him of the arrival of the +president. He was much disturbed by this intelligence, which he +immediately communicated to the captains and other principal persons of +his party, and with whom he consulted upon the steps necessary to be +taken in this conjuncture of affairs. Some were of opinion that it was +necessary to get rid of the president, either openly or by secret +assassination; while others recommended that he should be invited into +Peru, where it would be easy to oblige him to agree to all their +demands; or where at least they could draw their negociations with him +to a great length, by insisting on convening an assembly of deputies and +procurators from all the cities of the kingdom at Lima, to deliberate on +the subject of his reception, and to determine whether he should be +received or not; and, as Peru was of vast extent, it would be easy to +put off the meeting of that assembly for two years, during which period +the president might be kept in the isle of Puna under a confidential +guard, by which he might be prevented from writing to Spain that the +country was in rebellion; more especially as they could keep him in +continual suspense, by representing that the general assembly could not +meet sooner on account of the vast distance of some of the cities. Even +the most moderate were for obliging the president to return into Spain. + +In this council of the leaders of the insurrection, it was likewise +proposed to send deputies from all parts of Peru to his majesty, to +explain the state of the colony, and the events which had occurred; and +particularly to exculpate their conduct in regard to the battle of Quito +in which the viceroy was slain, by throwing the whole blame upon him as +the aggressor. It was likewise proposed that these deputies should +humbly implore his majesty to invest Gonzalo Pizarro in the government +of Peru, for which especial purpose they should be so instructed and +empowered by all the cities. They were also to be instructed, during +their residence at Panama on their way into Spain, carefully to learn +what were the powers and instructions of the president; and to endeavour +to prevail upon him to delay proceeding to Peru, until they had informed +his majesty of the true state of the kingdom, that ulterior orders might +be issued in consequence. It was proposed at the same time, if the +president persisted in coming into the country, to take him into +custody. Some even proposed to put him to death during the journey, +while others proposed to have him poisoned at Panama and likewise to put +Alonzo de Alvarado to death. Many other proposals of a similar nature +and tendency are said to have been made at this time; but as all these +transactions took place in the secret meetings of the chief of the +insurgents, it is difficult or impossible to ascertain the precise +nature of their deliberations. It was besides resolved, that the +messengers who were to be sent to the president should be charged to +deliver him letters from the principal inhabitants of Lima, strongly +urging him to refrain from coming into Peru, even in terms of insolence +and implied threatening. + +After long deliberations respecting the persons who should be sent into +Spain to lay their representations before the emperor, Don Jerom de +Loyasa archbishop of Lima, Lorenzo de Aldana, Friar Thomas de San +Martino provincial of the Dominicans, and Gomez de Solis were chosen for +that purpose. The provincial was much suspected by the insurgents of +being inimical to their party, by several expressions of his opinion, +both in his sermons and in private conversations: Yet they thought +proper to employ him and the others in this commission, although they +were almost equally suspicious of the rest; both to give weight to their +representations through the respectability of their messengers, and +because no other persons of any consequence in the country dared to +appear before his majesty on this occasion, being afraid of punishment +for the share they had taken in the past commotions. They considered +likewise, if these deputies should declare against them while in Spain, +as they actually suspected, that it was better to have them out of the +country; as, if matters should assume an unfavourable aspect for Gonzalo +and his adherents, these persons might have done them much injury by +remaining, as they were much respected in Peru, both on account of their +rank and character. Gomez de Solis, who was major domo to Gonzalo +Pizarro, was the only one of these commisioners in whom he reposed +confidence; though indeed some alleged that he was only intended to +proceed to Panama with a supply of money and provisions for Hinojosa and +his troops, while others believed he was to have accompanied the other +deputies into Spain. Besides these persons, the bishop of St Martha was +likewise requested to accompany the deputation; and they were all +supplied with the necessary funds for the expences of their voyage. + +Lorenzo de Aldana set off by sea for Panama in all haste, while the +other deputies were making preparations for their voyage, being +commissioned by Gonzalo to send him intelligence as quickly as possible +as to the true state of affairs in the Tierra Firma. As Lorenzo set out +from the port of Lima in October 1546, Gonzalo confidently expected to +receive dispatches from him from Panama by the ensuing Christmas, or +early in January 1547; and for this purpose, he appointed a set of +couriers to remain in waiting all along the coast of Peru to the +northward of Lima, to be in readiness to forward the dispatches as +quickly as possible. The two bishops and the provincial embarked a few +days after Aldana, and all of them arrived safely at Panama. + +Vela Nunnez, the brother of the late viceroy, who had long remained a +prisoner at large, being allowed to go out on hunting parties, and to +ride about unarmed, yet under strict injunctions to take care of his +conduct, was drawn about this time into a private engagement with a +soldier named Juan de la Torre, by means of which he lost his life. De +la Torre was one of those who had deserted from the viceroy to Gonzalo, +along with Gonzalo Diaz and others, when on the expedition against Pedro +de Puelles and the inhabitants of Guanuco. He had afterwards the good +fortune to discover a concealed treasure of gold and silver in the +valley of Hica, which had been consecrated by the Indians to their +idols, and which was said to have contained to the value of 60,000 +crowns in the precious metals, besides a great quantity of emeralds and +turquoises. De la Torre placed all this treasure in the hands of the +father guardian of the Franciscans; to whom he one day revealed in +confession that he wished to return into Spain, that he might enjoy his +riches in quiet; but, having followed the party of Gonzalo, and +consequently incurred the displeasure of his majesty, he wished to be +able to perform some acceptable service to the king before his +departure, on purpose to merit pardon for his past offences. For this +purpose, he intended to embark with his treasure from the port of Lima +for Nicaragua, where he proposed to enlist a party of soldiers, and to +fit out one or two vessels with which to cruize for some time along the +coast of Peru against Gonzalo and his confederates, by landing, and +pillaging in such places as were unprovided with troops: But, as he had +not sufficient knowledge or experience for conducting such an +enterprize, he wished to find a person properly qualified to act as +commander on this occasion, and had a strong desire to induce Vela +Nunnez to undertake the direction of the enterprize, as a gentleman +experienced in war, and who was besides in a great measure bound to seek +an opportunity of being revenged upon Gonzalo for the death of his +brother the viceroy and many others of his friends and relations. With +this view, therefore, it was his intention to place himself and his +treasure at the disposal of Vela Nunnez, whom he wished to consult on +this subject with some adherents of the late viceroy who dwelt in Lima, +that these persons might likewise be induced to join in the enterprize. +De la Torre, therefore, requested the father guardian to converse on the +subject with Vela Nunnez. + +At first Vela Nunnez was on his guard, lest it might be a false +confidence devised for his ruin. But De la Torre satisfied his doubts in +presence of the father guardian, by a solemn oath on a consecrated +altar, and Vela Nunnez agreed to take charge of the enterprize, +immediately using his endeavours to engage the adherents of the late +viceroy in the plot. It is not known how this affair came to be +divulged, which it certainly was to Gonzalo, who immediately caused Vela +Nunnez to be arrested and brought to trial as a traitor and rebel +against the king, and had him publickly beheaded. Vela Nunnez was a +brave and honourable gentleman, much esteemed by all, and was +exceedingly regretted by the whole inhabitants of Peru.[31] + +[Footnote 31: From the sequel, it would appear that Juan de la Torre +escaped entirely on this occasion; at least a person of exactly the same +name appears afterwards as an officer in the service of Gonzalo.--E] + +About this time likewise, Alfonzo de Toro, who was lieutenant-governor +of Cuzco under Gonzalo Pizarro, was assassinated by his own +father-in-law, in consequence of some dispute. Gonzalo was much grieved +by the death of this person, from whom he expected to have derived +important services in the approaching crisis. He appointed Alfonzo de +Hinojosa to succeed as lieutenant-governor of Cuzco, who had in fact +been elected to the vacant charge by the magistrates of that city. Under +his administration some tumults were excited in Cuzco by Lope Sanchez de +Valenzuela and Diego Perez Bezerra; but by the exertions of Hinojosa and +Pedro de Villacastin the tumults were happily quelled; Valenzuela and +Bezerra were put to death as the ringleaders, and some others who had +been particularly active on the occasion were banished. + +It is well known that Lorenzo de Aldana, who has been already mentioned +as dispatched by Gonzalo to Panama, carried several letters from Gonzalo +and the other leaders of the insurrection which were couched in very +disrespectful terms: But Aldana, anxious to prevent the present troubles +from becoming even more serious than they were, prudently destroyed +these letters, so that they were not delivered. On his arrival at +Panama, he went to lodge with Hinojosa, with whom he was extremely +intimate, there being likewise some relationship between them. He went +likewise without delay to pay his respects to the president; but at this +first visit they both confined themselves to conversation on general +topics, so that Aldana did not reveal his sentiments for some days, +wishing, like a prudent person, to learn in the first place what were +the sentiments and intentions of the officers who then resided at +Panama. When he found that they were disposed to act for the service of +his majesty, he revealed his real sentiments to the president, offering +his best services in any manner that might be most conducive to the +royal interest. From the confidence which was reposed in Aldana, it was +at length resolved to treat openly with Hinojosa, with whom hitherto the +president and Mexia had acted with much reserve. Accordingly, Mexia +represented to him, that the affairs of Peru were now in such a +situation that it was requisite to restore them to order, which might +easily be done by agreeing to offer the services of all the faithful +subjects of his majesty resident in Panama to the president; and if the +present favourable opportunity for this purpose were neglected, another +might not occur for a long time. Hinojosa replied, that he was entirely +disposed to serve the president, to whom, he had already declared, if +his majesty were not disposed to grant the demands of Gonzalo, he was +ready in all things to yield obedience to the commands of the +sovereign, being resolved to give no just cause of reproach as a +rebellious subject. + +In reality Hinojosa, although an excellent soldier and experienced in +every thing relative to warlike affairs was exceedingly ignorant in +political matters. He had always believed that every thing which had +been done by the insurgents was founded in justice, and that the authors +of the supplications and remonstrances had a right to use their utmost +efforts to succeed in procuring all that they had demanded; having even +been so assured by several learned men. Yet in all the past +transactions, he had conducted his own actions with much prudent +reserve, so as not to go beyond the original and avowed purposes of the +remonstrants, having never put any one to death or confiscated the +wealth of any of the royalists, as had been done by the other insurgent +commanders. On perceiving the erroneous sentiments by which he was +deluded, Mexia strongly represented to him, that, as the pleasure of his +majesty had been clearly expressed, by means of the commission and +instructions given to the president, there was no room now to wait for +any new declaration of the royal will. That all the officers and +soldiers in the Tierra Firma Were resolved to obey the president, and +that Hinojosa must determine without delay on the part he chose to +embrace as a loyal subject, without allowing himself to be misled by +these ridiculous sentiments of pretended men of learning. Hinojosa +requested to be allowed one day to consider what answer he should give +to these representations; and accordingly the very next day he +determined to follow the advice of his friend Mexia, whom he accompanied +to the president, and engaged to obey him in all things conformable to +the royal orders. After this, all the captains of the troops and other +principal persons in Panama were convened; who all pledged their +obedience to the president, engaging to keep the matter a profound +secret till farther orders. Yet the soldiers began to suspect the real +situation of affairs, as they noticed that the president gave orders on +every affair of importance that occurred, and that all their officers +visited him very frequently, and always behaved to him in public as +their superior. + +As president considered that any farther delay might be prejudicial to +the royal cause, he resolved to dispatch Aldana with the command of +about three hundred men in three or four vessels, with orders to proceed +to the port of Lima, to assemble at that place all who were well +affected to his majesty. By this measure, he wished to prevent Gonzalo +from having time to learn the actual situation of matters in the Tierra +Firma, and from placing his own affairs in perfect order; and was in +hopes likewise by these means to prevent him from putting several of the +principal loyalists to death, as had been often threatened by the +insurgents. Accordingly, four vessels were fitted out with all +expedition, of which the command was given to Aldana, having under his +orders the captains Mexia, Palomino, and Yllanez. On this occasion, in a +general review of the troops, all the colours were publickly resigned +into the hands of the president; who immediately restored them to the +respective officers, in his majestys name, and reappointed Hinojosa as +general of the army. After this, the three hundred men above mentioned +were embarked under Aldana, pay and equipments, being advanced to such +of the soldiers as were in need. Aldana immediately set sail on his +expedition, being accompanied by the provincial of the Dominicans, a +person of merit and influence, whose authority and example were expected +to confirm those who might be indetermined to follow the party which he +espoused. Aidaria carried along with him several copies of the amnesty +and of the royal orders for restoring peace and order to Peru; and was +expressly enjoined not to land on any part of the coast if possible, +till he got to the port of Lima, that he might endeavour to surprise +Gonzalo. + +About this time, the archbishop of Lima and Gomez de Solis arrived at +Panama; both of whom expressed their satisfaction on learning the turn +which affairs had taken at that place, and openly declared themselves +for the royal party, offering their best services to the president. At +this, time likewise, the president sent Don Juan de Mendoza to Mexico, +with letters for the viceroy of that kingdom, Don Antonio de Mendoza, +requiring the aid of all the soldiers that could be spared from that +country. Don Balthazar de Castille was sent at the same time to +Guatimala and Nicaragua on a similar mission; and other persons were +dispatched to San Domingo, to procure every possible assistance for +prosecuting the war in Peru, if that measure should ultimately be +necessary. + +It has been already mentioned that Pedro Hernandez Paniagua was +dispatched by the president with letters for Gonzalo Pizarro. Paniagua +arrived at Tumbez about the middle of January 1547, whence he went to +San Miguel, where Villalobos then commanded for Gonzalo. Paniagua was +immediately arrested by Villalobos, who took from him his dispatches and +forwarded them with all speed to Gonzalo at Lima, by means of Diego de +Mora the commandant of Truxillo. On learning the arrest of Paniagua, +Gonzalo sent a confidential person to conduct him to Lima, with strict +orders not to permit any person to converse with him by the way. On his +arrival at Lima, Gonzalo, in presence of all his confederate officers, +restored to Paniagua his credentials and dispatches, desiring him to +declare every thing that had been confided to him by his employer, and +assuring him of entire personal safety in regard to every thing +connected with his commission: But, if he should presume to converse +either publickly or privately with any other person on any subject +connected with the president, he might rest assured of losing his head. +Accordingly, Paniagua boldly explained the subject of his mission. When +he had withdrawn from the council of officers, some were for putting him +to death, alleging that he had previously communicated his sentiments to +some confidential persons. Gonzalo Pizarro did not communicate to his +officers either of the two letters formerly mentioned, which were +addressed to himself, by the king and the president. In this +consultation, it was the universal opinion of the insurgent leaders, +that they ought on no account to admit the president into Peru; many of +the officers, in expressing their sentiments on this occasion, spoke of +the president in a very abusive manner, and even mentioned his majesty +with very little respect, at which Gonzalo seemed well pleased. + +At this time, Gonzalo Pizarro wrote to his lieutenant-general Carvajal, +who still remained in La Plata, directing him to come immediately to +Lima, and bring thither along with him all the treasure he could +procure, and all the musquets and other arms that were in that place. +These orders did not proceed from any idea that these were necessary for +defence, as the transactions at Panama were still unknown in Peru; but +on account of the many complaints which had been made of the continual +murders and confiscations which were perpetrated by Carvajal. Some +alleged that he was summoned to the capital to receive deserved +punishment for his cruel and tyrannical conduct; while others said it +was on purpose to strip him of more than 150,000 crowns which he had +amassed by pillage. At this time Lima was so entirely occupied with +suspicions, that no one dared to confide in any other, or to speak a +single word respecting the present state of affairs; as the slightest +misplaced word, or the most trifling pretext or suspicion, was +sufficient to place the life of any one in imminent danger. Gonzalo took +the greatest possible precautions for his safety, of which the following +is a remarkable instance. He had noticed on many occasions that the +oydor Zarate was by no means attached to his interests, although his +daughter was married to the brother of Pizarro: And though Zarate was +sick, it was confidently asserted that Gonzalo procured him to be +poisoned, by means of certain powders which he sent him under pretence +of a remedy. In the sequel this rumour was confirmed by the testimony of +several persons who were in the service of Pizarro at the time. Whether +Pizarro were really guilty of this crime or innocent, it is a certain +fact that he expressed much satisfaction on learning the death of +Zarate. + +In the mean time, Paniagua procured permission, through the +intermediation of the licentiate Carvajal, to return to Panama, though +contrary to the opinion of the other insurgent officers, who were clear +for detaining him; and he may assuredly be reckoned fortunate in having +got away from Lima before intelligence arrived there that the fleet and +army at Panama had submitted to the president. Although this +circumstance had not reached the knowledge of the insurgents, it began +to be vehemently suspected, in consequence of receiving no reports from +that place for so long a time; insomuch that Gonzalo sent off orders to +Pedro de Puelles, who commanded in Quito, and all his other captains, to +keep themselves vigilantly on their guard, and to hold all their troops +in continual readiness for taking the field. + +At this period the lieutenant-general Carvajal arrived at Lima from Las +Charcas accompanied by an hundred and fifty soldiers, and bringing with +him three hundred musquets and treasure to the value of more than +800,000 crowns. He was received at Lima with extraordinary pomp, Gonzalo +going out to meet him with all the inhabitants of the city, accompanied +with bands of music and every demonstration of rejoicing. Just at this +time intelligence was received from Puerto Viejo, that four ships had +been seen near the coast, as if reconnoitering, which had stood out +again to sea without coming to anchor or sending on shore for water or +provisions, as was usual with ships navigating in these seas. This was +looked upon as a sign of hostile intentions. It was a considerable time +after this, before Gonzalo was entirely certified of the intention of +these four ships, which in fact were those under Aldana, both because +they were exceedingly cautious of coming near the land, and because +Diego de Mora, his lieutenant at Truxillo, detained certain letters +which had been sent through his hands on the subject. Yet their +suspicious appearance on the coast gave great uneasiness to Gonzalo, and +occasioned him to take every means of precaution for his security; +ordering continual watch to be kept up day and night, both by the +soldiers and the inhabitants, all of whom appeared to do so with much +care and satisfaction. Some time after the appearance of the ships off +Puerto Viego, they arrived at the harbour of Malabrigo, five or six +leagues to the northwards of Truxillo, and Diego de Mora learnt their +arrival by the same messenger who was charged with the news of their +appearance at Puerto Viejo. As he was quite ignorant of the persons who +were embarked in these ships, and of their intentions, he went on board +a vessel in the harbour of Truxillo, accompanied by several inhabitants +of that city, intending to seek for these four vessels wherever they +might happen to be, and carried along with him a considerable supply of +provisions and warlike stores. He considered it quite safe to board +these strange vessels; as, if they belonged to the partisans of Gonzalo, +it was easy for him to allege that he came in quest of news, and to +supply them with refreshments; whereas if they should be of the royal +party, so much the better, as he was resolved to join them with all his +followers. He fortunately came up with Aldana on the very day in which +he left the harbour of Truxillo; and, having entered into mutual +explanations, joined company to the reciprocal satisfaction of both, +supplying Aldana with such refreshments as were needed for his ships. + +Next night, Aldana and De Mora with all the ships came to anchor in the +harbour of Truxillo, where it was not deemed proper to land the troops; +but it was agreed that De Mora and all the inhabitants of Truxillo +should retire into the province of Caxamarca, in which place they could +remain in safety till their assistance might be required, and where they +might endeavour to assemble all that were favourable to the royal cause. +At the same time messengers were dispatched with letters and orders from +the president in the kings name, to Chachapoyas, Guanuco, and Quito, and +to the frontier posts commanded by Mercadillo and Porcel, inviting all +who were inclined to serve his majesty to declare themselves. +Intelligence of these proceedings at Truxillo were speedily carried to +Gonzalo by a monk of the order of Mercy, who had always favoured the +Pizarrian faction; but who could only relate the departure of De Mora +and the inhabitants of Truxillo, without being able to give any distinct +account of their intercourse and agreement with those on board the +fleet. Accordingly, Gonzalo concluded, from the information brought by +the monk, that De Mora and the inhabitants of Truxillo had gone off for +Panama to join the president. Gonzalo therefore sent off the licentiate +Garcias de Leon, who had always accompanied him hitherto, with the +commission of lieutenant-governor of Truxillo, accompanied by fifteen or +twenty soldiers, to whom he gave grants of the lands and Indians which +had belonged to the citizens of Truxillo who had gone off with De Mora. +Along with De Leon, Gonzalo sent the superior of the order of Mercy, +with orders to embark the wives of all the inhabitants of Truxillo who +had gone off, and to carry them to their husbands at Panama, whither he +supposed they were gone; and he sent at the same time proper persons to +be married to the widows who remained in Truxillo, commanding that such +of these widows as refused compliance should be deported along with the +married women to Panama. Various and specious pretexts were alleged for +this procedure; but the true reason was, that Gonzalo wished to be +entire master of the country, and to dispose at his pleasure of the +lands, Indians, houses, and properties of all who had fled from his +usurped power. + +As Garcias de Leon was sent on this expedition by sea, he fell in, a few +days after his departure, with the four ships commanded by Aldana, and +joined himself to them with all his followers, embracing the party of +his majesty. On this occasion, the superior of the order of Mercy was +sent by land to Lima, with directions to inform Gonzalo of what had +happened, and the purpose of these four ships making their appearance on +the coast. He was likewise desired to communicate the intelligence to +several of the loyal inhabitants of Lima; and to tell them, if they were +at any time able to go to the port belonging to that city, they would +find boats ready to carry them on board the ships. On receiving this +news, Gonzalo sent orders to the superior to keep out of the way, and on +no account to have intercourse with any person whatever, either +publickly or privately, as he valued his life. Gonzalo complained +loudly against Aldana for deserting him; saying that if he had followed +the advice of his principal officers, he would have put him to death +long before. + +When the arrival and intention of the fleet was certainly known and +understood, by which it appeared necessary to prepare for war, Gonzalo +began immediately to put every thing in proper order, and to assemble +his troops; having hitherto believed himself in perfect security against +any hostile attack. He appointed the licentiates Carvajal and Cepeda to +be captains of cavalry, as persons in whose attachment he could confide, +considering the weighty obligations they had received from him. Juan de +Acosta, Juan Velez de Guevara, and Juan de la Torre were made captains +of musqueteers; and Ferdinand Bachicao, Martin de Robles, and Martin de +Almendras captains of pikemen. Francisco de Carvajal, who had hitherto +enjoyed that office, was nominated lieutenant-general, having an hundred +of the musqueteers he had brought with him from Las Charcas appointed +for his guard. It was proclaimed by beat of drum, that all the +inhabitants of Lima, and all strangers residing there, of whatever +quality or condition, were to enrol themselves among the troops under +pain of death; and money was issued to the several captains for the pay +and equipment of their companies. The two captains of horse received +50,000 crowns, with which they were each ordered to levy and equip fifty +horsemen; besides which, several merchants and others, very unfit for +warfare, enrolled themselves. It was well known that these men were +quite unfit for being soldiers; but they were constrained to enlist on +purpose to exact money from them for their discharge, which in fact they +purchased by furnishing horses, arms, and money to such as were in want. +Martin de Robles received 25,000 crowns with which he was to enlist and +equip a company of 130 pikemen. Ferdinand Bachicao had 20,000 to raise +120 pikemen; and Juan d'Acosta a similar sum for an equal number. Martin +de Almendras had 12,000 crowns to raise 45 pikemen; and Juan de la Torre +12,000, to levy 50 musqueteers, who were to form the ordinary guard of +Gonzalo. Antonio Altamirano, one of the principal inhabitants of Cuzco +was appointed to carry the grand standard, with a troop of 80 horse; and +he received 12,000 crowns for some particular purpose, as his men had no +need of pay or equipments, being all chosen from among the rich +inhabitants of the country. + +On this occasion the several captains had standards or colours painted +according to their respective fancies, the grand standard alone carrying +the royal arms. Among these, Bachicao had the letters G.P. or the cypher +of Gonzalo Pizarro, interlaced upon his colours, surmounted by a royal +crown. Every thing being in order, posts were assigned to each officer, +of which they were to take especial care by day and night. Gonzalo +Pizarro made liberal donations to several soldiers who were unfit for +service, as well as to those who took the field; giving them, besides +what they were entitled to for their equipment, considerable sums +according to their respective merits and occasions. In a general review, +he mustered a thousand men, as well armed and equipped and furnished +with all necessaries, as any that had been seen in the most prosperous +campaigns in the Italian war. Besides their arms, which were all +excellent, most of the soldiers were clothed in silken hose and +doublets, and many had theirs of cloth of gold, or embroidery of gold +silver or silk, with gold embroidery on their hats, their ammunition +pouches, and the covers of their musquets. The army was well supplied +with excellent powder; and Gonzalo gave orders that every soldier should +have either a horse or a mule to ride upon during a march. In the +equipment of this army, Gonzalo expended above half a million of crowns. + +Besides these preparations, Gonzalo sent Martin Silveira to the city of +La Plata, to bring from thence all the men and money that could be +procured in that quarter. Antonio de Robles was sent to Cuzco, to +conduct to Lima all the troops that were there under the charge of +Alfonzo de Hinojosa, the lieutenant-governor of that city. He wrote to +Lucas Martinez, his lieutenant at Arequipa, desiring him to join him +immediately with all the soldiers he could raise. He sent orders to +Pedro de Puelles, his lieutenant at Quito, to join him as soon as +possible with all the troops from that province; and likewise ordered +Mercadillo and Percel to abandon the passes of which they had the +charge, bringing all their men along with them to Lima, and sent similar +orders to Saavedra the lieutenant-governor of Guamanga. By these means +Gonzalo exerted himself to the uttermost to collect a respectable force; +and he particularly enjoined all his officers not to leave behind them +any horses or arms, or any other conveniencies for those who remained to +enable them to join the president. He endeavoured to justify his present +conduct, by representing that Aldana, whom he had sent to give an +account to the king of all that had occurred in Peru, had leagued with +the president, and now employed against himself and the colony those +vessels which had been confided to his charge, and which had cost more +than 80,000 crowns in their equipment. He alleged that the president, +who had been sent expressly by his majesty to restore peace and +tranquillity to the kingdom, had raised troops of his own authority, and +now proposed to come in arms into Peru, to punish all who had taken part +in the late commotions, so that all were equally interested in opposing +him. That no one ought therefore to reckon upon the pardon and amnesty +with which the president was said to be entrusted, and which it was +reported he was to extend to all who joined him; but rather that this +ought to be considered as a fraudulent contrivance to divide and ruin +the colonists. Even admitting the truth of the reported amnesty; it +could only refer to the original opposition to the obnoxious regulations +and tyrannical conduct of the viceroy, and could have no reference to +those who were engaged in the battle of Quito, and the consequent death +of the viceroy; as these transactions could only be known in Spain after +the departure of the president, and nothing respecting them could +therefore be included in his instructions and powers. Therefore, until +his majesty were fully informed of the whole series of events, and had +issued new orders on the subject, it became necessary to prevent the +president from coming into Peru, more especially as Gonzalo Pizarro was +informed by letters from Spain, that the president was not authorized by +his majesty to deprive Gonzalo of the government, but merely to preside +in the royal court of audience. He pretended to be perfectly assured of +this circumstance, by letters from Francisco Maldonado, whom he had sent +to the king, and that the president had even in some measure +acknowledged this in the letter which was brought from him by Paniagua. +He alleged farther, that the captains in his own employment, who had +been sent into the Tierra Firma for the defence of Peru, having revolted +to the president, had now persuaded him to change his tone and to invade +Peru by force of arms; at which procedure his majesty would be assuredly +much displeased, when informed. By these and other arguments of a +similar nature, Gonzalo endeavoured to demonstrate that the president +was highly to blame in detaining those persons whom he, Gonzalo, had +sent to Spain, and that it was justifiable on these grounds to oppose +him by force of arms. + +Gonzalo, by the advice of his lieutenant-general and other confidential +officers, took additional measures to justify their conduct, and to +satisfy the soldiers and inhabitants in the goodness of their cause. In +an assembly of all the men learned in the law who were then in Lima, +they arraigned the president as having acted criminally, in taking +possession of the ships belonging to the colony, and by invading the +country in a warlike manner, contrary to the tenor of the commission and +instructions he had received from the king; endeavouring at the same +time to convince the assembly, that it was just and proper to proceed +judicially against the president, and those captains and others who +adhered to him and abetted him in these proceedings, and that they ought +to be proceeded against in a formal manner, by legal process. The +persons composing this assembly of men of learning, dared not to +contradict Gonzalo on this occasion or to oppose his will in any +respect: A process was accordingly instituted in due form, informations +taken and recorded, and judgment pronounced in the following tenor: +"Considering the crimes established by the judicial informations given +against the licentiate De la Gasca and those captains who adhere to him; +they are found guilty and deserving of condemnation; wherefore, the said +licentiate De la Gasca is hereby adjudged to be beheaded, and the +captains Aldana and Hinojosa to be quartered." The other captains and +officers serving under the president, were at the same time condemned to +various punishments, according to the measure of guilt which Gonzalo and +the leaders of his faction were pleased to charge against them; and the +sentences were ordered to be signed in due form by the oydor Cepeda, and +other men of letters at Lima. + +Among these persons of the law who were desired to sign on the present +occasion, was a licentiate from Valladolid named Polo Hondegardo, who +had the boldness to wait upon Gonzalo, and to represent to him, that the +promulgation of such a sentence was by no means advisable or politic; as +it might possibly happen hereafter that those officers who were now in +the service of the president might incline to revert to his party, which +they would not dare to do when once this cruel sentence was pronounced +against them. He represented farther, that it was necessary to keep in +mind the sacred character of the president as a priest; in consequence +of which circumstance all who might sign a sentence of death against +him would incur the pains and penalties of the greater excommunication. +By this remonstrance, these strong measures were arrested in their +progress, and the intended sentence was not promulgated. + +About this time, intelligence was brought to Pizarro, that the squadron +under Lorenzo de Aldana had quitted the port of Truxillo and was +approaching along the coast towards Lima. On this intelligence, Gonzalo +sent off Juan d'Acosta with fifty mounted musqueteers, with orders to +keep in view of the ships, to prevent the royalists from being able to +land for provisions or water. On arriving at Truxillo, Acosta only +ventured to remain one day at that place, being afraid that Diego de +Mora might bring a superior force against him from Caxamarca. He learnt +likewise, that the royalists squadron had gone to the port of Santa, to +which place he accordingly marched. Aldana got notice of his coming from +some Spanish inhabitants of that place, and laid an ambuscade for him, +consisting of an hundred and fifty musqueteers, in a place overgrown +with tall reeds on the side of the road by which Acosta had to march in +his way to Santa. Acosta had certainly fallen into the snare, if he had +not fortunately made prisoners of some spies who had been sent on shore +from the squadron, whom he was about to have hanged, when they prevailed +on him to save their lives by giving him notice of the ambushment, and +by farther informing him that he might make prisoners of some sailors +who were taking in fresh water for the ships, by quitting the common +road and going nearer the shore. He accordingly took that road and made +the sailors prisoners, whom he sent to Gonzalo at Lima. Those belonging +to Aldana, who were in ambush, learnt this transaction; but, being all +on foot, and the insurgent party all horsemen, they could not attempt to +rescue the prisoners from Acosta, as that part of the country consisted +of very deep sands. Acosta returned to the port of Guavera, where he +waited fresh orders from Lima. + +Gonzalo treated the prisoners sent to him by Acosta with much kindness, +supplying them with clothes and arms, and gave them their choice of any +of the companies of his troops in which they might think proper to +serve. From these men, he received exact information of all the late +events which had occurred at Panama, of the succours which the president +expected to receive from different parts of America, and of the force +which accompanied Aldana on the present expedition. They informed him +likewise that Aldana had set on shore Pedro de Ulloa, a Dominican friar, +disguised in a secular habit, who had orders to distribute copies of the +amnesty in every direction. In consequence of this information, he was +sought for and soon found; and Gonzalo had him confined in a dungeon +near the fish-ponds in his garden, which was infested with toads and +vipers, where he remained till he recovered his liberty on the arrival +of the fleet some time afterwards. + +About this time, it was determined to dispatch the licentiate Carvajal +with three hundred mounted musqueteers, together with the detachment +under Juan d'Acosta, to scour the coast to the northwards, and to attack +Diego de Mora who had withdrawn into the province of Caxamarca. When +every thing was in readiness for this expedition, the lieutenant-general +Carvajal went one morning early to Gonzalo, and represented to him, that +it was by no means safe to entrust so important a command to the +licentiate, as a person in whom they could not repose implicit +confidence. That although he had hitherto attached himself to their +party, it was obviously for the sole purpose of being revenged of the +late viceroy; and, as that purpose was now accomplished, it did not +appear that his fidelity could be depended upon. It was proper to +recollect, he added, that all the brothers of the licentiate were +greatly attached to his majesty, particularly the bishop of Lugo who +enjoyed several high employments; so that it was not to be imagined the +licentiate would act cordially in the interest of a party which was +diametrically opposed to that in which all his nearest relations were +engaged. Besides all which, this person had formerly been made a +prisoner by themselves, without any just foundation, and had even been +so nearly punished capitally, that he had been ordered to make his +testament and to confess himself in preparation for death, which +injurious treatment he could not be supposed to have forgotten. Gonzalo +was so much convinced by these arguments, that he countermanded the +order given to the licentiate Carvajal, and sent off Juan d'Acosta on +the expedition to Caxamarca, with a force of two hundred and eighty men. +D'Acosta accordingly set out on this intended service, taking the road +for Truxillo; but on arriving at Baranza, about twenty four leagues from +Lima, he halted at that place for reasons which will appear in the +sequel. + +At this period, the Captain Saavedra, who was lieutenant-governor of +Guanuco for Gonzalo, received letters from Aldana urging him to quit the +insurgent party and to declare for his majesty. He accordingly +determined to do so; and under pretence of obeying the orders he had +received from Gonzalo of joining his army at Lima, along with Hernando +Alonzo, he assembled all the soldiers he could procure in that province, +with whose assistance he fortified the city of Guanuco, and informed +them of his resolution to exert his best endeavours in the service of +the king. All his soldiers agreed to follow his example, except three or +four who fled and informed Gonzalo of the defection of their governor. +Saavedra retired immediately to Caxamarca, with forty horsemen, where he +joined Diego de Mora and those who had withdrawn along with him from +Truxillo, where both declared themselves for the royalist party. On +learning the defection of Saavedra and the principal inhabitants of +Guanuco, Gonzalo sent an officer to that place at the head of thirty +soldiers; with orders to pillage and destroy the city: But the Indians +of the neighbourhood, having armed themselves and taken possession of +the place by the orders of their masters, made so resolute a defence +that the insurgent detachment was beaten off, and constrained to return +to Lima, being unable to procure any other plunder except some mares +cattle and other animals belonging to the settlers. + +On the arrival of Antonio de Robles at Cuzco, whom Gonzalo had sent to +take the command in that city and province, Alfonso de Hinojosa, who had +hitherto been lieutenant-governor there, resigned the command of the +city and troops, but as was believed with much dissatisfaction. De +Robles immediately collected as much money as he could procure, and +enlisted all the soldiers that were to be found in that neighbourhood, +with whom he marched to Xaquixaguana, about four leagues from Cuzco. At +that place he learned that Diego Centeno; who had concealed himself for +more than a year in a cave among the mountains, had recently left his +concealment, on learning the arrival of the president, and had collected +several of his former partisans, who had hidden themselves from the fury +of Gonzalo in various parts of the woods and mountains. By this time +Centeno had collected about forty men, mostly on foot, though some of +them still had the horses with which they had made their escape. +Although these men were neither so well armed or equipped as they could +have wished, Centeno resolved to make an attempt upon Cuzco, shewing as +much confidence as if he had been at the head of five hundred well armed +troops. His principal followers were Luis de Ribera, Alfonso Perez de +Esquival, Diego Alvarez, Francisco Negral, Pedro Ortiz de Zarate, and +Friar Dominic Ruiz, commonly called Father Viscayno. With this small +band of followers, Centeno drew nigh to Cuzco, being doubtless invited +to that step by some of the principal inhabitants, for the purpose of +freeing them from the tyranny of De Robles, a young man of low origin +and little ability. It was even said that Alfonso de Hinojosa, from +resentment against Gonzalo for superseding him in the government, had +sent privately to offer his assistance to Centeno. Both of these reports +are highly probable; as otherwise it would have been a most inexcusable +rashness in Centeno, to call it no worse, to have presumed upon +attacking Cuzco with the small number of men he had collected; as, +besides the inhabitants of the city, there were more than five hundred +soldiers there and in the environs, while he had only forty ill armed +men, most of whom had swords or daggers fastened to poles, instead of +pikes or lances. + +On learning the approach of Centeno, De Robles returned to Cuzco, where +he made such preparations as seemed necessary; and, on hearing that +Centeno was within a days march, he took the field with three hundred +men, sending forwards Francisco de Aguira to procure intelligence. This +person was brother to one Peruchio de Aguira who had formerly been put +to death by the lieutenant-general Carvajal, and was consequently a +secret enemy to the insurgent party. Instead therefore of executing the +commission confided to him by De Robles, he went immediately to join +Centeno, whom he informed of every thing that was going on at Cuzco and +of the state of affairs in that city. In the night before the festival +of Corpus Christi of the year 1547, Centeno advanced toward the city of +Cuzco, by a different road from that in which De Robles and his troops +were posted; and, having turned one of his flanks, made an unexpected +assault with great resolution, as resolved to conquer or die. Completely +surprised and thrown into confusion, the troops of De Robles were unable +to get into any order for defence, and even in several instances turned +their arms against each other, insomuch that a good many of them were +slain by their own comrades. On this occasion Centeno used the +following stratagem, which succeeded admirably: Having taken off the +saddles and bridles from the horses belonging to his small band of +followers, he ordered them to be driven by his attendant Indians along +the road which led to the front of the enemies camp, to call off their +attention from his real attack on their flank and rear. By this means, +as the horses were urged on by the Indians behind, they threw the troops +of De Robles into confusion, and enabled Centeno to penetrate into the +camp unperceived and unopposed, where he and his men exerted themselves +so courageously that the insurgents were completely defeated and put to +flight. + +[Illustration: Map: VICEROYALTY OF PERU] + +By this successful exploit Centeno acquired great honour; it having been +seldom seen that so small a number had defeated so disproportioned a +force of infinitely better armed troops. It has been reported that, on +this occasion, some men belonging to Alfonso de Hinojosa were the first +to fly, in consequence of secret orders for that purpose: But these men +never acknowledged the truth of this allegation, as disgraceful to +themselves; and Centeno denied the story, as detracting from the glory +of his victory. + +After the derout of De Robles, Centeno took possession of Cuzco, where +he was immediately elected captain-general of that city and province for +his majesty. Next day, he caused Antonio de Robles to be beheaded, and +distributed 100,000 crowns, which he found in that city belonging to +Gonzalo, among his followers. He in the next place took measures for +raising a respectable force; appointing Pedro de Rios and Juan de +Vargas, the brother of Garcilasso de la Vega, captains of infantry, and +Francisco Negral captain of Cavalry; Luis de Ribera being named +major-general. Having armed and equipped about four hundred men, he set +out for La Plata, with the intention of persuading Alfonso de Mendoza, +who commanded at that place for Gonzalo, to declare for the king, or +otherwise to take possession of that place by force. + +About this time, Lucas Martin, who had been sent by Gonzalo to conduct +the troops of Arequipa to Lima, set out from Arequipa with 130 men for +that purpose; but when he had proceeded about four leagues on his march, +his people mutinied and made him prisoner, electing Jerom de Villegas +as their commander, and immediately marched off to join Centeno, who +was then in the Collao waiting the issue of some negotiations in which +he had employed Pedro Gonzalo de Zarate, schoolmaster at Cuzco. While in +the Collao, Centeno was informed that Juan de Silveira, the Serjeant +major of the army of the insurgents, had been sent by Gonzalo to conduct +the troops of that province to Lima, and had made prisoners of five or +six of the royalists whom he met with on his march. Silveira had +collected about three hundred men on this occasion, and we shall relate +what befel them in the sequel. + +On learning the success of Centeno at Cuzco and the death of De Robles, +and being likewise informed that the people of San Miguel had declared +for his majesty, and that the captains Mercadillo and Porcel had joined +Diego de Mora at Caxamarca; Gonzalo Pizarro saw that he had now only to +depend on the force which was along with himself at Lima, and those +under Pedro de Puelles, on whose fidelity he reposed entire confidence. +In this predicament, he determined to alter the destination of Juan +d'Acosta and to send him against Centeno with a respectable force, +resolving to follow d'Acosta in person with all his army if necessary, +then amounting to nine hundred men, among whom were many of the +principal inhabitants of Peru. In forming this new resolution, his +object was in the first place to reduce all the upper or mountainous +provinces to subjection, and afterwards to make war on every other part +of the country which had withdrawn from his authority. It has likewise +been conjectured, that Gonzalo proposed to himself, in case of any +reverse, to endeavour to make some new discovery and conquest, towards +the Rio Plata, or Chili, or in some other place to the south and east of +Peru. He certainly never avowed this intention openly, nor is it alleged +that he communicated it to any of his confidents, as this would have +indicated a want of confidence in his cause; so that this idea rests +only on conjecture. In consequence of this new plan, Gonzalo recalled +D'Acosta to Lima with all his troops, to the great mortification of that +person and his followers; insomuch that seven or eight of them deserted, +choosing Jerome de Soria as their commander. Many others would certainly +have followed this example, if it had not been for the severe +precautions exercised by D'Acosta on the occasion, who put to death +Lorenza Mexia, son-in-law to the Conde de Gomera, and another soldier, +whom he suspected of intending to desert. He likewise arrested several +others who were suspected of similar intentions, whom he carried +prisoners to Lima. + +A few days before the arrival of D'Acosta at Lima, Gonzalo took some +suspicion of the fidelity of Antonio Altamarino, his standard bearer, +who appeared to conduct himself with a degree of coldness in the present +emergency; and, without any direct proof or even any strong suspicious +circumstances being alleged against him, he caused him to be arrested +and put in irons as a criminal, had him strangled in prison during the +night, and ordered his dead body to be suspended upon the public gibbet. +Altamarino was one of the richest colonists in Peru, and Gonzalo, having +confiscated all his wealth, distributed it among his most attached +followers. After this, he gave the charge of the royal standard to Don +Antonio de Ribera, who had just joined with thirty men from Guamanga, +whence also he had brought some arms and cattle which he had taken from +the inhabitants of that place. At this time Gonzalo found his affairs +much embarrassed and growing every day worse, insomuch that he could +only count upon the force which accompanied him in Lima; whereas a short +time before he seemed absolute master of the whole kingdom of Peru. He +was in great fear, if the new royal orders, the general amnesty, and the +revocation of the obnoxious regulations, all of which had been brought +out from Spain by the president, should come to the knowledge of his +remaining followers, that they would all abandon him. In this state of +uncertainty and dread, he assembled all the principal inhabitants and +citizens of Lima at his house, to whom he represented, "That he had +brought himself into a very embarrassing and even dangerous situation by +his exertions in their service, during which he had endured much labour +and danger in the wars he had carried on for their benefit, and for the +protection of their property and rights, for all which they were +indebted to the genius and valour of his brother the marquis. That, in +the present situation of affairs, the whole colonists ought to consider +their honour and interests as identified with his own, the conduct of +both being sufficiently justified in sending deputies to inform the king +of all that had occurred during the troubles and commotions. That the +president had arrested these deputies at Panama, had seduced his +officers, and had taken possession of his ships. That the president +certainly had done all these things to advance his own private interest; +as, if he had received orders from his majesty to make war against the +kingdom, he would assuredly have given intelligence of this circumstance +through Paniagua. That not satisfied with these outrages, the president +now invaded the government to which he, Gonzalo, had been lawfully +appointed, and disseminated numerous libels against him throughout the +kingdom, as was well known to them all. That consequently, he was +determined to use his utmost efforts to oppose the president, who +treated him as an enemy without any legitimate cause. That the general +interests of all the colonists and his own were obviously identified; +as, should the president carry matters to extremity as every thing +seemed to indicate, they would all be brought to a severe account for +the consequences of the late wars and disorders, and would be held +responsible for the murders and plunders which had been perpetrated +during their continuance. He requested them therefore to reflect +maturely on all these things; and, as he had hitherto exerted his utmost +efforts in defence of their rights, it still remained not only to +continue to defend the same, but even to preserve their lives and +honours. For these purposes, therefore, he had now assembled them, and +to lay before them a clear state of the present situation of affairs; +and he requested of them to declare freely and openly their undisguised +sentiments; engaging, on the faith and honour of a gentleman and a +knight, which he was ready to confirm by a solemn oath, that he would +not injure any one in person or estate for the opinion or advice they +might now give; but should leave every one at full liberty to declare +for either party in the present troubles, and even to retire wherever +they might judge proper. Therefore, he expected that all who were +disposed to adhere to him on the present occasion should declare +themselves without reserve, as he would demand of them to confirm their +promise by a written and signed engagement. He advised them accordingly +to look well to their promises when once made; as if any one should +violate the same, or should appear lukewarm or feeble in their efforts +in the approaching crisis, he would immediately order them to be put to +death even upon very slight circumstances of suspicion." + +Every person in the assembly answered unhesitatingly, that they were +ready to obey his orders in every thing to the utmost of their power and +abilities, and to devote their lives and fortunes in his cause. Some +even went so far in their pretended attachment, as to say that they +would willingly risk their eternal salvation in his service. Many of +them emulously strove to find out arguments for justifying the war +which was now about to commence, and to enhance the obligations which +the whole country lay under to Gonzalo for undertaking the management of +the enterprize. Some even carried their base and scandalous flattery to +such a pitch of extravagance, to conciliate the tyrant, that it were +improper to contaminate our pages with a repetition of their words. +After they had all expressed their attachment to the cause, Gonzalo drew +out a paper in which the proposed engagement was already engrossed at +full length; at the bottom of which he caused the licentiate Cepeda to +write a solemn promise of executing all which that paper contained, and +to obey Gonzalo in every thing he should command; after which, he made +Cepeda sign that promise, and take a solemn oath to observe all its +conditions. After Cepeda, all who were present in the assembly were made +to sign and swear to the engagement in a similar manner. + +After the conclusion of this affair, Juan d'Acosta was ordered to +prepare for marching to Cuzco by way of the mountain, at the head of +three hundred men. Paez de Sotomayor was appointed his major-general on +this expedition, Martin d'Olmos captain of cavalry, Diego de Gumiel +captain of musqueteers, Martin de Almendras captain of pikemen, and +Martin de Alarzon standard-bearer. The whole of this detachment being +well provided with arms and all necessary equipments, left Lima taking +the mountain road for Cuzco, on purpose to recover that important city +from Centeno. At the same time Gonzalo received notice that the squadron +commanded by Lorenzo de Aldana had been seen at the distance of about +fifteen leagues from the port of Lima. It was determined therefore in a +council of war, to encamp the whole insurgent army between Lima and the +sea; as it was feared, if the ships got possession of the port, it might +occasion great confusion and disturbance in the city, especially as in +that case the necessary orders would have to be hastily issued and +executed; by which means the malcontents might have an opportunity of +withdrawing during the battle, and might even escape on board the ships +to join the enemy; while, at the same time, there would be no leisure to +watch the behaviour of the wavering, and to compel them to join the +army. Orders were issued accordingly for the army to take the field, and +it was publickly proclaimed throughout the city, that every one fit to +carry arms, of every age and condition, was to join the troops, on pain +of death. Pizarro gave notice that he would behead every person who +acted contrary to these orders; and, while he marched in person at the +head of the troops, he should leave the lieutenant-general in charge of +the city, to execute rigorous punishment on all who lagged behind. All +the inhabitants were so confounded and terrified by these threats, that +no one dared to converse with another, and none had the courage either +to fly or to determine what was best to be done in this emergency. Some +however contrived to conceal themselves in places overgrown with tall +reeds, or in caves, and many concealed their valuable effects under +ground. + +On the day preceding that which had been fixed upon by Gonzalo for +marching from Lima, news was brought that three ships had entered the +port of Lima, which occasioned universal consternation. The alarm was +sounded, and Gonzalo marched out with all the men who could be collected +on a sudden, taking up his encampment about midway between the city and +the port, at the distance of about a league or four miles from each, +that he might at the same time make head against his enemies if they +attempted to land, and might prevent the inhabitants of Lima from having +any communication with the vessels. He was at the same time unwilling to +abandon the city, and wished to know exactly the intentions of Aldana, +before going to a greater distance, and if possible to gain possession +of the vessels by some contrivance or negociation, having no means of +preventing them from gaining possession of the port, as one of his own +captains, contrary to the opinion of the other officers, had lately sunk +five vessels in the harbour. On this occasion Gonzalo mustered five +hundred and fifty men, cavalry and infantry included; and, after +encamping in the situation already mentioned, he placed eight horsemen +in ambush close to the sea, with orders to prevent any person landing +from the vessels to deliver or to receive letters, or to converse with +any one. Next day, Gonzalo sent Juan Hernandez, an inhabitant of Lima, +in a boat on board the ships, with orders to say in his name, if Aldana +chose to send any of his people on shore to explain the object of his +coming into Peru, that Hernandez would remain on board as an hostage for +the safety of his messenger. Hernandez was conducted on board the +admiral where Aldana retained him as proposed, and sent on shore the +captain Penna to wait upon Gonzalo. + +Penna was not conducted to camp till night, that he might have no +opportunity of conversing with any one; and on being introduced to +Gonzalo in his tent, he delivered to him a writing, containing the +orders and instructions which the president had received from his +majesty, the general amnesty granted by his majesty to all the colonists +of Peru, and the revocation of the obnoxious regulations. He then +expatiated, as instructed by Aldana, on the universal and great +advantages which would accrue to all by giving a prompt and entire +obedience to the commands of his majesty, who had not judged it +convenient to continue Gonzalo in the government of Peru. That his +majesty, being fully informed of all that had occurred in that country, +had sent out De la Gasca as president, with instructions and full powers +to provide a remedy for all the existing evils. Gonzalo proudly +answered, that he would severely punish all who were on board the fleet, +and would chastise the audacity of the president for the outrage he had +committed in detaining his envoys and seizing his ships. He complained +loudly against Aldana, for coming now against him as an enemy, after +receiving his money, and accepting his commission to go into Spain on +purpose to give an account of his conduct to the king. + +After some farther discourse, all the officers belonging to Gonzalo left +the tent, leaving him and Penna alone together. Gonzalo made him a long +discourse, endeavouring to justify his conduct in regard to his past and +present conduct; and concluded by making him an offer of 100,000 crowns, +if he would contrive to put him in possession of the galleon commanded +by Aldana, which composed the principal force of the hostile fleet. +Penna rejected his proposal with disdain, declaring himself dishonoured +by the offer, and that nothing whatever would induce him to be guilty of +such treacherous conduct. At the conclusion of this conference, Penna +was committed to the custody of Antonio de Ribeira, with strict +injunctions that he should not be allowed to have the smallest +intercourse with any individual whomsoever; and was sent back next day +to the fleet, when Juan Fernandez returned to camp, having in the +interval promised and resolved to use his utmost efforts in the service +of his majesty on every favourable opportunity. + +Aldana had rightly judged, that the surest means for succeeding in the +mission on which he had been entrusted by the president, was to +communicate the knowledge of the general pardon among the soldiers. For +this purpose, therefore, he devised exceedingly proper measures to +diffuse the intelligence among the troops, but which were at the same +time exceedingly dangerous for Juan Hernandez. Aldana gave him copies of +all his dispatches in duplicate, and entrusted him with letters for +several principal persons in the camp of Gonzalo. Fernandez concealed +such of these papers as he judged necessary in his boots, giving all the +rest to Pizarro. Taking Gonzalo afterwards aside, he told him secretly +that Aldana had endeavoured to prevail upon him to publish the royal +pardon in the camp; and that accordingly he had thought it prudent to +pretend compliance, and had taken charge of that general amnesty among +his other dispatches, both to blind Aldana by the expectation of, doing +what he wished, and on purpose to get these from him for the information +of Gonzalo; pretending to be ignorant that Gonzalo knew of any such +thing existing. Gonzalo thanked him for his prudent conduct, and +considered him as a person worthy of entire confidence and much attached +to the cause. He then received the papers which Fernandez offered, +threatening the severest punishment against Aldana. Having thus craftily +deceived Gonzalo, Fernandez contrived to deliver some of the letters he +had in charge, and allowed some of them to fall on the ground, as if +lost, yet so as they might be found by those to whom they were +addressed. + +When Gonzalo quitted Lima to encamp on the road towards the sea-port of +Calao, he left Pedro Martin de Cicilia in charge of the city as +provost-marshal. This man, who had attached himself to Gonzalo with much +zeal from the very commencement of the troubles, was now about seventy +years of age, yet healthy and vigorous, of a rough and cruel +disposition, and entirely destitute of piety towards God or of loyalty +to the sovereign. Gonzalo had given him orders to hang up every person +he might find loitering in the city with out a written permission, or +who might return thither from camp without a pass. Martin executed these +rigorous orders with so much exactitude, that, meeting a person who came +under the foregoing predicament, he had not sufficient patience to have +him hanged, but dispatched him directly with his poignard. He generally +went about the streets followed by the hangman, carrying a parcel of +ropes, and loudly declared that he would hang up every one whom he found +in the city without permission from Ganzalo. + +One day several of the citizens came from the camp to the city, under +the authority of a pass, to procure such provisions and other articles +as they stood in need of, the principal persons among whom were Nicolas +de Ribeira, who was alcalde or police judge of the city, Vasco de +Guevara, Hernando Bravo de Lagunas, Francisco de Ampuero, Diego Tinoco, +Alfonzo Ramirez de Sosa, Francisco de Barrionueva, Alfonzo de +Barrionuevo, Martin de Menezes, Diego d'Escobar, and some others. After +they had collected the articles of which they were in want, they left +the city with their horses arms and servants; but, instead of returning +towards the camp, they went off in the road for Truxillo. Being noticed +by some spies, who gave immediate notice to Gonzalo, he caused them to +be pursued by Juan de la Torre with a party of mounted musqueteers. At +the distance of eight leagues from Lima, De la Torre came up with Vasco +de Guevara and Francisco Ampuero, who had fallen behind with the +intention of acting as a kind of rear guard, to give notice to the rest +in case of a pursuit. They defended themselves courageously, and as +their enemies could not take any certain aim, it being under night, they +contrived to make their escape unwounded. De la Torre and his men found +themselves unable to continue the pursuit with any chance of success, as +their horses were already completely tired with their rapid march from +camp. They returned, therefore, believing that, even if they were to get +up with the fugitives, they would be unable to take them by force, as +they were all men of quality, who would rather be slain than surrender. +On their way back to camp, they fell in with Hernando Bravo, who had +fallen behind his companions, and on bringing him a prisoner to Gonzalo +he was ordered to immediate execution. Donna Ynez Bravo, who was sister +to the prisoner and wife to Nicolas de Ribeira, one of the fugitives, on +hearing the situation of her brother, hastened to the camp accompanied +by her father, and threw herself at the feet of Gonzalo, whom she +earnestly implored to spare the life of her brother. Being one of the +most beautiful women of the country, and of the highest rank, and being +seconded by most of the officers who served under Gonzalo, he at length +allowed himself to be prevailed on to pardon her brother, who was the +only person, during the whole subsistence of his usurpation, whom he +forgave for a similar offence. On granting this pardon, Alfonzo de +Caceres, one of the captains under Gonzalo, kissed his hand saying: +"Illustrious prince! accursed be he who abandons you, or hesitates to +sacrifice his life in your service." Yet, within three hours afterwards, +Hernando Bravo and several others made their escape from the camp. Among +these who now deserted were several persons of consideration who had +attached themselves to Gonzalo from the very commencement of the +troubles, so that their defection gave him infinite vexation and alarm, +insomuch that hardly any one dared to speak to him, and he issued +peremptory orders to put to death every person who might be found beyond +the precincts of the camp. + +On the same night, Captain Martin de Robles sent a message to Diego +Maldonado, who had been alcalde of Cuzco, usually called the rich, +intimating that Gonzalo had resolved in a consultation with his officers +to put him to death. Maldonado very readily believed this information, +as he had formerly been one of the inhabitants of Cuzco who made offer +of their services to the late viceroy. Likewise, although then pardoned +by Gonzalo, whom he accompanied in the march to Quito against the +viceroy, he had fallen under new suspicions, and had even been put to +the torture, on account of a letter which was dropt near Gonzalo, +containing some very unpleasant truths; and although the real authors of +that letter had been afterwards discovered, Maldonado could never forget +the treatment he had suffered at that time. Besides this, he was the +intimate friend of Antonio Altamirano, whom Gonzalo had recently put to +death. Considering all these circumstances, Maldonado was so thoroughly +convinced of the imminent danger in which he stood, that he immediately +quitted his tent with only his sword and cloak, not even taking time to +saddle a horse, though he had several good ones, or speaking to any of +his servants. Though a very old man, he walked as fast as possible all +night in a direction towards the sea, and concealed himself in the +morning among some tall reeds near the shore about three leagues from +where the ships of Aldana lay at anchor. As he was much afraid of being +pursued, he revealed his situation to an Indian who happened to be near; +and whom he prevailed upon to construct a float of reeds and straw, on +which the Indian carried him on board one of the ships. + +In the morning, Martin de Robles went to the tent of Maldonado; and +finding him withdrawn as he expected, he immediately waited on Gonzalo, +whom he informed of the circumstance, adding, "As the army was +diminishing daily by the number and quality of the fugitives, he begged +leave to advise that they should quit the present camp, and march into +the interior provinces, as formerly agreed upon, without granting +permission to any one to go into the city of Lima, lest many more might +use that pretence for an opportunity to desert. Several of his own +company, he said, had applied for leave to go into the city, to procure +provisions; but he considered it better for himself to go therewith a +detachment of soldiers to collect the provisions and necessaries +required, that he might keep all his men in sight, and that he proposed +on this occasion to take Maldonado from the Dominican convent, where he +understood he had taken refuge, and to bring him a prisoner to the camp, +where he ought to undergo condign punishment, as a warning to others." +Gonzalo approved all that was said on this occasion by De Robles, in +whom he had great confidence as a person who had taken part with him in +all the past troubles, and desired him to act in the way he proposed. De +Robles accordingly, taking all his own horses and attendants and those +belonging to Maldonado, took along with him to Lima all the soldiers of +his company in whom he could confide. After collecting such provisions +and other necessaries as might serve his purpose, he set off for +Truxillo with thirty armed horsemen, declaring publickly that Gonzalo +was a tyrant and usurper, that all good subjects were bound to obey the +orders of his majesty, and that he was resolved to join the president. + +When this serious defection became known in the camp, it was universally +believed that the army would soon disperse, and that Gonzalo would be +massacred. Gonzalo endeavoured to restore order and confidence among his +troops, pretending to care little for those who had deserted him; yet +resolved to decamp next morning. That very night, Lope Martin, an +inhabitant of Cuzco, deserted almost in sight of the whole army. Next +morning Gonzalo quitted his present camp, and marched about two leagues +to a new camp near an aqueduct, taking every precaution to prevent his +people from deserting; believing that his principal danger on that +account would be got over if he were once ten or twelve leagues from +Lima. The licentiate Carvajal was appointed to take charge of the night +guard, with strict injunctions to prevent desertion: But even he, in the +middle of the night, quitted the camp accompanied by Paulo Hondegardo, +Marco de Retamoso, Pedro Suarez d'Escovedo, Francisco de Miranda, +Hernando de Vargas, and several others belonging to his company. These +men went in the first place to Lima, whence they took the road towards +Truxillo. A few hours afterwards, Gabriel de Roias left the camp, +accompanied by his nephews Gabriel Bermudez and Gomez de Roias and +several other persons of quality. These men left the camp unseen by any +one, as they went through the quarter which had been confided to the +charge of the licentiate Carvajal. + +In the morning, Gonzalo was much distressed on learning the events of +the past night, and more especially by the desertion of the licentiate +Carvajal, whom he had disobliged by superseding him in the command which +had been conferred on Juan d'Acosta, and by refusing him his niece Donna +Francisca in marriage. The departure of the licentiate had a very bad +effect on the minds of the troops; as they knew he was entrusted with +all Gonzalos secrets, and had been greatly in his confidence ever since +the death of the viceroy whom he had slain in the battle of Quito. +Carvajal left to the value of more than 15,000 crowns in the camp, in +gold silver and horses, all of which was immediately confiscated and +divided among the soldiers: But the army was convinced he would not have +abandoned so much valuable property, unless he had been satisfied that +the affairs of Gonzalo were in a very bad condition, both in regard to +power of resisting the president, and in respect of the right and +justice of his pretensions. So great was the defection in the camp, that +the greater part of the troops had resolved to disperse; and next +morning, when the army had begun its march, two cavaliers, named Lopez +and Villadente, quitting the ranks and causing their horses to vault in +sight of the whole army, they cried, out aloud, "Long live the king, and +let the tyrant die!" These men trusted, to the speed of their horses; +and Gonzalo was so exceedingly suspicious of every one, that he +expressly forbid these men to be pursued, being afraid that many might +use that pretence for joining them. He continued his march accordingly, +in all haste by the road of the plain country, leading towards Arequipa; +in which march several of his musqueteers and others deserted, although +he hanged ten or twelve persons of consideration in the course of three +or four days. At length his force was reduced to two hundred men, and he +was in continual dread that in some false alarm all his remaining men +might disperse. Continuing his march, he at length came to the province +of Nasca, about fifty leagues from Lima. + +After Gonzalo had gone to a considerable distance from Lima, Don Antonio +de Ribeira, Martin Pizarro, Antonio de Leon, and some other inhabitants +of Lima, who as old and infirm had been allowed by Gonzalo to remain +behind the army on giving up all their horses and arms, erected the +standard of the city, and, assembling the small number of inhabitants +that remained in the great square, they publickly declared for his +majesty in their own names and in the names of all the loyal citizens of +the city. After proclaiming the new regulations and orders of the +president, the general amnesty granted by the king, and the abrogation +of the obnoxious regulations, they sent notice of all the recent events +to Aldana, who still remained on the coast to receive and protect all +who were inclined to quit the party of the insurgents. At the same time, +and for the same purpose, Juan Alfonso Palamino had landed with fifty +men, yet keeping his boats always in readiness to reimbark, in case of +the return of Gonzalo. Aldana likewise placed an advanced picket of +twelve horsemen, of those who had deserted from the insurgents, on the +road towards Arequipa, to bring him timely notice of any thing that +might occur in that quarter, with orders to return with all speed in +case of the enemy making a countermarch, or of any important event. +Aldana likewise gave orders to Captain Alfonzo de Caceres to remain at +Lima, to collect any of the deserters from Pizarro that might come +there; and he dispatched Juan Yllanez in one of his vessels along the +coast, with orders to land a monk and a soldier in some secure place, to +carry dispatches to Centeno, announcing the events that had occurred at +lima, and to furnish him with copies of the royal orders and general +amnesty, and to communicate similar intelligence at Arequipa. He sent +likewise several intelligent persons by land to Arequipa, with letters +to different persons of consideration, and to carry orders and +instructions to the captains Alfonzo de Mendoza and Juan de Silveira at +La Plata. By means of the Indians of Jauja, who belonged to him, Aldana +transmitted letters and copies of the amnesty to several of those +persons who accompanied Juan d'Acosta, that the royal clemency might be +made known in all parts of Peru. Most of these measures succeeded, and +produced material advantages as will appear in the sequel. In the mean +time, Lorenzo de Aldana remained on board ship, with about an hundred +and fifty men, issuing such orders as seemed necessary in the present +state of affairs. + +It was soon learnt that Gonzalo received regular advices of ever thing +that occurred, and great care was likewise taken by Aldana to procure +intelligence of all that passed in the camp of the insurgents; so that +every day messengers went and came between both parties, and both were +continually endeavouring to mislead each other by false reports. +Accordingly it was reported one day that Gonzalo and his troops Were in +full march for Lima, which occasioned much confusion and dismay in that +city; but it was known afterwards that this rumour had been purposely +spread by Gonzalo and his lieutenant-general, on purpose to prevent +Aldana from pursuing them, a measure of which they were much afraid. In +this unpromising state of his affairs, great numbers of the adherents of +Gonzalo abandoned him, believing that he could not resist the power of +his enemies. Such of them as had horses took the road to Truxillo; and +all the rest endeavoured to reach the ships of Aldana, concealing +themselves as well as they could in retired places till they might +ascertain that Gonzalo had proceeded farther on his march, which indeed +he continued to do with much precipitation. When he had proceeded to a +considerable distance from Lima, all those who had abandoned him flocked +to that city, and every day some fresh deserters came there, by which +means Aldana got accurate intelligence of the proceedings of Gonzalo, +who was reported to be in continual dread of being put to death by his +own men. After the flight of the licentiate Carvajal and Gabriel de +Roias, Gonzalo made no farther use of the royal standard, only +displaying that which contained his own arms. His cruelty increased with +his disappointment, insomuch that not a day passed in which he did not +put some one to death. He took extraordinary precautions for his own +personal safety, which were so far effectual, but every effort to +prevent desertion was unavailing. + +Lorenzo de Aldana sent intelligence of all these matters to the +president, by means of messengers dispatched both by sea and land, +earnestly urging him to come into Peru as quickly as possible, as the +insurgent party seemed at so low an ebb that nothing was wanting but his +presence to make it fall entirely in pieces and submit without a +struggle. On the 9th. of September 1547, when assured that Gonzalo had +retreated eighty leagues from Lima, Aldana landed with all his officers +and all the inhabitants of Lima that had taken shelter on board his +ships. He was received on shore with every demonstration of joy and +respect, every one who was able appearing in arms to do him honour. +Having appointed Juan Fernandez to the command of the ships, he took +charge of the vacant government of Lima, where he made every possible +preparation for carrying on the war, collecting arms ammunition and all +other necessaries. + +Some time after the departure of Juan d'Acosta from Lima for Cuzco by +the mountain road, as already mentioned, at the head of three hundred +men well armed and equipped, he got notice that Gonzalo Pizarro had +abandoned that city; on which he sent Fra Pedro, a monk of the order of +Mercy, to Gonzalo, to demand instructions for his ulterior proceedings. +Pizarro sent back the monk with directions for Acosta to join him at a +certain place. On his return to Acosta, accompanied by a person named +Gonzalo Muquos, after delivering his dispatches, Friar Pedro gave him an +account of all that had happened in the army of Gonzalo, and in +particular of the great number of men that had deserted from him; which +Acosta had not before learnt, though several of his soldiers had +received the intelligence by letters brought to them by the Indians who +frequented the camp, but which they dared not to communicate to each +other. On the present occasion, the messengers from Gonzalo recommended +to Acosta to keep this matter as secret as possible till such time as he +should join Gonzalo. Acosta therefore, gave out that he had received +favourable intelligence from the monk, and that Gonzalo had been +successful on several occasions, being daily joined by many additional +soldiers; and, as he had found it convenient and necessary to send off +many confidential persons in various directions, these persons pretended +to have deserted from Gonzalo by way of stratagem, on purpose, to gain +possession of the ships commanded by Aldana. All this however was +insufficient to disguise the truth from many of the followers of Aldana, +particularly Paez de Sotomayor, his major-general, and Martin d'Olmos +one of his captains; who, coming to a knowledge of the real state of +affairs, entered into a resolution of putting D'Acosta to death. They +formed this resolution unknown to each other, as no one at this time +dared to avow his sentiments to any other person, for fear of being put +to death; yet, from certain indications, they began to suspect each +other of entertaining similar sentiments, and at length opened +themselves reciprocally, and communicated their purposes to several +soldiers in whom they confided. Just when they were about to have put +their enterprize into execution, Sotomayor got notice that D'Acosta was +holding a secret conference in his tent with two of his captains, and +that he had doubled his ordinary guard. From these circumstances, +Sotomayor concluded that their conspiracy, having been revealed to +several persons, had been betrayed to Acosta. He took therefore prompt +measures to inform all his confederates, and both he and they took horse +without delay, and left the camp in sight of all the army, to the number +of thirty-five in all; among whom, besides Sotomayor and D'Olmos, the +principal persons were Martin d'Alarzon who carried the grand standard, +Hernando de Alvarado, Alfonzo Regel, Antonio de Avila, Garcias Gutierrez +d'Escovedo, and Martin Monje; who, with all who went off on this +occasion, were men of consideration and of much experience in the +affairs of Peru. These men took immediately the road for Guamanga, and +used such expedition that, though Acosta sent off sixty mounted +musqueteers to pursue them, they made their escape in safety. + +Acosta caused immediate investigations to be made in regard to such as +had participated in this plot, and ordered several persons to be hanged +who were proved to have known its circumstances: some others in the same +predicament he detained prisoners, and dissembled with the rest who had +been implicated, pretending not to know that they had participated in +the conspiracy: Yet, during his march towards Cuzco, he put to death +several of those of whom he was suspicious, and others who endeavoured +to desert. On his arrival at Cuzco, he displaced all the magistrates who +had been appointed by Centeno, nominating others in their stead in whom +he thought he could confide, and appointed Juan Velasquez de Tapia to +take the chief direction of affairs in that city and province; and +having regulated every thing to his mind, he resumed his march for +Arequipa to join Gonzalo, according to his directions. In this latter +part of his march, about thirty of his men deserted from him, by two or +three at a time, all of whom went directly to Lima where they joined +Lorenzo de Aldana. Besides these, when Acosta had got about ten leagues +beyond Cuzco, Martin de Almandras abandoned him with twenty of the best +soldiers of his small army, and returned to Cuzco, where he found a +sufficient number of the inhabitants disposed to join him in returning +to their duty, and in concurrence with whom he deposed the magistracy +appointed by Acosta, one of whom he sent away prisoner to Lima, and +established a new set in the name of his majesty. Finding that the +number of his followers diminished from day to day, Acosta accelerated +his march as much as possible, both for his own security and to serve +the insurgent cause in which he was engaged. Out of three hundred well +armed and excellently equipped men, with whom he had set out from Lima, +only one hundred remained with him on his arrival at Arequipa. He found +Gonzalo Pizarro at that place, with only about three hundred and fifty +men, who a very short while before had a fine army of fifteen hundred, +besides all those who were dispersed in different parts of Peru under +various captains, all of whom were then under his orders. Gonzalo was +now exceedingly irresolute as to his future proceedings; being too weak +to wait the attack of the royalists, who continually augmented in their +numbers, and yet deeming it dishonourable to fly or to endeavour to +conceal himself. + +In the mean time Centeno remained in the Collao, waiting an answer from +Captain Mendoza to the message he had sent by Gonzalo de Zarate as +formerly mentioned. While there he received dispatches from the +president, which were forwarded by Aldana, and accounts of the events +which had occurred at Lima, particularly the flight of Gonzalo Pizarro +to Arequipa, and the junction of Acosta with the insurgents at that +place. On receiving this intelligence he sent a new message to Mendoza +by means of Luis Garcias, giving him an account of all these events, and +particularly informing him of the orders and instructions given to the +president, the general amnesty, the revocation of the obnoxious +regulations, and the determination of his majesty that Gonzalo Pizarro +was not to continue in the government of Peru. He apprized him likewise, +that most of the gentlemen and persons of consideration, who had +hitherto followed Gonzalo, had now abandoned him on account of his +tyrannical conduct, in murdering and plundering all the principal +colonists, and more especially because of his rebellion against the +sovereign, and refusal to submit to his royal orders, and to the +authority of him who had been appointed to regulate the affairs of the +kingdom. Wherefore, although all that had been done hitherto might in +some measure be excused, he urged Mendoza to consider that in continuing +to obey Gonzalo he could no longer avoid the reproach of acting as a +rebel against the king. It was now necessary and proper therefore, to +forget all individual interests or past disputes, and to devote himself +entirely to his majesty, to whom he was enabled by his present situation +to render important service. + +Alfonzo de Mendoza was already well disposed to act the part of a loyal +subject in the present situation of affairs, yet uncertain how best to +conduct himself for that purpose; but by this message from Centeno, he +was completely determined as to the regulation of his conduct on the +present emergency, and immediately declared for his majesty. By +agreement between him and Centeno, each was to retain the chief command +of the troops now under their orders, and Mendoza departed from La Plata +with his men to join Centeno in the Collao. The union of these leaders +and their troops occasioned great joy to all their followers, now +exceeding a thousand men; and they resolved to march immediately against +Gonzalo, taking up a position at a certain pass to prevent him from +escaping, and were likewise induced to remain at that place for the +convenience of procuring provisions. + +At this time the whole extent of Peru from Quito to Lima had declared +for his majesty. Juan d'Olmos, who commanded under Gonzalo at Puerto +Viejo, on observing the vessels under Aldana passing the port of Manta +in that province, had sent an express to Gonzalo giving his opinion that +these vessels seemed hostile, as they had not called at the port for +refreshments. He at the same time sent some Indians on board, in their +ordinary rafts or flat boats, to inquire the purpose of their voyage; by +means of which Indians Aldana transmitted letters to D'Olmos, urging him +to quit the insurgent party, with copies of all the papers connected +with the mission of the president. After perusing these papers, D'Olmos +transmitted them to Gomez Estacio who was lieutenant-governor of the +province for Gonzalo at St Jago de Guyaquil, usually called Culata. On +learning that his majesty did not approve of continuing Gonzalo in the +government, and had sent out Gasca as president, Gomez wrote back to +D'Olmos, that when the president arrived in the country he should know +better how to act, and might probably join him; but in the present +situation of affairs, he thought it best for both to remain quiet. Juan +d'Olmos went immediately to visit Gomez, accompanied by seven or eight +friends, under pretence of communing with him on the state of affairs; +but, taking his opportunity, one day when Gomez was off his guard, he +stabbed him with his poniard, and immediately got the people to declare +for his majesty, after which he did the same at his own government of +Puerto Viejo. + +When Pedro de Puelles, the governor of Quito, became acquainted with +these proceedings of D'Olmos, and that the fleet and army at Panama had +declared for the president, he became exceedingly anxious as to the +measures proper for him to pursue. At this time D'Olmos sent Diego de +Urbina to Quito to endeavour to prevail on Puelles to declare for the +royal party. Puelles declared he was ready to receive and obey the +person sent out by the king, when once he was satisfied that his majesty +had no intention of continuing Gonzalo in the government, but would make +no alteration in the mean time; and with this indecisive answer Urbina +returned to D'Olmos. A few days afterwards, Rodrigo de Salazar, in whom +Puelles reposed entire confidence, entered into a conspiracy with +several soldiers at Quito, assassinated Puelles, and declared for his +majesty. After this exploit, Salazar set out from Quito for Tumbez with +three hundred men, with the intention of joining the president. By these +several events, and others which have been formerly related, almost the +whole of Peru had already returned to obedience before the arrival of +the president in the kingdom. + +While these favourable events were going on in Peru, the president +embarked at Panama with about five hundred men, and arrived safely at +the port of Tumbez; one of his ships, commanded by Don Pedro de Cabrera, +being under the necessity of stopping at Buenaventura, whence Cabrera +and his men marched by land to Tumbez. On his arrival in Peru, the +president received letters from all parts of the kingdom, by which the +writers offered him their services and assistance, besides communicating +their sentiments on the situation of the colony, and giving their advice +how best to proceed in reducing it to order; to all of which letters he +replied with great condescension. So many flocked to his standard from +all quarters, that he considered himself sufficiently strong to overcome +all resistance from the remnant of the insurgents, without drawing any +reinforcements from the other Spanish colonies in America; on which +account he sent off messengers to New Spain, Guatimala, Nicaragua, and +St Domingo, informing the governors of these colonies of the favourable +turn of affairs in Peru, and that he should now have no occasion for +the reinforcements which he had formerly thought necessary. Soon after +his arrival, he gave orders to his lieutenant-general, Pedro Alfonzo de +Hinojosa, to march with the troops to form a junction with the royalists +in Caxamarca. In the mean time Polo de Menzes remained in charge of the +fleet, with which he advanced along the coast to the southwards, while +the president, with a sufficient escort, went by the road of the plain +to Truxillo, at which place he received intelligence from all parts of +the country, stating that every thing went on well. + +The president had resolved that he would not go to Lima till he had +completed the purposes of his mission, by the final conquest of Gonzalo +and his adherents, and the restoration of peace and order in the kingdom +of Peru; on which account he transmitted orders to all quarters, that +all who had declared for his majesty should meet him in the valley of +Jauja, which he considered to be a convenient situation in which to +assemble the whole loyal force of the kingdom, as in that place +abundance of provisions could easily be procured. For this purpose, he +sent orders to Lorenzo de Aldana, then at Lima, to march with all his +force for Jauja; and joining the army under Hinojosa, now exceeding a +thousand men, he marched for Jauja, all the army expressing the utmost +satisfaction at the prospect of being freed from the tyranny of Gonzalo. +Many of the principal persons who had joined with Gonzalo at the +beginning of the troubles, were now exceedingly offended and displeased +by the cruel murders of so many of their friends and neighbours; above +five hundred men having been put to death, many of whom were persons of +consideration and importance; insomuch that those who still remained +along with him were continually in fear of their lives. + +On his arrival at Arequipa, Gonzalo found that city entirely deserted, +as most of the inhabitants had gone to join Diego Centeno after that +officer got possession of Cuzco. Hearing that Centeno was in the Collao, +near the lake of Titicaca, where after his junction with Mendoza, he had +an army of near a thousand men, composed of the troops of Cuzco Las +Charcas and Arequipa, and with which they occupied all the passes +towards the interior, Gonzalo believed it almost impossible to attack +these officers with any probability of success. He waited therefore at +Arequipa about three weeks, expecting the junction of D'Acosta, who at +length arrived, but with very diminished numbers, as already related, +many having abandoned him, and having put many of his followers to death +on suspicion that they intended to desert. After the junction of +D'Acosta, Gonzalo found himself at the head of five hundred men. He now +wrote to Centeno, giving a recital of all the events which had occurred +during the troubles, and dwelt particularly on the favour he had always +shewn him, and particularly instanced the pardon he had granted him when +Gaspard Rodriguez and Philip Guttierrez were executed, though equally +guilty with them, and although all his officers had urged him to put +Centeno to death. In addition, Gonzalo made high offers to Centeno, +promising to accede to every demand he might choose to make, if he would +now join him. He sent this letter to Centeno by a person named Francisco +Vaso, who immediately offered his services to Centeno, to whom he +intimated that Diego Alvarez his standard-bearer was in correspondence +with Gonzalo. Centeno was already informed of this circumstance by +Alvarez himself, who assured him he had entered into this correspondence +for a quite different purpose than that of betraying him or the royal +cause. + +Centeno thought proper to send a civil answer to Gonzalo, giving him +many thanks for his offers, and freely acknowledging the favour he had +formerly experienced. That as a mark of his gratitude, therefore, he now +earnestly entreated him to reflect seriously on the present situation of +affairs, to consider the gracious clemency of the king, who had granted +a free pardon to him and all those who had taken any part in the past +troubles. He assured Gonzalo, if he would abandon the insurrection, now +evidently hopeless, and submit to the royal orders, that he would use +his utmost endeavours to procure him an honourable and advantageous +situation, and at the same time endeavoured to convince him that he +would run no risk either in his person or property by following the +present advice. On his return to Gonzalo with this letter, Vaso was met +by the lieutenant-general Carvajal, who made minute inquiry respecting +every thing he had seen and learnt, and gave him strict injunctions not +to let it be known to the followers of Gonzalo that the force of Centeno +exceeded seven hundred men. On being informed that Centeno refused to +join him, Gonzalo disdained to read his letter, and ordered it +immediately to be burnt in presence of several of his officers. + +Immediately after this, Gonzalo determined to march into the province +of Las Charcas, and accordingly took the direct road towards the pass +occupied by Centeno and Mendoza. In this march the van-guard was +commanded by the lieutenant-general, who took and hanged more than +twenty persons whom he fell in with during the march. Among these was a +priest named Pantaleon, who carried some letters for Centeno, and whom +Carvajal ordered to be hung up, with his breviary and ink-horn suspended +from his neck. Continuing this march, the scouts of the two armies fell +in with each other on Thursday the 19th of October 1547. Gonzalo +immediately sent one of his chaplains with a message to Centeno, +demanding leave to continue his march through the pass, without being +obliged to give battle[32]. The chaplain was conducted by the bishop of +Cuzco, who happened to be in the army of Centeno, to his tent; and +Centeno gave strict charges to his troops to be on their guard and +always in good order to receive the enemy in case of an attack. For +above a month Centeno had been afflicted by an obstinate fever, for +which he had been six times blooded without any relief, and was not +expected to recover; so that he was quite incapable of acting on the +present emergency, being confined constantly to bed. + +[Footnote 32: No consequences seem to have followed from this demand, +which does not appear to have been acceded or even listened to.--E.] + +The illness of Centeno was known in the army of Gonzalo, and that his +tent was pitched at some distance from the rest, to avoid the noise and +bustle of the camp. Founding on this intelligence, Juan d'Acosta was +detached with twenty picked men, with orders to approach silently in the +night to the camp of the royalists, and to endeavour to carry off +Centeno. Acosta accordingly drew near with so much caution that he +surprised the centinels that were on guard over Centeno, and had very +near reached his tent when the alarm was given by some negro servants. +Being thus discovered, Acosta ordered his men to fire off their +musquets, and immediately retreated back to the camp of Gonzalo without +losing a man. In the confusion occasioned by this exploit, great numbers +of the royalists hastened towards the tent occupied by Centeno; but on +this occasion several of the soldiers belonging to Valdivia threw away +their arms and fled. Next morning the scouts of both armies approached +each other, followed by the respective armies, which at length came in +sight. The army of Centeno consisted of about a thousand men, two +hundred of whom were cavalry, an hundred and fifty armed with musquets, +and all the rest with pikes. Of this army, Luis de Ribera was +major-general, Pedro de Rios, Jerom Villegas, and Pedro de Ulloa, +captains of cavalry, and Diego Alvarez carried the grand-standard. The +captains of infantry were Juan de Vargas, Francisco Retamoso, Negral, +Pantoia, and Diego Lopez de Zuniga; Luis Garcias being sergeant-major, +or adjutant-general[33]. The army of Gonzalo consisted only of five +hundred men, of which three hundred were musqueteers, and eighty +cavalry, the remainder being armed with pikes. Of this army Carvajal was +lieutenant-general; the licentiate Cepeda and Juan Velez de Guevara were +captains of horse; and Juan d'Acosta, Ferdinand Bachicao, and Juan de la +Torre captains of foot. + +[Footnote 33: It is not easy to understand how Mendoza, who had joined +Centeno some time before, happens to be omitted in this enumeration--E.] + +Both armies being drawn up in good order, the insurgents advanced, to +the sound of trumpets and other musical instruments, till within six +hundred paces of the enemy, when Carvajal ordered them to halt. The +royalists continued to advance till within a hundred paces less, and +then halted likewise. At this time, forty musqueteers were detached from +the army of Gonzalo, with orders to begin the engagement; and two other +parties of musqueteers, of forty men each, were posted on the wings, +Pizarro taking his station between his cavalry and infantry. Thirty +musqueteers were likewise advanced from the army of Centeno, to skirmish +with those of the insurgents. As Carvajal observed that the royalists +waited the attack in good order, he ordered his troops to advance a few +steps very slowly, in hopes of inducing the enemy to make some movement +or evolution which might occasion confusion in their ranks. This had the +desired, effect, as the royalists, believing that their enemies, though +interior in number, wished to have the honour of making the attack, they +began immediately to advance, and the insurgents by order of Carvajal +stood firm to receive them. When tolerably near, Carvajal gave orders +for a small number of his troops to fire their musquets, on which the +royalists made a general discharge, and marched forwards at a quick step +with levelled pikes, during which the royalist musqueteers made a second +discharge without occasioning any loss to the enemy, as they were still +three hundred paces distant. Carvajal made his men reserve their fire +till the enemy was within about an hundred paces; when, with a few +pieces of artillery, and the whole of his musqueteers, he threw in so +destructive a volley that above an hundred and fifty of the royalists +were slain, among whom were two of their captains. By this terrible +slaughter, the whole infantry of the royalist army was thrown into +disorder, entirely defeated, and took to flight, in spite of every +effort of Captain Retimoso to rally them, who lay wounded in the field. +Notwithstanding the defeat of the infantry, the royalist cavalry made a +brave charge against the insurgents, of whom they killed and wounded a +considerable number. On this occasion Gonzalo had his horse killed and +was thrown to the ground, yet escaped unhurt. Pedro de Rios and Pedro de +Ulloa, captains of cavalry belonging to Centeno, wheeled with their +squadrons round the wing of the insurgent infantry, intending to charge +their flank; but were opposed by the detachments of musqueteers which +were posted on the wings, on which occasion De Rios and several others +were slain. Being thus repulsed, and seeing their own infantry entirely +defeated, the cavalry took likewise to flight and dispersed, every one +endeavouring to save himself as he best could. + +Gonzalo Pizarro, having thus gained an easy victory, marched on with his +army in good order to the camp of Centeno, putting every person to death +that came in the way. A considerable number of the dispersed royalists +happened to seek safety in passing by the camp of Pizarro, which they +found entirely deserted, insomuch that they were able to make use of the +horses and mules belonging to the insurgent infantry to facilitate their +flight, and even made a considerable booty in gold and silver. While the +royalist cavalry were engaged vigorously with the insurgents, Bachicao, +one of Gonzalos captains, believing that the royalists would be +victorious, went over to them. After the victory was decided in favour +of Gonzalo, Bachicao, imagining that his conduct had not been observed, +and would remain unknown, or that he would be able to justify himself +under some colourable pretence, returned to his post. But as his +defection was known to Carvajal, he caused him to be instantly hung up, +adding insulting raillery to his cruelty, calling him his dear comrade +and using many other bantering expressions. + +During this unfortunate battle, Centeno was so ill that he was carried +on a kind of litter by six Indians, almost in a state of insensibility; +yet, by the care and attention of some of his friends, he was saved +after the defeat of his army. In this bloody engagement, which was +fought near a place called Guarina, above three hundred and fifty men +were slain on the side of the royalists, besides thirty more who were +put to death in the pursuit by the insurgent cavalry. Among these were, +the major-general Luis de Ribera, the captains Retamoso, Diego Lopez de +Zuniga, Negral, Pantoia, and Diego Alvarez, with Friar Gonzalo of the +order of Mercy, and several other persons of condition. The insurgents +lost about an hundred men. After the battle, Carvajal pursued the +fugitives at the head of the insurgent cavalry for several days, on the +road towards Cuzco. He was very anxious to take the bishop of Cuzco, +against whom he was much incensed for having joined Centeno and being +present in the battle. The bishop however made his escape; but Carvajal +gratified his revenge on several royalists whom he got up with, all of +whom he hung up without mercy, among whom were a brother of the bishop +and a Dominican friar. After the return of Carvajal from the pursuit, +Gonzalo made a distribution of lands and Indians among his troops, +engaging to put them into possession at a convenient opportunity. He +likewise took great care of his wounded men, and caused the slain to be +buried. He then sent Bovadilla with a detachment to the city of La Plata +and the mines, to collect all the gold and silver that could be +procured, and dispatched Diego de Carvajal, usually called the _Beau_, +on a similar mission to Arequipa. Juan de la Torre was sent to take +possession of Cuzco, where he put to death Vasquez de Tapia and the +licentiate Martel. + +After this favourable turn of affairs, Pizarro issued a proclamation by +which all the soldiers who had served under Centeno were commanded to +join his standard, under pain of death; granting an amnesty for all that +passed, with the exception only of those principal leaders who had +particularly exerted themselves for the royal cause. He then sent Pedro +de Bustincia with a detachment, to oblige the curacas of Andaguaylas and +the neighbouring districts to furnish provisions for his army. A few +days afterwards Gonzalo repaired to Cuzco with about four hundred men, +and used every effort to put himself into a situation for opposing the +president; being so elated by the victory he had gained at Guarina over +such superior numbers, that he and his followers believed themselves +almost invincible. + +While these things were going on in the south of Peru, the president +marched by the mountain road for the valley of Jauja, accompanied by +the troops which he had brought from the Tierra Firma, and those of the +captains Diego de Mora, Gomez de Alvarado, Juan de Saavedra, Porcel, and +the others that had assembled in Caxamarca. He sent orders likewise to +Salazar, who now commanded at Quito, to join him with all his men; and +ordered Lorenzo de Aldana to join him from Lima with all the soldiers +from the fleet and those he had drawn together after the flight of +Gonzalo to Arequipa. The president arrived first of all at Jauja with an +escort of an hundred men, where he immediately took the proper measures +for collecting arms and military stores, and provisions. On the same day +he was joined by the licentiate Carvajal and Gabriel de Royas; and soon +afterwards Ferdinand Mexia de Guzman, and Juan Alphonzo Palamino arrived +with their companies. Lorenzo de Aldana remained at Lima with his own +company, it being of great importance to keep possession of that city +and its post. In a short time the president had collected an army of +above fifteen hundred men in Jauja, and employed all the forges and +artists he could procure to fabricate new musquets, to put all the old +ones into good repair, and to provide abundance of pikes and all other +arms, both offensive and defensive. In these preparations he not only +exerted the utmost diligence, but shewed a great deal of intelligence +and knowledge, far beyond what could tare been expected from a person +who had hitherto been entirely occupied in civil and religious pursuits. +He carefully visited his camps, and inspected the workmen who were +employed by his orders, taking at the same time every possible care of +such of his soldiers as were sick, exerting himself to the utmost in +every thing relative to the good of the service, beyond what could have +been expected from any single person, by which means he acquired the +entire confidence and affection of all who were under his command. His +army had always been in hope that their services would not be required, +and even at one time believed that the president would not have had +occasion to assemble an army, as they thought that Centeno was strong +enough to have conquered Gonzalo. + +Immediately on receiving intelligence of the victory which Gonzalo had +gained at Guarina, the president sent the captains Lope Martin and +Mercadillo, with a detachment of fifty men, to occupy the passes of +Guamanga, about thirty leagues from Jauja on the way to Cuzco, to learn +the motions of the enemy, and to collect all who might have been able +to escape from Cuzco. While at Guamanga, Lope Martin got notice that +Pedro de Bustincia was in the district of Andahuaylas collecting +provisions for the army of Gonzalo, as formerly mentioned. Accompanied +by fifteen mounted musqueteers, Martin went into that district, where he +unexpectedly attacked Bustincia during the night, and made him and all +his people prisoners. After hanging some of these men, he returned to +Guamanga, bringing all the curacas of the neighbourhood along with him, +by whose means intelligence was conveyed to all parts of the country, +giving notice of the arrival of the president in the valley of Jauja, +and the great preparations he was making in that place. + +From Jauja the president sent his lieutenant-general, Alfonzo de +Alvarado, to bring up from Lima all the soldiers that could be spared +from that place, together with some pieces of artillery from the ships, +and clothes and money for the supply of such of the soldiers as were in +want; all of which services were performed by Alvarado in a short time. +The president now mustered his army, of which Pedro Alfonzo de Hinojosa +was lieutenant-general, and the licenciate Bendicto de Carvajal carried +the royal standard, Don Pedro de Cabrera, Gomez de Alvarado, Juan de +Saavedra, Diego de Mora, Francisco Hernandez, Rodrigo de Salazar, and +Alfonzo de Mendoza were captains of cavalry; Don Balthazar de Castillo, +Pablo de Menezes, Hernando Mexia de Guzman, Juan Alfonzo Palomino, Gomez +de Solis, Francisco Mosquera, Don Ferdinand de Cardinas, the adelantado +Andagoya, Francisco d'Olmos, Gomez d'Arias, and three other captains, +Porcel, Pardaval, and Serna, commanded the infantry. Gabriel de Royas +was appointed to command the artillery. Besides the military officers +already mentioned, the president was attended by the archbishop of Lima, +the bishops of Cuzco and Quito, the provincials of the Dominicans and of +the order of Mercy, and by several other ecclesiastics, both priests and +friars. On a general muster and review of the army, it was found to +consist of seven hundred musqueteers, five hundred pikemen, and four +hundred cavalry. Afterwards, on arriving at Xaquixaguana on the march +towards Cuzco, it was augmented to nineteen hundred men, by the junction +of several other detachments, forming the largest and best appointed +array hitherto seen in Peru. + +The president, having completed his preparations, began his march from +Jauja in good order on the 19th of December 1547, taking the route of +Cuzco, and especially desirous of crossing the river Abancay[34] in some +safe place. In this part of his march he was joined by Pedro de +Valdivia, the governor of Chili. Valdivia had come by sea to Lima, on +purpose to raise men, and to procure various stores of which he was in +want, with clothing and ammunition, on purpose to enable him to proceed +in the conquest of Chili. On his arrival at Lima, and learning the +situation of affairs in Peru, he determined upon joining the president. +His arrival was considered as an indication of good fortune; for, +although the president had already in his army many officers of merit +and capacity, and of eminent rank and fortune, there was not any one in +Peru who possessed so much experience in the manner of conducting +warlike operations in that country as Valdivia, on which account he was +considered as a fit person to be opposed to the experience and +stratagems of Carvajal, who was much dreaded by every one in the +presidents army, more especially since the late defeat of Centeno, which +was entirely attributed to the talents of Carvajal. About the same time +Centeno joined the president with more than thirty horse, who had +accompanied him ever since the defeat of Guarina. Continuing his march +amid considerable difficulties, owing to the scarcity of provisions, the +president at length reached the province of Andahuaylas, where he judged +it proper to remain during the winter, on account of the violent rains +which fell night and day almost without ceasing, by which the tents were +all rotted. The maize which they procured as food for the troops was all +wet and spoiled, by which a considerable number of the soldiers were +afflicted with dysentery, of which some died, notwithstanding the care +taken of the sick by Francisco de la Rocha, a Trinitarian monk, who +acted as physician to the army. Although there were above four hundred +sick at one time, so great was the care bestowed, that they were as well +attended and as plentifully supplied with medicines as if in a populous +city, insomuch that they almost all recovered. + +[Footnote 34: Rather the Pachacamac, near which the town or city of +Abancay is situated, and where probably the president proposed to pass +that river.--E.] + +The arrival of Valdivia and Centeno diffused much joy through the army, +which was expressed in frequent feasts and entertainments, with concerts +of music, running at the ring, and similar amusements. During the +continuance of the army in winter quarters at Andahuaylas, the general +Hinojosa with Alfonzo de Alvarado and Valdivia applied themselves +indefatigably to have every thing in the best possible order for taking +the field. On the commencement of spring, and when the rains began +sensibly to diminish, the army broke up from Andahuaylas and marched to +the bridge of Abancay, about twenty leagues from Cuzco, where it halted +until bridges were constructed across the Apurimac at the distance of +twelve leagues from Cuzco[35], as the enemy had broken down all the +bridges over that river, and it was necessary either to construct new +ones, or to make a circuit of more than seventy leagues to get to Cuzco. +On purpose to distract the enemy, the president caused materials for the +construction of bridges to be carried to three different points on the +Apurimac; one on the great road of the Incas[36], a second in the valley +of Cotabamba, about twelve leagues farther up the river, and a third +still farther up the Apurimac, at a village belonging to Don Pedro de +Puertocarrero, where that officer was posted with a hundred men to guard +the passage. For the construction of these bridges cables and ropes were +prepared, after the manner of the native Peruvians as formerly described +in our general account of the country; and beams and pillars were got +ready on which to fix the cables when the army should be collected at +the intended place of passing the river. Had Gonzalo been able to +ascertain the place at which it was intended to pass, he had assuredly +opposed the royalists, and would at least have made it exceedingly +difficult for them to construct a bridge; but as he could not ascertain +the actual point fixed on, he did not consider it safe to divide his +force so as to oppose the royalists at the three points of +demonstration, and satisfied himself therefore by posting spies at the +different places, to bring him immediate notice of the place where the +royalists might begin their operations, that he might know where to +march to oppose them. But the secret was confined to the knowledge of +the president, and the members of his council of war. + +[Footnote 35: Abancay on the Pachacamac is not above 14 Spanish leagues +from Cuzco in a straight line. The other bridges mentioned in the text +must have been thrown over the Apurimac Proper, somewhere near the town +or village of Limatambo.--E.] + +[Footnote 36: This was probably by Limatambo, as on the great road the +Incas had palaces for lodging in with their attendants, called +_tambos_.--E.] + +When all the materials were in readiness, the army began its march for +Cotabamba, at which place it was determined to pass the river. In this +march the army had to encounter very considerable difficulties in +passing through mountains covered with snow. Several of the captains +were of opinion that this was an improper route, and proposed another +place almost fifty[37], leagues higher up; but Lope Martin, who guarded +the pass of Cotabamba, always insisted that the securest passage was to +be had at that place. In consequence of this difference of opinion, the +president sent Valdivia and three other captains to examine the +different places; and on their report that Cotabamba was attended by the +least difficulty and danger, that place was fixed upon. When Lope Martin +got information that the army approached to Cotabamba, he set to work +with the Spaniards and Indians of his detachment, to extend and tighten +the cables and ropes across the river, of which the main support of the +bridge was to be composed. Three of the cables were already fixed, when +the spies employed by Gonzalo came to the place, and cut two of them +without resistance. On this intelligence being communicated to the army, +it gave much concern to the president and his officers, lest Gonzalo +might bring up his forces to dispute the passage before the army could +be able to get over. The president, therefore, accompanied by his +principal officers, Hinojosa Alvarado and Valdivia, hastened to the scite +of the bridge, where he immediately gave orders for some companies of +infantry to pass the river on Peruvian flat boats or rafts, which was +deemed a very hazardous enterprize, both on account of the rapidity of +the current, and because it was believed the enemy might be in some force +on the other side. Among the first who got over was Hondegardo with a +few soldiers, after whom several other captains of infantry got across +with their men, so that before night above four hundred men were got +over, some of whom swam over their horses along with the flat boats, +holding them by the bridles, and having their musquets and other arms +tied to the saddles. Yet so rapid was the current, that above sixty +horses were lost on this occasion, either drowned or dashed against +the rocks. + +[Footnote 37: This may probably be an error of the press in the original +for _fifteen_ leagues. Fifty leagues even from Abancay would have +carried the army almost to Arequipa, to turn the head of the Apurimac, +and among the highest mountains of Peru.--E.] + +On receiving notice from his spies that a part of the royalists had got +across the river, Gonzalo sent off Juan d'Acosta with two hundred +mounted musqueteers, with orders to give no quarter to any of those who +had passed the river, excepting such as had newly come from Spain. On +the approach of Acosta, as the royalists then on that side of the river +were not numerous, they mounted a considerable number of Indians and +negroes on the horses which had been got over, arming them with lances, +and by that means presented the appearance of a formidable squadron +drawn up on a height, the few Spanish troops who were on that side of +the river being placed in the front rank; insomuch that, when Acosta +went to reconnoitre, they appeared so numerous that he did not venture +to attack; and returned for a reinforcement. In the mean time, the +bridge being got ready with the utmost possible diligence, most of the +royalists passed the river, every one expressing the utmost astonishment +at the negligence of Gonzalo in not being at hand to dispute the +passage, as a hundred men at each of the three places where preparations +had been made for passing, might have rendered the attempt exceedingly +hazardous. + +Next day, when all the army with its stores and followers had passed the +river, Don Juan de Sandoval was sent out upon discovery, who reported on +his return that he had advanced three leagues into the country without +seeing any thing of the insurgents. Hinojosa and Valdivia were then +ordered to advance with several companies of infantry to occupy the +passes in the neighbouring mountain, as Gonzalo might have given them +much trouble if he had taken possession of these heights, which were +above a league and a half in ascent; and this order was happily executed +without meeting with any resistance. When Acosta retreated from the +river, in consequence of believing himself too weak to attack those who +had passed, he sent to demand a reinforcement from Gonzalo of a hundred +musqueteers, with the aid of whom he alleged he would be enabled to +defeat the royalist party which had crossed. At this time one Juan +Nunnez de Prado deserted from him to the president, and gave him notice +of the succours which were expected by Acosta. Believing therefore that +Gonzalo would advance with all his forces, the president took post on +the ridge of the mountain with above nine hundred men, both cavalry and +infantry, and remained under arms all night. Next morning, Acosta +advanced with the reinforcement he had demanded, and the scouts of the +president brought notice of his approach. On this intelligence, +believing the whole army of the insurgents at hand, the president sent +his major-general Alfonzo de Alvarado back to the river, to bring up +the artillery and the rest of the army: And as the colours of Pizarro +came in sight, before the return of Alvarado, the president drew up his +nine hundred men in order of battle, giving all the necessary orders in +case of being attacked. But in a short time, it was discovered that +these precautions were unnecessary, as Acosta soon retreated with his +three hundred men, on seeing the greatly superior force of the +royalists. + +The president remained two or three days in the position he had taken on +the summit of the mountain, waiting for his artillery and the rest of +his army. While at that place, Gonzalo sent him a message by a priest, +demanding that he should dismiss his army, and refrain from making war +against him till he should receive new orders from his majesty. On this +occasion, the bishop of Cuzco, who was along with the president, ordered +the priest into confinement. A little time before this, Gonzalo had +dispatched another priest, to endeavour to gain over Hinojosa and +Alvarado to his party, But that messenger, being resolved to desert the +party of the insurgents, had taken measures in concert with his brother +to go off in company with all their effects, in which they succeeded. At +this time likewise the president wrote to Gonzalo, as he had repeatedly +done during his march, earnestly entreating him to submit to the orders +of his majesty, and sending him at the same time a copy of the amnesty. +The usual manner in which these dispatches was forwarded to Gonzalo, was +by means of the scouts of the army, who had orders to give them to those +belonging to Gonzalo when they chanced to meet. + +When it was known at Cuzco that the president had crossed the river +Apurimac with all his army, and had taken possession of the pass in the +high mountain, Gonzalo Pizarro immediately marched out from that city +with his army and encamped at Xaquixaguana, about five leagues from +Cuzco, in a plain through which the road passed by which the royalists +would have to march on their way from the mountain towards Cuzco. His +army at this time consisted of five hundred and fifty musqueteers, with +six pieces of cannon, and three hundred and fifty cavalry and pikemen. +Gonzalo established his camp in a very strong position, as it was only +accessible in front by means of a very narrow defile, one flank being +secured by a river and morass, the other flank by the mountain, and the +rear by precipitous rocks. During two or three days, that the two +armies remained near each other before the battle, Gonzalo sometimes +detached a hundred and sometimes two hundred men to skirmish with +similar parties of the enemy. As the royalist army was now encamped only +at a short distance from the insurgents, Gonzalo was afraid his troops +might lose courage by noticing the vast superiority of the enemy in +number, and that many of his men might abandon him; for which reason he +always drew up his men under cover of a rising ground near his camp, +pretending that he did so to induce the president to attack him in his +present advantageous post, confiding in his numbers and believing the +insurgents much fewer than they really were. + +After the president had passed the mountains and pitched his camp on the +descent towards the plain, within view of the insurgents, Gonzalo drew +up his army in order of battle, and caused some discharges to be made +from his cannon and musquetry. On that day there arose so thick a mist, +that the scouts and spies of the two armies often came against each +other unexpectedly. Seeing that the insurgents were disposed to await +his attack, or even to give battle, the president was inclined to defer +bringing matters to that extremity for some time, in the hope that a +considerable number of the enemy might come over to him if they could +find an opportunity. Yet, as the season was exceedingly cold, even +accompanied with strong frost, and as wood could not be procured for +making fires, and provisions were scarce, it was impossible to remain +long in a state of inaction. The army of Gonzalo was not subject to any +of these inconveniencies, having plenty of provisions brought regularly +from Cuzco, and being encamped in a comfortable and temperate situation +in comparison with the position of the president, whose camp was on the +slope of the mountain, while that of the insurgents was in the plain or +valley below. Such is the difference in the temperature of Peru at very +inconsiderable distances, that on the mountains a severe cold is +experienced, accompanied by frost and snow, while only at eight or ten +miles distance in the valley the inhabitants are obliged to use +precautions to relieve them from excessive heat. + +Gonzalo and his lieutenant-general, Carvajal, had formed an arrangement +for a night attack upon the president, intending to have assailed his +camp in three points at the same time; but they were induced to abandon +this project, in consequence of the desertion of one of their soldiers +named Nava, who communicated their intentions to the president. By this +person and some others who had joined him from the army of Gonzalo, the +president was advised to delay coming to battle as long as possible; as +they were certain that many of the followers of Gonzalo would take the +first favourable opportunity of returning to their duty, more especially +those soldiers who had served under Centeno, and who had been +constrained after his defeat to enter into the ranks of the insurgents +to save their lives. In expectation of the proposed attack, the +president kept his army the whole of that night under arms, by which +they suffered, much distress from the extreme coldness of the weather on +the mountain, so that many of the soldiers were hardly able to keep hold +of their arms, and waited impatiently for day. At daylight, a party of +musqueteers belonging to Gonzalo was observed in march to gain +possession of a height in the neighbourhood of the royal camp. Mexia and +Palomino were immediately detached, with three hundred musqueteers, to +dislodge them, and Valdivia and Alvarado advanced in the same direction, +so that the enemy were soon forced to retire. During this skirmish, the +president marched down from the mountain with the main body of his army, +in the direction of Cuzco, under cover of the hill on which the skirmish +had taken place; and, to distract the attention of the enemy, a small +detachment of cavalry and infantry was ordered to advance in view of the +insurgent camp from that hill. On the arrival of Valdivia and Alvarado +at the top of the hill, observing that it was possible to cannonade the +camp of the enemy from that place, they sent orders to Gabriel de Royas +to bring up the artillery. On this occasion, De Royas promised a reward +of five hundred crowns for each ball that should reach the enemy: In +fact he paid that sum about a year afterwards to one of his gunners, who +sent a ball through the tent of Gonzalo, which was exceedingly +conspicuous, by which one of his pages was slain. In consequence of this +incident, Gonzalo ordered all the tents to be struck, that they might +not serve as marks for the cannoneers of the president. He likewise +ordered his own artillery to commence firing, and drew up his army in +order of battle, taking his own station at the head of his cavalry, +which was commanded by the licentiate Cepeda and Juan d'Acosta. Carvajal +was at the head of the infantry, having under him the captains Juan de +la Torre, Diego Guillen, Juan Velasquez de Guevara, Francisco +Maldonado, and Sebastian de Vergara. Pedro de Soria commanded his +artillery. When the insurgent army was drawn up in order of battle, the +numerous Indians that were attached to it quitted the camp, and posted +themselves in view of both armies on the slope of a neighbouring hill. + +While the artillery on both sides kept up a constant fire, the royalist +army descended from the mountain without keeping any regular order, and +in all possible haste, the cavalry all on foot leading their horses, +both on account of the ruggedness of the ground and the better to avoid +the cannonade from the enemy, as they had no shelter from the balls. +Immediately on getting down to the plain, the troops were drawn up in +order of battle; the infantry in two battalions in the centre, and the +cavalry on the two wings. The cavalry of the left wing was commanded by +the captains Juan Saavedra, Diego de Mora, Rodrigo Salazar, and +Francisco Hernandez de Aldana. The royal standard was displayed by the +licentiate Carvajal in the right wing, in which likewise were posted the +captains Don Pedro de Cabrera, Alfonso Mercadillo, and Gomez de +Alvarado. The infantry marched between the wings of horse, but a little +farther in advance, under the captains Ramirez, De Castro, De Solis, +Cardenas, Menezes, Mosquera, De la Cerna, Urbina, Aliaga, De Robles, De +Arias, and De Olmos. A little in advance of the infantry, Alfonso de +Mendoza marched with his troop of horse to commence the attack, +accompanied by Centeno, who was determined to exert himself on this +occasion in revenge for his defeat at Guarina. Pedro de Villavicentio +acted as serjeant-major or adjutant-general of the army. The president, +accompanied by the archbishop of Lima, was a little on one side, on the +slope of the mountain, by which the major-general Alvarado and Valdivia +brought down the artillery and the three hundred musqueteers commanded +by Mexia and Palomino. On getting into the plain, this body of +musqueteers divided in two, Mexia marching to the right along the river, +and Palomino keeping to the left along the skirts of the mountain. + +While the royalist artillery was coming down the mountain, the +licentiate Cepeda, Garcilasso de la Vega, and Alfonso de Piedra, with +several other persons of rank and some private soldiers, abandoned +Gonzalo to surrender themselves to the president. They were closely +pursued by Pedro Martin de Cicilia and some others of the insurgents, +who wounded several of these deserters. The horse of Cepeda was killed +under him by the thrust of a lance, and himself wounded, and he had +assuredly been either taken or killed unless promptly succoured by order +of the president. In the mean time Gonzalo kept his troops in firm +array, waiting for the enemy, and in expectation that they might attack +him in confusion and be easily defeated, as had happened in the battle +of Guarina. Hinojosa on his side, advanced with the royalists in the +best order and at a slow pace, to within musquet-shot of the insurgents, +where he halted in some low ground, in such a situation that his men +were secure from the cannon-balls of the enemy, which all flew over +their heads, although the gunners used every effort to depress their +guns so as to fire low. At this time the platoons of musquetry on the +wings of both armies kept up a close fire, Alvarado and Valdivia using +every effort to cause their men take good aim, while the president and +archbishop encouraged their gunners to fire quickly and to purpose; +making them often change the direction of their guns, as circumstances +appeared to require. + +Observing that several of the soldiers of Gonzalo were endeavouring to +abandon him and were hotly pursued, Centeno and Mendoza advanced with +the cavalry under their command, on purpose to protect all who wished to +come over. All those who quitted the insurgents, urged the commanders of +the royal army not to advance to the charge, as they were certain the +far greater part of the army of Gonzalo would abandon him, so that he +would be easily defeated without any danger to the royalists, and with +little effusion of blood. At this time, a platoon of thirty musqueteers, +finding themselves near the royal army, came over in a body and +surrendered themselves. Gonzalo wished to have these men pursued and +brought back; but the attempt threw his troops into confusion, and his +whole army began instantly to break up, some fleeing towards Cuzco, +while others went over to the president and surrendered themselves. Some +of the insurgent officers were so confounded by this sudden and +universal derout, that they neither had presence of mind to flee or to +fight. On seeing this hopeless turn of his affairs, Gonzalo lost all +courage, and exclaimed in despair, "Since all surrender to the king, so +must I also." It is reported, that Juan d'Acosta endeavoured to +encourage him, saying, "let us rush upon the thickest of the enemy, and +die like Romans;" to which Gonzalo is reported to have answered, "It is +better to die like Christians." + +At this time, Gonzalo observing the serjeant-major of the royalists near +him, surrendered to him, giving up a long small sword which he had used +instead of a lance, as he had previously broken his lance upon some of +his own men who were running away. He was immediately conducted to the +president, to whom he used some very imprudent expressions, and by whom +he was committed to the custody of Centeno. About the same time with +Gonzalo, most of his officers were made prisoners. The lieutenant-general +Carvajal endeavoured to save himself by flight, meaning to hide himself +among some tall reeds in a marsh during the night; but his horse stuck +fast in the morass, and he was brought prisoner to the president by some +of his own men. In the pursuit, some of the insurgents were killed, +but most of their officers were made prisoners. + +After the entire derout of the enemy, the soldiers of the royal army +pillaged the camp of the insurgents, where they made a prodigious +plunder in gold, silver, horses, mules, and rich baggage, by which many +of them acquired considerable riches, some individuals having acquired +so much as five or six thousand ducats. One of the soldiers happened to +fall in with a fine mule having a load on his back, which seemed to +consist only of clothes, he therefore cut the cords and threw off the +load, carrying off the mule alone; immediately after which three other +soldiers, more experienced in such matters, opened up the pack, which +they found to contain a considerable quantity of gold and silver wrapped +up in Indian cloaks for better concealment, worth five or six thousand +ducats. + +As the army was much fatigued by the operations of that day; besides +being under arms all night, the president allowed the men to rest one +day, yet thought it necessary to dispatch the two Captains Mexia and De +Robles with their companies to Cuzco, to prevent those soldiers who had +pursued the fugitives towards that place from entering and plundering +the city and killing a number of the inhabitants; more especially as +many might now feel inclined to act from particular enmity towards such +as had given them offence during the late troubles, under pretence of +following up the victory. Those captains were likewise directed to +secure such of the officers and soldiers of the defeated army as had +fled in that direction. Next day, the president gave orders to the +licentiate Cianca, one of the new oydors, and Alfonzo de Alvarado, his +major-general, to bring the prisoners to trial. No other proof was +requisite against Gonzalo Pizarro than his own acknowledgment and the +notoriety of his having been in open rebellion against the sovereign. He +was condemned to be beheaded, and that his head should be fixed in a +niche or recess on the gibbet at Lima, secured by a trellis or net-work +of iron through which it might be visible, with this inscription above. +"The head of Gonzalo Pizarro, a traitor and rebel, who revolted against +the royal authority in Peru, and presumed to give battle to the army +under the royal standard in the valley of Xaquixaguana." His whole +estates and property of every kind were confiscated; and his house in +Cuzco was ordered to be rased, and salt sown upon its scite, on which a +pillar or monument was to be erected with a suitable inscription to +perpetuate the remembrance of his crime and condign punishment. Gonzalo +was executed on the day of his trial, dying like a good Christian. + +While in prison and till his death, Centeno, to whose custody he had +been committed, treated him with much civility, and would not allow any +one to insult his fallen greatness. When about to be put to death, +Gonzalo made a gift of the magnificent dress which he then wore to the +executioner; but Centeno paid its full value to the executioner, that +the body might not be stripped and exposed till carried away for +interment; and next day he had it carried to Cuzco and respectfully +buried. But the head, pursuant to the sentence, was carried to Lima. + +On the same day in which Pizarro was beheaded, his lieutenant-general +Carvajal was drawn and quartered, and eight or nine of the insurgent +captains were hanged; and in the sequel several others of the principal +persons concerned in the revolt were punished when taken[38]. On the day +following the president went to Cuzco with all his army, whence he sent +Alfonzo de Mendoza with a detachment into Las Charcas, to make prisoners +of those who had been sent into that district by Gonzalo in quest of +silver, and such as might have fled thither from the battle. On account +of the rich mines in the province of Las Charcas, especially Potosi, it +was supposed that many of the fugitives had taken refuge in that place, +to which Hondegardo was sent as lieutenant-governor and captain-general, +with orders to chastise all those of the inhabitants who had been guilty +either of favouring Gonzalo, or of neglecting to repair to the royal +standard on the summons of the president. Along with Hondegardo, +Gabriel de Royas was sent as receiver of the royal fifth and other +tributes belonging to the king, and of the fines which the governor +might inflict on the disaffected and recusants. As De Royas soon died, +Hondegardo had to discharge the united functions of governor and +receiver of the province, and in a short space of time he amassed +treasure to the amount of 3,600,000 livres[39], which he transmitted to +the president. + +[Footnote 38: Yet the Historian of American, II. 392., says that "Gasca, +happy in his bloodless victory, did not stain it with cruelty; Pizarro, +Carvajal, and a small number of the most distinguished or notorious +offenders being punished capitally." The executions seem however to have +been sufficiently numerous, considering that the whole rebel army before +the battle was only nine hundred strong, many of whom went over to the +victor, and all the rest disbanded without fighting.--E.] + +[Footnote 39: L.157,000, if French livres are to be understood, and +worth near a million sterling at the present value of money compared +with that period,--E.] + +The president remained for some time at Guzco, occupied in punishing the +insurgents according to the greatness of their crimes. Those whom he +deemed most guilty, he condemned to be drawn in pieces by four horses, +others he ordered to be hanged; some to be whipt, and others were sent +to the galleys. He applied himself likewise with much attention to +restore the kingdom to good order. In virtue of the authority confided +to him by the king, he granted pardons to all who, having been in arms +in the valley of Xaquixaguana, had abandoned Gonzalo and joined the +royal standard. These pardons referred to all public crimes of which +they had been guilty during the rebellion of Gonzalo Pizarro, yet +leaving them liable to answer in civil actions for every thing +respecting their conduct to individuals. This battle of Xaquixaguana, +which will be long famous in Peru, was fought on Monday the 9th of April +1548. + +When the president had dispatched the most urgent affairs connected with +the suppression of the rebellion, there yet remained an object of great +importance for the quiet of the kingdom, which was surrounded with many +difficulties. This was with regard to the dismissal of the army, in such +a manner that so great a number of soldiers set free from the restraints +of discipline might not occasion troubles similar to those now put an +end to. On purpose to succeed in this delicate affair, the utmost +prudence was requisite, as almost every soldier in the army considered +himself entitled to one of the best of the vacant repartimientos, and as +the number of the troops exceeded 2500 men, while there were only 150 +repartimientos to distribute. Hence it was quite obvious, that instead +of being able to gratify every claimant, far the greater part must be +dissatisfied. After a serious deliberation on this important subject, +the president went to a place in the province of Apurimac, about twelve +leagues from Cuzco, accompanied only by the archbishop and one +secretary, on purpose to have leisure for mature reflection at a +distance from the perpetual importunities of the claimants. In this +place, they made the best distribution in their power of the vacant +repartitions, giving sufficient means of living in a respectable manner +to the captains and other persons of consideration, each in proportion +to their respective merits and the services they had been of in +suppressing the late rebellion, giving new repartitions to those who had +none, and increasing those of others. On this occasion it was found that +they had vacant repartitions to distribute to the value of a million of +gold crowns in yearly rent. The greater number of the most valuable and +extensive repartitions had become vacant during the troubles, partly +from their former possessors having been put to death by Gonzalo, either +under pretence of guilt in opposing his rebellion, or in the various +engagements during the troubles. The president had likewise capitally +punished several to whom Gonzalo had given repartitions. It must however +be remarked, that several of these most valuable repartimientos had been +retained by Gonzalo for his own benefit, under pretence of providing for +the expences of the war. + +In making the new grants, the president retained the power of granting +pensions upon some of the most extensive repartitions, of three or four +thousand ducats from each, more or less according to their respective +values, on purpose to have the power of dividing the money among such +soldiers as he could not otherwise reward, to enable them to procure +arms, horses, and other necessaries, meaning to send them off in various +directions to discover and subdue the country which was hitherto +unoccupied. Having thus regulated every thing to the best of his power, +the president thought proper to retire to Lima, and sent the archbishop +to Cuzco to publish the regulations and distribution of repartimientos, +and to make payment of the several rewards in money which had been +agreed upon. The arrangement of this affair occasioned much +dissatisfaction among the soldiers, every one believing himself better +entitled to some allotments of lands and Indians than several of those +who had acquired such grants. All the fair speeches and promises of the +archbishop and the principal officers were insufficient to quiet the +murmurs and discontents of the troops, which even produced some +commotions and seditious conspiracies, in which it was proposed to seize +upon the archbishop and the chief officers of the army and government, +and to send the licentiate Cienca with a remonstrance to the president, +demanding of him to recal the repartition which he had decreed, and to +make a new one more favourable to their wishes. They even threatened to +revolt, and to take possession by force of what they considered due to +their services. The licentiate Cienca, who had been appointed chief +justice at Cuzco, had established so excellent a system of police that +he had immediate notice of all these plots and commotions, and was soon +enabled to restore order and tranquillity by arresting and punishing the +principal agitators of these threatened troubles, by which he +effectually checked the spirit of mutiny and insubordination, and +averted at least for the present the danger of a new civil war in the +kingdom. + +Before leaving Cuzco, the president had renewed the commission of +Valdivia as governor of Chili, as a reward for the services he had +rendered in the late war against Gonzalo. On purpose to provide the +reinforcements of men, horses, and arms, which were necessary for +defending and extending his conquests in that province, Valdivia went to +Lima as the most convenient situation for procuring what he wanted. +Having completed all his preparations, he embarked all his men and +military stores at the port of Callao, and sent them off for Chili; but +chose to go himself by land to Arequipa, where he proposed to take +shipping in his way back to his government. A report was made to the +president, that Valdivia had engaged some officers and soldiers from +among those who had been sentenced to banishment from Peru, and even +some of those who had been condemned to the galleys, on account of the +share they had taken in the late rebellion. In consequence of this +information, the president sent his lieutenant-general Hinojosa with +orders to bring Valdivia before him to answer for his conduct in these +things which were laid to his charge. As Valdivia was accompanied by a +considerable number of men he believed himself in condition to resist +this mandate, and refused the earnest solicitations of Hinojosa to go +back along with him to the president. But, as Hinojosa observed that +Valdivia took no precautions to prevent his arrest, and had no +suspicions that any force would be used against him, he resolved to +attempt to make him prisoner with the assistance only of six +musqueteers, in which he succeeded without opposition. In this +situation, Valdivia very properly determined to submit with a good +grace, and so satisfactorily explained his conduct to the president, +that he was allowed to resume his voyage, and to take all those people +along with him whom he had engaged. + +Every thing in Peru being now reduced to good order, the president gave +permission to all the citizens and other inhabitants of the country, who +had hitherto served in his army, to retire to their homes, to look after +the re-establishment of their private affairs, which had, suffered great +injury from the unavoidable losses experienced during the rebellion, and +their own necessary expences in the field. He likewise sent off several +officers with detachments upon new discoveries, and appointed the +licentiate Carvajal lieutenant-governor of Cuzco, taking up his own +residence at Lima, which was the seat of government. About this time an +hundred and fifty Spaniards arrived at the city of La Plata, having +travelled all the way from the mouth of the Rio Plata under the command +of Domingo de Yrala to that part of the country which had formerly been +discovered by Diego de Royas, and were now come into Peru to solicit the +president to appoint some one to act as governor of the country on the +Rio Plata which they proposed to settle. He accordingly nominated Diego +de Centeno to that new government, with authority to raise as many more +men as he could procure, to enable him to complete the discovery and +conquest of that country. When all their preparations were completed, +and they were on the point of setting out on the march, Centeno died, +and the president appointed another captain in his place. + +The Rio Plata, or River of Silver, derives its source from the high +mountains continually covered with snow which lie between the cities of +Lima and Cuzco[40]. From these mountains four principal rivers flow, +which derive their names from the provinces through which they pass. The +Apurimac, Vilcas, Abancay, and Jauja. This last derives its source from +a lake in the province of Bombon[41], the most level and yet the highest +plain in all Peru, where accordingly it snows or hails almost +continually. This lake is quite crowded with small islands, which are +covered with reeds, flags, and other aquatic plants, and the borders of +the lake are inhabited by many Indians. + +[Footnote 40: Zarate is extremely erroneous in his account of the +sources of the Rio Plata. All the streams which rise from the Peruvian +mountains in the situation indicated, and for seven or eight degrees +farther south, and which run to the eastwards, contribute towards the +mighty Maranon or River of the Amazons.--E.] + +[Footnote 41: This is an egregious mistake; the Rio Jauja rises from the +lake of Chinchay Cocha in the province of Tarma, and runs _south_ to +join the Apurimac. The river Guanuco rises in the elevated plain of +Bombon, and runs _north_ to form the Gualagua, which joins the +Lauricocha or Tanguragua.--E.] + +In the late war against Gonzalo Pizarro, the president incurred enormous +expences for the pay and equipment of his troops, for the purchase of +horses, arms, and warlike stores, and the fitting out and provisioning +of the ships which he employed. From his landing in the Tierra Firma to +the day of his final victory over Gonzalo, he had expended on these +necessary affairs more than nine hundred thousand dollars, most of which +he had borrowed from the merchants and other private individuals, as all +the royal revenues had been appropriated and dissipated by Gonzalo. +After the re-establishment of tranquillity, he applied himself to amass +treasure with the utmost diligence, both from the fifths belonging to +the king, and by means of fines and confiscations; insomuch that after +payment of his debts, he had a surplus of above a million and a half of +ducats, chiefly derived from the province of Las Charcas. + +In his arrangements for the future government of the country, in +conformity with the royal ordinance, he took much care to prevent the +Indians from being oppressed. In consequence of the fatigues which they +underwent, in the carriage of immense loads, and by numbers of the +Spaniards wandering continually about the country attended by a train of +Indians to carry their baggage, vast numbers of them had perished. +Having re-established the royal audience, or supreme court of justice, +in Lima, he applied earnestly to regulate the tributes which were to be +paid by the Indians to the Spaniards upon fixed principles, which had +not been hitherto done on account of the wars and revolutions which had +distracted the country ever since its discovery and conquest. Before +this new arrangement, every Spaniard who possessed a repartimiento or +allotment of lands and Indians, used to receive from the curaca or +cacique of his district such tribute as he was able or willing to pay, +and many of the Spaniards often exacted larger sums from their Indians +than they were well able to afford, frequently plundering them of their +hard-earned property with lawless violence. Some even went so far as to +inflict tortures on their Indians, to compel them to give up every thing +they possessed, often carrying their cruelty to such a pitch as to put +them to death in the most wanton and unjustifiable manner. To put a stop +to these violent proceedings, the taxes of each province and district +were regulated in proportion to the number of Indian and Spanish +inhabitants which they respectively contained; and, in forming their +arrangements, the president and judges carefully inquired into the +productions of each province; such as its mines of gold and silver, the +quantity of its cattle, and other things of a similar nature, the taxes +on which were all regulated according to circumstances in the most +reasonable and equitable manner. + +Having thus reduced the affairs of the kingdom to good order, all the +unemployed soldiers being sent off to different places, some to Chili, +others to the new province on the Rio Plata, and others to various new +discoveries under different commanders, and all who remained in Peru +being established in various occupations by which they might maintain +themselves, according to their inclinations and capacities, mostly in +the concerns of the mines, the president resolved to return, into Spain, +pursuant to the authority he had received from his majesty to do so when +he might see proper. One of his most powerful motives for returning to +Spain proceeded from his anxiety to preserve the large treasure he had +amassed for the king: as, having no military force for its protection, +he was afraid such great riches might excite fresh troubles and +commotions in the country. Having made all the necessary preparations +for his voyage, and embarked his treasure, without communicating his +intentions hitherto to any one, he assembled the magistrates of Lima, +and informed them of his intended voyage. They started many objections +to this measure; representing the inconveniencies which might arise from +his departure, before his majesty had sent out some other person to +replace him, either in the capacity of viceroy or president. He answered +all their objections, stating that the court of royal audience, and the +governors of the different provinces which they were authorized to +nominate, were sufficient to dispense justice and to regulate all +affairs, they at last consented; and immediately embarking, he set sail +for Panama. + +Just before he sailed and while on board ship, the president made a new +partition of such lands and Indians as had become vacant since the +former distribution which he made at Cuzco. The number of vacant +repartimientos was considerable, in consequence of the death of Centeno, +De Royas, the licentiate Carvajal, and several other persons of rank; +and as there were many candidates who demanded loudly to be preferred, +he chose to defer the repartition till after he had embarked, as he was +unable to satisfy all the claimants, and was unwilling to expose himself +to the clamours of those whom he was unable to gratify. Having settled +all these distributions, he left the different deeds signed and sealed +with the secretary of the royal audience, with strict injunctions that +they should not be opened until eight days after his departure. Every +thing being finally concluded, he set sail from the port of Callao in +December 1549, accompanied by the Provincial of the Dominicans and Jerom +de Aliaga, who were appointed agents for the affairs of Peru at the +court of Spain. He was likewise accompanied by several gentlemen and +other considerable persons, who meant to return to Spain, carrying with +them all the wealth they had been able to acquire. + +The voyage to Panama was prosperous. The president and all who were +along with him immediately landed at that place, and used the utmost +diligence to transport all the wealth belonging to his majesty and to +individuals, to Nombre de Dios, to which place they all went, and made +proper preparations for returning to Spain. Every one treated the +president with the same respect as when he resided in Peru, and he +behaved towards them with much civility and attention, keeping open +table for all who chose to visit him. This was at the royal expence; as +the president had stipulated for all his expences being defrayed by his +majesty, before leaving Spain on his mission to Peru. In this he acted +with much and prudent precaution; considering that the former governors +had been accused of living penuriously in proportion to their rich +appointments, and being satisfied that the administration in Spain would +not allow him a sufficient income to defray the great expences he must +incur in a country where every thing was enormously dear, he declined +accepting any specified salary, but demanded and obtained authority to +take from the royal funds all that was necessary for his personal +expence and the support of his household. He even used the precaution to +have this arrangement formally reduced to writing; and in the exercise +of this permission he employed a person expressly for the purpose of +keeping an exact account of all his expences, and of every thing that +was purchased for his table or otherwise, which were all accordingly +paid for from the royal coffers. + + +SECTION VII. + +_Insurrection of Ferdinand and Pedro de Contreras in Nicaragua, and +their unsuccessful attempt upon the Royal Treasure in the Tierra Firma._ + + +At this period an extraordinary attempt was made to intercept the +president in his passage through the Tierra Firma, and to gain +possession of the royal treasure under his charge, which will require +some elucidation for its distinct explanation. When Pedro Arias de +Avilla discovered the province of Nicaragua, of which he was appointed +governor, he married his daughter Donna Maria de Penalosa to Rodrigo de +Contreras, a respectable gentleman of Segovia. Some time afterwards, +Pedro Arias died, after having appointed his son-in-law to succeed him +in the government, and this appointment was confirmed by the court in +consideration of the merits and services of Contreras, who accordingly +continued governor of Nicaragua for several years. On the appointment of +a royal audience on the confines of Nicaragua and Guatimala, Contreras +was displaced from his government; and, in pursuance of the ordinance +which had occasioned so much commotion in Peru, both he and his wife +were deprived of their repartitions of lands and Indians, and the grants +which had been made to their children were likewise recalled. Contreras +went in consequence to Spain, to solicit a reparation of the injury he +had sustained, representing the services which had been performed to the +crown by the discovery, conquest, and settlement of Nicaragua, by his +father-in-law and himself; but his majesty and the council of the Indies +confirmed the decision of the royal audience, as conformable with the +regulations. + +On receiving information of the bad success of their father, Ferdinand +and Pedro de Contreras were much chagrined, and rashly determined to +revolt and seize the government of the province. They persuaded +themselves with being joined by a sufficient force for this purpose, +confiding in the advice and assistance of a person named Juan de +Bermejo, and some other soldiers his companions, who had quitted Peru in +much discontent against the president, for not having sufficiently +rewarded them, in their own opinions, for their services in the war +against Gonzalo. Besides these men, several of those who had fought +under Gonzalo had taken refuge in Nicaragua, having been banished by the +president from Peru, all of whom joined themselves to the Contreras on +this occasion. By these people the young men were encouraged to erect +the standard of rebellion, assuring them, if they, could pass over into +Peru with two or three hundred men, sufficiently armed, that almost the +whole population of the kingdom would join their standards, as all were +exceedingly dissatisfied with the president for not rewarding their +services sufficiently. The Contreras accordingly began secretly to +collect soldiers, and to provide arms for this enterprize; and deeming +themselves sufficiently powerful to set justice at defiance, they +resolved to commence their revolt. As they considered the bishop of +Nicaragua among the most determined enemies of their father, they began +their operations by taking vengeance on him; for which purpose they sent +some soldiers to his house, who assassinated him while playing chess. +After this, they openly collected their followers and displayed their +standard, assuming the title of the _Army of Liberty_; and seizing a +sufficient number of vessels, they embarked on the Pacific Ocean with +the intention of intercepting the viceroy on his voyage from Lima to +Panama, intending to plunder him of all the treasure he was conveying to +Spain. For this purpose they steered in the first place for Panama, both +to gain intelligence of the proceedings of the president, and because +the navigation from thence to Peru was easier than from Nicaragua. + +Embarking therefore with about three hundred men, they made sail for +Panama, and on their arrival at that place they learnt that the +president had already disembarked with all his treasure and attendants. +They now believed that every thing was favourable to their intentions, +and that by good fortune their desired prey had fallen into their hands. +Waiting therefore till night, they entered the port as quietly as +possible, believing that the president was still in Panama, and that +they might easily execute their enterprize without danger or resistance. +Their intelligence however was exceedingly defective, and their hopes +ill founded; for the president had left Panama with all his people three +days before, having previously sent off all his treasure to Nombre de +Dios, to which place he was likewise gone. In fact, by this diligence, +the president avoided the impending danger, without having the slightest +suspicion that any such might befal. Immediately on landing, the +brothers were informed that the president had already left the place; on +which they went to the house of Martin Ruiz de Marchena, treasurer of +the province, where they took possession of the money in the royal +coffers, amounting to 400,000 pesos in base silver, which had been left +there by the president in consequence of not having sufficient means of +transporting it to Nombre de Dios along with the rest. After this they +dragged Marchena, Juan de Larez, and some other respectable inhabitants +to the public square, threatening to hang them all unless they gave +immediate notice where the arms and money belonging to the province were +deposited. But all their threats were unable to force any discovery, and +they carried on board their ships all the treasure and other valuable +plunder they had procured. + +Believing that the farther success of their enterprize depended on the +diligence they should exert in reaching Nombre de Dios to surprize the +president, before he might have time to embark or prepare for his +defence, they determined to proceed to that place without delay. For +this purpose, it was arranged that Ferdinand de Contreras should march +to Nombre de Dios with the greater part of the troops, while Juan de +Bermejo was to take post with an hundred men on a height near Panama, to +protect the rear of Ferdinand, to prevent pursuit, to be in readiness to +receive the valuable booty they expected, and to intercept such of the +attendants on the president as might escape in that direction from +Nombre de Dios. In the mean time, Pedro de Contreras was to remain on +board with a small number of men to protect the ships. All this was done +accordingly; but matters turned out in quite a different manner from +their expectations. Marchena got some information respecting their plan +of operations, and sent off two confidential intelligent negroes to give +notice to the president of what had occurred in Panama, and of the +ulterior designs of the Contreras. One of these negroes was directed to +travel the whole way by land, and the other to go by way of the small +river Chagre, which route had been taken by the president. + +This river has its source in the mountains between Panama and Nombre de +Dios. Its course at first seems tending towards the Pacific Ocean; but +it suddenly makes a turn at a cataract, and after a farther run of +fourteen leagues it falls into the Atlantic; so that by means of a canal +only five leagues in length, from that river to the South Sea, a +navigation might be easily established between the two seas. It is true +that it would be necessary to cut this canal through mountains, and in a +country exceedingly uneven and full of rocks, so that the design has +hitherto appeared impracticable. Hence, in going from Panama to Nombre +de Dios by the river Chagre, it is necessary to travel by land in the +first place to that river below the fall, a distance of five leagues. +After descending to the mouth of the river, there still remains five or +six leagues to go by sea to Nombre de Dios. The messenger who was sent +by this road came up with the president before his arrival at Nombre de +Dios, and gave him an account of the events which had taken place at +Panama. Though much alarmed by this intelligence, he communicated it to +the provincial and the officers who accompanied him without appearing to +be under any apprehensions; but, on embarking on the North Sea, it fell +so dead a calm that they could make no progress, and he could not then +conceal his fears of the event. Still however preserving his presence of +mind, he sent off Hernan Nunnez de Segura by land to Nombre de Dios, +accompanied by some negroes who knew the country, with orders for all +the inhabitants of that place to take up arms for the protection of the +treasure which had been sent there. Segura had a most difficult and +fatiguing journey on foot, having several rivers to cross, some of them +by swimming, and to pass through woods and marshes in a road through +which no person had travelled for a long while. On his arrival at Nombre +de Dios, he found the news already communicated to that place, by the +other negro, and that the inhabitants were already in arms, and had +prepared as well as they were able to defend themselves, having landed +the crews of nine or ten vessels which were in the harbour to give their +assistance in repelling the rebels. The president arrived shortly +afterwards, where he found every thing in order for defence; and +immediately marched out at the head of the armed inhabitants on the road +towards Panama, determined to give battle to Contrera in case of his +approach. + +When Ferdinand de Contrera marched for Nombre Dios, and Bermejo took +post on the hill near Panama, as formerly mentioned, Marchena and De +Larez believed they might be able to defeat Bermejo in the divided state +of the rebels. For this purpose they re-assembled all the inhabitants of +Panama, most of whom had taken refuge in the mountains, with whom they +joined a considerable number of negroes who were employed as labourers +in husbandry and in driving mules with goods between Panama and Nombre +de Dios. By these means they assembled a respectable force, which they +armed as well as circumstances would allow. Having thrown up some +intrenchments of earth and fascines in the streets, and leaving some +confidential persons to protect the town against the small number of +rebels left in the ships with Pedro de Contreras, they marched out +boldly against Bermejo, whom they vigorously attacked. After some +resistance, they gained a complete victory, killing or making prisoners +of the whole of that detachment. After this complete success, Marchena +determined immediately to march for Nombre de Dios, believing that the +inhabitants of that city, on learning the late events at Panama, would +have armed for their defence, and would even take the field against +Ferdinand de Contreras, and being more numerous than his detachment, +would oblige him to retire to form a junction with Bermejo. Accordingly, +when Ferdinand de Contreras had proceeded about half way to Nombre de +Dios, he learnt that the president had got notice of the approach of the +rebels, and had marched out against them with a superior force; on which +Ferdinand de Contreras resolved to return to Panama. + +While on his return, he took some negroes from whom he got notice of +the entire defeat of Bermejo, and of the advance of Marchena against +himself. He was so disconcerted by this intelligence, that he allowed +all his men to disperse, desiring them to save themselves as they best +might, and to endeavour to get to the shore, where his brother would +take them on board the ships. They all separated, and Ferdinand with +some of his people struck into the woods, avoiding the public road, that +they might escape Marchena. As the country was much intersected with +rivers, and Ferdinand was little accustomed to encounter such +difficulties, he was drowned in an endeavour to pass one of the rivers. +Several of the followers of Ferdinand were made prisoners, and it was +never known what became of the others. The prisoners were carried to +Panama, where they, and those others who were taken at the defeat of +Bermejo, were all put to death. + +When Pedro de Contreras, who remained on board the ships, got +intelligence of the miserable fete of his comrades, he was so much +alarmed that he would not take time to hoist anchor and make seal, but +threw himself into a boat with some of his men, leaving the ships at +anchor with all the plunder untouched. He coasted along for a +considerable way to the province of Nata; after which no farther +intelligence was ever received either of him or any of those who were +along with him, but it was supposed they were all massacred by the +Indians of that country. On getting intelligence of the favourable +termination of this threatening affair, the president returned to Nombre +de Dios, giving thanks to God for having delivered him from this +unforseen danger. Had the rebels arrived at Panama only a few days +sooner, they might easily have made him prisoner, and would have +acquired a much larger booty then ever fell into the hands of pirates. + +Tranquillity being entirely restored, the president embarked with his +treasure, and arrived safely in Spain. One of his vessels, in which Juan +Gomez de Anuaya was embarked, with part of the royal treasure, was +obliged to put back to Nombre de Dios: But, having refitted at that +port, she likewise arrived in Spain. Immediately on landing at San +Lucar, the president sent Captain Lope Martin into Germany, where the +emperor then was, to inform his majesty of his safe arrival from Peru. +This news was exceedingly agreeable to the court, and occasioned much +astonishment at the prompt and happy termination of the troubles, which +had appeared so formidable and difficult to appease. Soon after the +arrival of the president at Valladolid, he was appointed bishop of +Placentia[42], then vacant in consequence of the death of Don Luis +Cabeza de Vaca; and his majesty sent orders that he should come to +court, to give a minute account of all the affairs in which he had been +engaged. He went there accordingly, accompanied by the provincial of the +Dominicans, and Jerom de Aliaga, the deputies or agents of the kingdom +of Peru, and by several other gentlemen and persons of consideration, +who were in expectation of getting some rewards from his majesty for +their loyal services during the late commotions. The new bishop +accordingly embarked at Barcelona, along with his companions, in some +galleys which were appointed for the purpose; taking along with him, by +order of his majesty, half a million of dollars of the treasure he had +brought from Peru. Shortly afterwards, his majesty appointed Don Antonio +de Mendoza, the viceroy of New Spain, to assume that office in Peru; +sending Don Luis de Velasco, commissary-general of the customs of +Castille, to succeed Mendoza in the viceroyalty of New Spain. + +[Footnote 42: In the Royal Commentaries of Garcilasso de la Vega, p. +876, he is said to have been first appointed to the bishopric of +Placentia, and to have been afterwards translated to that of Ciguenza in +1561 by Philip II which he enjoyed till his death in 1577.] + +END OF THE DISCOVERY AND CONQUEST OF PERU, + +BY AUGUSTINO ZARATE. + + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +CONTINUATION OF THE EARLY HISTORY OF PERU, FROM THE RESTORATION OF +TRANQUILLITY BY GASCA IN 1549, TO THE DEATH OF THE INCA TUPAC AMARU; +EXTRACTED FROM GARCILASSO DE LA VEGA. + +INTRODUCTION. + + +Having now given at considerable length the authentic histories of the +discovery and conquest of the two greatest of the European colonies in +the New World, Mexico and Peru, from original and contemporary authors +whose works had not before appeared in any English Collection of Voyages +and Travels, we now propose to give, as a kind of supplement or appendix +to the excellent history of Zarate, an abridged deduction of the +principal events in Peru for some time after the departure of the +president De la Gasca from that kingdom, extracted from the conclusion +of the Royal Commentaries of Peru by Garcilasso de la Vega Inca, Part +II. Book VI. VII. and VIII. Having formerly given some account of that +work, not very favourable to the character of that descendant of the +Incas as a historian, it may only be here mentioned that the events to +be now related on his authority all occurred in his own time, and that +the relation of them which he has left would have been greatly more +valuable if he had been pleased to favour us more frequently with their +dates. + +In the present eventful period, while Spain, once the terror of Europe, +seems in danger of sinking under the tyrannical grasp of the usurper of +France, a vast revolution appears about to elevate the Spanish American +colonies into extensive independent states; if the jealous collision of +rights, interests, and pretensions between the various races of their +inhabitants do not plunge them into all the horrors of civil war and +anarchy. The crisis is peculiarly interesting to all the friends of +humanity, and it is to be wished that the present commotions may soon +subside into a permanent state of peace and good government, +advantageous to all the best interests of the colonists, and beneficial +to the commerce and industry of the rest of the world. + +Before proceeding to the abridged history of events in Peru, subsequent +to the departure of the president De la Gasca, the following reflections +on the state of manners among the early Spanish settlers in that opulent +region, during the period of which we have already given the history, as +drawn by the eloquent pen of the illustrious Historian of America, have +appeared most worthy of insertion[43]. + +[Footnote 43: Hist of America, II. p. 393.] + +"Though the Spaniards who first invaded Peru were of the lowest order in +society, and the greater part of those who afterwards joined them were +persons of desperate fortune, yet in all the bodies of troops brought +into the field by the different leaders who contended for superiority, +not one acted as a hired soldier or followed his standard for pay. Every +adventurer in Peru considered himself as a conqueror, entitled by his +services to an establishment in that country which had been acquired by +his valour. In the contests between the rival chiefs, each chose his +side as he was directed by his own judgment or affections. He joined his +commander as a companion of his fortune, and disdained to degrade +himself by receiving the wages of a mercenary. It was to their sword, +not to pre-eminence in office or nobility of birth that most of the +leaders whom they followed were indebted for their elevation; and each +of their adherents hoped, by the same means, to open a way for himself +to the possession of power and wealth." + +"But though the troops in Peru served without, any regular pay, they +were raised at an immense expence. Among men accustomed to divide the +spoil of an opulent country, the desire of obtaining wealth acquired +incredible force. The ardour of pursuit augmented in proportion to the +hope of success. Where all were intent on the same object, and under the +dominion of the same passion, there was but one mode of gaining men, or +of securing their attachment. Officers of name and influence, besides +the promise of future establishments, received large gratuities in hand +from the chief with whom they engaged. Gonzalo Pizarro, in order to +raise a thousand men, advanced five hundred thousand pesos. Gasca +expended in levying the troops which he led against Pizarro nine hundred +thousand pesos. The distributions of property, bestowed as the reward of +services, were still more exorbitant. Cepeda as the reward of his +perfidy, in persuading the court of royal audience to give the sanction +of its authority to the usurped jurisdiction of Pizarro, received a +grant of lands which yielded an annual income of an hundred and fifty +thousand pesos. Hinojosa, who, by his early defection from Pizarro, and +surrender of the feet to Gasca, decided the fate of Peru, obtained a +district of country affording two hundred thousand pesos of yearly +value. While such rewards were dealt out to the principal officers, with +more than royal munificence, proportional shares were conferred on +those of inferior rank." + +"Such a rapid change of fortune produced its natural effects. It gave +birth to new wants, and new desires. Veterans, long accustomed to +hardship and toil, acquired of a sudden a taste for profuse and +inconsiderate dissipation and indulged in all the excesses of military +licentiousness. The riot of low debauchery occupied some; a relish for +expensive luxuries spread among others. The meanest soldier in Peru +would have thought himself degraded by marching on foot; and, at a time +when the price of horses in that country was exorbitant, each individual +insisted on being furnished with one before he would take the field. +But, though less patient under the fatigues and hardships of service, +they were ready to face danger and death with as much intrepidity as +ever; and, animated by the hope of new rewards, they never failed, on +the day of battle, to display all their ancient valour." + +"Together with their courage, they retained all the ferocity by which +they were originally distinguished. Civil discord never raged with a +more fell spirit than among the Spaniards in Peru. To all the passions +which usually envenom contests among countrymen, avarice was added, and +rendered their enmity more rancorous. Eagerness to seize the valuable +forfeitures expected upon the death of every opponent, shut the door +against mercy. To be wealthy was, of itself, sufficient to expose a man +to accusation, or to subject him to punishment. On the slightest +suspicions, Pizarro condemned many of the most opulent inhabitants of +Peru to death. Carvajal, without searching for any pretext to justify +his cruelty, cut off many more. The number of those who suffered by the +hand of the executioner, was not much inferior to what fell in the +field; and the greater part was condemned without the formality of any +legal trial." + +"The violence with which the contending parties treated their opponents +was not accompanied by its usual attendants, attachment and fidelity to +those with whom they acted. The ties of honour, which ought to be held +sacred among men, and the principle of integrity, interwoven as +thoroughly in the Spanish character as in that of any nation, seem to +have been equally forgotten. Even regard for decency, and the sense of +shame, were totally abandoned. During these dissensions, there was +hardly a Spaniard in Peru who did not abandon the party which he had +originally espoused, betray the associates with whom he had united, and +violate the engagements under which he had come. The viceroy Nunnez +Vela was ruined by the treachery of Cepeda and the other judges of the +royal audience, who were bound to have supported his authority. The +chief advisers and companions of Gonzalo Pizarro in his revolt were the +first to forsake him, and submit to his enemies. His fleet was given up +to Gasca, by the man whom he had singled out among his officers to +entrust with that important command. On the day that was to decide his +fate, an army of veterans, in sight of the enemy, threw down their arms +without striking a blow, and deserted a leader who had often conducted +them to victory. Instances of such general and avowed contempt of the +principles and obligations which attach man to man, and bind them in +social union, rarely occur in history. It is only where men are far +removed from the seat of government, where the restraints of law and +order are little felt, where the prospect of gain is unbounded, and +where immense wealth may cover the crimes by which it is acquired, that +we can find any parallel to the levity, the rapaciousness, the perfidy, +and corruption prevalent among the Spaniards in Peru." + + +SECTION I. + +_Incidents in the History of Peru, from the departure of Gasca, to the +appointment of Don Antonio de Mendoza as Viceroy._ + + +Among those who were dissatisfied with the distribution of the +repartimientos in Peru by the president, was Francisco Hernandez Giron, +to whom De la Gasca granted a commission to make a conquest of the +district called the Cunchos, to the north-east of Cuzco, and beyond one +of the great chains of the Andes, with the title and authority of +governor and captain-general of that country, which he engaged to +conquer at his own expence. Giron was much gratified by this employment, +as it afforded him a favourable opportunity for fomenting and exciting a +new rebellion against the royal authority, which he had long meditated, +and which he actually put in execution, as will be seen in the sequel. +Immediately after the departure of the president from Peru, he went from +Lima to Cuzco publishing the commission which he had received, and +appointed several captains to raise men for his intended expedition in +Guamanga, Arequipa, La Paz, and other places; while he personally beat +up for volunteers in Cuzco. Being a man of popular manners and much +beloved among the soldiers, he soon drew together above two hundred men. +So great a number of the most loose and dissolute inhabitants being +collected together at Cuzco and in arms, they took extreme liberty in +canvassing the late events, and to speak with much licentiousness +respecting the president and the officers he had left in the government +of the kingdom. Their discourse was so open and scandalous, that the +magistrates of the city deemed it necessary to interpose; and Juan de +Saavedra, who was then mayor or regidor of Cuzco, requested Giron to +depart upon his intended expedition without delay, that the peaceable +inhabitants might no longer be scandalized by the seditious discourses +of his soldiers, as most of them were quartered upon the citizens to +whom they behaved with much insolence. + +I was then in Cuzco, though a boy, when Giron and his soldiers made +their first disturbance; and I was present also about three years +afterwards at their second mutiny; and, though I had not even then +attained the age of a young man, I was sufficiently able to notice and +understand the observations and discourses of my father on the various +events which occurred; and I can testify that the soldiers behaved in so +proud and insolent a manner that the magistrates were forced to take +notice of their conduct. The soldiers thought proper to be much offended +on this occasion, pretending that no one ought to have any authority +over them except Giron under whose command they had inlisted; and they +carried their mutinous insolence to such a height as to assemble in arms +at the house of their commander to protect themselves against the +magistrates. When this mutiny was known in the city, the magistrates and +citizens found themselves obliged to arm, and being joined by many +soldiers who were not of the faction, they took post in the +market-place. The mutineers drew up likewise in the street where Giron's +house stood, at no great distance from the market-place; and in this +manner both parties remained under arms for two days and nights, always +on the point of coming to action; which had certainly been the case if +some prudent persons had not interposed between them, and prevailed on +the magistrates to enter into a treaty for compromising their +differences. The most active persons on this occasion were Diego de +Silva, Diego Maldonado the rich, Garcilasso de la Vega my father, Vasco +de Guevara, Antonio Quinnones, Juan de Berrio, Jeronimo de Loyasa, +Martin de Meneses, and Francisco Rodriguez. By their persuasions the +regidor Juan de Saavedra and Captain Francisco Hernandez Giron were +induced to meet in the great church, on which occasion the soldiers +demanded four hostages for the security of their commander. In this +conference Giron behaved with so much insolence and audacity, that +Saavedra had assuredly arrested him if he had not been restrained from +respect for the hostages, of whom my father was one. In a second +conference in the evening, under the same precautions, Giron agreed to +remove his soldiers from the city, to give up eight of the most mutinous +of his soldiers to the magistrates, and even to make compearance in +person before the court to answer for his conduct during the mutiny. + +On being made acquainted with this agreement, the soldiers were +exceedingly enraged; and if Giron had not pacified them with soothing +words and promises they had certainly attacked the loyal inhabitants, +the consequences of which might have been exceedingly fatal. The +mutineers amounted to two hundred effective well-armed men, of desperate +fortunes, while the loyalists consisted of only eighty men of quality, +all the rest being rich merchants not inured to arms. But it pleased God +to avert the threatened mischief, at the prayers and vows of the +priests, friars and devout women of the city. The mutineers were under +arms all night, setting regular guards and sentinels as in the presence +of an enemy; and in the morning, when Saavedra saw that Giron had not +marched from the city according to agreement, he sent a warrant to bring +him before his tribunal. As Giron suspected that his men might not +permit him to obey the warrant, he walked out in his morning gown, as if +only going to visit a neighbour; but went directly to the house of +Saavedra, who committed him to prison. On this intelligence being +communicated to the soldiers, they immediately dispersed, every one +shifting for himself as he best could. The eight men who were +particularly obnoxious took sanctuary in the Dominican convent, and +fortified themselves in the tower of the church, where they held out for +several days, but were at last obliged to surrender. They were all +punished, but not in that exemplary manner their rebellious conduct +deserved; and the tower was demolished, that it might not be used in the +same manner in future. + +After the dispersion of the mutineers and the punishment of the most +guilty, Giron was released on his solemn engagement to make his +appearance before the royal audience at Lima to answer for his conduct. +He went there accordingly, and was committed to prison; but after a few +days was permitted to go out as a prisoner at large, confining himself +to the city of Lima. He there married a young virtuous noble and +beautiful lady, with whom he went to reside at Cuzco, where he +associated with none but soldiers, avoiding all society with the +citizens as much as possible. + +About two years afterwards several soldiers residing in Cuzce, entered +into a new plot to raise disturbances in the kingdom, and were eager to +find some proper person to choose as their leader. At length this affair +came to be so openly talked of that it reached the knowledge of +Saavedra, who was required to take cognizance of the plot and to punish +the ringleaders; but he endeavoured to excuse himself, being unwilling +to create himself enemies, alleging that it more properly belonged to +the jurisdiction of the court of audience. When this affair was reported +to the oydors at Lima, they were much displeased with the conduct of +Saavedra, and immediately appointed the marshal Alonzo de Alvarado to +supersede him in the office of regidor or mayor of Cuzco, giving +Alvarado an especial commission to punish the insolence and mutinous +conduct of the soldiers, to prevent the evil from getting to an +unsupportable height. Immediately on taking possession of his office, +Alvarado arrested some of the soldiers; who, to screen themselves, +impeached Don Pedro de Puertocarrero as a principal instigator of their +mutinous proceedings. After a minute examination, Francisco de Miranda, +Alonzo Hernandez Melgarejo, and Alonzo de Barrienuevo were capitally +punished as chief ringleaders in the conspiracy; six or seven others +were banished from Peru, and all the rest made their escape. +Puertocarrero made an appeal to the royal audience, by whom he was set +at liberty. + +These new commotions, and others of more importance which shall be +noticed in the sequel, proceeded in a great measure from the imprudent +conduct of the judges themselves, by enforcing the observance of the +obnoxious regulations which had formerly done so much evil during the +government of the viceroy Blasco Nunnez Vela. Just before his departure +from Peru, the president Gasca had received fresh orders from his +majesty to free the Indians from services to their lords: But having +experienced that this had occasioned the most dangerous commotions in +the country, he very wisely commanded before his departure that the +execution of this new order should be suspended. The judges however, saw +this matter in a different light, and circulated their commands over the +whole kingdom to enforce this new royal order; which gave occasion to +the mutinous and disorderly behaviour of the soldiery, who were +encouraged in their rebellious disposition by many persons of +consideration, the possessors of allotments of lands and Indians, who +considered themselves aggrieved. + + +SECTION II. + +_History of Peru during the Viceroyalty of Don Antonio de Mendoza._ + + +About this time Don Antonio de Mendoza, the viceroy of Mexico, was +appointed viceroy of Peru, and landed at Lima, where he was received +with great demonstration of joy and respect. He was accompanied on this +occasion by his son, Don Francisco de Mendoza, afterwards general of the +galleys in Spain. Don Antonio was a nobleman of much sanctity, and had +greatly impaired his health by long abstinence and frequent acts of +penance; insomuch that his natural heat began to fail, and he was +obliged to use violent exercise to keep him warm, even in the hot +climate of Lima. In consequence of his want of health, he deputed his +son Don Francisco to make a progress through all the cities of the +kingdom, from Lima to Las Charcas and Potosi, to bring him back a +faithful representation of the state and condition of the kingdom and +its mines, to be laid before his majesty; and, after his return to Lima, +Don Francisco was sent into Spain in 1552, to communicate an account of +the whole kingdom to the emperor. + +About four years before the appointment of the marshal Alonzo de +Alvarado to the mayoralty and government of Cuzco, a party of two +hundred soldiers marched from Potosi towards the province of Tucuman; +most of whom, contrary to the orders of the judges, had Indians to carry +their baggage. On this occasion, the licentiate Esquival, who was +governor of Potosi, seized upon one Aguira, who had two Indians to +carry his baggage; and some days afterwards sentenced him to receive two +hundred lashes, as he had no money to redeem himself from corporal +punishment. After this disgrace, Aguira refused to proceed along with +the rest for the conquest of Tucuman, alleging that after the shame +which he had suffered, death was his only relief. When the period of +Esquivals office expired, he learnt that Aguira had determined upon +assassinating him in revenge for the affront he had suffered. Upon which +Esquival endeavoured to avoid Aguira, by travelling to a great distance, +but all to no purpose, as Aguira followed him wherever he went, for +above three years, always travelling on foot without shoes or stockings, +saying, "That it did not become a whipped rascal to ride on horseback, +or to appear in the company of men of honour." At length Esquival took +up his residence in Cuzco, believing that Aguira would not dare to +attempt anything against him in that place, considering that the +governor was an impartial and inflexible judge: Yet he took every +precaution for his safety, constantly wearing a coat of mail, and going +always armed with a sword and dagger, though a man of the law. At length +Aguira went one day at noon-day to the house of Esquival, whom he found +asleep, and completed his long resolved revenge by stabbing him with his +dagger. Aguira was concealed for forty day in a hog-stye by two young +gentlemen; and after the hue and cry was over on account of the murder, +they shaved his head and beard, and blackened his skin like a negro, by +means of a wild fruit called _Vitoc_ by the Indians, clothing him in a +poor habit, and got him away from the city and province of Cuzco in that +disguise. This deed of revenge was greatly praised by the soldiers, who +said, if there were many Aguiras in the world, the officers of justice +would not be so insolent and arbitrary in their proceedings. + +During a long sickness of the viceroy, in consequence of which the +government of the country devolved upon the judges of the royal +audience, they proclaimed in all the cities of Peru that the personal +services of the Indians should be discontinued, pursuant to the royal +orders, under severe penalties. This occasioned new seditions and +mutinies among the Spanish colonists, in consequence of which one Lois +de Vargas, a principal promoter of the disturbances was condemned and +executed; but as many principal persons of the country were found to be +implicated, the judges thought fit to proceed no farther in the +examinations and processes. Even Pedro de Hinojosa was suspected of +being concerned in these seditious proceedings, having been heard to say +to some of the discontented soldiers, that when he came to Las Charcas +he would endeavour to satisfy them to the utmost of power. Though these +words had no seditious tendency, the soldiers who were desirous of +rebellion were willing to interpret them according to their own evil +inclinations. On these slight grounds, and because it was known that +Hinojosa was to go as governor and chief justice of the province of Las +Charcas, as many of the discontented soldiers as were able went to that +country, and wrote to their comrades in various parts of the kingdom to +come there also. Some even of the better sort, among whom were Don +Sebastian de Castilla, son to the Conde de Gomera, with five or six +others of rank and quality went secretly from Cuzco, taking bye-paths +out of the common road to prevent them from being pursued by the +governor of that city. They were induced to this step by Vasco Godinez a +ringleader among the malcontents, who informed Don Sebastian by a letter +in cyphers that Hinojosa had promised to become their general. + +During these indications of tumult and rebellion, the viceroy Don +Antonio de Mendoza died, to the great grief and detriment of the +kingdom. On his death, the entire government of the kingdom of Peru +devolved on the judges of the royal audience, who appointed Gil Ramirez +de Avalos, who had been one of the gentlemen of the household to the +viceroy, governor of the city of Lima; and the marshal was sent to +command in the new city of La Paz, in which neighbourhood his lands and +Indians were situated. + + +SECTION III. + +_Narrative of the Troubles in Peru, consequent upon the Death of the +Viceroy Mendoza._. + + +At this threatening period, all the soldiers and discontented persons of +Peru, flocked to Las Charcas, Potosi, and that neighbourhood, +endeavouring to procure employment about the rich mines of that +district. Disputes continually arose between the soldiers and principal +inhabitants and merchants, and duels were fought almost daily. In some +of these duels, the combatants fought naked from the waist upwards, +while in others they were dressed in crimson taffety waistcoats, that +they might not see their own blood. I shall only mention the particulars +of one of these duels, between two famous soldiers, Pero Nunnez, and +Balthazar Perez, with the former of whom I was acquainted in 1563 at +Madrid, who was then so much disabled in both arms by the wounds he +received in that duel, that he could scarcely use his hands to feed +himself. + +They fell out respecting some circumstances of a duel that had happened +a few days before, in which they were seconds. Balthazar Perez had Egas +de Guzman for his second, one of the greatest hectors and bullies of the +time; and Hernan Mexia prevailed on Pero Nunnez to take him for his +second, that he might have an opportunity to fight Guzman, who had +defamed and spoken lightly of Mexia. When Egas de Guzman understood that +Mexia was the person who was to be opposed to him, he sent a message to +Pero Nunnez saying, as the principals were gentlemen of family, he ought +not to debase himself by having a man for his second whose mother was a +_Morisca_ and sold broiled sardinas in the market of Seville. Pero +Nunnez, knowing this to be true, endeavoured to get Mexia to release his +promise, but could not prevail. They accordingly went out to fight in a +field at some distance from Potosi. At the first rencounter of the +principals, Pero Nunnez struck his adversaries sword to one side, and +closing upon Perez threw him to the ground, where he cast dust into his +eyes, and beat him about the face with his fists, but did not stab him +with his dagger. In the mean time the seconds were engaged in another +part of the field. Mexia was afraid to close with Guzman, knowing him to +have great bodily strength, but kept him in play by his superior +agility, leaping and skipping about, yet never coming near enough to +wound him. At length, wearied with this mode of fighting, Guzman darted +his sword at Mexia, who looking anxiously to avoid it, gave an +opportunity to Guzman to close with him, and to give him a wound with +his dagger in the skull, two fingers deep, where the point of the +dagger broke off; Mexia became frantic with his wound, and ran about the +field like a madman; and came up to where the two principals were +struggling on the ground, where, not minding whom he struck, he gave his +own principal a slash with his sword, and ran wildly away. Guzman came +hastily up to the rescue of his own principal, when he heard Nunnez say +that he had been wounded by his own second, and was still continuing to +pummel Perez on the face, and to throw dust in his eyes. Then Guzman, +after harshly reproving Nunnez from bringing such a rascal to the field +as his second, attacked Nunnez with his sword, who defended himself as +he best could with his arms, till he was left all hacked and hewed on +the field, streaming with blood from many wounds. Guzman then helped up +his companion, and taking all the four swords under his arm, took Perez +on his back who was unable to stand, and carried him to an hospital +where he desired them to bury him, after which he took sanctuary in a +church. Nunnez was likewise taken to the hospital, where he recovered of +his wounds, but Mexia died of the wound in his forehead, as the point of +the dagger could not be extracted from his skull. + +When Pedro de Hinojosa took possession of his government of Las Charcas +in place of Paulo de Meneses, he found a great number of soldiers in the +country, who were exceedingly troublesome, as there were neither +sufficient quarters nor provisions for so many; on which he took +occasion to reprove Martin de Robles and Paulo de Menezes, alleging that +their quarrels had drawn so many soldiers thither, for which reason they +ought to provide for them, and not allow them to die of famine. So great +was the confusion and disturbance, that many of the principal +inhabitants retired from the city to their estates in the country, to +avoid the violence of the soldiers, who were now come to such a pitch of +insolence, that they held public meetings, openly avowed their cabals +and plots, and upbraided Hinojosa with his breach of promise, alleging +that he had engaged to be their general when he should arrive in Las +Charcas. They even declared themselves ready for an insurrection, +offering to put themselves under his command. Hinojosa endeavoured to +amuse them with hopes, by telling them he expected very soon to receive +a commission from the judges to enlarge their conquests by a new war, +which would give them an opportunity to rise in arms. Although he had +formerly let fall some dubious expressions at Lima, which the soldiers +were disposed to consider as promises of support, he was far from any +intention of complying with their turbulent and rebellions humours. +Being now in possession of his government, with an estate in lands and +Indians worth two hundred thousand dollars a-year, he was desirous to +enjoy his fortune in peace, and not to risk the loss of these riches by +a new rebellion, which he had gained in the former at the loss of +Gonzalo Pizarro. + +Disappointed in their expectations from Hinojosa, the soldiers consulted +how to manage their intended rebellion under another leader, and agreed +to kill Hinojosa and to elect Don Sebastian de Castilla as their +commander-in-chief; and their design was carried on with so little +regard to secrecy that it soon became publickly known in the city of La +Plata. Several persons of consideration therefore, who were interested +in the peace of the country, communicated the intelligence to Hinojosa, +advising him to take precautions for his security, and to banish these +people from his government. One Hondegardo a lawyer was particularly +urgent on this occasion; and offered, if Hinojosa would appoint him his +deputy for one month, that he would secure both him and the city from +the threatened danger of insurrection; but Hinojosa had so much +confidence in the power of his office, and the influence of his vast +wealth and reputation, that he despised every thing that he did not see +with his own eyes, and neglected all their warnings. Being unable to +persuade the governor to listen to him, and as the soldiers still +proceeded in their rebellious designs, and threw out many threatenings +against the governor, Hondegardo prevailed on the guardian of the +Franciscan convent to intimate to the governor that he had received +communications respecting these proposed schemes of the soldiers in +confession, and to urge him to make judicial examinations into the +affair and to punish the offenders; yet even this made little impression +on Hinojosa. Notwithstanding these and other intimations of the plot, +Hinojosa obstinately refused to attend to the suggestions of Hondegardo +and others, proudly declaring he had only to hold up his hand to make +the soldiers tremble before him. + +Impatient of any longer delay, the conspirators came at length to the +determination of putting the governor Hinojosa to death, and rising in a +general insurrection. The principal ringleaders in this conspiracy were +Don Sebastian de Castilla, Egas de Gusman, Basco Godinez, Balthazar +Velasquez, and Gomez Hernandez, besides several other soldiers of note, +most of whom were then resident in the city of La Plata. Having arranged +their plan of operations, Don Sebastian and seven chosen accomplices +went one morning to the residence of the governor, as soon as his gate +was opened, to execute their vile purpose. The first person they met on +entering the house was Alonzo de Castro, the deputy-governor, who +questioned them on the reason of their present tumultuous appearance, as +they seemed extremely agitated. They immediately put De Castro to death. +Then forcing their way into the apartment of Hinojosa, they were +astonished to find him gone: But after some search he was found in a +retired corner, and dispatched. + +After the death of Hinojosa, the conspirators went out to the +market-place, proclaiming aloud, God save the king, the tyrant is dead! +the common watchword in all the rebellions in Peru. Having collected all +their associates, they seized on Pedro Hernandez Paniagua, the person +employed by the late president Gasca to carry his letters to Gonzalo +Pizarro, Juan Ortiz de Zarate, Antonio Alvarez, and all the wealthy +citizens they could lay hold of. Martin de Robles, Paulo de Menezes, and +Hondegardo the lawyer, against whom they were particularly incensed, +made their escape. After this, they made proclamation by beat of drum, +for all citizens and other inhabitants of La Plata, to repair +immediately to the market-place and enrol themselves under their +standard; on which Rodrigo de Ordlana, though then sheriff of the city, +and many others, to the amount of a hundred and fifty-two persons, came +forwards and inlisted, fearing for their lives in case of refusal. Don +Sebastian was elected captain-general and chief-justice, and some days +afterwards he got himself appointed mayor of the city: Gomez Hernandez a +lawyer was appointed recorder; Hernando de Guillado and Garci Tello de +Vega, were made captains; Juan de Huarte serjeant-major, Pedro de +Castillo captain of artillery, Alvar Perez Payaz commissary-general, +Diego Perez high sheriff, and Bartholomew de Santa Ana his deputy. +Rodrigo de Orellana, and many of the citizens, who now joined the +rebels, acted merely from fear of losing their lives if they refused or +even hesitated, though loyal subjects in their hearts. + +Immediately after the murder of Hinojosa, intelligence was sent in +various directions of the insurrection, and great numbers of +malcontents flocked to the city of La Plata to join the rebels. Among +these was Basco Godinez, who had been a chief instigator of the +conspiracy, and who seems to have promoted or permitted the elevation of +Don Sebastian to be commander-in-chief merely to use him as an +instrument of his own ambition, and to screen himself in case of failure +at the commencement: For, in a very few days, Don Sebastion was put to +death by Godinez and a few confidential associates; and they immediately +proclaimed their bloody exploit to the rest of the insurgents, by +exclaiming God save the king! the tyrant is slain! He even carried his +dissimulation to such a length, as to erect a court of justice to try +those who had murdered Hinojosa, in the vain hope of covering his own +treasonable conduct, and to make himself and his abettors appear as +loyal subjects. The murder of Hinojosa took place on the 6th of March +1553, and the subsequent slaughter of Don Sebastian on the eleventh of +the same month, only five days after. + +Godinez and his associates immediately liberated Juan Ortiz de Zarate +and Pedro Hernandez Paniagua from prison, pretending that their great +purpose in taking arms was to procure their liberty, to deliver the city +from the rebels and traitors who would have ruined it, and to evince +their loyalty to the king. In the next place, he called together Zarate, +Paniagua, Antonio Alvarez, and Martin Monge, the only citizens then +remaining in La Plata, whom he desired to elect him captain-general of +the province, and to grant him the vacant lands and Indians which had +belonged to Hinojosa to enable him to maintain the dignity of that +office. Not daring to refuse any thing in the present situation of +affairs, they acceded to his demands, and Godinez was proclaimed lord +chief-justice, governor, and captain-general of the province, and +successor to Hinojosa in his great estate and rich mines, producing two +hundred thousand dollars of yearly revenue. After this, Gomez Hernandez +the lawyer was appointed lieutenant-general of the army; and Juan Ortiz +and Pedro de Castillo were made captains of foot: pretending on this +occasion to communicate a share in the administration of government to +the citizens, which they were constrained to accept. Balthazar +Velasquez, one of the conspirators, was appointed major-general. Next +day Martin de Robles, Paulo de Meneses, Diego de Almendras, and Diego +Velasquez returned to the city, having fled from some soldiers that had +been sent in search of them by Don Sebastian; and were immediately +enjoined to concur with the other citizens in confirming the appointment +of Godinez. + +When intelligence of the insurrection of the soldiers in La Plata +arrived at Cuzco, the citizens put themselves into a posture of defence +against the enemy; and, with the consent of the Cabildo, Diego +Maldonado, commonly called the rich, was elected governor and +captain-general. Garcilasso de la Vega and Juan de Saavedra were made +captains of horse; and Juan Julio de Hojeda, Thomas Vasquez, Antonio de +Quinnones, and another whose name I have forgot, were made captains of +foot. So diligently did these officers apply themselves to raise men, +that in five days Juan Julio de Hojeda marched into the city accompanied +by three hundred soldiers well armed and appointed. Three days +afterwards news came of the death of Don Sebastian, by which they +flattered themselves that the war was ended for the present. + +By the end of March intelligence was brought to the judges at Lima of +the rebellion of Don Sebastian and the murder of Hinojosa: Six days +afterwards, news came that Egas de Guzman had revolted at Potosi; and in +four days more advices were brought of the destruction of both these +rebels; on which there were great rejoicings at Lima. On purpose to +inquire into the origin of these commotions and to bring the ringleaders +to condign punishment, the judges immediately appointed Alonzo de +Alvarado chief-justice of Las Charcas, giving him the assistance of Juan +Fernandez the kings attorney-general, for proceeding against the +delinquents. By another commission, Alvarado was nominated governor and +captain-general of Las Charcas and all the neighbouring provinces, with +full power to levy soldiers, and to defray their pay and equipment and +all the necessary expences of the war, from the royal treasury. Godinez +was soon afterwards arrested and thrown into prison at La Plata under a +strong guard by Alonzo Velasquez. Alvarado the new governor, began the +exercise of his authority in the city of La Paz, where he tried a number +of rebel soldiers who had concealed themselves on the borders of the +lake of Titicaca, whence they had been brought prisoners by Pedro de +Encisco. Some of these were hanged, some beheaded, others banished, and +others condemned to the gallies. Alvarado went next to the city of +Potosi, where many of the followers of Egas de Guzman had been committed +to prison, all of whom were treated according to their deserts like +those at La Paz. Among the rebels at Potosi was one Hernan Perez de +Peragua, a knight of the order of St John of Malta, who had taken part +in the rebellion of Don Sebastian. From respect to the order to which he +belonged, Alvarado only confiscated his lands and Indians, and sent him +a prisoner to be disposed of by the grand master of the order at Malta. +It would be tedious to relate the names and numbers of those who were +tried, hanged, beheaded, whipt, and otherwise punished on this occasion: +But, from the end of June 1553, to the end of November of the same year, +the court sat daily, and every day four, five, or six were tried and +condemned, who were all punished according to their sentences next day. +The unthinking people styled Alvarado a Nero, who could thus condemn so +many of a day, yet amused himself afterwards with the attorney-general +in vain and light discourses, as if those whom he condemned had been so +many capons or turkies to be served up at his table. In the month of +October, Basco Godinez was put upon his trial, for many heinous +offences, and was condemned to be drawn and quartered. But a stop was +put to farther proceedings about the end of November, by the news of +another rebellion raised by Francisco Hernandez Giron, as shall be +related in the sequel. + +"The Indians of Cuzco prognosticated this rebellion openly and loudly in +the streets, as I heard and saw myself: For the eve before the festival +of the most holy sacrament, I being then a youth, went out to see how +the two marketplaces of the city were adorned; for at that time the +procession passed through no other streets but those, though since that +time, as I am told, the perambulation is double as far as before. Being +then at the corner of the great chapel of our lady of the _Merceds_, +about an hour or two before day, I saw a comet dart from the east side +of the city towards the mountains of the _Antis_, so great and clear +that it enlightened all places round with more splendor than a full moon +at midnight. Its motion was directly downwards, its form was globular, +and its dimensions as big as a large tower; and coming near the ground, +it divided into several sparks and streams of fire; and was accompanied +with a thunder so loud and near as struck many deaf with the clap, and +ran from east to west; which when the Indians heard and saw, they all +cried out with one voice, _Auca, Auca, Auca_, which signifies in their +language, _tyrant, traitor, rebel_[44], and every thing that may be +attributed to a violent and bloody traitor. This happened on the +nineteenth of June 1553, when the feast of our Lord was celebrated; and +this prognostication which the Indians made, was accomplished on the +13th of November in the same year, when Francisco Hernandez Giron began +a rebellion, which we shall now relate[45]." + +[Footnote 44: In the language of Chili at least, _Auca_ signifies +_free_, or a _freeman_; it is possible however that in an absolute +government, the same term may signify a rebel, yet it is a singular +stretch of interpretation to make it likewise signify a tyrant.--E.] + +[Footnote 45: This paragraph, within inverted commas, is given as a +short specimen of the taste of Garcilasso, and the respectable talents +of his translator, Sir Paul Rycant, in 1688. It gives an account of one +of these singular meteors or fire balls, improperly termed a comet in +the text, which some modern philosophers are pleased to derive from the +moon, and to suppose that they are composed of ignited masses of iron +alloyed with nickel. It were an affront to our readers to comment on the +ridiculous pretended prognostication so gravely believed by Garcilasso +Inca.--E.] + + +SECTION IV. + +_Continuation of the Troubles in Peru, to the Viceroyalty of the Marquis +de Cannete._ + + +On the 13th of November 1553, a splendid wedding was celebrated at +Cuzco, between Alonzo de Loyasa, one of the richest inhabitants of the +city, and Donna Maria de Castilla, at which all the citizens and their +wives attended in their best apparel. After dinner an entertainment was +made in the street, in which horsemen threw balls of clay at each other, +which I saw from the top of a wall opposite the house of Alonzo de +Loyasa; and I remember to have seen Francisco Hernandez Giron sitting on +a chair in the hall, with his arms folded on his breast and his eyes +cast down, the very picture of melancholy, being then probably +contemplating the transactions in which he was to engage that night. In +the evening, when the sports were over, the company sat down to supper +in a lower hall, where at the least sixty gentlemen were at table, the +ladies being by themselves in an inner room, and from a small +court-yard between these apartments, the dishes were served to both +tables. Don Balthazar de Castillo, uncle to the bride, acted as usher of +the hall at this entertainment. I came to the house towards the end of +supper, to attend my father and stepmother home at night. I went to the +upper end of the hall, where the governor sat, who was pleased to make +me sit down on the chair beside him, and reached me some comfits and +sweet drink, with which boys are best pleased, I being then fourteen +years of age. + +At this instant some once knocked at the door, saying that Francisco +Hernandez Giron was there; on which Don Balthazar de Castillo, who was +near the door ordered the door to be opened. Giron immediately rushed +in, having a drawn sword in his right hand, and a buckler on his left +arm; accompanied by a companion on each side armed with partizans. The +guests rose in great terror at this unexpected interruption, and Giron +addressed them in these words: "Gentlemen be not afraid, nor stir from +your places, as we are all engaged in the present enterprize." The +governor, Gil Ramirez, immediately retired into the apartment of the +ladies, by a door on the left hand. Another door led from the hall to +the kitchen and other offices; and by these two doors a considerable +number of the guests made their escape. Juan Alonzo Palomino, who was +obnoxious to Giron for having opposed him in a late mutiny, was slain by +Diego de Alvarado the lawyer. Juan de Morales, a rich merchant and very +honest man, was slain while endeavouring to put out the candles. My +father and a number of others, to the number in all of thirty-six, made +their escape by means of a ladder from the court-yard of Loyasa into +that of the adjoining house, in which I accompanied them, but the +governor could not be persuaded to follow them, and was made prisoner by +the rebels. My father and all the companions of his flight agreed to +leave the town that night, and endeavour to escape to Lima. + +Having assembled about an hundred and fifty soldiers, Giron assumed the +office of commander-in-chief of the _army of liberty_, appointing Diego +de Alvarado the lawyer his lieutenant-general; Thomas Vasquez, Francisco +Nunnez, and Rodrigo de Pineda captains of horse; the two last of whom +accepted more from fear than affection. Juan de Pedrahita, Nuno +Mendiola, and Diego Gavilan were made captains of foot; Albertos de +Ordunna standard-bearer, and Antonio Carillo serjeant-major; all of whom +were ordered to raise soldiers to complete their companies with every +possible expedition. It being reported through the country that the +whole citizens of Cuzco had concurred in this rebellion, the cities of +Guamanga and Arequipa sent deputies to Cuzco, desiring to be admitted +into the league, that they might jointly represent to his majesty the +burdensome and oppressive nature of the ordinances imposed by the judges +in relation to the services of the Indians. But when the citizens of +Guamanga and Arequipa became rightly informed that this rebellion, +instead of being the act of the Cabildo and all the inhabitants, had +been brought about by the contrivance of a single individual, they +changed their resolutions, and prepared to serve his majesty. About this +time, the arch rebel Giron caused the deposed governor, Gil Ramirez, to +betaken from prison and escorted forty leagues on his way towards +Arequipa, and then set free. + +Fifteen days after the commencement of the rebellion, finding himself at +the head of a considerable force, he summoned a meeting of all the +citizens remaining in Cuzco, at which there appeared twenty-five +citizens who were lords of Indians, only three of whom were intitled +from office to sit in that assembly. By this meeting, Giron caused +himself to be elected procurator, captain-general, and chief-justice of +Peru, with full power to govern and protect the whole kingdom both in +war and peace. When news of this rebellion was brought to Lima by +Hernando Chacon, who was foster-brother to Giron, the judges would not +credit the intelligence, believing it only a false report, to try how +the people stood affected to the cause, and therefore ordered Chacon to +be imprisoned; but learning the truth soon afterwards, he was set at +liberty, and the judges began seriously to provide for suppressing the +rebellion, appointing officers and commanders to raise forces for that +purpose. They accordingly sent a commission to Alonzo de Alvarado, then +at La Plata, constituting him captain-general of the royal army against +Giron, with unlimited power to use the public treasure, and to borrow +money for the service of the war in case the exchequer should fail to +supply sufficient for the purpose. Alvarado accordingly appointed such +officers as he thought proper to serve under him, and gave orders to +raise men, and to provide arms and ammunition for the war. + +Besides the army which they authorized Alvarado to raise and command in +Las Charcas, the judges thought it necessary to raise another army at +Lima, of which Santillan, one of themselves and the archbishop of Lima +were appointed conjunct generals. Orders were likewise transmitted to +all the cities, commanding all loyal subjects to take up arms in the +service of his majesty, and a general pardon was proclaimed to all who +had been engaged in the late rebellions, under Gonzalo Pizarro, Don +Sebastian de Castilla, and others, provided they joined the royal army +within a certain given time. They likewise suspended the execution of +the decrees for freeing the Indians from personal services, during two +years, and repealed several other regulations which had given great and +general offence to the soldiers and inhabitants, and had been the cause +of all the commotions and rebellions which distracted the kingdom for so +long a time. + +While these measures were carrying on against him, Hernandez, Giron was +not negligent of his own concerns. He sent off officers with detachments +of troops to Arequipa and Guamanga, to induce the inhabitants of these +cities to join him, and requiring them by solemn acts of their cabildos +to confirm and acknowledge him in the offices he had usurped. He caused +the cabildo of Cuzco to write letters to the other cities of Peru to +concur in his elevation and to give assistance in the cause, and wrote +many letters himself to various individuals in Las Charcas and other +places, soliciting them to join him. Having collected an army of above +four hundred men, besides the detachments sent to Guamanga and Arequipa, +he resolved to march for Lima, to give battle to the army of the judges, +as he called it, pretending that his own was the royal army, and that he +acted in the service of his majesty. At the first he was undetermined, +whether it might not be better to march previously against Alvarado, +whose party he considered to be the weakest, owing to the great and +cruel severity which that officer had exerted against the adherents of +the late rebellions: And many judicious persons are of opinion that he +would have succeeded better if he had first attacked the marshal, as in +all probability he would have got possession of these provinces, and his +men would not have deserted from him to a person so universally disliked +for his cruelty, as they afterwards did when they marched towards Lima. +He accordingly marched from Cuzco and crossed the river Apurimac; +immediately after which Juan Vera de Mendoza and five others deserted +from him, re-crossed the bridge, which they burnt to prevent pursuit, +and returned to Cuzco, where they persuaded about forty of the +inhabitants to set out for Las Charcas to join the marshal Alvarado. + +At this time Sancho Duarte who was governor of the city of La Paz, +raised above two hundred men in the service of his majesty, which he +divided into two companies, one of horse and the other of foot. Giving +the command of his infantry to Martin d'Olmos, he took the command of +the horse himself, and assumed the title of general. With this force he +set out for Cuzco, intending to march against Giron, but not to join the +marshal Alvarado that he might not submit to his superior command. On +his arrival at the bridge over the Rio Desaguadero, he learnt that Giron +had left Cuzco to attack Lima, and proposed to have continued his march +for Cuzco remaining independent of the marshal. But, in consequence of +peremptory commands from Alvarado as captain-general, who highly +disapproved of so many small armies acting separately, he returned to +his own province. + +Pursuing his march for Lima, Hernandez Giron learnt at Andahuaylas that +the citizens of Guamanga had declared for his majesty, at which +circumstance he was much disappointed. He proceeded however to the river +Villca[46], where his scouts and those of the royal army encountered. He +proceeded however to the city of Guamanga, whence he sent orders to +Thomas Vasquez to rejoin him from Arequipa. Although the inhabitants of +that place, as formerly mentioned, had written to those of Cuzco +offering to unite in the insurrection, supposing it the general sense of +the principal people; they were now ashamed of their conduct, when they +found the rebellion only proceeded from a few desperate men, and +declared for the king; so that Vasquez was obliged to return without +success. Being now at the head of above seven hundred men, though +disappointed in his expectations of being joined by the citizens of +Guamanga and Arequipa, Hernandez Giron pursued his march for the valley +of Jauja; during which march Salvador de Lozana, one of his officers, +who was detached with forty men to scour the country, was made prisoner +along with all his party by a detachment from the army of the judges. + +[Footnote 46: The river Cangallo is probably here meant, which runs +through the province of Vilcas to the city of Guamanga.--E.] + +Notwithstanding this unforseen misfortune, Giron continued his march to +the valley of Pachacamac, only four leagues from Lima, where it was +resolved in a council of war to endeavour to surprise the camp of the +royalists near the capital. Intelligence of this was conveyed to the +judges, who put themselves in a posture of defence. Their army at this +time consisted of 300 cavalry, 600 musqueteers, and about 450 men armed +with pikes, or 1350 in all. It may be proper to remark in this place, +that, to secure the loyalty of the soldiers and inhabitants, the judges +had proclaimed a suspension of the obnoxious edicts by which the Indians +were exempted from personal services, and the Spaniards were forbidden +to make use of them to carry their baggage on journeys; and had agreed +to send two procurators or deputies to implore redress from his majesty +from these burdensome regulations. + +Two days after the arrival of Giron in the valley of Pachacamac, a party +of his army went out to skirmish with the enemy, on which occasion Diego +de Selva and four others of considerable reputation deserted to the +judges. For several days afterwards his men continued to abandon him at +every opportunity, twenty or thirty of them going over at a time to the +royal army. Afraid that the greater part of his army might follow this +example, Hernandez Giron found it necessary to retreat from the low +country and to return to Cuzco, which he did in such haste that his +soldiers left all their heavy baggage that they might not be encumbered +in their march. On this alteration of affairs, the judges gave orders to +Paulo de Meneses to pursue the rebels with six hundred select men; but +the generals of the royal army would not allow of more than a hundred +being detached on this service. During his retreat, Giron, finding +himself not pursued by the royalists with any energy, marched with +deliberation, but so many of his men left him that by the time he +reached the valley of Chincha his force was reduced to about 500 men. +Paulo de Meneses, having been reinforced, proposed to follow and harass +the retreating rebels; but not having accurate intelligence, nor keeping +sufficient guard, was surprised and defeated by Giron with some +considerable loss, and obliged to retreat in great disorder. Yet Giron +was under the necessity to discontinue the pursuit, as many of his men +deserted to the royalists. + +Sensible of the detriment suffered by the royal interests in consequence +of the disagreement between the present generals, Judge Santillan and +Archbishop Loyasa, to which the defeat of Meneses was obviously owing, +these very unfit persons for military command were displaced, and Paulo +de Meneses was invested in the office of commander-in-chief, with Pedro +de Puertocarrero as his lieutenant-general. This new appointment +occasioned great discontent in the army, that a person who had lost a +battle, and rather merited ignominy and punishment for his misconduct, +should be raised to the chief command. The appointment was however +persisted in, and it was resolved to pursue the enemy with 800 men +without baggage. + +Hernandez Giron, who retreated by way of the plain towards Arequipa, had +reached the valley of Nasca, about sixty leagues to the southwards of +Lima, before the confusion and disputes in the royal camp admitted of +proper measures being taken for pursuit. At this time, the judges gave +permission to a sergeant in the royal army, who had formerly been in the +conspiracy of Diego de Royas, to go into the enemys camp disguised as an +Indian, under pretence of bringing them exact information of the state +of affairs. But this man went immediately to Hernandez, whom he informed +of the quarrels among the officers and the discontents in the royal +army. He likewise informed him that the city of San Miguel de Piura had +rebelled, and that one Pedro de Orosna was coming from the new kingdom +of Grenada with a strong party to join the rebels in Peru. But to +qualify this favourable news for the rebels, Giron received notice at +the same time that the marshal Alvarado was coming against him from Las +Charcas with a force of twelve hundred men. About this time, on purpose +to reinforce his army, Giron raised a company of an hundred and fifty +negroes, which he afterwards augmented to 450, regularly divided into +companies, to which he appointed captains, and allowed them to elect +their own ensigns, sergeants, and corporals, and to make their own +colours. + +In the mean time, the marshal Alonzo de Alvarado, employed himself +diligently in Las Charcas to raise men for the royal service, and to +provide arms, ammunition, provisions, horses, and mules, and every thing +necessary for taking the field. He appointed Don Martin de Almendras, +who had married his sister, lieutenant-general, Diego de Porras +standard-bearer, and Diego de Villavicennio major-general. Pera +Hernandez Paniagua, Juan Ortiz de Zarate, and Don Gabriel de Guzman, +were captains of horse. The licentiate Polo, Diego de Almendras, Martin +de Alarzon, Hernando Alvarez de Toledo, Juan Ramon, and Juan de +Arreynaga, were captains of foot; Gomez Hernandez the lawyer, military +alguazil or judge-advocate, and Juan Riba Martin commissary-general. His +force amounted to 750 excellent soldiers, all well armed and richly +clothed, with numerous attendants, such as had never been seen before in +Peru. I saw them myself a few days after their arrival in Cuzco, when +they made a most gallant appearance. While on his march to Cuzco from +La Plata, Alvarado was joined by several parties of ten and twenty +together, who came to join him in the service of his majesty. On his way +to Arequipa he was joined by about forty more; and after passing that +place, Sancho Duarte and Martin d'Olmos joined him from La Paz with more +than two hundred good soldiers. Besides these, while in the province of +Cuzco, he was joined by Juan de Saavedra with a squadron of eighty five +men of the principal interest and fortune in the country. On entering +Cuzco, Alvarado was above 1200 strong; having 300 horse, 350 +musqueteers, and about 530 armed with pikes and halberts. Not knowing +what was become of Giron, Alvarado issued orders to repair the bridges +over the Apurimac and Abancay, intending to pass that way in quest of +the rebels. But receiving intelligence from the judges, of the defeat of +Meneses, and that the rebels were encamped in the valley of Nasca, he +ordered the bridges to be destroyed, and marched by the nearest way for +Nasca, by way of Parinacocha, in which route he had to cross a rocky +desert of sixty leagues. + +In this march four of the soldiers deserted and went over to Hernandez +Giron at Nasca, to whom they gave an account of the great force with +which Alvarado was marching against him, but reported in public that the +royalists were inconsiderable in number. Giron, however, chose to let +his soldiers know the truth, and addressed his army as follows. +"Gentlemen, do not flatter or deceive yourselves: There are a thousand +men coming against you from Lima, and twelve hundred from the mountains. +But, with the help of God, if you stand firm, I have no doubt of +defeating them all." Leaving Nasca, Giron marched by way of Lucanas, by +the mountain road, intending to take post on the lake of Parinacocha +before Alvarado might be able to reach that place. He accordingly left +Nasca on the 8th of May[47] for this purpose. + +[Footnote 47: Although Garcilasso omits the date of the year, it +probably was in 1554, as the rebellion of Giron commenced in the +November immediately preceding.--E.] + +In the mean time pursuing his march, Alvarado and his army entered upon +the desert of _Parihuanacocha_, where above sixty of his best horses +died, in consequence of the bad and craggy roads, the unhealthiness of +the climate, and continued tempestuous weather, though led by hand and +well covered with clothes. When the two armies approached each other, +Alvarado sent a detachment of an hundred and fifty select musqueteers +to attack the camp of Giron, and marched forwards with the main body of +his army to support that detachment. An engagement accordingly took +place in rough and strong ground, encumbered with trees brushwood and +rocks, in which the royalists could make no impression on the rebels, +and were obliged to retire with the loss of forty of their best men +killed or wounded. In the following night, Juan de Piedrahita +endeavoured ineffectually to retaliate, by assailing the camp of +Alvarado, and was obliged to retreat at daybreak. Receiving notice from +a deserter that the rebel army consisted only of about four hundred men, +in want of provisions, and most of them inclined to revolt from Giron +and return to their duty, Alvarado determined upon giving battle, +contrary to the opinion and earnest advice of all his principal officers +and followers. But so strong was the position of the enemy, and the +approaches so extremely difficult, that the royal army fell into +confusion in the attack, and were easily defeated with considerable +loss, and fled in all directions, many of them being slain by the +Indians during their dispersed flight. + +On receiving the afflicting news of this defeat, the judges ordered the +army which they had drawn together at Lima to march by way of Guamanga +against the rebels. In the mean time Giron remained for forty days in +his camp at Chuquinca, where the battle was fought, taking care of his +wounded men and of the wounded royalists, many of whom now joined his +party. He sent off however his lieutenant-general towards Cuzco in +pursuit of the royalists who had fled in that direction, and ordered his +sergeant-major to go to La Plaz, Chucuito, Potosi, and La Plata, to +collect men arms and horses for the farther prosecution of the war. At +length Giron marched into the province of Andahuaylas, which he laid +waste without mercy, whence he went towards Cuzco on receiving +intelligence that the army of the judges had passed the rivers Abancay +and Apurimac on their way to attack him. He immediately marched by the +valley of Yucay to within a league of Cuzco, not being sufficiently +strong to resist the royalists; but turned off from that city at the +persuasion of certain astrologers and prognosticators, who declared that +his entrance there would prove his ruin, as had already happened to many +other captains, both Spaniards and Indians. + +The army of the judges marched on from Guamanga to Cuzco unopposed by +the rebels, their chief difficulty being in the passages of the great +rivers, and the transport of eleven pieces of artillery, which were +carried on the shoulders of Indians, of whom ten thousand were required +for that service only. Each piece of ordinance was fastened on a beam of +wood forty feet long, under which twenty cross bars were fixed, each +about three feet long, and to every bar were two Indians, one on each +side, who carried this load on their shoulders, on pads or cushions, and +were relieved by a fresh set every two hundred paces. After halting five +days in the neighbourhood of Cuzco, to refresh the army from the +fatigues of the march, and to procure provisions and other necessaries, +the royal army set out in pursuit of the rebels to Pucara[48], where the +rebels had intrenched themselves in a very strong situation, environed +on every side with such steep and rugged mountains as could not be +passed without extreme difficulty, more like a wall than natural rocks. +The only entrance was exceedingly narrow and intricate, so that it could +easily be defended by a handful of men against an army; but the interior +of this post was wide and convenient, and sufficient for accommodating +the rebel army with all the cattle provisions and attendants with the +utmost ease. The rebels had abundance of provisions and ammunition, +having the whole country at their command since the victory of +Chuquinca; besides which their negro soldiers brought in provisions +daily from the surrounding country. The royal army encamped at no great +distance in an open plain, fortifying the camp with an intrenchment +breast-high all round, which was soon executed by means of the great +numbers of Indians who attended to carry the baggage and artillery. +Giron established a battery of cannon on the top of a rising ground so +near the royal camp that the balls were able to reach considerably +beyond the intrenchment: "Yet by the mysterious direction of Providence, +the rebel cannon, having been cast from the consecrated metal of bells +dedicated to the service of God, did no harm to man or beast." + +[Footnote 48: Pucara is in the province of Lampa, near the north-western +extremity of the great lake Titicaca.--E.] + +After a considerable delay, during which daily skirmishes passed between +the adverse parties, Giron resolved to make a night attack upon the camp +of the royalists, confiding in the prediction of some wise old woman, +that he was to gain the victory at that place. For this purpose he +marched out from his natural fortress at the head of eight hundred foot, +six hundred of whom were musqueteers, and the rest pikemen, with only +about thirty horse. His negro soldiers, who were about two hundred and +fifty in number, joined with about seventy Spaniards, were ordered to +assail the front of the royal camp, while Giron with the main body was +to attack the rear. Fortunately the judges had got notice of this +intended assault from two rebel deserters, so that the whole royal army +was drawn out in order of battle on the plain before the rebels got up +to the attack. The negro detachment arrived at the royal camp sometime +before Giron, and, finding no resistance, they broke in and killed a +great number of the Indian followers, and many horses and mules, +together with five or six Spanish soldiers who had deserted the ranks +and hidden themselves in the camp. On arriving at the camp, Giron fired +a whole volley into the fortifications without receiving any return; but +was astonished when the royal army began to play upon the flank of his +army from an unexpected quarter, with all their musquets and artillery. +Giron, being thus disappointed in his expectations of taking the enemy +by surprise, and finding their whole army drawn up to receive him, lost +heart and retreated back to his strong camp in the best order he could. +But on this occasion, two hundred of his men, who had formerly served +under Alvarado, and had been constrained to enter into his service after +the battle of Chuquinca, threw down their arms and revolted to the +royalists. + +Giron made good his retreat, as the general of the royalists would not +permit any pursuit during the darkness of the night. In this affair, +five or six were killed on the side of the judges, and about thirty +wounded; while the rebels, besides the two hundred who revolted, had ten +men killed and about the same number wounded. On the third day after the +battle, Giron sent several detachments to skirmish with the enemy, in +hopes of provoking them to assail his strong camp; but the only +consequence of this was giving an opportunity to Thomas Vasquez and ten +or twelve more to go over to the royalists. Heart-broken and confounded +by these untoward events, and even dreading that his own officers had +conspired against his life, Giron fled away alone from the camp on +horseback during the night after the desertion of Vasquez. On the +appearance of day he found himself still near his own camp, whence he +desperately adventured to make his escape over a mountain covered with +snow, where he was nearly swallowed up, but at last got through by the +goodness of his horse. Next morning, the lieutenant-general of the +rebels, with about an hundred of the most guilty, went off in search of +their late general; but several others of the leading rebels went over +to the judges and claimed their pardons, which were granted under the +great seal. + +Next day, Paulo de Meneses, with a select detachment, went in pursuit of +Diego de Alvarado, the rebel lieutenant-general, who was accompanied by +about an hundred Spaniards and twenty negroes; and came up with them in +eight or nine days, when they all surrendered without resistance. The +general immediately ordered Juan Henriquez de Orellana, one of the +prisoners, who had been executioner in the service of the rebels, to +hang and behead Diego de Alvarado and ten or twelve of the principal +chiefs, after which he ordered Orellana to be strangled by two negroes. + +"I cannot omit one story to shew the impudence of the rebel soldiers, +which occurred at this time. The very next day after the flight of +Francisco Hernandez Giron, as my father Garcilasso de la Vega was at +dinner with eighteen or twenty soldiers, it being the custom in time of +war for all men of estates to be hospitable in this manner according to +their abilities; he observed among his guests a soldier who had been +with Giron from the beginning of this rebellion. This man was by trade a +blacksmith, yet crowded to the table with as much freedom and boldness +as if he had been a loyal gentleman, and was as richly clothed as the +most gallant soldier of either army. Seeing him sit down with much +confidence, my father told him to eat his dinner and welcome, but to +come no more to his table; as a person who would have cut off his head +yesterday for a reward from the general of the rebels, was not fit +company for himself or those gentlemen, his friends and wellwishers, and +loyal subjects of his majesty. Abashed by this address, the poor +blacksmith rose and departed without his dinner, leaving subject of +discourse to the guests, who admired at his impudence." + +After his flight, Hernandez Giron was rejoined by a considerable number +of his dispersed soldiers, and took the road towards Lima, in hopes of +gaining possession of that place in the absence of the judges. He was +pursued by various detachments, one of which came up with him in a +strong position on a mountain; where all his followers, though more +numerous than their pursuers, surrendered at discretion, and the arch +rebel was made prisoner and carried to Lima, where he was capitally +punished, and his head affixed to the gallows beside those of Gonzalo +Pizarro and Francisco de Carvajal. This rebellion subsisted from the +13th of November 1553, reckoning the day on which Giron was executed, +thirteen months and some days; so that he received his well-merited +punishment towards the end of December 1554. + + +SECTION V. + +_History of Peru during the Viceroyalty of the Marquis del Cannete._ + + +Immediately after learning the death of Don Antonio de Mendoza, his +imperial majesty, who was then in Germany, nominated the Conde de Palma +to succeed to the viceroyalty of Peru: But both he and the Conde de +Olivares declined to accept. At length Don Andres Hurtado de Mendoza, +Marquis of Cannete, was appointed to the office. Having received his +instructions, he departed for Peru and arrived at Nombre de Dios, where +he resided for some time for the purpose of suppressing a band of +fugitive negroes, called _Cimarrones_ who lived in the mountains, and +robbed and pillaged the merchants and others on the road between Nombre +de Dios and Panama. Finding themselves hard pressed by a military force +sent against them under the command of Pedro de Orsua, the negroes at +length submitted to articles of accommodation, retaining their freedom, +and engaging to catch and deliver up all negroes that should in future +desert from their masters. They likewise agreed to live peaceably and +quietly within a certain district, and were allowed to have free trade +with the Spanish towns. + +Having settled all things properly in the Tierra Firma, the viceroy set +sail from Panama and landed at Payta on the northern confines of Peru, +whence he went by land to Lima, where he was received in great pomp in +the month of July 1557. Soon after the instalment of the new viceroy, +he appointed officers and governors to the several cities and +jurisdictions of the kingdom; among whom Baptisto Munnoz a lawyer from +Spain was sent to supersede my father Garcilasso de la Vega in the +government of Cuzco. In a short time after taking possession of his +office, Munnoz apprehended Thomas Vasquez, Juan de Piedrahita and Alonzo +Diaz, who had been ringleaders in the late rebellion, and who were +privately strangled in prison, notwithstanding the pardons they had +received in due form from the royal chancery. Their plantations and +lordships over Indians were confiscated and bestowed on other persons. +No other processes were issued against any of the other persons who had +been engaged in the late rebellion. But Munnoz instituted a prosecution +against his predecessor in office, my father, on the four following +charges. 1st, For sporting after the Spanish manner with darts on +horseback, as unbecoming the gravity of his office. 2d, For going on +visits without the rod of justice in his hand, by which he gave occasion +to many to despise and contemn the character with which he was invested. +3d, For allowing cards and dice in his house during the Christmas +holidays, and even playing himself, contrary to the dignity becoming the +governor. 4th, For employing as his clerk one who was not a freeman of +the city, nor qualified according to the forms of law. Some charges +equally frivolous were made against Monjaraz, the deputy-governor, not +worth mentioning; but these processes were not insisted in, and no fines +or other punishment were inflicted. + +Soon after the viceroy was settled in his government, he sent +Altamirano, judge in the court of chancery at Lima, to supersede Martin +de Robles in the government of the city of La Plata. De Robles was then +so old and bowed down with infirmities, that he was unable to have his +sword girt to his side, and had it carried after him by an Indian page; +yet Altamirano, almost immediately after taking possession of his +government, hanged Martin de Robles in the market-place, on some +pretended charge of having used certain words respecting the viceroy +that had a rebellious tendency. About the same time the viceroy +apprehended and deported to Spain about thirty-seven of those who had +most eminently distinguished their loyalty in suppressing the late +rebellion, chiefly because they solicited rewards for their services and +remuneration for the great expences they had been at during the war, and +refused to marry certain women who had been brought from Spain by the +viceroy as wives to the colonists, many of whom were known to be common +strumpets. + +The next object which occupied the attention of the viceroy was to +endeavour to prevail upon Sayri Tupac, the nominal Inca or king of the +Peruvians, to quit the mountains in which he had taken refuge, and to +live among the Spaniards, under promise of a sufficient allowance to +maintain his family and equipage. Sayri Tupac was the son and heir of +Manco Capac, otherwise called Menco Saca, who had been killed by the +Spaniards after delivering them out of the hands of their enemies. After +a long negociation, the Inca Sayri Tupac came to Lima where he was +honourably received and entertained by the viceroy, who settled an +insignificant pension upon him according to promise. After remaining a +short time in Lima, the Inca was permitted by the viceroy to return to +Cuzco, where he took up his residence in the house of his aunt Donna +Beatrix Coya, which was directly behind my fathers dwelling, and where +he was visited by all the men and women of the royal blood of the Incas +who resided in Cuzco. The Inca was soon afterwards baptized along with +his wife, Cusi Huarcay, the niece of the former Inca Huascar. This took +place in the year 1558; and about three years afterwards he died, +leaving a daughter who was afterwards married to a Spaniard named Martin +Garcia de Loyola. + +Having settled all things in the kingdom to his satisfaction, by the +punishment of those who had been concerned in the rebellion under Giron, +and the settlement of the Inca under the protection and superintendence +of the Spanish government; the viceroy raised a permanent force of +seventy lancers or cavalry, and two hundred musqueteers, to secure the +peace of the kingdom, and to guard his own person and the courts of +justice. The horsemen of this guard were allowed each a thousand, and +the foot soldiers five hundred, dollars yearly. Much about the same +time, Alonzo de Alvarado, Juan Julio de Hojeda, my lord and father +Garcilasso de la Vega, and Lorenzo de Aldana died. These four gentlemen +were all of the ancient conquerors of Peru who died by natural deaths, +and were all greatly lamented by the people for their virtuous +honourable and good characters. All the other conquerors either died in +battle, or were cut off by other violent deaths, in the various civil +wars and rebellions by which the kingdom was so long distracted. + +On the arrival of those persons in Spain who had been sent out of Peru +by the viceroy for demanding rewards for their services, they petitioned +the king, Don Philip II, for redress; who was graciously pleased to give +pensions to as many of them as chose to return to Peru, to be paid from +the royal exchequer in that kingdom, that they might not need to address +themselves to the viceroy. Such as chose to remain in Spain, he +gratified with pensions upon the custom-house in Seville; the smallest +being 80 ducats yearly, to some 600, to some 800, 1000, and 1200 ducats, +according to their merits and services. About the same time likewise, +his majesty was pleased to nominate Don Diego de Azevedo as viceroy of +Peru, to supersede the Marquis of Cannete; but, while preparing for his +voyage, he died, to the great grief of all the colonists of the kingdom. +The Marquis of Cannete was much astonished when those men whom he had +banished from Peru for demanding rewards for their past services, came +back with royal warrants for pensions on the exchequer of that kingdom, +and still more so when he learnt that another person was appointed to +succeed him in the office of viceroy. On this occasion he laid aside his +former haughtiness and severity, and became gentle and lenient in his +disposition and conduct for the rest of his days; so that, if he had +begun as he ended his administration, he would have proved the best +governor that ever commanded in the New World. On seeing this change of +conduct, the heirs of those citizens who had been executed for having +engaged in the rebellion of Giron, laid the pardons obtained by their +fathers before the judges of the royal audience, and made reclamation of +the estates which had been confiscated, and even succeeded in having +their lands and Indians restored, together with all other confiscations +which had been ordered at the first coming over of the viceroy. + +At this time likewise, the viceroy gave a commission to Pedro de Orsua, +to make a conquest of the country of the Amazons on the river Marannon, +being the same country in which Orellana deserted Gonzalo Pizarro, as +formerly related. Orsua went to Quito to raise soldiers, and to provide +arms and provisions, in which he was greatly assisted by contributions +from the citizens of Cuzco, Quito and other cities of Peru. Orsua set +out accordingly on his expedition, with a well appointed force of five +hundred men, a considerable proportion of which was cavalry. But he was +slain by his own men, at the instigation of Don Fernando de Guzman and +some others, who set up Don Fernando as their king, yet put him to death +shortly afterwards. Lope de Aguira then assumed the command, but the +whole plan of conquest fell to the ground, and Aguira and far the +greater part of the men engaged in this expedition were slain. + + +SECTION VI. + +_Incidents in the History of Peru, during the successive Governments of +the Conde de Nieva, Lope Garcia de Castro, and Don Francisco de Toledo._ + + +On the death of Don Diego de Azevedo, Don Diego de Zuniga by Velasco, +Conde de Nieva, was appointed to supersede the Marquis of Cannete as +viceroy of Peru, and departing from Spain to assume his new office in +January 1560, he arrived at Payta in Peru in the month of April +following. He immediately dispatched a letter to the marquis informing +him of his arrival in the kingdom as viceroy, and requiring the marquis +to desist from any farther exercise of authority. On the arrival of the +messenger at Lima, the marquis ordered him to be honourably entertained, +and to receive a handsome gratification, to the value of 7000 dollars; +but he forfeited all these advantages, by refusing to address the +ex-viceroy by the title of excellency. This slight, which had been +directed by the new viceroy, so pressed on the spirits of the marquis, +already much reduced by the infirmities of age and the ravages of a +mortal distemper, that he fell into a deep melancholy, and ended his +days before the arrival of his successor at Lima. + +The Conde de Nieva did not long enjoy the happiness he expected in his +government, and he came by his death not many months afterwards by means +of a strange accident, of which he was himself the cause; but as it was +of a scandalous nature I do not chuse to relate the particulars. On +receiving notice of his death, King Philip II. was pleased to appoint +the lawyer Lope Garcia de Castro, who was then president of the royal +council of the Indies, to succeed to the government of Peru, with the +title only of president of the court of royal audience and +governor-general of the kingdom. He governed the kingdom with much +wisdom and moderation, and lived to return into Spain, where he was +replaced in his former situation of president of the council of the +Indies. + +Don Francisco de Toledo, second son of the Conde de Oropeta, succeeded +Lope Garcia de Castro in the government of Peru, with the tide of +viceroy. He had scarcely been two years established in the government, +when he resolved to entice from the mountains of Villcapampa[49] where +he resided, the Inca Tupac Amaru, the legitimate heir of the Peruvian +empire, being the son of Manco Inca, and next brother to the late Don +Diego Sayri Tupac, who left no son. The viceroy was induced to attempt +this measure, on purpose to put a stop to the frequent robberies which +were committed by the Indians dependent on the Inca, in the roads +between Cuzco and Guamanga, and in hope of procuring information +respecting the treasures which had belonged to former Incas and the +great chain of gold belonging to Huayna Capac, formerly mentioned, all +of which it was alleged was concealed by the Indians. Being unable to +prevail upon the Inca to put himself in the power of the Spaniards, a +force of two hundred and fifty men was detached into the Villcapampa, +under the command of Martin Garcia Loyola, to whom the Inca surrendered +himself, with his wife, two sons, and a daughter, who were all carried +prisoners to Cuzco. + +[Footnote 49: The river Quiliabamba, otherwise called Urabamba and +Vilcamayo is to the north of Cuzco, and to the north of that river one +of the chains of the Andes is named the chain of Cuzco or of the rebel +Indians. This is probably the mountainous region mentioned in the +text.--E.] + +The unfortunate Inca was arraigned by the attorney-general, of having +encouraged his servants and vassals to infest the roads and to rob the +Spanish merchants, of having declared enmity against all who lived or +inhabited among the Spaniards, and of having entered into a plot with +the Caracas or Caciques, who were lords of districts and Indians by +ancient grants of the former Incas, to rise in arms on a certain day and +to kill all the Spaniards they could find. At the same time a general +accusation was made against all the males of mixed race, born of Indian +mothers to the Spanish conquerors, who were alleged to have secretly +agreed with Tupac Amaru and other Incas to make an insurrection for +extirpating the Spaniards and restoring the native, Inca to the throne +of Peru. In consequence of this accusation, all the sons of Spaniards by +Indian women who were of age sufficient to carry arms were committed to +prison, and many of them were put to the torture to extort confession of +these alleged crimes, for which they had no proof or evidence +whatsoever. Many of them were accordingly banished to various remote +parts of the New World, as to Chili, the new kingdom of Granada, the +West India islands, Panama, and Nicaragua, and others were sent into +Spain. + +All the males of the royal line of the Incas, who were in the capacity +of being able to succeed to the throne, to the number of thirty-six +persons, together with the two sons and the daughter of the Inca Tupac +Amaru, were commanded to reside for the future in Lima, where in little +more than two years they all died except three, who were permitted to +return to their own houses for purer air: But even these three were +beyond recovery, and died soon afterwards. One of these, Don Carlos +Paula, left a son who died in Spain in 1610, leaving one son a few +months old who died next year; and in him ended the entire male line of +the Incas of Peru. + +Tupac Amaru was brought to trial, under pretence that he intended to +rebel, and had engaged in a conspiracy with several Indians, and with +the sons of Spaniards born of Indian mothers, intending to have +dispossessed his majesty Philip II of the kingdom of Peru. On this +unfounded accusation, and on the most inconclusive evidence, he was +condemned to lose his head. Upon notice of this sentence, the friars of +Cuzco flocked to prison, and persuaded the unfortunate prince to receive +baptism, on which he assumed the name of Don Philip. Though the Inca +earnestly entreated to be sent to Spain, and urged the absurdity and +impossibility that he could ever intend to rebel against the numerous +Spanish colonists who now occupied the whole country of Peru, seeing +that his father with 200,000 men was utterly unable to overcome only 200 +Spaniards whom he besieged in the city of Cuzco; yet the viceroy thought +fit to order the sentence to be carried into execution. The Inca was +accordingly brought out of prison, mounted on a mule, having his bands +tied and a halter about his neck, and being conducted to the ordinary +place of execution in the city of Cuzco, his head was cut off by the +public executioner. + +After continuing sixteen years in the viceroyalty of Peru, Don Francisco +de Toledo returned into Spain, with a fortune of above half a million of +pesos. Falling under the displeasure of the king, he was ordered to +confine himself to his own house, and all his fortune was laid under +sequestration, which so affected his mind that he soon died of a broken +heart. Martin Garcia Loyola, who made the Inca prisoner, was married to +a coya, the daughter of the former Inca Sayri Tupac, by whom he acquired +a considerable estate; and being afterwards made governor of Chili, was +slain in that country by the natives. + +END OF THE EARLY HISTORY OF PERU. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +HISTORY OF THE DISCOVERY AND CONQUEST OF CHILI + +INTRODUCTION. + + +Not having the advantage of any original and contemporary author to lay +before our readers on this occasion, it was at first our intention to +have omitted any notice of Chili in the present division of this work: +But under the existing and important circumstances of the Spanish +American colonies, to which some allusion has been already made in the +introduction to the preceding chapter, it has been deemed proper to +deviate on this occasion from our general principle, and to endeavour to +draw up a short satisfactory account of the Discovery and Conquest of +Chili, and of the early History of that interesting region, the most +distant of all the early European colonies in the New World, and which +presents the singular and solitary phenomenon, of a native nation +inhabiting a fertile and champaign country, successfully resisting the +arts, discipline, and arms of Europeans, and remaining unconquered and +independent to the present day, after the almost perpetual efforts of +the Spaniards during a period of 277 years. + +In the composition of this chapter, we have been chiefly guided by the +geographical natural and civil history of Chili, by the Abbe Don Juan +Ignatio Molina, a native of the country, and a member of the late +celebrated order of the Jesuits. On the dissolution of that order, being +expelled along with all his brethren from the Spanish dominions, he went +to reside at Bologna in Italy, where in 1787 he published the first part +of his work, containing the natural history of Chili, and the second +part, or civil history, some years afterwards. This work was translated +and published some years ago in the United States of North America; and +was republished in London in the year 1809, with the addition of several +notes and appendixes from various sources by the English editor. In the +present abridged version of the second part of that work, or civil +history of Chili, we have collated the whole with An Historical Relation +of the Kingdom of Chili, by Alonzo de Ovalle, or Ovaglia, likewise a +native and a Jesuit, printed at Rome in 1649, of which an English +translation is inserted in Churchill's collection of voyages and +travels, Vol. III. p. 1-146. In other divisions of this work, more +minute accounts will be furnished, respecting the country of Chili and +its inhabitants and productions, by means of several voyages to that +distant and interesting country. + + +SECTION I. + +_Geographical View of the Kingdom of Chili._ + + +The kingdom of Chili in South America, is situated on the coast of the +Pacific Ocean or Great South Sea, between 24 deg. and 45 deg. of south latitude, +and between 68 deg. 40' and 74 deg. 20' of west longitude from Greenwich; but as +its direction is oblique from N.N.E. to S.S.W. between the Andes on the +east and the Pacific Ocean on the west, the middle of its northern +extremity is in 70 deg., and of its southern termination in about 73 deg. of W. +longitude. Its extreme length therefore is 1260 geographical, or 1450 +statute miles; but its breadth varies considerably, as the Andes +approach or recede from the sea. In the more northern parts, between the +latitudes of 24 deg. and 32 deg. S. the average breadth is about two degrees, or +nearly 140 English miles. Its greatest breadth in lat. 37 deg. S. is about +220 miles; whence it grows again narrower, and the continental part of +the country, opposite to the Archipelago of Chiloe, varies from about 50 +to 100 miles. These measures are all assumed as between the main ridge +of the Andes and the sea; but in many places these mountains extend from +60 to 100 miles farther towards the east, and, being inhabited by +natives of the same race with the indigenous Chilese, or confederated +with them, that transalpine region may be likewise considered as +belonging to Chili. + +Chili is bounded on the north by Peru, whence its lower or plain +country, between the Andes and the Pacific, is divided by the extensive +and arid desert of Atacama. On the east it is separated by the lofty +chain of the southern Andes, from the countries of Tucuman, Cujo, and +Patagonia, on the waters which run towards the Southern Atlantic. +Through these lofty and almost impracticable mountains, there are eight +or nine roads which lead from Chili towards the east, into the vast +plains which depend upon the viceroyalty of La Plata, all of which are +exceedingly difficult and even dangerous. The most frequented of these +roads is that which leads from the province of Aconcagua in Chili to +Cujo, running along the deep ravines of the rivers Chillan and Mendoza, +bordered on one side by deep precipices overhanging these rivers, and on +the other by lofty and almost perpendicular mountains. Both of these +rivers derive their origin from the Alpine vallies of the Andes, the +former running westwards to the Pacific; while the latter takes a much +longer course towards the Southern Atlantic. This road requires at least +eight days journey to get across the mountain range, and is so narrow +and incommodious, that travellers are obliged in many places to quit +their mules and proceed on foot, and every year some loaded mules are +precipitated from this road into the rivers below. In some places the +road passes over agreeable plains among the mountains, and in these the +travellers halt for rest and refreshment. In these vallies, when the +Incas conquered the northern provinces of Chili, before the coming of +the Spaniards, they caused some _tambos_ or stone houses to be +constructed for the accommodation of their officers. Some of these are +ruined but others remain entire, and the Spaniards have built some more +for the convenience of travellers. + +On the west side Chili is bounded throughout its whole extent by the +shores of the Pacific Ocean; and on the south it joins with the southern +land usually called the Terra Magellanica, from the name of the +navigator, Magellan or Magelhaens, who first circumnavigated the +continent of South America, and opened the way by sea from the Atlantic +to the Pacific Ocean, through the Straits which are still known by his +name. + +Chili may be considered under three natural divisions. The country of +Chili Proper, between the main ridge of the Andes and the sea: The Andes +themselves, from the main ridge eastwards to the plain country of La +Plata, and the Chilese islands. Chili Proper, or that which lies between +the main ridge of the Andes and the Pacific, is usually distinguished +into the Maritime and Midland countries. The Maritime country is +intersected by three chains of hills, running parallel to the Andes, +between which are many fine vallies which are watered by delightful +rivers. The Midland country consists almost entirely of a uniform plain +of considerable elevation, having a few isolated hills interspersed +which add much to its beauty. The Andes, which are among the loftiest +mountains in the world, are mostly about 120 miles from east to west, in +that part of their course which belongs to Chili, consisting of a vast +number of mountains of prodigious height, as if chained together, and +displaying all the beauties and horrors of the most sublime and +picturesque grandeur, abounding everywhere with frightful precipices, +interspersed with many fine vallies and fertile pastures, watered by +numerous streams and rivers which rise in the mountains. Between the +latitudes of 24 deg. and 33 deg. south, the Andes are entirely desert and +uninhabited; but the remainder as far as 45 deg. S. is inhabited by various +tribes or colonies of the Chilese, called Chiquillanes, Pehuenches, +Puelches, and Huilliches, which are commonly known under the general +appellation of Patagonians. + + +S1. _Chili Proper._ + +The political divisions of Chili consist of that part which has been +conquered by the Spaniards, and that which still remains independent in +the possession of the natives. The Spanish portion is situated between +the latitudes of 24 deg. and 37 deg. south, and is divided into thirteen +provinces; of which the following is an enumeration, with a short +account of each, beginning on the north, at the desert of Atacama or +frontiers of Peru. In each of these a _corregidor_, or deputy-governor +resides, to whose command the civil and military officers of the +province are subordinate, and on whom the respective cabildos or +municipal magistracies are dependent. + +1. _Copaipo_, is bounded on the north by the great desert of Atacama, on +the east by the Andes, on the south by Coquimbo, and on the west by the +Pacific. It is about 300 English miles long by 120 in breath. It +contains the rivers Salado, Juncal, Chineral, Copaipo, Castagno, +Totoral, Quebradaponda, Guasco, and Chollai. This province abounds in +gold, lapis lazuli, sulphur, and fossile salt, which last is found in +almost all the mountains of the Andes on its eastern frontiers. Copaipo +its capital is in lat. 27 deg. 15' S. and long. 70 deg. 53' W. The northern part +of this province, beyond the river Juncal is hardly inhabited, except by +hunters of the Vicugnas, which they catch by means of large palisaded +inclosures. Besides lead mines to the north of the river Copaipo, there +are several silver mines in this province, and some sugar is made in the +valley of the Totoral. This province has five ports, at Juncal, +Chineral, Caldera, Copaipo, and Huasca, or Guasco. The chief town, +Copaipo, situated on the river of the same name, contains a parish +church, a convent of the order of Mercy, and a college which formerly +belonged to the Jesuits. The town of San Francisco della Salva, stands +on the same river about sixty miles farther inland. + +2. _Coquimbo_, which is divided from Copaipo by the river Huasca or +Guasco, is the next province towards the south. It is accordingly +bounded on the north by Copaipo, on the east by the Andes, on the +south-east by Aconcagua, on the south-west by Quillota, and on the west +by the Pacific. It is about 135 miles from north to south, and 120 from +east to west. Its principal rivers are the Coquimbo, Tongoi, Limari, and +Chuapa. Its capital is called Coquimbo, or _La Serena_, founded in 1544 +by Valdivia at the mouth of the river Coquimbo in lat. 29 deg. 53' S long. +71 deg. 12' W. This city is the residence of several ancient and honourable +families, and is situated in a delightful country and charming climate; +such being the mild temperature of the air, that though rain seldom +falls, the surrounding country is continually verdant. This province is +rich in gold, copper, and iron, and its fertile soil produces grapes, +olives, and other fruits in great abundance, both those belonging to +Europe, and such as are natural to the country. + +3. _Quillota_, is bounded on the north by Coquimbo, on the east by the +province of Aconcagua, on the south by Melipilla, and on the west by the +sea. Its chief rivers are the Longotoma, Ligua, Aconcagua, and Limache; +and its territory is among the most populous and most abundant in gold +of any in Chili. The capital, called Quillota or San Martin, stands in a +pleasant valley, in lat. 32 deg. 42' S. and long. 71 deg. W. having three +churches dedicated to the saints Dominic, Francis, and Augustine. The +province likewise contains the cities of Plazza, Plazilla, Ingenio, +Cassablanca, and Petorca; which last is very populous, owing to the +resort of great numbers of miners who work in the celebrated gold mines +in the neighbourhood. Valparaiso, or Valparadiso, the most celebrated +and most commercial harbour in Chili is in this province, from whence +all the trade is carried on with Peru and Spain. The harbour is very +capacious, and so deep that large ships can lie close to the shore. Its +convenience for trade, and the salubrity of its climate, have rendered +this a place of considerable resort; so that besides the city, which is +three miles from the port, there is a populous town along the shore of +the harbour, called Almendral, in which those belonging to the shipping +mostly reside. A deputy-governor or corregidor sent directly from Spain +resides here, who has the command of the civil and military officers of +the city, and is only amenable to the president of Chili. + +4. _Aconcagua_, is inclosed between the provinces of Coquimbo, Quillota, +Santiago, and the Andes, being entirely inland and communicating with +the sea through the former province, the same rivers belonging to both. +The celebrated silver mines of Uspalata are in the Andes belonging to +this province, which likewise are productive of excellent copper, and +its lower grounds are fertile in grain and fruit. Aconcagua or San +Filippe, the capital, is in lat. 32 deg. 18' S. and long. 69 deg. 55' W. + +5. _Melipilla_, is bounded on the north by Quillota, on the east by +Santiago, on the south by the river Maypo dividing it from Rancagua, and +on the west by the Pacific. Its rivers are the Mapocho and Poangue, and +its territory abounds in wine and grain. Melipilla, or San Joseph de +Logronno, on the river Maypo, in lat 33 deg. 36' S long. 70 deg. 42' W. is the +chief town of the province, and is but thinly inhabited, though in a +beautiful situation and fertile country, as most of the principal +proprietors reside in the neighbouring city of St Jago, the capital of +the kingdom. + +6. _St Jago_, or _San Jacopo_, is entirely inland, having the province +of Aconcagua on the north, the Andes on the east, the river Maypo to the +south, and Melipilla to the west. This is a small province, being only +45 miles from east to west, and 36 from north to south. Besides the +rivers Mapocho, Colina, and Zampa, with several other beautiful streams, +it contains the lake of Pudaguel which is about nine miles long. This +province is very fertile, producing abundance of grain and wine, with +fine fruits, especially peaches of exquisite flavour and large size. The +inferior mountains of Caren abound in gold, and in the Andes belonging +to this province there are mines of silver. Tin is likewise said to be +found in the province. The beautiful city of St Jago, the capital of the +province and of the kingdom of Chili, which was founded in 1541 by Pedro +de Valdivia, stands in an extensive and beautiful plain, on the left +bank of the river Mapocho, in lat 33 deg. 16' S. long. 69 deg. 48' W. having the +suburbs of Chimba, Cannadilla, and Renca on the opposite side of the +river. Both sides of the river are guarded by stone quay walls of +considerable height to prevent inundations, and a fine bridge connects +the city with its suburbs. St Jago is about 90 miles from the sea, and +about 20 from the foot of the main ridge of the Andes, whose lofty +summits clad in perpetual snow form a fine contract with the continual +verdure of a beautiful surrounding district. The streets are all in +straight lines, thirty-six feet broad, and intersecting each other at +right angles, and every house is amply supplied with excellent water by +means of several aqueducts. The great square is 450 feet in extent on +all its sides, having a bronze fountain in the centre. The north side of +this square is occupied by the palace of the president and the public +offices, beneath which is the prison. On the south side is the palace of +the Conde dell Sierra-bella. The west side is occupied by the cathedral +and the palace of the archbishop; and the east side contains the palaces +of three noblemen. The other most remarkable buildings are the church of +San Domingo, and that formerly belonging to the college of Jesuits. +Though convenient and handsomely built, the private houses are generally +of one story only, on account of frequent earthquakes. On the south side +of the city, from which it is separated by a street called the Cannada, +144 feet broad, is the large suburb of St Isidore. On a hill in the +eastern part of the city, called Santa Lucia, there formerly stood a +fortress to guard against attacks of the Indians. This city contained in +1770 a population of 46,000 inhabitants, which was rapidly increasing. +Besides the cathedral and three other parish churches, there are two +convents of Dominican friars, four of Franciscans, two of Augustins, two +of the order of Mercy, and one belonging to the brothers of Charity, +with an hospital, seven nunneries, a female penitentiary, a foundling +hospital, a college for the nobility formerly under the direction of the +Jesuits, and a Tridentine seminary. It contains also an university, a +mint for coining gold and silver, and barracks for the soldiers who are +maintained as guards to the president and royal audience. + +7. _Rancagua_, is bounded on the north by the river Maypo and by the +Chachapoal on the south, by the Andes on the east, and the Pacific on +the west. Besides the former rivers, it is watered by the Codegua and +Chocalan, and some others of less importance; and contains the lakes of +Aculen and Buccalemu, of no great importance. This province is fertile +in grain, and its chief town, Santa Croce di Trianna, otherwise called +Rancagua, is in lat. 34 deg. 18' S. long. 70 deg. 16' W. Near Alque, a town +recently founded about 24 miles nearer the sea, there is a very rich +gold mine. + +8. _Calchagua_, between the rivers Chachapoal and Teno, extends from the +Andes to the sea, its breadth from north to south near the Andes being +about 75 miles, while on the coast of the Pacific it does not exceed 40. +Besides the rivers which form its boundaries, its territory is watered +by the Rio Clarillo, Tinguiririca, and Chimbarongo; and in this province +there are two considerable lakes, named Taguatagua and Caguil, the +former being interspersed with beautiful islands, and the latter +abounding with large clamps[50], which, are much esteemed. This +province, which is fertile in grain, wine, and fruits, and abounds in +gold, is part of the territories of the native tribe of the Promaucians, +whose name is said to signify _the people of delight_, so called from +the beauty and fertility of their country. The chief town San Fernando, +built only in 1742, is in lat. 34 deg. 36' S. long. 70 deg. 34' W. + +[Footnote 50: Thus expressed by the translator of Molina, and probably +some fresh water shell-fish.--E.] + +9. _Maule_, the next province to the south, is bounded on the east by +the Andes, on the south-east by Chillan, on the south-west by Itata, and +on the west by the Pacific. It is about 176 miles from east to west, and +about 120 from north to south where broadest; and is watered by the +Lantue, Rio Claro, Pangue, Lircai, Huenchullami, Maule, Putagan, +Achiguema, Longavi, Loncamilla, Purapel, and other inferior rivers. It +abounds in grain, wine, fruits, gold, salt, cattle, and fish; which last +are found in great quantities both in the sea and rivers. Its native +inhabitants are brave, robust, and warlike, and are principally +descended from the ancient Promaucians. Talca, or St Augustin, built in +1742 among hills near the Rio-claro, at a considerable distance from the +sea, is in lat. 35 deg. 18' S. long. 70 deg. 48' W. Its population is +considerable, owing to the proximity of rich gold mines, and the +abundance and cheapness of provisions supplied by its territory. From +this last circumstance, several noble families from the cities of St +Jago and Conception, whose finances had become diminished, have retired +to this place, which has in consequence been called the bankrupt colony. +There are several other towns in this province, and many villages of the +native Chilese; among these Laro, near the mouth of the river Mataquito, +contains a numerous population of the Promaucian nation, and is governed +by an _Ulmen_ or native chief. + +10. _Itata_, situated on the sea-coast, has Maule on the north, Chillan +on the east, Puchacay on the south, and the Pacific on the west. It +measures 60 miles from east to west, and about 33 from north to south, +and is intersected by the river Itata, from which it derives its name. +The best wine of Chili is made in this province, and being produced on +lands belonging to citizens of the city of Conception, is usually known +by the name of Conception wine. Its chief town named Coulemu, or Nombre +de Jesus, stands on the Rio Jesus, in lat. 35 deg. 58' S. long. 72 deg. 38' W. +and was founded in 1743.. + +11. _Chillan_, bounded on the north, by Maule, by the Andes on the east, +on the south by Huilquilemu, and by Itata on the west, is entirety an +inland province, about the same size with Itata. Its rivers are the +Nuble, Cato, Chillan, Diguillin, and Dannicalquin. Its territory +consists mostly of an elevated plain, particularly favourable for +rearing sheep, which produce wool of a very fine quality. Its capital, +Chillan or San Bartholomeo, in lat. 35 deg. 54' S. long. 71 deg. 30' W. was +founded in 1580. It has been several times destroyed by the Araucanians, +and was overthrown by an earthquake and inundation in 1751; since which +it has been rebuilt in a more convenient situation, out of danger from +the river. + +12. _Puchacay_, is bounded on the north by Itata, on the east by +Huilquilemu, on the south by the river Biobio, and on the west by the +Pacific. It measures 24 miles from north to south, and 60 from east to +west. This province affords a great quantity of gold, and its +strawberries, both wild and cultivated, are the largest in all Chili. +Gualqui, or San Juan, founded in 1754 on the northern shore of the +Biobio, is the residence of the corregidor; but Conception, named Ponco +in the native language, is the principal city of the province, and the +second in the kingdom of Chili. It was founded by Pedro de Valdivia in a +pleasant vale, formed by some beautiful hills, near the coast, in lat. +36 deg. 42' S. long. 73 deg. 4' W. After suffering severely in the long wars +with the Araucanians, this city was destroyed in 1730 by an earthquake +and inundation of the sea, and again by a similar calamity in 1751; and +was rebuilt in 1764 in a beautiful situation a league from the sea. +Owing to so many calamities, its inhabitants scarcely exceed 13,000, who +are attracted to this place on the frontiers of the warlike Araucanians, +by the great abundance of gold that is procured in its neighbourhood. +The climate is always temperate, the soil is fertile, and the sea +abounds in fish of all kinds. The Bay of Conception is spacious and +safe, extending above ten miles from north to south, and nearly as much +from east to west. Its mouth is protected by a beautiful and fertile +island, called Quiriquina, forming two mouths or entrances to the bay; +that on the north-east called the _bocca grande_ being two miles wide, +and that on the south-west, or _bocca chica_, little more than a mile. +The whole bay affords safe anchorage, and a port at its south-east +extremity called Talcaguano is chiefly frequented by shipping, as being +not far from the new city of Conception. + +13. _Huilquilemu_, commonly called Estanzia del Rei, or the royal +possession, has Chillan on the north, the Andes on the east, the river +Biobio on the south, and Puchacay on the west. This district is rich in +gold, and produces an excellent wine resembling muscadel. To protect +this province against the warlike and independent Araucanians, there are +four forts on the north side of the Biobio, named Jumbel, Tucapel, Santa +Barbara, and Puren; and as the boundary line is to the south of that +river, the Spaniards have likewise the forts of Aranco, Colcura, San +Pedro, Santa Joanna, Nascimento, and Angeles beyond that river. + +14. _Valdivia._ This province, or military station rather, is entirely +separated from the other possessions of the Spaniards in Chili, being +entirely surrounded by the territories of the Araucanians. It lies on +the sea-coast, on both sides of the river Valdivia or Callacallas, being +reckoned 36 miles from east to west, and 18 miles from north to south. +It abounds in valuable timber, and affords the purest gold of any that +is found in Chili, and produced great quantities of that precious metal +to Valdivia the original conqueror. But owing to many calamities in the +wars with the Araucanians, it is now of little importance except as a +military station. Valdivia, the capital, in lat. 39 deg. 48' S. long. 73 deg. +24' W. is situated at the bottom of a beautiful and safe bay, the +entrance to which is protected by the island of Manzera. As this is a +naval station of much importance for protecting the western coast of +South America, it is strongly fortified, and is always commanded by a +military officer of reputation sent directly from Spain, though under +the direction of the president of Chili. He has always a considerable +body of troops, which are officered by the five commanders of the five +castles which protect the city, with a sergeant-major, commissary, +inspector, and several captains. + +From the foregoing short abstract of the geographical circumstances of +Chili Proper, or that part of the kingdom which is possessed by the +Spaniards, it appears to extend from the lat. 24 deg. to 37 deg. both south, or +about 900 English miles in length by about 180 miles in medium breadth, +containing about 162,000 square miles of territory or nearly 104 +millions of statute acres, mostly of fertile soil, in a temperate and +salubrious climate, abounding in all the necessaries of life, and richly +productive in gold and other metals. Hence this country is calculated to +support a most extensive population, in all the comforts and enjoyments +of civilized society, and if once settled under a regular government, +will probably become at no great distance of time an exceedingly +populous and commercial nation. The islands belonging to Chili consist +principally of the Archipelago of Chiloe, with that of the Chones, which +is dependent upon the former. The largest of these islands, named +likewise Chiloe, is about 120 miles in extent from north to south, and +about 60 miles from east to west. Between it and the main-land is a vast +gulf or bay, which extends from lat. 41 deg. 32' to 44 deg. 50' both S. and lies +between the longitudes of 72 deg. 44' and 74 deg. 20' both W. This is called the +gulf of Chiloe, Guaiteca, or Elancud; and besides the great island of +Chiloe, contains eighty-two smaller islands, thinly inhabited by Indians +and a few Spaniards. The land in Chiloe, as in all the smaller islands, +is mountainous, and covered by almost impenetrable thickets. The rains +are here excessive and almost continual, so that the inhabitants seldom +have more than fifteen or twenty days of fair weather in autumn, and +hardly do eight days pass at any other season without rain. The +atmosphere is consequently extremely moist, yet salubrious, and the +climate is exceedingly mild and temperate. Owing to the great humidity, +grain and fruits are by no means productive, yet the inhabitants raise +sufficient grain, mostly barley and beans, for their support, and grow +abundance of excellent flax. The town of Castro, on the eastern shore, +in lat. 42 deg. 44' S. is the capital of the island, and was founded in +1565, by Don Martino Ruiz de Gamboa, and is built entirely of wood, +containing only about a hundred and fifty inhabitants, yet has a parish +church, a church formerly belonging to the Jesuits, and two convents. +The port of Chaco, near the middle of the northern extremity of the +island, in lat. 41 deg. 53' S. and about the same, longitude with Castro, +has good anchorage, and enjoys the whole trade with Peru and Chili, +which is not subjected to the duties which are paid in other ports of +Spanish America. + +Besides the southern Archipelago of Chiloe, there are a few islands of +no great importance on the coast of Chili, not worth notice. The two +islands likewise of Juan Fernandez are considered as dependencies on +Chili. The larger of these, called Isola de Tierra, is at present +inhabited by a few Spaniards, who have a small fort at La Baya or +Cumberland harbour. The smaller island, or Masafuera, otherwise called +De Cabras or Conejos, is uninhabited. + + +S2. _The Province of Cujo._ + +Although the province of _Cujo,_ on the east side of the Andes, be not +strictly within the limits of Chili, yet as dependent on the presidency +of that kingdom, it is proper to take notice of it in this place. Cujo +is bounded on the north by the province of Tucuman, on the east by the +Pampas or desert plains of Buenos Ayres, on the south by Patagonia, and +on the west by the southern chain of the Andes. Being comprehended +between the latitudes of 29 deg. and 35 deg. south, it is about 400 miles in +extent from north to south, but its limits towards the east are +uncertain. In temperature and productions, this province differs +materially from Chili. The winter, which is the dry season, is extremely +cold; and the summer is excessively hot both day and night, with +frequent storms of thunder and hail, more especially in its western +parts near the Andes. These storms commonly rise and disperse in the +course of half an hour; after which the sun dries up the moisture in a +few minutes. Owing to this excessive exsiccation, the soil is extremely +arid, and will neither bear trees nor plants of any kind; unless when +irrigated by means of canals, when it produces almost every vegetable in +astonishing abundance. By these artificial means of cultivation, the +fruits and grains of Europe thrive with extraordinary perfection, and +come a month earlier to maturity than in Chili; and the wines produced +in Cujo are very rich and full-bodied. + +This province is intersected by three rivers which have their sources in +the Andes, the San Juan, the Mendoza, and the Tunujan. The two former +are named from the cities which are built on their banks. After a course +of from 75 to 90 miles, these rivers form the great lakes of Guanasache, +which extend above 300 miles from north to south, and their waters are +afterwards discharged by the river Tunujan into the south-eastern desert +Pampas. These lakes abound with excellent fish of several kinds, and +they produce a sufficient quantity of salt to supply the whole province +of Cujo. The eastern part of this province, called La Punta, is watered +by the rivers Contaro and Quinto, and several smaller streams, and is +quite different in its climate and temperature from the western part +near the Andes. The plains of La Punta are covered with beautiful trees +of large size, and the natural herbage grows to such a height in many +places as to conceal the horses and other cattle which roam at large in +these extensive plains. Thunder storms are exceedingly violent and +frequent, continuing often for many hours, accompanied by incessant and +immoderate rain. + +Among the vegetable productions of Cujo, one of the most remarkable is a +species of palm, which never exceeds eighteen feet high, putting forth +all its branches so near the ground as to conceal the trunk. The leaves +are extraordinarily hard, and terminate in a point as sharp as a sword. +The fruit resembles the cocoa-nut, yet only contains a few hard round +seeds, with no edible kernel. The trunk of this tree is very large, and +is covered by a coarse outer bark of a blackish colour which is easily +detached. Below this, there are five or six successive layers of a +fibrous bark resembling linen cloth. The first is of a yellowish colour, +and of the consistence and appearance of sail-cloth. The others +gradually decrease in thickness, and become whiter and finer; so that +the innermost is white and fine like cambric, but of a looser texture. +The fibres of this natural cloth are strong and flexible, but harsher to +the feel than those made from flax. This province produces great +abundance of the _opuntia_, a species of the _cactus_, which nourishes +the cochineal insect; but the natives are in use to string these insects +on a thread by means of a needle, by which they acquire a blackish tint. +The fruit of this plant is woolly, about the size of a peach, its +internal substance being glutinous and full of small seeds. It is sweet +and well-flavoured, and is easily preserved by cutting into slices which +are dried in the sun. There are four different trees producing a species +of beans; two of which are good eating, the third is employed as +provender for horses, and ink is made from the fourth. The most singular +vegetable production in this country is called _the flower of the air_, +from having no root, and never growing on the ground. Its native +situation is on the surface of an arid rock, or twining round the dry +stem of a tree. This plant consists of a single shoot, like the stem of +a gilly-flower, but its leaves are larger and thicker, and are as hard +as wood. Each stalk produces two or three white transparent flowers, in +size and shape resembling a lily, and equally odoriferous with that +flower. They may be preserved fresh on their stalks for more than two +months, and for several days when plucked off. This plant may be +transported to almost any distance; and will produce flowers annually, +if merely hung up on a nail. + +In the northern parts of Cujo there are mines of gold and copper, but +they are not worked owing to the indolence of the inhabitants. It has +also rich mines of lead, sulphur, vitriol, salt, gypsum, and talc or +asbestos. The mountains near the city of Juan are entirely composed of +white marble, in stratified slabs of five or six feet long by six or +seven inches thick, all regularly cut and polished by nature. From this +the inhabitants prepare an excellent lime, which they use in building +bridges over the streams and canals of irrigation. Between the city of +Mendoza and La Punta, on a low range of hills, there is a large stone +pillar, 150 feet high and 12 feet diameter, called the giant, on which +there are certain marks or inscriptions resembling Chinese characters. +Near the Diamond river there is another stone, having marks which appear +to be characters, and the impression of human feet, with the figures of +several animals. The Spaniards call it the stone of St Thomas; from a +tradition handed down from the first settlers, said to have been +received from the native Indians, that a white man with a long beard, +formerly preached a new religion from that stone to their ancestors, and +left the impression of his feet, and the figures of the animals that +came to hear him, as a memorial of his sanctity. + +The aboriginal natives of the province of Cujo are called Guarpes, of +whom there are now very few remaining. They are of a lofty stature, very +thin, and of a brown colour, and speak a quite different language from +that of the Chilese. This people was anciently conquered by the +Peruvians, after having taken possession of the northern part of Chili; +and on the road across the Andes from Cujo to Chili, there still are +some small stone buildings, or tambos, which had been erected for the +accommodation of the Peruvian officers and messengers. The first +Spaniards who attempted to reduce this country were sent by Valdivia, +under the command of Francisco de Aguirre, who returned to Chili after +the death of Valdivia. In 1560, Don Garcia de Mendoza sent a force under +Pedro del Castillo, who subdued the Guarpes, and founded the cities of +San Juan and Mendoza. The latter, which is the capital, is situated on a +plain at the foot of the Andes, in lat 33 deg. 54' S. long. 68 deg. 34' W. This +is supposed to contain about 6000 inhabitants, and is continually +increasing in population, owing to its vicinity to the celebrated silver +mine of Uspallatta, which is worked by the inhabitants to great profit. +This city carries on a considerable commerce in wine and fruits with +Buenos Ayres. The city of San Juan near the Andes, in lat. 31 deg. 40' S. +and long. 68 deg. 34' W. is equally populous with Mendoza, from which it is +about 160 miles due north, and trades with Buenos Ayres in brandy, +fruits, and Vicunna skins. Its pomegranates are greatly esteemed in +Chili, to which they are sent across the Andes. This city is governed by +a deputy from the corregidor of Mendoza, assisted by a cabildo. In 1596, +the small city of La Punta, or San Luis de Loyola, was founded in the +eastern part of Cujo, in lat. 33 deg. 47' S. long. 65 deg. 33' W. Although the +thoroughfare for all the trade from Chili and Cujo to Buenos Ayres, it +is a miserable place with scarcely two hundred inhabitants; but its +jurisdiction is extensive and populous, and is administered both in +civil and military affairs by a deputy of the corregidor of Mendoza. +Besides these three cities, the province of Cujo contains the towns of +Jachal, Vallofertil, Mogna, Corocorto, Leonsito, Caliogarta, and +Pismanta[51], which do not merit particular attention. + +[Footnote 51: Besides these, modern maps insert the following, beginning +in the north. Betlen, Rioja la Nueva, Mutinan, San Juan de Jaeban, +Guanachoca, all to the north of Mendoza.--E.] + +The Patagonians who border upon Cujo towards the south, and of whose +gigantic stature so much has been said, do not differ materially in this +respect from other men. The Pojas, one of their tribes, are governed by +several petty independent princes. A singular species of polygamy +prevails among this people, as the women are permitted to have several +husbands. As to the Cesari, of whom such wonderful stories have been +reported, and who are supposed to be neighbours of the Chilese, they +have no existence except in the fancies of those who take pleasure in +marvellous stories. + + * * * * * + +S3. _The Indian Country, or Araucania._ + +That part of Chili which remains unconquered reaches from the river +Biobio in the north to the Archipelago of Chiloe in the south, or +between the latitudes of 37 deg. and 42' S. This country is inhabited by +three independent nations, the Araucanians, the Cunches, and the +Huilliches. The territory of the Araucanians, contains the finest plains +in Chili, and is situated between the rivers Biobio and Callacallas, +stretching along the sea-coast for about 186 miles, and is generally +allowed to be the most pleasant and fertile district in the kingdom of +Chili. Its extent from the sea to the foot of the Andes, was formerly +reckoned at 300 miles; but as the Puelches, a nation inhabiting the +western side of the mountains, joined the confederacy of the Araucanians +in the seventeenth century, its present breadth cannot be less than 420 +miles, and the whole territory is estimated at 78,120 square miles or +nearly 50 millions of acres. + +The Araucanians derive their name from the province of Arauco, the +smallest in their territory, but which has given name to the whole +nation, as having been the first to propose the union which has so long +subsisted among the tribes, or from having at some remote period reduced +them under its dominion. Enthusiastically attached to their +independence, they pride themselves on the name of _auca_, signifying +_freemen_[52]; and by the Spaniards who were sent from the army in +Flanders to serve in Chili, this country has been called Araucanian +Flanders, or the invincible state. Though the Araucanians do not exceed +the ordinary height of mankind, they are in general muscular, robust, +well proportioned, and of a martial appearance. Their complexion is of a +reddish brown, but clearer than the other natives of America, except +the tribe named Boroanes, who are fair and ruddy. They have round +faces, small eyes full of animated expression, a rather flat nose, a +handsome mouth, even white teeth, muscular and well shaped legs, and +small flat feet. Like the Tartars, they have hardly any beard, and they +carefully pluck out any little that appears, calling the Europeans +_longbeards,_ by way of reproach. The hair on their heads is thick, +black, and coarse, is allowed to grow very long, and is worn in tresses +wound around their heads. The women are delicately formed, and many of +them are very handsome, especially the Boroanes. They are generally long +lived, and are not subject to the infirmities of age till a late period +of life, seldom even beginning to grow grey till sixty or severity, or +to be wrinkled till fourscore. They are intrepid, animated, ardent, +patient of fatigue, enthusiastically attached to liberty, and ever ready +to sacrifice their lives for their country, jealous of their honour, +courteous, hospitable, faithful to their engagements, grateful for +services, and generous and humane to their vanquished enemies. Yet these +noble qualities are obscured by the vices which are inseparable from +their half savage state, unrefined by literature or cultivation: Being +presumptuous, entertaining a haughty contempt for other nations, and +much addicted to drunkenness and debauchery. + +[Footnote 52: According to Falkner the missionary, _auca_ is a name of +reproach given them by the Spaniards, signifying rebels or wild men; +_aucani_ is to rebel or make a riot, and _auca-cahual_ signifies a wild +horse.--This may be the case in the language of the subjected Peruvians +and northern Chilese, while in that of the independent Araucanians it +may signify _free_; just as republican is an honourable term in the +United States, while it is a name of reproach under a monarchical +government.--E.] + +Their dress is manufactured from the wool of the vicunna, and consists +of a shirt, vest, short close breeches, and a cloak or poncho, having an +opening in the middle to admit the head, which descends all round as low +as the knees. This cloak, which leaves the arms at liberty, and can be +thrown back at pleasure, is so convenient for riding, and so excellent a +protection from wind and rain, that it is now commonly adopted by the +Spanish inhabitants of Chili, Peru, and Paraguay. The shirt, vest, and +breeches, are always of a greenish blue, or turquois colour, which is +the uniform of the nation. Among persons of ordinary rank, the _poncho_, +or native cloak, is also of the same national colour; but those of the +higher classes have it of different colours, as white, red, or blue, +with stripes a span broad, on which figures of flowers and animals are +wrought in different colours with much ingenuity, and the borders are +ornamented with handsome fringes. Some of these _ponchos_ are of so fine +a texture and richly ornamented as to sell for 100 or even 150 dollars. +Their only head-dress is a fillet or bandage of embroidered wool, which +they ornament in time of war with a number of beautiful feathers. Round +the waist they wear a long sash or girdle of woollen, handsomely +wrought; and persons of rank have leather sandals, and woollen boots, +but the common people are always bare-footed. + +The dress of the women is entirely of wool, and the national greenish +blue colour, consisting of a tunic or gown without sleeves reaching to +the feet, fastened at the shoulder by silver buckles, and girt round the +waist by a girdle; over which gown they wear a short cloak, which is +fastened before by a silver buckle. They wear their hair in several long +braided tresses, flowing negligently over their shoulders, and decorate +their heads with false emeralds and a variety of trinkets. They wear +square ear-rings of silver, and have necklaces and bracelets of +glass-beads, and silver rings on all their fingers. + +Like all the other tribes in Chili, before the arrival of the Spaniards, +the Araucanians still continue to construct their houses or huts rather +of a square form, of wood plaistered with clay, and covered with rushes, +though some use a species of bricks; and as they are all polygamists, +the size of their houses is proportioned to the number of women they are +able to maintain. The interior of their houses is very simple, and the +furniture calculated only to serve the most necessary purposes, without +any view to luxury or splendour. They never form towns, but live in +scattered villages along the banks of rivers, or in plains that can be +easily irrigated. + +The whole country of the Araucanian confederacy is divided into four +principalities, called _Uthal-mapu_ in their language, which run +parallel to each other from north to south. These are respectively named +_Lauquen-mapu_, or the maritime country; _Lelbun-mapu_, or the plain +country; _Inapire-mapu_, or country at the foot of the Andes; and +_Pire-mapu_, or the country on the Andes. Each principality or +Uthal-mapu is divided into five provinces, called _Ailla-regue_; and +each province into nine districts, termed _regue._ Hence the whole +country contains 4 _Uthal-mapus_, 20 _Ailla-regues_, and 180 _Regues_. +Besides these, the country of the _Cunches_, who are in alliance with +the Araucanians, extends along the coast between Valdivia and the +archipelago of Chiloe; and the _Huilliches_, likewise allies of the +Araucanians, occupy all the plains to the eastward, between the Cunches +and the main ridge of the Andes. + +The civil government is a kind of aristocratic republic, under three +orders of hereditary nobility, each subordinate to the other. Each of +the four _Uthal-mapus_ is governed by a _Toqui_. The _Ailla-regues_, are +each under the command of an _Apo-ulmen_; and every one of the _Regues_ +is ruled by an _Ulmen_. The four _toquis_ are independent of each other, +but are confederated for the public welfare. The _Apo-ulmens_ govern the +provinces under the controul or superintendence of the respective +_toquis_; and the _ulmens_ of the _regues_ are dependent on the +Apo-ulmens, or arch-ulmens. This dependence is however almost entirely +confined to military affairs. The distinguishing badge of the toqui is a +kind of battle-axe, made of marble or porpyhry. The Apo-ulmens and +Ulmens carry staves with silver heads; the former being distinguished by +the addition of a silver ring round the middle of their staves. The +toqui has only the shadow of sovereign authority, as every question of +importance is decided by an assembly of the great body of nobles, which +is called _Buta-coyog_ or _Auca-coyog_ the great council, or the +Araucanian council. This assembly is usually held in some large plain, +on the summons of the toquis; and on such occasions, like the ancient +Germans as described by Tacitus, they unite the pleasures of revelling +and even drunkenness with their deliberations. By their traditionary +laws, called _Ad-mapu_ or customs of the country, two or more +principalities, provinces, or districts cannot be held by the same +chief. Whenever the male line of the ruling family becomes extinct, the +vassals have the right to elect their own chief; and all the districts +are directed entirely in civil matters by their respective Ulmens. The +people are subject to no contributions or personal services whatever, +except in time of war; so that all the chiefs of every rank or degree +have to subsist on the produce of their own possessions. + +The military government is established upon a system of wonderful +regularity. When the great council determines on going to war, they +proceed immediately to elect a commander-in-chief, who is in some +measure the dictator of the country during his continuance in office. +The toquis have in course the first claim to this high dignity, as being +the hereditary generals and stadtholders of the republic; yet, +disregarding all respect for superior rank, the council often entrusts +this supreme power to the most deserving of the Ulmens, or even to an +officer of an inferior class, considering only on this occasion the +talents that are deemed necessary for command. Thus in the war of 1722, +the supreme command was confided to Vilumilla, a man of low origin, and +in that which terminated in 1773, to Curignanca, the younger son of an +Ulmen in the province of Encol. On his elevation to office, the +generalissimo of the republic assumes the title of _toqui_, and the +stone hatchet in token of supreme command; on which the four hereditary +toquis lay aside theirs, as it is not permitted them to carry this +ensign of authority during the continuance of the dictator in office, to +whom all the toquis apo-ulmens and ulmens take the oath of obedience. +Even the people, who during peace are exceedingly repugnant to +subordination, are now entirely submissive to the commands of the +military dictator. Yet he has not the power of putting any one to death, +without the consent of his principal officers; but as all these are of +his appointment, his orders are next to absolute. + +It has always happened since the arrival of the Spaniards in Chili, that +the supreme toquis have been elected from among the natives of the +provinces of Arauco, Tucapel, Encol, or Puren; but I know not whether +this may be owing to some ancient law or agreement, or to some +superstitious notion. The supreme toqui appoints his vice-toqui or +lieutenant-general, and the other officers of his staff; who in their +turn nominate the inferior officers. The vice-toqui is almost always +elected from among the Puelches, to gratify the ambition of that valiant +tribe, which forms about a fourth part of the population of the +confederacy. At present the army of the Araucanians is composed both of +cavalry and infantry. Originally it consisted entirely of foot; but in +their first battles with the Spaniards, perceiving the vast advantage +derived by their enemies from the employment of cavalry, they soon +applied themselves to procure a good breed of horses; insomuch that in +1568, only seventeen years after their first encountering the Spaniards, +they had several squadrons of cavalry; and by the year 1585, the +Araucanian cavalry was regularly organized by the toqui Cadeguala. The +infantry is divided into regiments of a thousand men, and these into ten +companies of an hundred men each. The cavalry is divided in a similar +manner; but the numbers in the regiments and troops are not always the +same. Each body of horse and foot has its particular standard; but all +bear a star, which is the national device. The soldiers are not clothed +in uniforms, but all have cuirasses of hardened leather below their +ordinary dresses, with shields and helmets of the same material. The +cavalry are armed with swords and lances; and the infantry with pikes or +clubs pointed with iron. In battle, the cavalry is distributed on the +two wings of the army, while the infantry forms the centre or main body, +divided into its several battalions or regiments, the ranks being +composed alternately of pikemen and soldiers armed with clubs or maces. +The right wing is confided to the vice-toqui, and the left to an +experienced officer next in rank; while the toqui is present wherever +occasion requires, and exhorts his soldiers to fight valiantly for the +liberties of the nation. They formerly employed bows and slings in war; +but taught by experience to avoid the destructive effects of musquetry +in distant fight, they are now eager to close with their enemies. +Impressed with the opinion that to die in battle for their country is +the greatest honour that can be acquired, whenever the signal for battle +is given, they advance with the utmost rapidity, despising the slaughter +produced by the cannon and musquetry, yet preserving the strictest order +and discipline, and often succeed in bearing down the firmest array of +the Spaniards. + +One of the first measures of the national council, when war is resolved +upon, is to dispatch messengers to the confederate tribes, and even to +the Indians who live under the Spanish government, to summon them to +make common cause with their countrymen. The credentials of these +messengers are some small arrows tied together by a red string, the +symbol of blood. But if hostilities have been already commenced, the +finger of a slain enemy accompanies the arrows. This embassy is called +_pulchitum_, which signifies to run the arrow, and the messengers are +called _guerquenis_. The toqui or military dictator directs what number +of soldiers is to be furnished by each Uthal-mapu or principality. The +particular toquis regulate the contingencies of the Apo-ulmens; and +these last apportion these among the several Ulmens of their provinces. +The army of the state usually consists of five or six thousand men; +besides which, a body of reserve is always in readiness for particular +occasions, or to replace those who may be killed in battle. Before +taking the field, the general assigns three days for consultation with +his principal officers, during which the plan of the campaign is +maturely deliberated upon, and every one has liberty to offer his +opinion: But the general finally settles the plan of warfare in secret +consultation, with his principal officers. After all is agreed upon, the +army commences its march to the sound of drums, and is always preceded +by several advanced parties, to guard against surprise. During the +march, the infantry as well as the cavalry are on horseback; but on +coming to action, the infantry dismounts and is regularly marshalled in +companies and battalions. All the soldiers have to provide their own +horses arms and provisions; and as all are liable to military service, +no one has to contribute towards the supply of the army. Their +provisions consist chiefly in a small sack of parched meal, which each +soldier carries on his horse; and which, diluted with water, serves them +as food till they can live at free quarters in the enemys country. Being +thus unencumbered with baggage, they are able to move with astonishing +celerity, either to attack or to retreat as may be necessary. They are +extremely vigilant when in presence of the enemy, encamping always in +secure and advantageous situations, strengthening their posts with +entrenchments, and placing sentinels on all sides, every soldier being +obliged during the night to keep a fire burning in front of his tent. +When necessary they protect their posts and encampments with deep +trenches, guarded by abatis or hedges of spinous or thorny trees, and +strew calthrops at all the avenues to repress attacks from the cavalry +of the enemy. In short there are few military stratagems with which they +are unacquainted, and are wonderfully expert in tactics [53]. + +[Footnote 53: From the singular excellence of the military institutions +of the Araucanians, by which they have been enabled to preserve their +liberties against the superior arms of the Spaniards, down even to the +present day, we have been induced to extend these observations much +beyond our usual limits on such occasions. Such as are inclined to +inquire more minutely into the civil institutions of this wonderful +people, will find them detailed in the work of the Abbe Molina, together +with a minute account of the natural productions of Chili.--E.] + + +SECTION II. + +_Of the Origin, Manners, and Language of the Chilese_. + + +The origin of the primitive inhabitants of Chili, like that of all the +nations and tribes of the aboriginal Americans, is involved in +impenetrable obscurity. Many of the natives consider themselves as +indigenous, while others derive their origin from a foreign stock, +supposing their ancestors to have come from the north or from the west; +but as they were utterly unacquainted with the art of writing, they have +no records or monuments from which to elucidate this inquiry, and their +traditionary accounts are too crude and imperfect to afford any degree +of rational information on the subject. The Chilese call their first +progenitors _Pegni Epatum_, signifying the brothers named Epatum. They +call them likewise _glyce_, or primitive men; and in their assemblies +invoke their ancestors and deities in a loud voice, crying _Pom, pam, +pum, mari, mari, Epunamen, Amimalguen, Pegni Epatum_. The meaning of +these words is uncertain, unless we may suppose it to have some +connexion with the word _pum_, used by the Chinese to signify the first +created man, or the one who was saved from the deluge. The lamas or +priests of Thibet are likewise said to repeat to their rosaries, the +syllables _om, am, um_, or _hom, ham, hum_; which corresponds in some +measure with the customary exclamation of the Chilese. + +It appears probable that the whole of Chili had been originally peopled +by one nation, as all the native tribes, however independent of each +other, speak the same language, and have a similar appearance. The +inhabitants of the plains are of good stature, but those who dwell in +the valleys of the Andes, usually surpass the ordinary height of man. +The features of both are regular, and none of them have ever attempted +to improve nature by disfiguring their faces, to render themselves more +beautiful or more formidable. Their complexion, like the other American +natives, is reddish brown or copper-coloured, but of a clearer hue than +the other Americans; and readily changes to white. A tribe which dwells +in the district of Baroa, is of a clear white and red like Europeans, +without any tinge of copper colour. As this tribe differs in no other +respect from the rest of the Chilese, this difference in complexion may +be owing to some peculiar influence of the climate which they inhabit, +or to their greater civilization. Some persons have been disposed to +attribute this difference in colour to an intermixture with a number of +Spanish prisoners taken during the unfortunate war of the sixteenth +century: But the Spanish prisoners were equally distributed among the +other tribes, none of whom are white; and besides, the first Spaniards +who came to Chili were all from the southern provinces of Spain, where +ruddy complexions are extremely rare. + +From the harmony, richness, and regularity of the Chilese language, we +are led to conclude that the natives must in former times have possessed +a much greater degree of civilization than now, or that they are the +remains of a great and illustrious nation, which has been ruined by some +of these physical or moral revolutions which have occasioned such +astonishing changes in the world. The Chilese language is so exceedingly +copious, both in radical words, and in the use of compounds, that a +complete dictionary of it would fill a large volume. Every verb, either +derivatively or conjunctively, becomes the root of numerous other verbs +and nouns, both adjectives and substantives, which in their turn produce +others of a secondary, nature which may be modified in a hundred +different manners. From every word in the language, a verb may be formed +by adding a final _n_. Even from the most simple particles, verbs may be +thus formed, by which at the same time great precision and great +strength are given to conversation. Yet the language contains no +irregular verb or noun, every thing being regulated by the most +wonderful precision and simplicity, so that the theory of the language +is remarkably easy, and may be learnt in a very short time. It abounds +also in harmonious and sonorous syllables, which give it much sweetness +and variety; yet is injured by the frequent recurrence of the sound of +_u_. The Chilese language differs essentially from every other American +language, both in words and construction, with the exception of eighteen +or twenty words of Peruvian origin, which is not to be wondered at, +considering the contiguity of the two countries. The most singular +circumstance in this language is, that it contains a considerable number +of words apparently of Greek and Latin derivation, and having similar +significations in both languages; yet I am inclined to believe that this +circumstance is merely accidental[54]. + +[Footnote 54: Perhaps these words may have been adopted into the Chilese +language from the Spaniards, who speak a kind of dialect of Latin. The +remainder of this section is an abridgement of an Essay on the Chilese +language, appended to the second volume of Molina.--E.] + + * * * * * + +The original language of Chili, generally called the Araucanian, is +denominated by the natives _Chili-dugu_, or the Chili speech or +language. The alphabet is the same as the Latin, except the want of _x_, +which indeed is only a compound letter. The _s_ likewise only occurs in +about twenty of their words, and never at the termination; and the _z_ +is still more rare. Besides the ordinary letters, the Chilese has the +mute _e_, and a peculiar _u_ like the Greek and French; the former being +designated by the _acute_, and the latter by the _grave_ accent, to +distinguish them from the ordinary _e_ and _u_. This latter _u_ is often +changed to _i_. It has likewise a nasal _g_ and a _th_; which latter is +often changed to _ch_, as _chegua_ for _thegua_, a dog. There are no +gutturals or aspirates. All the words end either in one of the six +vowels, or in _b,d,f,g,l,m,n,r, or v_; so that there are fifteen +distinct terminations. The accent is usually on the penult vowel, +sometimes on the last, but never on the antipenult. The radical words, +mostly monosyllables or dissyllables, are estimated at 1973. As far as +we have been able to discover, these radicals have no analogy with any +other known idiom, though the language contains a number of Greek and +Latin words very little varied, as in the following table. It is proper +to mention, that the orthography of the Chilese words is given according +to the Italian pronunciation. + +CHILESE. GREEK. SIGNIFICATION Aldun Aldein to increase. Ale Ele +splendour. Amun Mouen to go. Cai Kai and. Ga Ga in truth. Lampaicon +Lampein to shine. Mulan Mullen to pulverise. Pele Pelos mud. Reuma Reuma +a stream. Tupan Tupein to whip. + +CHILESE. LATIN. Aren Ardere to burn. Cupa. Cupere to desire. Dapein +Dapinare to feast. Ejun Ejulare to weep. Lev Levis active, swift. +Lumalmen Lumen light. Lui Lux brightness. Man Manus the right. Putun +Potare to drink. Valin Valere to be worth. Valen Valere to be able. Une +Unus one. + +The nouns have only one declension, or rather are indeclinable, the +numbers and cases being marked by various particles; but each, in this +way, has the singular, dual, and plural, like the Greek. Thus _Cara_ the +city, has _Cara-egu_ the two cities, and _Pu-cara_ the cities, as in the +following example. + + _Singular. Dual. Plural._ + Nom. Cara Cara-egu pu-Cara + Gen. Cara-ni Cara-egu-ni pu-Cara-ni + Dat. Cara-meu Cara-egu-meu pu-Cara-meu + Accus. Cara Cara-egu pu-Cara + Voc. a Cara a Cara-egu a pu-Cara + Abl. Caramo Cara-egu-mo pu-Cara-mo + +Instead of _pu_, the mark of the plural, _ica_ or _egen_ may be affixed +to the noun, or _que_ placed between the adjective and substantive. Thus +the plural of _cara_ may be _pu-cara, caraica_, or _caraegen_, +signifying the cities; or _cum-que cara_, the good cities. + +The Chilese language abounds with adjectives, both primative and +derivative. The latter are formed from every part of speech by +invariable rules: As, from _tue_ the earth, comes _tuetu_ terrestrial; +from _quimen_ to know, _quimchi_ wise; and these, by the interposition +of _no_, become negative, as _tuenotu_ not terrestrial, _quimnochi_ +ignorant. The adjectives, participles, and derivative pronouns are +unsusceptible of number or gender, in which they resemble the English; +yet when it is necessary to distinguish the sexes, _alca_ is used for +the masculine, and _domo_ for the feminine. The comparative is formed by +prefixing _jod_ or _doi_ to the positive, and the superlative by _cad_ +or _mu_. Thus from _chu_ limpid, are formed _doichu_ more limpid, and +_muliu_ most limpid. There are no diminutives or augmentatives, which +are supplied by means of the adjectives _picki_ little, and _buta_ +great. Diminutives are also formed by changing a harsh sound into one +more liquid; as _votun_ son, to _vochiun_ little son. The primitive +pronouns are _inche_ I, _eimi_ you, _teye_ which, &c. The relatives are +_iney_ who, _chem_ what, _ta_ or _ga_ that, &c. The verbs all terminate +in the syllables _an, en, in, an, un, un_; and are all regulated by a +single conjugation, having all the voices, moods, and tenses of the +Latin, with three or four others, and the singular dual and plural like +the Greek. The terminations of the present tense of each mood form the +roots of all the other tenses of the same mood, which are distinguished +by certain particles, as _che_ in the second present, _bu_ in the +imperfect, _uje_ in the perfect, &c. as in the following example, which +are placed between the radical and the final _n_. Passive verbs are +formed by the auxiliary _gen_, between the radical and final _n_. +Impersonal verbs by the particle _am_ added to the radical. The +following example of the verb _elun_ to give, will serve as a model for +all the other verbs in the language without exception, as there is but +one conjugation and no irregular verbs. It is to be noticed, that the +first present of all the verbs is used, as our compound preterite: Thus +_elun_ signifies I give or I have given; while the second present is +strictly confined to the present time. + + ACTIVE VOICE. + + INDICATIVE MOOD. + + _Present Tense_. + + Singular. + Dual. + Plural. + + 1. + _Elun_, I give. + _Eluvu_, We two give. + _Eluign_, We give + + 2. + _Eluimi_, Thou givest. + _Eluimu_, You two give. + _Eluimen_, Ye give + + 3. + _Elui_ He gives. + _Eluigu, They two give. + _Eluigen_, They give_ + + Second Present, + 1. _Eluchen_, I give. + 2. _Eluchemi_, Thou givest, &c. + + Imperfect, + 1. _Elubun_, I did give. + 2. _Elubuimi_, Thou, &c. + + Perfect, + 1. _Eluuyen_, I gave. + 2. _Eluuyeimi_, Thou, &c. + + Pluperfect, + 1. _Elunyebun_, I had given, &c. + + 1st Future, + 1. _Eluan_, I will give, &c. + + 2d Future, + 1. _Eluayean_, I shall have given, &c. + + 1st Mixed, + 1. _Eluabun_, I had to give, &c. + + 2d Mixed, + 1. _Eluugabun_, I ought to have had to give; &c. + + IMPERATIVE MOOD. + + Singular, + Dual. + Plural. + + 1 + _Eluche_, let me give + _Eluyu_, let us two give + _Eluign_, let us give + + 2 + _Eluge_, give thou + _Elamu_, let you two give + _Elumen_, give ye + + 3 + _Elupe_, let him give + _Elugu_ let these two give + _Elugen_, let them give + + SUBJUNCTIVE MOOD. + + Present tense, _Eluli_, if I may give + Imperfect, _Elubili_, if I might give + Perfect, _Eluuyeli_, if I may have given + Pluperfect, _Eluuyebuli_, if I might have given + 1st. Future, _Eluaii_, if I shall give + 2d. Future, _Eluuyela_, if I shall have given + 1st. Mixed, _Eluabuli_, if I had to give + 2d. Mixed, _Eluyeabuli_, if I should have to give + +The _optative_ is formed of the subjunctive, or of the two mixed-tenses +of the indicative, by adding the desiderative particles _velem_, _uel_, +or _chi_; as _eluli velem_! Would to God that I might give; _eluabun +chi_! Would to God that I had to give; &c. The affirmative _infinitive_ +is the same with the radical of the verb; or 1st person singular of the +indicative tense; so that there are nine peculiar infinitives, which are +distinguished from these tenses by some determinative particle. + + ACTIVE PARTICIPLES. + 1st Present, _Elulu_, he who gives + 2d Present, _Eluquelu_, he who gives + Imperfect, _Elubulei_, he who did give + Perfect, _Eluuyelu_, he who gave + Pluperfect, _Eluuyebula_, he who had given + 1st Future, _Elualu_, he who shall give + 2d Future, _Eluuyealu_, he who shall have given + 1st Mixed, _Eluabulu_, he who shall have to give + 2d Mixed, _Eluuyeabulu_, he who should have given + + GERUNDS + + 1st Present, _Eluyum_, giving + 2d Present, _Elualu_, for to give + Imperfect, _Eluyubum_, when giving + + + PASSIVE VOICE. + + INDICATIVE MOOD. + + _Present. Elugen_, I am given + _Imperfect. Elugebum_, I was given + _Participles Passive._ + + 1st Present, _Elugelu_, given + 2d Present, _Eluel_, given + Perfect, _Elubuel_, that was given + Imperfect, _Elugebulu_, that was given + + + IMPERSONAL VERB. + + _Indicative Mood._ + + 1st Present, _Eluan_, that is giving + 2d Present, _Eluchean_, that is giving + Imperfect, _Elubuam_, that was giving + Perfect, _Eluuyeam_, that was given + Pluperfect, _Eluuyebuam_, that had given + 1st Future, _Eluayam_, that shall be given + 2d Future, _Eluuyeayam_, that should be given + 1st Mixed, _Eluabuam_, that had to give + 2d Mixed, _Eluuyeabuam_, that should have to give + + Imperative. _Elupeam_, let us give, &c. + +Instead of the impersonal verb, the third person singular of the passive +may be used impersonally, as in Latin. The verb may be made negative +through its whole conjugation, by means of inserting the particle _la_ +in the indicative, _qui_ in the imperative which then takes the +termination of the subjunctive mood, and by means of _no_ in the +subjunctive and infinitive moods, as in the following examples. + + + + +Part II. Book II. + + Indicative, _Elulan_, I do not give + _Elulaimi_, thou doest not give + Imperative, _Eluquili_, let me not give, &c. + Subjunctive, _Elunoli_, if I do not give, &c. + Infinitive, _Elunou_, not to give, &c. + +NUMERALS OF THE CHILESE LANGUAGE. + + _Cardinals._ + + 1. _Quigne_ 11. _Mari-guigne_ 21. _Epumari quigne_ + 2. _Epu_ 12. _Mari-epu_. &c. + 3. _Cula_ + 4. _Meli_ + 5. _Quechu_ + 6. _Cayu_ + 7. _Relghe_ + 8. _Para_ + 9. _Aylla_ + 10. _Masi_ + 20. _Epumari_ + 30. _Culamari_ + 40. _Melimari_, &c. + 100. _Pataca_ 102. _Pataca epu_ + 200. _Epupataca_, &c. + 1000. _Huaranca_ + 2000. _Epuhuaranca_ 2003. _Epuhuaranca cula_, &c. + + _Ordinals._ + + _Unen, Unelelu, Quignelelu, Quignegetu, Quignegentu, Quigmentu, once + Epulelu, epugelu, epugentun, epuntu,_ twice, &c.[55] + +[Footnote 55: The translator seems here to have misunderstood the author, +as these ordinal numbers ought surely to signify _first_ and _second_.--E.] + + _Numeral Adverbs._ + + _Quignechi, guignemel, quignemita,_ once + _Epuchi, epumal, epumeta,_ twice, &c. + + + _Distributives._ + + _Calique, mallquigne,_ one by one + _Epuque, mollepu,_ two by two, &c. + + + _Numeral Verbs._ + + _Quignen_, to be one. + _Quignelian_, to join. + _Epun_, to be two; &c. + + + _Abstracts._ + + _Quignegen_, unity. + _Epugen_, duality. + _Culagen_, trinity, &c. + + + _Indefinites._ + + _Quignelque_, several. + _Epulgen_, about two. + _Culalque_, about three. + + * * * * * + +It has not been deemed necessary to repeat a great number of minute +observations given by Molina on this singular language, nor to report +the shades of difference in its dialects. But it has been thought proper +to give a short list of words from the Moluches, a tribe inhabiting +Patagonia, but speaking a nearly related dialect of the Chilese language +with that of the Araucanians. + + Vocabulary. + + _P'llu_, the soul or a spirit _Autuigh_, the sun, a day + _Lonco_, the head or the hair _Voso_, the teeth or bones + _Az_, the face _Anca_, the body + _N'ge_, the eyes _Pue_, the belly + _Wun_, or _huun_, the mouth _Cuugh_, the hand + _Gehuun_, the tongue _Namon_, the foot + _Yu_, the nose _Pinque_, the heart + _Nahue_, a daughter _P'nen_, a child + _Peni_, a brother _Con'n_, to enter + _Penihuen_, own brothers _Tipan_, to go out + _Huinca_, a Spaniard _Cupaln_, to bring + _Seche_, an Indian _Entun_, to take away + _Huenuy_, a friend _Aseln_, to be adverse + _Cainie_, an enemy _Aselgen_, to hate + _Huincha_, a head fillet _M'len_, to be, to possess + _Makun_, a mantle _Mongen_, life to live + _Lancattu_, glass beads _Mongetun_, to revive + _Cosque_, bread _Swam_, the will + _Ipe_, food _Swamtun_, to will + _In_, or _ipen_ to eat _Pepi_, power + _Ilo_, flesh _Pepilan_, to be able + _Ilon_, to eat flesh _Quimn_, knowledge, to know + _Putun_, to drink _Quimeln_, to learn + _Putumum_, a cup _Quimelcan_, to teach + _Chilca_, writing _Pangi_, a lion + _Chilcan_, to write _Choique_, an ostrich + _Sengu_, a word, language, or _Achahual_, a cock or hen + a thing + _Huayqui_, a lance _Malu_, a large lizard + _Huay-quitun_, to lance _Cusa_, a stone an egg + _Chinu_, a knife or sword _Saiguen_, a flower + _Chinogoscun_, to wound _Milya_, gold + _Chinogosquen_, to be wounded _Lien_, silver + _Conan_, a soldier _Cullyin_, money payment + _Conangean_, one who is to be _Cullingen_, to be rich. + a soldier + _Amon_, to walk _Cunnubal_, poor, miserable, + an orphan + _Anun_, to sit _Cum panilhue_, red metal, copper + _Anupeum_, a stool or seat _Chos panilhue_, yellow metal, brass + _Anunmahuun_, to feel inwardly _Gepun_, colour, painting + _Poyquelhuun_, to feel or perceive _Cuyem, Kiyem_ a mouth, the moon + _Saman_, a trade an artificer _Tissantu_, a year + _Mamel_, a tree _K'tal_, fire + _Mamel-Saman_, a carpenter _Asee_, hot + _Suca_, a house _Chosee_, cold + _Sucu-Saman_, a house builder _Atutuy_, it is shivering cold. + + _The beginning of the Lord's Prayer_. + + _Inchin in Chao, huenumenta m' leymi, ufchingepe mi wi;_ + Our Father, in heaven thou that art, hallowed be thy name; + _eymi mi toguin inchinmo cupape; eymi mi piel, chumgechi_ + thy kingdom to us may it come; thy will, as it is + _vemgey huenu-mapumo, vemgechi cay vemengepe_ + done in heaven, so likewise may it be done + _tue-mapumo, &c._ + on earth, &c. + +SECTION III. + +_State of Chili, and Conquests made in that Country by the Peruvians, +before the arrival of the Spaniards._ + + +The History of Chili and its inhabitants does not precede the middle of +the fifteenth century, and what little is known respecting it is +contained in the traditionary accounts of the Peruvians, who first +invaded the northern province of Chili about the middle of that century, +not an hundred years before the overthrow of the Peruvian empire by +Pizarro, and the first Spanish invasion of Chili under Almagro. + +About the year 1450, while the Inca Yupanqui reigned over the Peruvian +empire which had then extended its limits from Cuzco northwards to the +equator and southwards to the tropic of Capricorn, the ambition of the +Peruvian government was attracted to the acquisition of the important +country of Chili, a rich and delightful region of great extent, +immediately adjacent to the southern extremity of Peru. Favoured by the +fertility of the country and the salubrity of the climate, the +population of Chili may be readily supposed to have then been +considerable, as we know that the whole extent of its territory was +occupied by fifteen independent tribes or communities, each of which was +governed by its respective chiefs, or _Ulmens_. These, tribes, beginning +at the north on the confines of the desert of Atacama, were called +Copaipins, Coquimbans, Quillotans, Mapochians, Promaucians, Cures, +Cauques, Pencones, Araucanians, Cunches, Chilotes, Chiquilanian, +Pehuenches, Puelches, and Huilliches; which last tribe inhabited the +south of Chili, adjoining the archipelago of Chiloe. + +Informed of the natural advantages possessed by the inhabitants of this +delightful region, the Inca Yupanqui resolved to attempt the annexation +of Chili to his extensive empire. He accordingly marched with a powerful +army to the frontiers of the country: But, either from apprehensions of +his personal safety, or to be in a favourable situation for reinforcing +the invading army and directing its operations, he established himself +with a splendid court in the province of Atacama, the most southerly +district of Peru, and confided the command of the invading army to +Sinchiruca, a prince of the blood royal of Peru. Preceded, according to +the specious custom of the Peruvians, by several ambassadors, and +attended by a considerable military force, this general reduced under +the Peruvian government, more by persuasion than force, the four most +northerly tribes of the Chilese, named Copaipins, Coquimbans, +Quillotans, and Mapochians. After this, not being able by his +ambassadors to persuade the Promaucians into submission, who inhabit the +delightful country between the river Rapel on the north and Maule on the +south, he passed the river Rapel with his army to reduce them by force +of arms. The name of the Promaucians, which signifies _free-dancers_[56], +had been given them on account of their fondness for every kind of +amusement, and their peculiar attachment to dancing; yet the love of +pleasure had not rendered them effeminate. With the assistance of their +allies, they drew together a formidable army and fought the Peruvians +with such heroic valour as to defeat them in a battle, which, according +to Garcilasso, was continued during three successive days. + +[Footnote 56: On a former occasion their name is explained as signifying +_the people of delight_, owing to the beauty, fertility, and charming +climate of their country.--E.] + +On learning the defeat of his army and the invincible valour of the +Promaucians, the Inca gave orders that the river Rapel should remain the +southern boundary of his dominions, and all attempts to reduce the rest +of Chili were laid aside. According to Garcilasso, the river Maule was +established as the frontier of the Peruvian conquests: But this is by no +means probable; as in this case the country of the conquerors would have +been included within the territories of the vanquished. In fact, not far +from the river Cachapoal, which with the Tinguiririca forms the Rapel, +the remains of a Peruvian fortress are still to be seen on the top of a +steep hill, which was undoubtedly built to protect that part of the +frontier against the unconquered Promaucians. By this conquest of its +four northern provinces, Chili became divided into two distinct +portions; all to the south of the Rapel remaining free, while the +districts to the north of that river were subjected to the dominion of +the Incas. These four tribes, who had so readily submitted to the Inca +Yupanqui, were subjected to an annual tribute in gold; but the +conquerors never introduced their peculiar form of government into these +provinces, the inhabitants of which remained subject to their own native +_ulmens_, and preserved their original manners until the arrival of the +Spaniards. + +When first known to the Spaniards, the Chilese were an agricultural +people, dependent for their subsistence on the cultivation of such +nutritious plants as accident or necessity had made them acquainted +with. The plants chiefly cultivated by them for subsistence were maize, +_magu, guegen, tuca, quinoa, pulse_ of various kinds, the potatoe, +_oxalis tuberosa_, common and yellow pumpkin or gourd, guinea pepper, +_madi_, and the great strawberry; of each of which it may be proper to +give a short account[57]. + +[Footnote 57: The following account of the plants cultivated by the +Chilese for food, is extracted from the natural history of Chili by +Molina; but the enumeration from the text of his civil history will be +found to differ materially from that given from the natural history of +the same author.--E.] + +Maize or Turkey wheat, the _Zea mais_ of botanists, is called _gua_ by +the Chilese. It grows extremely well in Chili, where the inhabitants +cultivate eight or nine distinct varieties. The kind in highest repute +is called _uminta_, from which the natives prepare a dish by bruising +the corn, while in a green unripe state, between two stones into a kind +of paste, which they season with salt, sugar, and butter. This paste is +then divided into small portions, which are separately inclosed in the +skin or husk of the corn, and boiled for use. When ripe, the maize is +prepared for winter use, either by slightly roasting, or by drying in +the sun. From the former, named _chuchoca_, a kind of soup is prepared +by boiling with water: From the latter they make a very pleasant beer or +fermented liquor. The maize is sometimes reduced to meal by grinding +between two stones, being previously parched or roasted by means of +heated sand. For this purpose they prefer a variety of maize named +_curagua_, which is smaller than the other, and produces a lighter and +whiter meal, and in larger quantity. With this meal, mixed with sugar +and water, they make two different beverages, named _ulpo_ and +_cherchan_. + +_Magu_ a species of rye, and _tuca_, a species of barley, were +cultivated by the Chilese before the coming of the Spaniards to that +country; but have been entirely neglected since the introduction of +European wheat. They are still used however by the Araucanians, who make +from them a kind of bread called _couvue_, which name they likewise give +to bread made from maize or wheat. + +_Quinua_ is a species of _Chenopodium/_, having a black twisted grain of +a lenticular form, from which they prepare a stomachic beverage of a +pleasant taste. A variety of this plant, named _dahue_, produces white +seeds, which lengthen out when boiled like worms, and are excellent in +soup. The leaves of the _quinoa_ have an agreeable taste, and are eaten +by the natives. + +_Degul_ is a species of bean, of which the Chilese cultivated thirteen +or fourteen kinds before the arrival of the Spaniards, differing but +little from the common European bean or _Phaseolus vulgaris_, one of +them having a straight stalk, and all the rest climbers[58]. + +[Footnote 58: These beans are obviously what are called kidney-beans in +this country.--E.] + +Chili is considered by naturalists as the native country of that +valuable esculent the potato, or _Solanun tuberosum_, which is known +there by the names of _papa_ and _pogny_. It is found indeed wild all +over the country; but those wild plants, named _maglia_, produce only +small roots of a bitterish taste. It is distinguished into two species, +and more than thirty varieties are cultivated with much care. Besides +the common species, the second is the _cari, Solanum cari_, which bears +white flowers having a large central nectary like the narcissus. The +roots of this species are cylindrical and very sweet, and are usually +roasted under the ashes. + +The _Oca_, or _Oxalis tuberosa_, produces five or six tuberosities on +each root, three or four inches in length covered by a thin smooth skin. +It is eaten boiled or roasted, and has a pleasant subacid taste. Like +the potato, it is multiplied by means of its bulbs cut in pieces. There +are several species of this plant; one of which called _red culle_, is +much used in dyeing, and Is considered as a specific remedy for +inflammatory fevers. + +Two species of gourds are known in Chili. The first species, with a +white flower, called _quada_, has twenty-six varieties, several of which +produce sweet and edible fruit, while that of the others is bitter. With +one of these last, after extracting the seeds, the Chilese give a +pleasant perfume or flavour to their cyder. The yellow-flowering gourd, +called _penca_, has two kinds or varieties, the common and mamillary, +owing to the fruit of the latter having a large nipple-shaped process at +the end. Its pulp is sweet, and resembles in taste a kind of potato +named _camote._ + +The _quelghen,_ or Chili strawberry has rough and succulent leaves, and +its fruit is sometimes as large as a hens egg. This fruit is generally +red and white; but in the provinces of Puchacay and Huilquilemeu, where +they attain the greatest perfection, the fruit is yellow. "The Chili +strawberry is _dioecial_, and has degenerated much in Europe by the want +of male plants, and the females producing hybrid fruit by impregnation +from the ordinary strawberries growing in the neighbourhood; in +consequence of which circumstance the cultivation of this kind has been +abandoned in Europe." + +The _madi,_ a new genus of plants peculiar to Chili, has two species, +one wild and the other cultivated. From the seeds of the latter an +excellent oil is procured, either by expression, or by boiling in water, +of an agreeable mild taste, and as clear as the best olive oil. This +plant, hitherto unknown in Europe, would be a most valuable acquisition +to those countries in which the olive cannot be raised. + +Many species of the capsicum, or guinea pepper, are cultivated in Chili, +under the name of _thapi_, and are used as seasonings in the food of the +natives. + +The _illmu,_ or Bermudiana bulbosa, produces bulbous roots, which are +excellent food either boiled or roasted, and are very pleasant in soups. +The _liuto_ produces a bulbous root, which yields a very white, light, +and nutritious flour, which is much used as food for the sick. + +To these enumerated provisions from the vegetable kingdom, may be added +the _cuy_ or little rabbit, _Lepus minimus,_ and the Chilihueque, or +Araucanian camel; the flesh of which last affords an excellent food, and +its wool furnishes clothing for the natives. If tradition may be +credited, they had also the hog and the domestic fowl before the Spanish +invasion. Besides these, the country produced the _guanaco,_ and the +_pudu,_ a species of wild goat, and a great variety of birds. With these +productions, which required only a moderate degree of industry, they +subsisted with a sufficient abundance considering their situation and +numbers; insomuch that, when Almagro invaded Chili, his army found +abundance of provisions to recruit after the famine they had endured in +their imprudent march through the deserts intervening between Peru and +that country. With these advantages of abundant provisions in a fertile +soil and mild climate, it appears that the first writers who treated of +Chili cannot have greatly exaggerated in saying that it was filled with +inhabitants at the first arrival of the Spaniards. Even the circumstance +of one language being spoken through the whole country, is a proof that +all the tribes were in the habit of continual intercourse, and that they +were not isolated by vast unpeopled deserts, as is the case in many +other parts of America. + +Agriculture appears to have made no inconsiderable progress among the +Chilese, who cultivated a great variety of alimentary plants, all +distinguished by peculiar and appropriate names, which could not have +been the case except in consequence of an extensive and varied +cultivation. They even had aqueducts in many parts of the country for +watering or irrigating their fields; and, among these, the canal which +runs for many miles along the rough skirts of the mountains near the +capital, and waters the lands to the north of that city, remains a +remarkably solid and extensive monument of their ingenious industry. +They were likewise acquainted with the use of manure, called _vunalti_ +in their language; but, from the great fertility of the soil, little +attention was paid to that subject. They used a kind of spade or +breast-plough of hard wood for turning the soil, which was pushed +forwards by their breasts. At present the native Chilese use a very +simple plough, called _chetague_, made of the branch of a tree crooked +at one end, having a wooden share and a single handle by which it is +guided. Whether this simple implement has been taught them by the +Spaniards, or is of their own invention I know not; but should believe +it original, as Admiral Spilsberg observed a plough of this kind, drawn +by two Chilihueques, used by the natives of the Isle of Mocha in the +Araucanian Sea, where the Spaniards never had a settlement. The Fathers +Bry add, that the Chilese tilled their lands by means of these animals +before the arrival of any European cattle. However this may have been, +it is certain that this Araucanian camel was employed by the natives as +a beast of burden before the arrival of the Spaniards, and the +transition from burden to draught is not difficult. + +The Chilese cooked their grain for food in various ways, by boiling in +earthen pots, or roasting it in hot sand, and by grinding it into meal, +which they prepared in the form of gruel, of cakes, and of bread. Meal +made of parched grain was called _murque_, and when made from grain +merely dried in the sun _rugo_. Of the first they made gruels, and a +kind of beverage still used for breakfast. Of the second they made +cakes, and a kind of bread called _covque_, which was baked in holes dug +in the sides of hills or the banks of rivers, in the form of ovens, many +of which are still to be seen. They had even invented a kind of sieve, +called _chignigue_, to separate the bran from the flour, and employed +leaven in baking their bread. From the grains already mentioned, and the +fruits or berries of different trees, they made nine or ten different +kinds of fermented liquors, which they made and kept in jars of +earthen-ware. + +Having adopted the settled mode of life indispensable to an agricultural +people, the Chilese were collected into families or septs more or less +numerous, in those situations which were best suited for procuring +subsistence, where they established themselves in large villages, called +_cara_, or in small ones called _lov_. These villages consisted only of +a number of huts irregularly dispersed within sight of each other, and +some of them still subsist in several parts of Spanish Chili. The most +considerable of these are _Lampa_ in the province of St Jago, and _Lora_ +in the province of Maule. In each village or hamlet they had a chief +named _Ulmen_, who was subject in certain points, to the supreme ruler +of the tribe, or _apo-ulmen_. The succession of these chiefs was by +hereditary descent; and from their title of office, which signifies a +rich man, it would appear that wealth had been the original means of +raising these families to the rank they now occupy, contrary to the +usages of other savage nations in which strength, skill in hunting, or +martial prowess appear to have been the steps by which individuals have +risen to rank and power. The authority of these chiefs or _ulmens_ +appears to have been extremely limited, being merely of a directive +nature and not absolute. The right of private property was fully +established among the Chilese, as every individual was the absolute +master of the land he cultivated, and of the produce of his industry, +both of which descended to his posterity by hereditary succession. + +The houses or huts of the Chilese were built in a quadrangular form, of +wood covered with clay, and the roof covered with rushes; though in some +instances the walls were of brick, the use of which they seem to have +learned from the Peruvians, as they used the Peruvian term _tica_ for +that material. From the wool of the Chilihueques they manufactured cloth +for their apparel, using the spindle and distaff for spinning this wool +into yarn, and two different kinds of looms for weaving the yarn into +cloth. One of these, called _guregue_, is not very unlike the ordinary +loom of Europe; but the other is vertical or upright, and called +_uthalgue_, from the verb _uthalen_, signifying to stand upright. From +a verb in their language, _nudaven_, which signifies to sew, they must +have used some kind of needle to sew their garments; but I know not of +what substance it was composed. They seem even to have been acquainted +with the art of embroidery, called _dumican_ in their language. From +excellent clay which is found abundantly in Chili, they made pots, +plates, cups, and large jars to hold their fermented liquors, baking +these vessels in holes or ovens made in the declivities of hills; and +they even used a kind of mineral earth called _colo_, for varnishing +these vessels. Besides these vessels of clay, they made others of hard +wood, and even of marble; some vases of which excellently polished have +been dug out from under a large heap of stones in the mountains of +Arauco. From the earth they extracted gold, silver, copper, tin, and +lead, and employed these metals in a variety of useful and curious +works. Particularly from their native copper, which is a kind of +bell-metal and very hard, they made axes, hatchets, and other edged +tools, but in small quantities, as these are very rarely met with in +their ancient sepulchres; where, on the contrary, hatchets made of a +species of basalt or very hard stone are very often found. They seem +even to have known the use of iron, as it is called _panilgue_ in their +language, and weapons made of it are termed _chiuquel_, while those made +of other materials are called _nulin_. A smith likewise is called +_ruthave_, from _ruthan_, signifying to work in iron. + +The ancient Chilese had discovered the art of making salt, both from sea +water and from inland salt springs; calling the former _chiadi_, and the +latter _lilco-chiadi_, or salt from the water of rocks. They procured +dyes of various colours for their clothes, both from the juice of plants +and from mineral earths, and had discovered the art of fixing them by +means of the _polcura_, an aluminous or astringent mineral. Instead of +soap, they used the back of the _quillai_, which is an excellent +substitute. In their language there are many words discriminative of +various kinds of baskets and mats, which they manufactured from various +vegetables. From a plant called _gnocchia_, they procured a strong +fibrous substance resembling hemp, of which they made ropes and fishing +nets of different kinds; and the inhabitants on the coast used canoes of +different kinds and sizes, and floats or rafts of wood, or of inflated +seal skins. Though not peculiarly addicted to hunting, they were +accustomed to kill the wild animals and birds of the country, both for +amusement and subsistence; for which purpose they used bows and arrows, +and the _laque_ or running noose which is employed with so much +ingenuity by many of the South American natives. It is a singular fact +that they had the same device as the Chinese, for catching wild ducks in +their lakes and rivers, covering their heads with perforated gourds, and +wading among the flocks. + +They had advanced so far in the knowledge of numbers, as to have +distinctive names for the ten units, and for an hundred and a thousand, +with all the intermediate numbers compounded of decimal terms. To +preserve the memory of their transactions, they used a bunch of threads +of several colours called _pron_, similar to the _quippo_ of the +Peruvians, oh which they cast a number of knots according to +circumstances. The subject was indicated by the colour of the threads, +and the knots designated the number or quantity, but I have not been +able to discover any other purpose to which this species of register +could be applied. The _quippo_ is still used by the shepherds in Peru, +to keep an account of the number in their flocks, to mark the day and +hour when the different ewes yeaned, or when any of their lambs are +lost. + +The religious system of the Araucanians, formerly that of all the native +tribes of Chili, resembles in a great measure the freedom of their modes +of life and government. They acknowledge a Supreme Being, the creator of +all things, whom they name _Pillan_, a word derived from _pulli_ or +_pilli_, the soul. He is likewise named _Guenu-pillan_, the soul or +spirit of heaven; _Buta-gen_, the great being; _Thalcove_[59], the +thunderer; _Vilvemvoe_, the creator of all things; _Vilpepilvoe_, the +omnipotent; _Mollgelu_, the eternal; _Avnolu_, the omnipotent; and is +designed by many other similar epithets. Their ideas of the government +of heaven form in a great measure a prototype of the Araucanian system +of civil polity; Pillan is considered as the great _Toqui_ of the +invisible world of Spirits[60], and is supposed to have his _Apo-ulmens_ +and _Ulmens_, or subordinate deities of two different ranks, to whom he +entrusts the administration of lesser affairs. In the first class of +these inferior deities, are _Epunamun_, or the god of war; _Meulen_, a +benevolent being, the friend of the human race; and _Guecubu_, a +malignant being, the author of all evil, who is likewise called _Algue_. +Hence they appear to entertain the doctrine of two adverse principles, +improperly called Manicheism. _Guecubu_, or _Huecuvu_, is named +_Mavari_ by the natives on the Orinoco, and is the same with the +_Aherman_ of the ancient Persians. To him every evil is attributed. If a +horse tire, he has been ridden by _Guecubu_. In an earthquake, _Guecubu_ +has given the world a shock; and the like in all things. The _Ulmens_, +or subaltern deities of their celestial hierarchy, resemble the genii, +and are supposed to have the charge of earthly things, and to form, in +concert with the benevolent Meulen, a counterpoise to the prodigious +power of the malignant Guecuba. These _ulmens_ of the spiritual world +are conceived to be of both sexes, who always continue pure and chaste +without propagation. The males are called _Gen_, or lords; the females +_Amei-malghen_, or spiritual nymphs, and are supposed to perform the +same friendly offices to men which were anciently attributed to the +_lares_, and every Araucanian imagines he has one of these attendant +spirits in his service. _Nien cai gni Amchi-malghen_, I keep my nymph +still, is a common expression when any one succeeds in an undertaking. +Pursuant to the analogy of their own earthly government, as their +_Ulmens_ have no right to impose any service or contribution on the +people whom they govern, so they conceive the celestial race require no +services from man, having occasion for none. Hence they have neither +idols nor temples, and offer no sacrifices, except in case of some +severe calamity, or on the conclusion of a peace, when they sacrifice +animals, and burn tobacco as a grateful incense to their deities. Yet +they invoke them and implore their aid on urgent occasions, chiefly +addressing _Pillan_ and _Meulen_. + +[Footnote 59: _Pillan_, according to Dobrizhoffer, is likewise the word +for thunder. In a similar manner, _Tupa_ or _Tupi_, among all the Tupi +tribes of Brazil, and the Guaranies of Paraguay, signifies both God and +thunder.--E.] + +[Footnote 60: Among the Moluches, the general name of the Supreme Being, +according to Falkner, is _Toqui-chen_, or the supreme ruler of the +people.--E.] + +[Illustration: Map of CHILI] + +Notwithstanding the small regard which they pay to their deities, they +are extremely superstitious in matters of less importance, and are firm +believers in divination, paying the utmost attention to favourable and +unfavourable omens, to dreams, the singing and flight of birds, and the +like, which they believe to denote the pleasure of the gods. They have +accordingly jugglers or diviners, who pretend to a knowledge of +futurity, who are called _Gligua_ and _Dugol_, some of them call +themselves _Guenguenu_ or masters of heaven, _Guenpugnu_ or masters of +disease, _Guen-piru_, or masters of worms, and the like. These diviners +pretend to the power of producing rain, of curing diseases, of +preventing the ravages of the worms which destroy the grain, and so on. +They are in perpetual dread of imaginary beings, called _Calcus_ or +sorcerers, who in their opinion remain concealed in caverns by day, +along with their disciples or servants, called _lvunches_ or +man-animals, who transform themselves at night into owls and shoot +invisible arrows at their enemies. + +They all believe in the immortality of the soul, which they call _am_ or +_pulli_, and which they say is _aneanolu_ or incorporeal, and _mugealu_, +or existing for ever; but they are not agreed as to the state of the +soul after this life. All say that it goes after death to the west +beyond the sea, to a place called _Gulcheman_, or the dwelling of the +men beyond the mountains. Some believe this country is divided into two +provinces; one that is pleasant and filled with every thing delightful, +the abode of the good; the other desolate and devoid of every comfort, +the dwelling of the wicked. Others again conceive that all enjoy eternal +pleasure after this life, and that the deeds done in the body have no +influence on the future lot. They believe the soul retains its original +attachments and dislikes, and that the spirits of their departed +countrymen frequently return and fight furiously with those of their +former enemies, when they meet in the air; and to these combats they +attribute the origin of tempests and of thunder and lightning. When a +storm happens on the Andes or the ocean, they ascribe it to a battle +between the spirits of their departed countrymen and those of the +Spaniards. If the storm take its course towards the Spanish territory, +they exclaim triumphantly, _Inavimen, inavimen, puen, laguvimen!_ Pursue +them friends, pursue them, kill them! If the storm tends towards their +own country, they cry out in consternation, _Yavulumen, puen, +namuntumen_! Courage friends, be firm! + +They have a tradition of a great deluge, in which only a few persons +were saved by taking refuge on a high mountain, named _Thegtheg_, the +thundering or sparkling, which had three points, and had the property of +floating on the waters. On the occurrence of violent earthquakes, they +fly for refuge to the mountains, fearful that the sea may again deluge +the world; and on these occasions, every one takes a good supply of +provisions, and a large wooden platter to protect the head, in case the +_Thegtheg_ when raised by the waters should approach the sun. + +The year of the Araucanians is solar, and begins on the 22d of December, +or immediately after the southern solstice, which they call +_Thaumathipantu_, or the head and tail of the year, and are able to +ascertain this period with tolerable precision by means of watching the +shadows. The 22d of June is called _Udanthipantu_, the divider of the +year, as dividing it into two equal parts. The whole year is called +_Tipantu_, or the course of the sun, and is divided into twelve months +of thirty days each, to which they add five intercallary days to +complete the tropical year, but in what way I have not been able to +determine. The months are called _cujen_, or moons, and have the +following names: + + Avun-cujen, the month of fruit, -------------January + Coji-cujen the month of harvest, ------------February + Glor-cujen, the month of maize, ---------------March + Rimu-cujen, the 1st month of rimu, ---------------April + Inarimu-cujen, the 2d month of rimu, -----------------May + Thor-cujen, the 1st month of foam, ----------------June + Inanthor-cujen, the 2d month of foam, ----------------July + Huin-cujen, the unpleasant month, --------------August + Pillal-cujen, the treacherous month, ---------- September + Hueul-cujen, 1st month of new winds, -------------October + Inan-hueul-cujen, 2d month of new winds, ------------November + Hueviru-cujen, the month of new fruits, ----------- December + +The year is divided into four seasons; the spring being called +_Peughen_, the summer _Ucan_, the autumn _Gualug_, and the winter +_Pucham_. The natural day is divided into twelve parts or hours, called +_gliaganiu_, six of which belong to the day and six to the night, all of +which have particular names. Commencing at midnight, there are Puliuen, +Ueun, Thipanantu, Maleu, Vutamaleu, Ragiantu, Culunantu, Gullantu, +Conantu, Guvquenantu, Puni, Ragipun. The stars in general are named +_huaglen_, which they distribute into constellations called _pal_ or +_ritha_. The pleiades are named _Cajupal_, or the constellation of six; +the antarctic cross _Meleritho_, the Constellation of four, and so on. +The milky-way is named _Rupuepen_, the fabulous road. The planets are +called _gau_, a word derived from _gaun_ to wash, as they suppose them +to dip into the sea when they set; and some conceive them to be other +earths inhabited like our own. The sky is called _Guenu-mapu_, or the +heavenly country; the moon _Cuyenmapu_, or the country of the moon. +Comets are called _Cheruvoc_, as believed to be terrestrial exhalations +inflamed in the upper region of the air. The eclipses of the sun and +moon are called _Lay-antu_ and _Lay-cujen_, or the deaths of the sun and +moon. + +Their measures of length are the _nela_ or palm, the _duche_ or foot, +_namun_ the pace, _the can_ the ell, and _tupu_ the league, which +answers to the marine league or the pharasang of the Persians: But they +estimate long distances by mornings, corresponding to our days journeys. +The liquid measures are the _guampar_, about a quart; _can_ about a +pint; and the _mencu_, which is still smaller. The dry measures are the +_chiaique, about six pints; and the _gliepu_, which is double that +quantity. + +Oratory is held in high estimation, and is the road to honour and the +management of public affairs; insomuch that the eldest son of an +_Ulmen_, if deficient in that talent, is excluded from the right of +succession, which devolves upon a younger son, or the nearest male +relative who happens to be an able speaker. On this account, parents +accustom their sons to speak in public from their early youth, and carry +them to the national assemblies, where the best orators of the nation +display their eloquence. Hence the universal attention to speak the +language correctly and to preserve its purity. They are so careful to +avoid the introduction of any foreign words into their language, that +when any stranger settles among them he is obliged to adopt a new name +in the _Chili-dugu_ or language of the country, and even the +missionaries must conform to this singular regulation, if they would +obtain favour; and so fastidious are they in attention to the purity of +their language, that the audience will interrupt a missionary while +preaching, to correct the mistakes in language or pronunciation. Many of +them are well acquainted with the Spanish language; and, from being +accustomed to a soft regular and varied language, they are able easily +to learn the pronunciation of the different European dialects, as was +observed by Captain Wallis of the Patagonians, who are real Chilese. +They are so unwilling however to use the Spanish, that they never use it +in any of the assemblies or congresses between the two nations, and +rather choose to listen to a tiresome interpretation than to degrade the +dignity of their native tongue by using another on such occasions. +Their style of oratory is highly figurative, elevated, allegorical, and +replete with peculiar phrases and expressions that are only used on such +occasions; whence it is called _coyag-tucan_ or the style of public +harangues. They commonly divide their subject into regular heads, called +_thoy_, and usually specify the number they mean to enlarge upon; saying +_Epu thoygei tamen piavin_, "what I am going to say is divided into two +heads." Their speeches are not deficient in a suitable exordium, a clear +narrative, a well-founded argument, and a pathetic peroration; and +usually abound in parables and apologues; which sometimes furnish the +main substance of the discourse. + +Their poets are called _gempin_, or lords of speech; and their poetry +generally contains strong and lively images, bold figures, frequent +allusions and similitudes, new and forcible expressions, and possesses +the power of exciting sensibility. It is every where animated and +metaphorical, and allegory is its very soul and essence. Their verses +are mostly composed in stanzas of eight or eleven syllables, and are for +the most part blank, yet rhyme is occasionally introduced, according to +the taste or caprice of the poet. + +They have three kinds of physicians. Of these the _ampives_, who are +skilful herbalists, are the best, and have even some skill in the pulse +and other diagnostics of disease. The _vileus_ pretend that all +contagious diseases are produced by insects or worms, and are therefore +often called _cutampiru_, which signifies vermiculous diseases, or +diseases proceeding from worms. The _machis_ are a superstitious class, +or pretenders to sorcery, and allege that all diseases proceed from +witchcraft, and pretend therefore to cure them by supernatural means, +for which reason they are employed in desperate cases, when the +exertions of the _ampives_ and _vileus_ have proved ineffectual; They +have likewise a kind of surgeons, called _gutarve_; who are skilful in +replacing luxations, setting fractured bones, and curing wounds and +ulcers. Before the arrival of the Spaniards, the Chilese doctors used +bleeding, blistering, emetics, cathartics, sudorifics, and even +glysters. They let blood by means of a sharp flint fixed in a small +stick; and for giving glysters they employ a bladder and pipe. Their +emetics, cathartics, and sudorifics are all obtained from the vegetable +kingdom. + +Their commerce, both internal and external, is all carried on by barter, +as they have not adopted the use of money; and this is regulated by a +conventional tariff according to which the values of all articles in +commerce are appraised under the name of _cullen_, or payment. Their +external trade is with the Spaniards, with whom they exchange _ponchos_, +or Chilese cloaks, and animals, for wine or European articles. The +Spaniards of the province of Maule supply the Araucanians with iron +ware, bits for bridles, cutlery, grain, and wine; and are paid in +_ponchos_ of which they receive above 40,000 yearly, in horned cattle, +horses, ostrich feathers, curious baskets, and other trifles; for it has +never been possible to induce them to open their gold mines. The Spanish +merchant has in the first place to obtain permission from the ulmens or +heads of families of a district, after which he proceeds to all the +houses, distributing his merchandize indiscriminately to all, who +present themselves. When he has completed his sale, he gives notice of +his departure, and all the purchasers hasten to an appointed village, +where they deliver the articles agreed for with the utmost punctuality. + + +SECTION IV. + +_First Expedition of the Spaniards into Chili under Almagro_. + + +After the death of Atahualpa and the subjection of the Peruvian empire +by Pizarro and Almagro, Pizarro persuaded his companion Almagro to +undertake the conquest of Chili then celebrated for its niches, being +desirous to enjoy the sole command in Peru. Filled with sanguine +expectations of a rich booty, Almagro began his march for Chili in the +end[61] of the year 1535, with an army of 570 Spaniards, and accompanied +by 15,000 Peruvians, under the command of Paullu[62], the brother of the +Inca _Manco_, the nominal emperor of Peru, who had succeeded to +Atahualpa and Huasear. Two roads lead from Peru to Chili; one of which +by the maritime plain, is the arid desert of Atacama, destitute of water +and provisions; while the other passes for about 120 miles over the +immense ridge of the Andes, and is attended by excessive inconveniences +and almost insurmountable difficulties Almagro chose this road because +it was the shortest from Cuzco; and in this march his army had to endure +infinite fatigue, and almost incessant conflicts with the barbarous +tribes in the several districts through which he had to pass. He at +length reached the eastern side of the vast chain of the Andes at the +commencement of winter, almost destitute of provisions, and ill supplied +with clothing to protect his people under the inclemencies of the region +he had still to penetrate. At the season of the year which he +unfortunately chose, snow falls almost continually among the Andes, and +completely fills and obliterates the narrow paths that are even +difficultly passable in summer. The soldiers, however, animated by their +general, and ignorant of the dangers they had to encounter, advanced +with inconceivable toil to the summit of the rugged ascent. But by the +severity of the weather, and the want of provisions, 150 of the +Spaniards perished by the way; and 10,000 of the Peruvians, less able to +endure the rigours of that frozen region, were destroyed. Not one of all +the army would have escaped, had not Almagro pushed resolutely forward +with a small party of horse to Copaipo, whence he sent back succours and +provisions to his army still engaged in the defiles of the mountains. By +these means, those of the most robust constitutions, who had been able +to resist the inclemency of the weather, were enabled to extricate +themselves from the snow, and at length reached the plains of Copaipo, +the most northerly province in Chili, where they were kindly received +and entertained by the inhabitants, through respect for the Peruvians. + +[Footnote 61: The beginning of that year according to Ovale.--E.] + +[Footnote 62: By Orale this Peruvian prince is called Paullo Topo, and +the high priest of the Peruvians, Villacumu, is said to have been +likewise sent in company with Almagro.--E.] + +As the Inca Paullu was well acquainted with the object of this +expedition, he obliged the inhabitants of Copaipo to deliver up to him +all the gold in their possession, which he immediately presented to +Almagro, to the value of 500,000 ducats. Almagro was highly pleased with +this first fruit of his labours, and immediately distributed the whole +among his soldiers, to whom also he remitted immense debts which they +owed him, as he had advanced them all the funds which were necessary to +fit them out for the expedition. Almagro soon learnt that the reigning +Ulmen of Copaipo had usurped the government of that province in +prejudice of his nephew and ward, who had fled to the woods. Calling the +lawful heir into his presence, he arrested the guilty chief, and +reinstated the lawful heir in the government, with the universal +applause of the natives, who attributed this conduct entirely to motives +of justice and a wish to redress the injured. + +When the Spaniards were recovered from their fatigues, through the +hospitable assistance of the Copaipins, and were reinforced by an +additional number of soldiers brought by Rodrigo Orgonez from Peru, +Almagro and his troops commenced their march towards the more southerly +provinces of Chili, full of the most flattering hopes of acquiring vast +riches and splendid establishments in a fine country, which was +interspersed on all sides with numerous villages, evincing an extensive +population and fertile soil. The natives every where crowded round them +on the march, to examine the wonderful strangers, and to present them +with such things as they thought might prove agreeable to beings whom +they conceived of a superior order to other men. In the mean time, two +soldiers who had separated from the army, proceeded to the river Huasco +which forms the boundary between the provinces of Copaipo and Coquimbo, +where they were well received at first by the inhabitants; but, in +consequence of some acts of violence, they were afterwards put to death, +being the first European blood spilt in Chili, which has since been so +copiously watered with the blood of the Spaniards. On being informed of +this unfortunate accident, calculated to weaken the exalted notion which +he wished to inspire into the natives of the character of his soldiers, +Almagro hastened his march for Coquimbo, where he immediately ordered +_Marcando_ the head _ulmen_ of the province, his brother, and twenty +others of the principal inhabitants to be brought before him; all of +whom he committed to the flames; This act of cruelty appeared +extraordinary and unjust to every one; for even among these adventurers, +inured to rapine and bloodshed, there still were some men of humanity +and justice. The majority of the army openly disapproved the severity of +the general on this occasion, and from this time his affairs ceased to +be prosperous. + +Some time in the year 1537, Almagro received a considerable +reinforcement from Peru under the command of Juan de Rada; who likewise +brought him letters patent from the king of Spain, by which he was +appointed governor of 200 leagues of territory to the southward of the +government which had been granted to Francisco Pizarro. By the same +conveyance Almagro received letters from his friends in Peru, urging him +to return to that country and to take possession of Cuzco, which they +asserted was within the limits of the jurisdiction confided to him by +his patent. But, as he entertained very sanguine ideas of the value of +the conquest in which he was now engaged, he pursued his march towards +the south, and passed the fatal _Cachapoal_ or _Rapel_, regardless of +the remonstrances of his Peruvian allies, who urged him to refrain from +attempting to invade the country of the valiant Promaucians[63]. At the +first appearance of the Spaniards, these brave Indians were astonished +and terrified by the horses and thundering arms of the strangers; but +soon recovering from the effects of their first surprise, they +intrepidly opposed their new enemies on the banks of the Rio-claro. +Despising their force, and ignorant of their bravery, Almagro placed his +Peruvian allies in the first line, now considerably increased by an +additional number whom Paullu had drawn from the Peruvian garrisons in +Chili. But these troops were soon defeated by the Promaucians, and fell +back in confusion on the line of Spaniards in the rear. The Spaniards, +instead of remaining spectators of the battle, were now compelled to +sustain the vigorous attack of the enemy; and, advancing with their +horse, a furious battle was fought with considerable loss on both sides, +and continued till night separated the combatants without either party +having gained the victory. + +[Footnote 63: Called _Puramaucans_ by Garcilasso and _Promocaes_ by +Ovale, who names the _Cauquenes_ and _Peneos_ as their allies.--E.] + +Although the Promaucians had sustained a heavy loss in this battle, they +courageously encamped within sight of the Spaniards, determined to renew +the fight next morning. Though the Spaniards had kept possession of the +field, and considered themselves victorious according to the customs of +Europe, they were very differently inclined from their valiant enemies. +Hitherto they had been accustomed to subdue extensive provinces with +little or no resistance, and became disgusted with an enterprise which +could not be accomplished without much fatigue and danger, and the loss +of much blood, having to contend against a bold and independent nation, +by whom they were not considered as immortal or as a superior order of +beings. It was therefore resolved by common consent to abandon the +present expedition, yet they differed materially as to the conduct of +their retreat; some being desirous to return into Peru entirely, while +others wished to form a settlement in the northern provinces of Chili, +where they had already received so much hospitality, and had acquired +considerable riches. The first opinion was supported by Almagro, now +strongly impressed by the suggestions of his friends in Peru to take +possession of Cuzco. He represented to his soldiers the dangers to which +a settlement would be exposed in so warlike a country, and persuaded +them to follow him to Cuzco, where he expected to be able to establish +his authority either by persuasion or force, pursuant to his royal +patent. + +Having determined to return into Peru, and having fatally experienced +the dangers of the mountain road, Almagro resolved to march by the +desert of Atacama in the maritime plain, by which he conducted his +troops into Peru with very little loss in 1538. He took possession of +Cuzco by surprise; and, after ineffectual negociations, he fought a +battle with the brother of Pizarro, by whom he was taken prisoner, and +beheaded as a disturber of the public peace. Such was the fate of the +first expedition of the Spaniards against Chili, undertaken by the best +body of European troops that had hitherto been collected in those +distant regions. The thirst of riches was the moving spring of this +expedition, and the disappointment of their hopes the cause of its +abandonment. + + +SECTION V. + +_Second Expedition into Chili, under Pedro de Valdivia, to the +commencement of the War between the Spaniards and Araucanians_. + + +Having obtained absolute command of the Spanish possessions on the +southern side of South America, by the defeat and death of his rival +Almagro. Pizarro resolved to resume the conquest of Chili, which he +conceived might become an important acquisition. Among the adventurers +who had come from Spain to Chili, were two officers who held royal +commissions to attempt this conquest, named Pedro Sanchez de Hoz, and +Camargo. To Hoz had been confided the conquest of the country from the +confines of Peru to the river Maule; and to Camargo the remainder of the +country beyond that river to the archipelago of Chiloe. Jealous of the +interference of these officers in the country which he considered as his +by right of discovery, Pizarro refused under frivolous pretences to +confirm the royal nomination, and chose for the conduct of the +expedition Pedro de Valdivia, his quarter-master, a prudent active and +brave officer, who had acquired military experience in the wars of +Italy, and who had already evinced a strong attachment to his party. On +this occasion, Valdivia was directed to take Hoz along with him to +Chili, and to allow him every advantage he could possibly desire in the +allotment or repartition of lands and Indians in the expected conquest. + +Valdivia accordingly set out from Cuzco in 1540, with a force of 200 +Spaniards, and accompanied by a numerous body of Peruvian auxiliaries, +taking likewise along with him some monks, several Spanish women, and a +great number of European quadrupeds, with every requisite for settling a +new colony in the country. On his march for Chili he pursued the same +route with Almagro; but instructed by the misfortunes of his +predecessor, he did not attempt to pass the Andes till the middle of +summer, by which precaution he was enabled to enter Chili without +incurring any loss. His reception there however, even in the northern +provinces, was very different from that which had been experienced by +Almagro. Informed of the conquest of Peru by the Spaniards, owing to +which they were freed from the submission they had come under to the +Incas, they did not consider themselves bound to transfer their +obedience to the present invaders. The Copaipans accordingly began to +attack Valdivia immediately on entering their country, assailing him at +every step with much valour, but with very little conduct. Like +barbarians in general, they were incapable of making a common cause with +each other; and having been long accustomed to servitude under the +Peruvians, during which all union among the northern tribes had been +dissolved, they attacked their invaders in separate hordes as they +advanced into the country, and without that steady and firm courage +which stamps the valour of a free people in the defence of their +liberties. In spite of this desultory and uncombined opposition from the +natives, Valdivia traversed the provinces of Copaipo, Coquimbo, +Quillota, and Melipilla, with Very little loss though much harassed, and +arrived in the province of Mapocho, now called St Jago. + +This province, which is more than 600 miles from the confines of Peru, +is one of the pleasantest and most fertile in the kingdom. Its name of +Mapocho signifies in the Chilese language, _the land of many people_; +and according to the earliest writers respecting Chili, its population +was then extremely numerous. This province, which borders on the Andes, +is 140 miles in circumference, and is watered by the rivers Maypo, +Colina, Lampa, and Mapocho, which last divides it into two nearly equal +parts. In one place this river sinks into the earth, and after a +subterraneous course of five miles, emerges again with an increase of +its waters, and finally joins the river Maypo. The mountains of Caren, +which terminate this province on the north, abound in gold, and in that +part of the Andes which forms the eastern boundary, there are several +rich mines of silver. Valdivia had penetrated thus far into the country +on purpose to render it difficult for his soldiers to return into Peru, +and he now determined to form a settlement in this province, which from +its remote situation and natural advantages, seemed excellently +calculated to become the centre of his intended conquests. Having +selected with this view a convenient situation on the left shore of the +Mapocho, he laid the foundation of the intended capital of the kingdom +of Chili, on the 24th of February 1541, naming this new city St Jago, in +honour of the tutelary saint of Spain. In laying out the ground plan of +the intended city, he divided the whole into plots or squares of 4095 +toises each[64], and allotted a quarter of each square as the scite of a +house for each citizen, which plan has been followed in laying out all +the other cities in Chili. One of these areas situated on one side of +the great square was destined for the cathedral and bishops palace, and +another for the house of the governor and the public offices. He then +appointed a cabildo or magistracy, according to the usual forms in +Spanish cities, from those persons in his small army that were best +qualified for the purpose; and, for the protection of the new +settlement, in case of attack from the Chilese, he built a fort on a +hill in the centre of the city, which has since received the name of St +Lucia. + +[Footnote 64: Though not distinctly so expressed, this must be +considered as square toises, making each side of the square 64 toises, +or 384 feet. In a former account of the city of St Jago, the public +square is described as being 450 feet on each side.--E.] + +Though many have applauded the sagacity of Valdivia in the choice of a +situation for the capital of the new colony, it would in my opinion have +been much better placed on the banks of the river Maypo, about fifteen +miles farther south; as that river is much larger than the Mapocho, has +a direct communication with the sea, and might easily be made navigable +for ships of considerable burden. In the year 1787, this city contained +more than 40,000 inhabitants, and was rapidly increasing in population, +owing to its being the seat of government, and the residence of many +wealthy and luxurious families, by which it attracts considerable +commerce. + +The natives observed the progress of this new settlement with much +jealousy, and concerted measures for freeing themselves from such +unwelcome intruders; but, as Valdivia discovered their intentions, he +confined the chiefs of the conspiracy in his new fortress; and having +intimation of a secret intelligence being carried on between the +Mapochians and their neighbours, the Promancians, he repaired with a +body of sixty horse to the river Cachapoal or Rapel to watch the motions +of that brave and enterprising nation. This precaution was however +altogether unnecessary, as that fearless people had not sufficient +policy or foresight to think of uniting with their neighbours in order +to secure themselves from the impending danger. Taking advantage of the +absence of Valdivia, the Mapochians fell upon the new settlement with +desperate fury, burnt all the half-built houses, and assailed the +citadel on all sides, in which the inhabitants had taken refuge. While +the Spaniards were valiantly defending their imperfect fortifications, a +woman named Inez Suarez, beat out the brains of all the captive chiefs +with an axe, under the apprehension that they were endeavouring to +regain their liberty, and might assist the assailants in gaining +possession of the fort. The attack began at day-break, and was continued +without intermission till night, fresh assailants continually occupying +the places of those who were, slain or disabled. + +The commandant of the Spaniards, Alonzo de Monroy, found means to send a +messenger to inform Valdivia of his situation; and the governor +accordingly hastened to the aid of the besieged with all possible +expedition, and found the ditch almost filled with dead bodies, while +the enemy, notwithstanding the heavy loss they had sustained, were +preparing to renew the assault. Drawing out its infantry from the fort +to join the cavalry he had along with him, Valdivia advanced in order of +battle against the forces of the enemy, who were posted on the bank of +the Mapocho. The battle was again renewed in this place, and obstinately +contested with equal valour on both sides; but with great disadvantage +on the part of the natives, who were far inferior in arms and discipline +to the Spaniards. The musquetry and the horse made a dreadful slaughter +among Mapochians, who were only armed with bows and slings; yet +obstinately bent upon preserving their independence, and regardless of +their own importance, they rushed on to inevitable destruction; till +having lost the flower of their valiant warriors, and reduced to a small +number, they at length fled and dispersed over the plain. +Notwithstanding this memorable defeat, and others of not less importance +which they sustained afterwards, the Mapochians did not cease for the +space of six years to keep the Spaniards closely blockaded in St Jago, +continually attacking them on every opportunity, and cutting off their +provisions so effectually, that they were often reduced to great +straits, having to subsist upon unwholesome and loathsome viands, and +what little grain they were able to raise under protection of the cannon +from the ramparts. At length, worn out and brought to utter ruin by this +incessant warfare, the remnant of the Mapochians destroyed their own +crops and retired to the mountains, leaving the fertile plains around +the new city utterly deserted and uncultivated. + +The soldiers under Valdivia became wearied and disgusted by this +continual war, so different from what they had expected; and as they +believed him obstinately bent upon adherence to his own plan, and +resolved to continue the settlement in spite of every opposition from +the natives, they entered into a conspiracy to kill their general and to +return into Peru, where they expected to enjoy more ease and +tranquillity. Having fortunately got notice of this conspiracy, +Valdivia, who possessed great prudence and an insinuating address, soon +conciliated those who were least implicated. After this, as he only had +the title of general which did not confer any civil and judicial power, +he assembled the Cabildo of the city, and persuaded them to invest him +in the office of governor of the city and kingdom. In this imposing +capacity, he tried and capitally punished some of the ringleaders of the +conspiracy, and then prudently exerted himself to soothe the turbulent +and seditious spirits of the remainder, by buoying up their hopes with +the most flattering promises of future wealth. He had often heard in +Peru, that the valley of Quillota abounded in mines of gold, and was +hopeful therefore of being able to obtain a sufficient quantity from +thence to satisfy the avidity of his soldiers. Notwithstanding the +difficulties with which he was surrounded, he sent a party of soldiers +into the valley of Quillota, with orders to superintend and protect a +number of labourers in digging for the precious metal said to be abound +in that place. The mine which was opened upon this occasion proved +remarkably rich and productive, surpassing their most sanguine hopes; so +that all their past sufferings and present difficulties were soon buried +in oblivion, and henceforwards no one had the remotest wish to leave the +country. Valdivia, encouraged by this success to new enterprises, +ordered a carrack or ship of some considerable size to be built at the +mouth of the river Chillan, which traverses the valley of Quillota, for +the purpose of more readily obtaining succours from Peru, without which +he was fully sensible he could not possibly succeed in the vast +enterprise he had in view, which was no less than to accomplish the +entire reduction of Chili. + +In the mean time, considering the urgent state of his affairs, Valdivia +resolved to dispatch two of his principal officers, Alonzo Monroy, and +Pedro Miranda by land to Peru, with an escort of six horsemen, whose +spurs, bits, and stirrups he directed to be made of solid gold, hoping +thereby to entice a sufficient number of recruits to come to his +assistance, by this obvious proof of the riches of the country. Although +these messengers were escorted to the confines of Chili by thirty +additional horsemen, they were attacked and defeated in the province of +Copaipo by a hundred archers, commanded by Coteo, an officer of the +_Ulmen_ of that province. Of the whole party none escaped with life but +the two officers, Monroy and Miranda, who were made prisoners and +carried before the _ulmen_ covered with wounds. The prince had resolved +on putting them both to death; but, while deliberating on the mode of +execution, his wife, the _ulmena_ or princess of Copaipo, moved by +compassion for their unhappy situation, successfully interceded with her +husband to spare their lives, unbound them with her own hands, tenderly +dressed their wounds, and treated them as if they had been her brothers. +When they were entirely recovered, she desired them to teach her son +the art of riding, as several of the Spanish horses had been taken in +the late defeat. The two Spaniards readily consented to her request, +hoping to avail themselves of this circumstance to give them an +opportunity of recovering their liberty, which they did in effect; but +the means they employed was marked by a cruel act of ingratitude to +their compassionate benefactress, of so much deeper turpitude that it +was unnecessary for their purpose. As the young prince was one day +riding between them, escorted by a party of archers and preceded by an +officer carrying a lance, Monroy suddenly dispatched him with two or +three mortal wounds of a poniard. At the same time Miranda wrested the +lance from the officer of the guard, who were thrown into confusion by +this unexpected event, and the two Spaniards readily accomplished their +escape. Being well mounted, they easily eluded pursuit, and made their +way through the desert into Peru, whence they continued their way to +Cuzco, where Vaca de Castro then resided, who had succeeded to the +government after the cruel assassination of Francisco Pizarro by the +Almagrian faction. + +When De Castro was informed of the critical situation of affairs in +Chili, he immediately sent off a considerable reinforcement by land +under the command of Monroy, who had the good fortune to conceal his +march from the Copaipans, and to join Valdivia in safety. At the same +time the president of Peru dispatched by sea Juan Batista Pastene, a +noble Genoese, with a more considerable reinforcement for Valdivia. On +receiving these two reinforcements, which arrived about the same time, +Valdivia began to carry his great designs into execution. Being +solicitous to have a complete knowledge of the sea-coast, he ordered +Pastene to explore the whole as far to the southwards as possible, +noting the most important places all along the coast; and, on his return +from this maritime survey, he sent him back to Peru for additional +reinforcements, as the natives had become every day bolder and more +enterprising, ever since their victory in Copaipo over Monroy and +Miranda. Only a little before this, the Quillotans had contrived to +massacre all the soldiers employed at the gold mines in their country, +by the following stratagem. One day a neighbouring Indian brought a pot +full of gold to Gonzalo Rios, the commandant at the mines, and told him +that he had found a great quantity in a certain district of the country +which he offered to point out. On this information, all were eager to +proceed immediately to the place, that they might participate in the +imaginary treasure. As they arrived at the place described in a +tumultuary manner and entirely off their guard, they fell into an +ambush, by which the whole party was slain, except their imprudent +commander and one negro, both of whom saved their lives by the speed of +their horses. About the same time the vessel which Valdivia had ordered +to be built at the mouth of the river Chillan was burnt by the natives, +together with the store-houses or arsenal which he had established in +that place. + +On receiving notice of the disaster which had taken place at the mines, +Valdivia hastened to Quillota with a strong body of troops, and took +revenge as far as he could on the Quillotans for the death of his +soldiers; after which, he constructed a fort in their country in which +he left a garrison for the protection of the people employed in the gold +mines. Being soon afterwards reinforced by three hundred men from Peru, +under the command of Francisco Villagran and Christoval Escobar, he +made choice of a beautiful plain near the mouth of the river Coquimbo, +at which place there is a very convenient natural harbour, near which he +erected in 1544: a city which he named _Serena_, to serve as a place of +arms to protect the northern part of Chili, and to secure the convoys +and reinforcements which might come from Peru in that direction. This +place is still known in geography by the name of Serena; but in Chili +the native name of Coquimbo prevails, as is the case with most of the +Spanish cities and towns in Chili. + +In the ensuing year, 1545, Valdivia marched into the country of the +Promaucians, with the view of extending his conquests to the southwards. +Contemporary historians have not left an account of the events of this +year, nor of any battles having been fought on this occasion; yet it is +hardly to be supposed that this valiant tribe, who had so gloriously +repulsed the armies of the Inca and of Almagro, would allow Valdivia to +reduce their territory to subjection without a struggle. However this +may have been, it is certain that he had the art to persuade the +Promaucians to enter into an alliance with him against the other tribes +of Chili; as ever since the Spanish armies in Chili have been assisted +by Promaucian auxiliaries, owing to which the most rooted antipathy has +been constantly entertained by the Araucanians against the remnant of +the Promaucians. In the year 1546, Valdivia passed the river Maule, and +reduced the natives to obedience from that river to the Itata. While +encamped at a place named Quilacura, near the latter river, he was +attacked one night by the natives, who destroyed many of his horses, and +put him into imminent danger of a total defeat. His loss on this +occasion must have been considerable; as he found it necessary to +relinquish his plan of farther conquest, and to return to St Jago to +wait reinforcements from Peru. As the expected reinforcements did not +arrive, and Pastene, who had been sent into Peru to endeavour to procure +recruits, brought news in 1547 of the civil war which then raged in +Peru, Valdivia determined to go thither in person, expecting to reap +some advantages from these revolutionary movements. + +Valdivia sailed therefore with Pastene for Peru, taking with him a great +quantity of gold, and left Francisco Villagran in charge of the +government of Chili during his absence. Valdivia accordingly arrived in +Peru, where he offered his services to the president De la Gasca, and +acted with great reputation as quarter-master-general of his army in the +war against Gonzalo Pizarro. The president was so much satisfied with +the services which were rendered by Valdivia on this occasion, that, +after the insurrection of Gonzalo was entirely subdued, he confirmed him +in the office of governor of Chili, and sent him back to that kingdom +with abundance of military stores, and with two ships filled with the +soldiers who had served under Gonzalo in the late insurrection, glad of +an opportunity of getting rid of so many seditious people for whom there +was then no fit employment in Peru. + +During the absence of Valdivia from Chili, Pedro de Hoz, who had been +deprived of that share in the conquest and government which had been +granted him by the court of Spain, and who had imprudently put himself +under the power of his more successful rival, was accused of entering +into secret practices for usurping the government. It is now unknown +whether this accusation was well-founded, or if it were merely a +pretence for getting rid of him; but, however this may have been, +Villagran condemned him to be beheaded in 1548, either to please +Valdivia by ridding him of a dangerous competitor, or perhaps in +consequence of secret instructions for that purpose. About this time, +the Copaipans killed forty Spaniards, who were proceeding in several +separate detachments from Peru to Chili; and the Coquimbans, at the +instigation of these northern neighbours, massacred all the inhabitants +of the new city of Serena, and razed that place to the foundations. On +this occasion Francisco Aguirre was sent into this part of Chili with a +military force, to chastise the natives, and had several encounters with +them with various success. In 1549, he rebuilt the city of Serena in a +more commodious situation, and the inhabitants have ever since +considered him as the founder of their city, many of the most +distinguished inhabitants of which still boast of being his descendants. + +After an incessant contest of nine years, attended by incredible +fatigues, numerous dangers, and many reverses, Valdivia considered +himself as solidly established in the dominion of that portion of Chili +which had formerly been under the authority of the Incas. He accordingly +distributed the territory among his followers in repartimientos, +assigning a considerable portion of land with all its native inhabitants +to each of his followers in proportion to their rank and services, under +the denomination of commanderies, according to the baneful system of +feudalism then prevalent in Europe. Having thus quieted the restless +ambition and mutinous spirit of his soldiers, he advanced towards the +south to extend his conquests, accompanied by a respectable force both +of Spanish and Promaucians. After a march of 250 miles, during which he +encountered few obstacles of any moment, he arrived at the Bay of Penco, +now generally called the Bay of Conception, which had been already +explored by Pastene during his voyage of discovery formerly mentioned; +and near that excellent bay he laid the foundation of the third city in +Chili, on the 5th of October 1550, to which he gave the name of +Conception. + +The situation of this place was admirably adapted for commerce, from the +excellence of its harbour; as the bay extends six miles from east to +west and nine miles from north to south, defended at its entrance from +the sea by the pleasant island of Quiriquina. The passage into the bay +on the north side of this island, called the _bocca grande_, is about +half a league broad, and has sufficient water for the largest ships. +That on the other side of the island, or _bocca chica_, is very narrow, +and is only navigable by small vessels. The soil around this place, +under the influence of an admirable climate, produces abundance of +timber, excellent wine, and all the necessaries of life, and is not +deficient in the valuable minerals; and both the sea and the adjoining +rivers afford great quantities of fine fish. But owing to the lowness of +the situation which was chosen for this city, it was much exposed to +inundations of the sea during earthquakes, which are frequent in Chili. +On the 8th of July 1730, this city was nearly destroyed by an earthquake +and inundation; and experienced a similar calamity on the 24th of May +1751. In consequence of these repeated calamities, the inhabitants +established themselves on the 24th of November 1764 in the valley of +Mocha, nine miles south from Penco, between the rivers Andalian and +Biobio, where they founded a city to which they gave the name of New +Conception. The harbour named Talgacuano, situated at the south-east +extremity of the bottom of the bay, is between six and seven miles from +the new city; and a fort is all that now remains of the old city, now +called Penco. + + +SECTION VI. + +_Narrative of the War between the Spaniards and Araucanians, from the +year 1550, to the Defeat and Death of Pedro de Valdivia on the 3d of +December 1553._ + + +Perceiving the intentions of Valdivia to occupy the important post of +Penco by a permanent settlement, the adjacent tribes of the Pencones +gave notice of this invasion to the great nation of the Araucanians, +their neighbours and friends, whose territories began on the southern +shore of the Biobio; who, foreseeing that the strangers would soon +endeavour to reduce their own country to subjection, determined to +succour their distressed allies for their own security. Accordingly, in +a _butacoyog_, or general assembly of the Araucanian confederacy, +_Aillavalu_ was nominated supreme _toqui_, and was instructed to march +immediately with an army to the assistance of the Pencones. In the year +1550, pursuant to the resolutions of the Araucanian confederacy, +Aillavalu passed the great river Biobio, at the head of 4000 men, and +boldly offered battle to Valdivia, who had advanced to meet him on the +banks of the Andalian. The brave Araucanians sustained the first +discharges of musquetry from the Spaniards with wonderful resolution, +and even made a rapid evolution under its direful effects, by which they +assailed at once the front and flank of the Spanish army. By this +unexpected courageous assault, and even judicious tactical manoeuvre, +the Spaniards were thrown into some disorder, and Valdivia was exposed +to imminent danger, having his horse killed under him; but the Spaniards +replaced their firm array, forming themselves into a hollow square +supported by their cavalry, and successfully resisted every effort of +their valiant enemies, of whom they slew great numbers by the +superiority of their arms, yet lost at the same time a considerable +number of their own men. The battle remained undecided for several +hours; when at length, rashly pressing forwards with impetuous bravery, +Aillavalu received a mortal wound[65], and many of the most valiant +officers and soldiers of the Araucanians being slain, they retired in +good order, leaving the field of battle to the Spaniards, who felt no +inclination to pursue them after a so dear-bought victory. + +[Footnote 65: In Ovalle, this general is named Anabillo, and is said to +have been made prisoner in the battle.--E.] + +Valdivia, though he had been present in many battles, both in Europe +and America, was astonished at the valour and military skill of this new +enemy, and declared he had never been exposed to such imminent danger in +the whole course of his military service. As he expected to be soon +attacked again, he immediately proceeded to construct a strong +fortification for the protection of his new city; and in fact, the +Araucanian confederacy was no sooner informed of the defeat and death of +their general Aillavalu, than a new and more numerous army was ordered +against the Spaniards, under the command of _Lincoyan_, who was elected +to the vacant office of supreme toqui. From his gigantic stature, and +frequent displays of courage, this officer had acquired great reputation +among his countrymen; but, though well suited for a subaltern officer, +he was timid and irresolute in the supreme military command, and greatly +disappointed the expectations which had been formed from his former +behaviour. + +Having marshalled his army in three divisions, Lincoyan marched in 1551 +to attack the Spaniards under Valdivia, who still remained at +Conception, occupied in building and fortifying the new city. The +Spaniards were so much alarmed by the approach of the Araucanian army, +that after confessing themselves, they took shelter under the cannon of +their fortifications, where the Araucanians boldly assailed them. But, +finding the first assault unsuccessful, Lincoyan became apprehensive of +losing the army which had been committed to his charge, and ordered a +precipitate retreat, to the great surprise of Valdivia, who was +apprehensive of some stratagem, and did not venture upon attempting a +pursuit. When it was discovered that the enemy had actually retreated, +the Spaniards considered their flight as a special favour from heaven, +and some even alleged that they had seen the apostle St James, mounted +on a white horse, waving a flaming sword and striking terror into their +enemies. But the only miracle on this occasion proceeded from the timid +circumspection of Lincoyan. + +Being now in some measure freed from the restraint imposed upon him by +the Araucanians, Valdivia applied himself diligently to the building of +the city of Conception, for which place he entertained a strong +predilection, as he considered that it would become the centre of +maritime communication between Chili and the ports of Peru and Spain. +Although he had fixed upon St Jago for the capital of the kingdom of +Chili, he determined upon establishing his own family at Conception; +for which purpose he selected a pleasant situation for his own dwelling, +reserving for himself the fertile peninsula between the rivers Andalian +and Biobio, and resolved to ask as a reward for his services the two +adjoining districts of Arauco and Tucapel, with the title of marquis: +For, although these districts still remained in the possession of the +Araucanians, he fully expected to be able to subjugate that valiant +people in a short time. + +Having speedily reared the new city, in which he established a colony of +his followers, he employed the remainder of the year 1551 in regulating +its internal policy; for which purpose, after having established a +Cabildo or body of magistrates, in imitation of those in Spain, as usual +in all the cities of Spanish America, he promulgated a body of +fundamental regulations, comprised in forty-two articles or statutes, +some of which respecting the treatment of the natives within its +territory and jurisdiction evinced much prudent humanity; yet, as in all +the other subjected countries of America, he left them in a great +measure subject to the control and caprice of the citizens to whom they +were allotted. + +After the settlement of his new city, and having received a +reinforcement of soldiers from Peru, he resolved to attack the +Araucanians in their own territories, believing that their courage was +now entirely subdued, as they had made no attempt to molest him since +their late repulse under Lincoyan. With these views, he passed the +Biobio in 1552, and proceeding rapidly through the provinces of Encol +and Puren, unopposed by the tardy and timid operations of Lincoyan, he +arrived at the river Cauten, which divides the country of the +Araucanians nearly into two equal parts. Near the confluence of this +river with the Damas, he founded a new city which he named +_Imperial_[66], in honour of the Emperor Don Carlos; though some say +that it received this name in consequence of finding some wooden figures +of eagles with two heads, fixed on some of the native huts. This city +was placed in a beautiful situation, abounding in all the conveniences +of life; and, during the short period of its existence became one of the +most flourishing in Chili. Being placed on the shore of a large and deep +river, capable of allowing large ships to lie close to the walls, it was +excellently situated for commerce, and had free access to receive +succours of all kinds by sea in case of being besieged. By modern +geographers, this place is still spoken of as an existing city, strongly +fortified, and the seat of a bishopric; but it has been in ruins for +considerably more than two hundred years. + +[Footnote 66: The place where Imperial once stood is marked on our maps +on the right or north shore of the conjoined streams of the Ouisa and +Cauten, immediately above the junction of a small river which is +probably the Damas of the text.--E.] + +Intoxicated with his present prosperity, and the apparent submission of +the Araucanians, he assigned extensive districts in the surrounding +country among his officers. To Francisco Villagran, his +lieutenant-general, he gave the warlike province of _Maquegua_, +considered by the Araucanians as the key of their country, with about +thirty thousand inhabitants. The other officers obtained grants of lands +and Indians proportionate to their rank, and the degree in which they +possessed his favour, some getting as far as eight or even ten thousand +Indians. He likewise dispatched Alderte, with a detachment of sixty men, +with orders to establish a settlement on the shore of a lake called +_Lauquen_, to which he gave the name of _Villarica_, or the rich city, +owing to the great quantity of gold that was procured in the environs. + +It may be here mentioned that the province of _Maquegua_ was partitioned +anew among the conquerors after the death of Villagran; the principal +part of it being assigned to Juan de Ocampo, and another large share to +Andreas Matencio. But, in consequence of its recapture by the +Araucanians, they reaped very little advantage from their commanderies. +Ocampo was afterwards rewarded for his distinguished services by being +appointed to the office of corregidore of the cities of Serena Mendoza +and St Juan, the two last in the province of Cujo; in which province he +had likewise the grant of a considerable commandery of Indians, which he +afterwards ceded to the crown. + +Receiving additional reinforcements from Peru, Valdivia resumed his +march for the south of Chili, still followed but at a considerable +distance by Lincoyan, who pretended continually to seek a favourable +opportunity to attack the Spaniards, but whose timid and cautious +procedure could never find one of which he dared to avail himself. In +this manner Valdivia traversed the whole territory of the Araucunians +from north to south, with exceedingly little opposition and hardly any +loss. But on his arrival at the river Callacalla, which separates the +Araucanians from the _Cunches_, he found that nation in arms on the +opposite bank of the river, ready to dispute the passage. The Cunches +are one of the most valiant of the tribes inhabiting Chili, and possess +the maritime country from the river Callacalla, called Valdivia by the +Spaniards, to the gulf of Chiloe. They are divided into several +subordinate tribes or clans, each of which, as in the other parts of +Chili, are governed by their respective _ulmens_. They are in strict +alliance with the Araucanians, and have ever continued bitter enemies to +the Spaniards. + +While Valdivia was deliberating upon the adoption of proper measures for +crossing this river, a woman of the country, named _Recloma_, addressed +the general of the Cunches with so much eloquence in behalf of the +strangers, that he withdrew his army and allowed them to pass the river +unmolested. Immediately after this unexpected event, the Spanish general +founded a sixth city on the southern shore of the Callacalla, near its +junction with the sea, giving it his own name of Valdivia; being the +first of the conquerors in America who sought in this manner to +perpetuate his name. This settlement, of which the fortress only now +remains, attained in a few years a considerable degree of prosperity; +owing to the superior fineness of the gold procured from its +neighbouring mines, which obtained it the privilege of a mint, and +because its harbour is one of the most convenient and secure of any on +the shore of the Pacific Ocean. The river is here very broad, and so +deep that ships of the line may be moored in safety within a few feet of +the shore; and it has several other safe harbours and creeks in the +vicinity. + +Satisfied with the extent of the conquests he had made, or rather with +the incursions he had been able to make in the Araucanian territory, +Valdivia now retraced his steps towards the north; and in his progress +during the year 1553, he built fortresses in each of the three +Araucanian provinces of Paren Tucapel and Arauco. From the warlike +inhabitants of these provinces especially, he apprehended any attempt +that might prove fatal to his more southerly settlements of Imperial +Villarica and Valdivia, and he left garrisons in these more northern +fortresses to preserve the communication, and to be in readiness to +afford succours to the others in the south. According to the poet +Breilla, the Spaniards had to sustain many battles and encounters with +the natives in the course of this expedition in Araucania, but the +particulars of none of these are recorded. This is however very +probable; as it is not easy to account for the continuance of Lincoyan +in the command on any other principles. It may be concluded, however, +that, owing to the caution, or cowardice rather of the Araucanian toqui, +these actions were so ill conducted and so inconclusive, as to give very +little interruption to Valdivia in his triumphant progress through these +provinces, between the Biobio and Callacalla, or from Conception to +Valdivia. + +On his return to St Jago, the seat of government, Valdivia received a +considerable body of recruits to his army from Peru, together with 350 +horses; on which he dispatched Francisco de Aguirre with two hundred +men, to reduce the provinces of Tucuman and Cajo on the eastern side of +the Andes; not considering how inadequate was even his whole +undiminished military force to retain so large an extent of country as +that he had now occupied, and a so numerous and warlike people under +subjection. Indefatigable in the execution of his extensive plans of +conquest, Valdivia returned into Araucania, where he founded in the +province of Encol, a city to which he gave the name of La Frontera, +being the seventh and last of his foundation. This name, from events +which could not then have been in the consideration of Valdivia, has +become strictly applicable to its present situation, as its ruins are +actually situated on the southern confines of the Spanish settlements in +Chili. Though long ago destroyed, it is still mentioned by geographers +as an existing city under the name of Angol, by which native +denomination it was long known to the Spaniards. It was situated in a +fertile district, excellently adapted for the cultivation of vines, and +for some time was in a rich and flourishing condition, principally owing +to its wines, which were in great repute at Buenos Ayres, to which place +they were transported by a road across the Andes and through the plains +of La Plata. + +After making suitable regulations for the security of this new colony, +Valdivia returned to his favourite city of Conception, where he +instituted three principal military officers for commanding the royal +army of Chili, consisting of a quartermaster-general, a serjeant-major, +and a commissary. In the present times only two of these subsist, the +quarter-master-general and the serjeant-major; which latter office is +now divided into two, one for the cavalry, and the other for the +infantry; while the office of commissary is only now known in the +militia. At this time he sent Alderte into Spain, with a large sum of +money, and a particular relation of his transactions and conquests; and +commissioned him to employ his utmost exertions to obtain for him the +perpetual government of the country which he had conquered, together +with the title of Marquis of Aranco. He dispatched likewise Francisco de +Ulloa by sea, with directions to explore the Straits of Magellan, by +means of which he hoped to open a direct communication with Spain, +without being obliged to depend upon Peru for supplies. + +While occupied in the contemplation of these extensive plans for the +amelioration of the extensive kingdom which he had subdued, and the +advancement of his own rank and fortune, Valdivia had no suspicion of an +extensive and determined system of warfare which was planning among the +Araucanians, and which soon burst forth with irresistible violence, to +the ultimate destruction of all the Spanish conquests beyond the Biobio, +and to which Valdivia himself fell an early victim. _Colocolo_, an aged +_Ulmen_ of the province of Arauco, animated by love for his country, +quitted the retirement in which he had long indulged, and traversed the +provinces of the Araucanian confederacy, exciting with indefatigable +zeal the dormant spirit of his countrymen, which had sunk after their +late disasters, and eagerly solicited them to make choice of a new +supreme _toqui_ capable of directing their arms for the recovery of +those parts of their country which had been subjugated by the Spaniards, +through the timid conduct of Lincoyan. Colocolo was well versed in the +principles of government which subsisted among the Araucanians, and had +long enjoyed the reputation of wisdom throughout the whole country, in +which he was so universally esteemed and respected, that his councils +and opinion were always solicited and listened to on every subject of +importance. Roused from their torpidity by his animating exhortations, +the whole body of Araucanian ulmens assembled according to their custom +in a _Butacayog_, or national council, in an open plain; and, after the +usual feast, they proceeded to consult upon the situation of their +national affairs, and the election of a new toqui to wipe off the +disgraces which they had suffered under the direction of Lincoyan. + +Many chiefs aspired to the glorious situation of avenger of their +oppressed country, the most distinguished among whom were Andalican, +Elicura, Ongolmo, Renco, and Tucapel. The last of these was so highly +celebrated by his martial prowess that the province of which he was +_Apo-ulmen_ has ever since retained his name. He was besides supported +in his pretensions by a powerful party; but his elevation to the +supreme command was opposed by the more prudent members of the +assembly, who dreaded lest the impetuosity of his character might hasten +the entire ruin of the nation, instead of retrieving their honour and +independence. Dissensions arose so high that the opposite parties were +on the point of turning their arms against each other, when the +venerable Colocolo rose to speak, and obtained a patient and attentive +hearing. By a judicious and energetic address, he pacified their +factious irritation so completely, that the assembly unanimously +submitted the nomination of a supreme _toqui_ to his choice. The wise +old man, on whom every eye was now fixed in anxious expectation, +immediately named Caupolican, the ulmen of Pilmaquen a subordinate +district of the province of Tucapel, and the whole assembly applauded +and confirmed the choice. Caupolican was of a lofty stature and uncommon +bodily strength; and though he had lost an eye, the majesty of his +countenance evinced great endowments of mind. He was of a serious, +patient, and sagacious disposition; and besides great personal bravery, +had every requisite to constitute him an able general of the peculiar +troops over whom he was now appointed to command. On being invested with +the battle-axe, as the badge of his supreme authority, he immediately +selected the officers who were to bear command under him in the army of +the state, among whom were all the late competitors, and even Lincoyan +the former _toqui_. The office of vice-toqui, or lieutenant-general, he +conferred on Marientu, a person in whom he reposed entire confidence. +Even the violent Tucapel, who had nearly involved his country in civil +war for the attainment of the supreme command, did not disdain to serve +under the orders of his own vassal, manifesting by this submission his +eager wish to sacrifice his personal ambition to the service of his +country. + +As the Araucanians believed themselves invincible under the command of +their new toqui, they were desirous of going immediately from the place +of assembly to attack the Spaniards. But Caupolican, no less prudent in +council than valiant in the field, repressed this rash ardour, and +persuaded them to disperse to their several places of abode, to provide +themselves with good arms in order to be in readiness at the first +summons to the field, and to leave the direction of the war to his +management. Shortly afterwards, he collected and reviewed his army[67], +and resolved to commence his operations by a stratagem suggested by an +accident. He had that morning taken eighty Indian prisoners, who were +conducting forage to the Spanish garrison in the neighbouring fort of +Arauco. In place of these men, he substituted an equal number of his own +bravest soldiers, under the command of Cajuguenu and Alcatipay, whom he +directed to conceal their arms among the bundles of grass, and to +maintain possession of the gate of the fortress until he could come to +their assistance with the rest of his army. The pretended foragers +conducted themselves with so much judgment that they were admitted into +the fortress without any suspicion on the part of the garrison, and +immediately seizing their arms, they attacked the guard at the gate, +killing all that came in their way. The alarm however soon spread, and +the rest of the garrison hastened in arms to the spot, under Francisco +Reynoso the commandant, and drove the Araucanians from the gate after an +obstinate contest, at the very moment when Caupolican came up with his +army, so that the Spaniards had just sufficient time to raise the +draw-bridge and hasten to defend their ramparts. Though disappointed in +his expectation of gaining admittance by the gate, Caupolican was still +in hope of profiting from the confusion of the garrison, and encouraged +his soldiers to assail the fortress on all sides, notwithstanding the +continual fire kept up by the Spaniards from two cannon and six small +field-pieces. After losing a great number of men in this unequal +contest, Caupolican drew off from the assault, and determined to attempt +the reduction of Arauco by a strict blockade, in hopes that the +Spaniards would be soon constrained by famine into a surrender. + +[Footnote 67: Ovalle carries the number of the Araucanian array on this +occasion to the inconceivable amount of 67,000 combatants in the field, +besides a large body of reserve.--E.] + +After the blockade had continued for some time, during which the +Spaniards made several unsuccesful sallies with considerable loss, +Reynoso determined to abandon the fort and to retire with his remaining +garrison to Puren, as provisions began to fail, and there was no +prospect of being relieved. Accordingly the whole garrison mounted their +horses at midnight, and rushing suddenly from the gate, made their +escape through the middle of their enemies. As the Araucanians supposed +this to have been one of the ordinary sallies, they took no measures to +obstruct their flight, and Reynoso got off with his men. Having +destroyed the fort of Arauco, Caupolican led his army to attack that of +Tucapel, which was commanded by Martin Erizar with a garrison of forty +men. Erizar defended himself gallantly for several days; but as +provisions began to fail, and his small force was continually +diminishing by the perpetually renewed assaults of the enemy, he +likewise determined upon withdrawing to Puren, which he successfully +executed, either by similar means as those pursued by Reynoso, or in +consequence of a capitulation with Caupolican. Having destroyed this +fortress, Caupolican encamped with his army in the neighbourhood, to +wait the approach of the Spaniards, who he supposed would not be long of +coming against him with an army. + +Valdivia, who then resided in the city of Conception, no sooner learnt +that the Araucanians had besieged Arauco, than he began his march for +that place with such forces as he was able to collect at a short notice; +though contrary to the advice of his most experienced officers, who +urged him to wait till he could collect a more formidable army, and +seemed to have a presentiment of the fatal consequences which were to +result from the present expedition. The historians of the times differ +materially in their accounts of the force under Valdivia on this +occasion. According to some of these his army consisted of two hundred +Spaniards and five thousand Promaucian auxiliaries, while others reduce +the number to a half. The same uncertainty is to be found respecting the +number of the enemy, some estimating them at nine and others at ten +thousand men[68]. On approaching the encampment of Caupolican, Valdivia +sent forwards a detachment of ten horsemen under Diego del Oro to +reconnoitre, all of whom were slain by the enemy, and their heads cut +off and hung upon trees by the way in which the Spanish army had to +advance. On arriving at this place, the Spaniards were filled with +horror at this miserable spectacle, and many of them, in spite of their +usual intrepidity, were eager to retreat till a greater force could be +collected. Even Valdivia regretted that he had not conformed to the +advice of his older officers; but encouraged by the boasting confidence +of others, who proudly declared that ten Spaniards were sufficient to +put the whole Araucanian army to flight, he continued his march and came +in sight of the enemy on the 3d of December 1553. The prospect of the +ruins of Tucapel and the well regulated array of the adverse army, with +the insulting taunts of the enemy, who upbraided them as robbers and +impostors, filled the minds of the Spaniards, hitherto accustomed to +respect and submission from the Indians, with mingled sentiments of +dread and indignation. + +[Footnote 68: Ovalle does not mention the amount of the army under +Valdivia on this occasion, but extends the force of the Araucanians to +twenty thousand men.--E.] + +The two armies continued for some time to observe each other from a +small distance. At length the vice-toqui Marientu, who commanded the +right wing of the Araucanians, began the engagement by an attack against +the left wing of the Spaniards. Bovadilla who commanded in that wing, +moved forwards with a detachment to encounter Marientu; but was +immediately surrounded, and he and all his men cut to pieces. The +serjeant-major, who was dispatched by Valdivia to his succour with +another detachment, experienced the same fate. In the mean time, +Tucapel, the Apo-ulmen of Arauco, who commanded the left wing of the +Araucanians, made a violent attack on the Spanish right wing with his +accustomed impetuosity. The battle now became general, and the hostile +armies joined in close fight from wing to wing. Animated by the commands +and example of Valdivia, who performed at the same time the duty of a +valiant soldier and experienced general, the Spaniards by the +superiority of their arms overthrew and destroyed whole ranks of the +enemy. But, notwithstanding the horrible slaughter produced by the +cannon and musquetry of the enemy, the Araucanians continually supplied +the places of those who were slain by fresh troops. Three times they +retired in good order beyond the reach of the musquetry; and as often, +resuming new courage, they returned vigorously to the charge, which they +urged with the most determined and persevering valour. At length, after +losing a vast number of their men, the Araucanians were thrown into +disorder and began to give way; and in spite of every effort of +Caupolican, Tucapel, and even of the aged and intrepid Colocolo, to +reanimate their courage and rally their disordered ranks, they took to +flight. The Spaniards shouted victory! and pressed ardently upon the +fugitives, and the battle seemed decidedly won. + +In this critical moment, a young Araucanian only sixteen years of age, +named Lautaro, who had been made prisoner by Valdivia, and baptized and +employed as his page, went over from the ranks of the victorious +Spaniards, loudly reproached his countrymen for their opprobious +cowardice, and eagerly exhorted them to return to the contest, assuring +them, that the Spaniards, being all wounded and spent with fatigue, +were no longer able to bear up against a fresh attack. Having succeeded +in stopping the flight of a considerable number of the Araucanians, +Lautaro grasped a lance which he tunned against his late master, crying +out, "Follow me my countrymen to certain victory." Ashamed at being +surpassed in courage by a boy, the Araucanians turned with fury against +their enemies, whose ranks were somewhat disordered by the pursuit, and +put them completly to rout at the first shock, cutting the Spaniards and +their allies to pieces, insomuch that only two Promaucians of the whole +army had the good fortune to escape, by fleeing to a neighbouring wood, +whence they withdrew during the night to Conception. When all hope was +lost by the entire rout of his army. Valdivia withdrew from the massacre +attended by his chaplain, to prepare himself for inevitable death by +confession and absolution. He was pursued and made prisoner by the +victors; and on being brought before Caupolican, is said to have humbly +implored mercy from the victorious toqui, and to have solicited the +intercession of his former page, solemnly engaging to withdraw from +Chili with all the Spaniards if his life were spared. Naturally of a +compassionate disposition, and desirous of obliging Lautaro to whom he +owed this important victory, and who now interceded for Valdivia, +Caupolican was disposed to have shewn mercy to his vanquished foe; but +while deliberating on the subject, an old ulmen of great authority among +the Araucanians, indignant at the idea of sparing the life of their most +dangerous enemy, dispatched the prisoner with a blow of his war club, +saying that it would be madness to trust the promises of an ambitious +enemy, who would laugh at his oaths when once he escaped the present +danger. Caupolican was much exasperated at this interference with his +supreme authority, and was disposed to have punished it severely; but +most of his officers opposed themselves to his just resentment[69]. + +[Footnote 69: According to Ovalle, Caupolican was forced by his officers +to pronounce condemnation against Valdivia, which was executed +immediately, but different accounts were given of the manner in which +this was performed: some saying that it was done in the way related in +the text, while others allege that they poured melted gold down his +throat; that they preserved his head as a monument of victory, to +animate their youth to a valorous defence of their country, and that +they converted the bones of his legs and arms into flutes and +trumpets.--E.] + +Thus fell Pedro de Valdivia, the conqueror of Chili; a man of superior +genius and of great political and military talents, but who, seduced by +the romantic spirit of his age and country, had not sufficient prudence +to employ them to the best advantage. His undertakings had been more +fortunate, if he had properly estimated his own strength, and had less +despised the courage and skill of the Araucanians, presuming on the +dastardly example of the Peruvians, and the want of concert in the more +northern tribes of Chili, against whom he had hitherto been accustomed +to contend. Historians do not impute to him any of those cruelties with +which the contemporary conquerors of America have been accused. It is +true that, in the records of the Franciscans, two monks of that order +are mentioned with applause, as having dissuaded him from exercising +those cruelties which had been usual with other conquerors upon the +natives of America. By some he has been accused of avarice, and they +pretend that the Araucanians put him to death by pouring melted gold +down his throat, in punishment of his inordinate search for that metal: +But this is a mere fiction, copied from a similar story in ancient +authors. + + * * * * * + +Garcilasso de la Vega, Part I. Book vii. Chap. xxi. gives the following +account of the battle in which Valdivia was defeated by the Araucanians. + +"In many skirmishes Valdivia always defeated the Araucanians and put +them to flight, as they were in such dread of the Spanish horse that +they never dared to adventure into the open plains, where ten Spaniards +were able to beat a thousand Indians, for which reason they always kept +lurking in the woods and mountains, where the Spanish cavalry could not +get at them; whence they often sallied out, doing all the injury they +were able against the Spaniards. The war continued in this manner for a +long time; till at length an old captain of the Araucanians, who had +been long famous in their wars, began to consider the reason why so +small a number as only 150 Spaniards should be able to subdue and +enslave twelve or thirteen thousand Araucanian warriors. After mature +deliberation, he divided the Araucanian force into thirteen battalions +each of a thousand men, which he drew up in successive lines at some +distance, so as to act as a series of reserves one after the other, and +marched in this new order of battle against the Spaniards one morning at +day-break, ordering them to give louder shouts than usual, and to make +a great noise with their drums and trumpets. Alarmed by the noise and +shouts of the Indians, the Spaniards sallied forth to battle, and seeing +the many divisions of the enemy, they imagined it would be much easier +to break through and defeat these smaller battalions than if united in +one body." + +"So soon as the Araucanian captain saw the Spaniards advancing, he +exhorted the foremost battalion of his army to do their best; 'not, said +he, that I expect you to overcome them; but you must do your utmost in +defence of your country, and when you are worsted, then betake +yourselves to flight, taking care not to break into and disorder the +other battalions; and when you get into the rear of all, you must there +rally and renew your ranks.' He gave similar orders to all the successive +battalions, and appointed another officer to remain in the rear to +restore the order of those who should retreat, and to make them eat and +refresh themselves while the others continued the fight successively. +Accordingly the foremost battalion fought for some time against the +Spaniards, and when no longer able to withstand the impetuosity of their +charge, they retired as ordered into the rear. The second, third, +fourth, and fifth battalions did the same in succession, and were all +successively defeated by the Spaniards, all retiring according to orders +when their array was broken; yet in these reiterated combats the +Spaniards sustained some loss both in men and horses. The Spaniards, +having already defeated and put to flight five successive bodies of the +enemy, and having fought three long hours, were astonished still to +observe ten or twelve similar successive battalions before them in firm +array, yet they gallantly attacked the sixth body which they likewise +overthrew, and in like manner the seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth. +Having now fought seven hours without intermission, both the Spanish men +and horses began to fail from long fatigue, and were unable to charge +with the same vigour as in the beginning of the action, yet they exerted +their utmost efforts not to shew any appearance of failure to the +Indians. Yet the Indians could clearly perceive a material relaxation in +the exertions of their enemies, to whom they did not allow a moment of +repose, but plied them as at first with new and fresh battalions." + +"At length, seeing there was likely to be no end of this new way of +fighting, as there were still eight or nine battalions of the enemy in +view, and it being now drawing towards evening, Valdivia determined +upon making a retreat before his men and horses should be entirely worn +out and disabled by incessant action. He accordingly gave orders to his +men to retreat, that they might reach a narrow pass about a league and a +half from the field of battle, where they would be secure against +attack, as in that place two Spaniards on foot were able to keep off the +whole army of the Araucanians. He accordingly issued orders to his +soldiers to retreat to that narrow defile, passing the word from rank to +rank, with directions to turn and make head occasionally against the +enemy. At this time Valdivia was attended by an Araucanian, youth named +_Lautaro_, the son of an ulmen, who had been bred up in his family from +a boy, and baptized by the name of Philip. Knowing both languages, and +being more biassed by affection to his country than love to God or +fidelity to his master, on hearing the orders given to retreat, he +called out to the Araucanians not to be satisfied with the retreat of +the Spaniards, but immediately to take possession of the narrow pass, by +which they would ensure the entire destruction of their enemies. To +encourage his countrymen by his example as well as his words, Lautaro +took up a lance from the ground, with which he joined the foremost rank +of the Araucanians, and assisted them to fight against his former +master." + +"When the Araucanian captain observed the Spaniards preparing to retire, +he immediately followed the advice of Lautaro, and ordered two fresh +battalions of his troops to hasten in good order to occupy the narrow +pass, and to use their utmost efforts to defend it till the rest of the +army could get up to their assistance. With the remainder of his troops +he pressed on against the retreating Spaniards, still plying them as +from the first with fresh bodies of his men, and not allowing a moments +respite to the enemy. On coming to the entrance of the narrow pass, +where they expected to have been in safety, the Spaniards found it +already occupied by the enemy, and began to despair of being able to +escape. At this time, perceiving that both the Spanish men and horses +were completely tired, the Araucanians broke in among them, fifteen or +twenty of them seizing upon one horse, some catching him by the legs, +others by the tail, and others by the mane; while others knocked down +both men and horses with their great war-clubs, killing them with the +greatest rage and fury." + +"Pedro de Valdivia, and a priest who accompanied him, were taken alive +and tied to trees, until the Indians had dispatched all the rest, only +three Indian auxiliaries of the Spaniards making their escape by favour +of the night into a thicket, whence, being well acquainted with the ways +and more faithful to their masters than Lautaro, they carried the fatal +news to the Spaniards in Chili. The manner in which Valdivia was +afterwards put to death has been differently related. Some say that +Lautaro, finding him tied to a tree, killed him after reviling and +reproaching him as a robber and a tyrant. The most certain intelligence +is, that an old captain beat out his brains with a club. Others again +say that the Araucanians passed the night after their victory in dances +and mirth; and that at the end of every dance, they cut off a piece of +flesh from Valdivia and another from the priest, both yet alive, which +they broiled and eat before their faces. During which horrid repast, +Valdivia confessed to the priest and they both expired." + + * * * * * + + +SECTION VII. + +_Continuation of the War between the Spaniards and Araucanians, from the +death of Valdivia, to that of Caupolican._ + + +This important victory, which was gained in the evening of the 3d +December 1553, was celebrated next day by the Araucanians with all kinds +of games and diversions, which were exhibited in a meadow surrounded by +high trees, on which the heads of the slaughtered enemies were suspended +as trophies of the victory. An immense concourse of inhabitants from all +the surrounding country flocked to Tucapel to enjoy the triumph obtained +over an enemy hitherto considered as invincible, and to join in the +festivities on this joyful occasion. In token of triumph, the Araucanian +officers dressed themselves in the clothes and armour of their slain +enemies, and Caupolican decorated himself with the armour and surcoat of +Valdivia, which was magnificently embroidered with gold. After the +conclusion of the rejoicings, Caupolican presented Lautaro to the +national assembly or Butacayog, which had met to deliberate upon the +proper measures to be pursued in farther prosecution of the war; and, +after a speech in which he attributed the whole success of the late +glorious battle to the young warrior, he appointed him extraordinary +vice-toqui, and to enjoy the command of a second army which was to be +raised for protecting the frontiers against invasion from the Spaniards. +In consideration of the inappreciable service he had rendered to his +country, the advancement of Lautaro to this new dignity was approved and +applauded by all the chiefs of the confederacy. Besides the nobility of +his origin, as he belonged to the order of ulmens, Lautaro was +singularly beautiful in his appearance, and conciliating in his manners, +and possessed talents far surpassing his years, so that in the sequel he +fully confirmed the sentiments now entertained of him by Caupolican and +the rest of his countrymen. + +The sentiments of the assembled chiefs in respect to the farther +prosecution of the war, were various and discordant. Colocolo and most +of the Ulmens were of opinion, that they ought in the first place to +endeavour to free their country from the remaining Spanish +establishments within its bounds, before attempting to carry their +incursions to the north of the Biobio. Tucapel and some others of the +most daring officers, insisted that they ought to take advantage of the +present circumstances to attack the Spaniards even in the city of St +Jago, the centre of their colonies, while in a state of consternation +and dismay, and to drive them entirely from the whole kingdom of Chili. +Caupolican applauded the heroic sentiments of Tucapel, yet adopted the +council of the elder chiefs, as the most prudent and beneficial for the +interests of the nation. + +About this time Lincoyan, the former toqui, who was at the head of a +detached body of troops engaged in harassing the dispersed settlements +of the Spaniards in Araucania, fell in with a party of fifteen +Spaniards, on their march from Imperial to join Valdivia, of whose total +defeat they had not yet received intelligence. Before engaging with the +enemy, whom they confidently expected to defeat with the utmost +facility, these Spaniards vainly regretted that their number exceeded +twelve, in hope that the event of the day would stamp upon their names +the chivalrous title of _the twelve of fame_. Their wishes were soon +more than gratified, as seven of them fell at the first encounter with +the enemy, and the remaining seven, taking advantage of the swiftness of +their horses, escaped severely wounded to the fortress of Puren, +carrying with them the melancholy intelligence of the total destruction +of Valdivia and his army. On this distressing news the Spanish +inhabitants of Puren, and Frontera or Angol, retired to Imperial, where +they considered themselves in greater security than in these other more +inland fortresses, which were entirely surrounded by the country of the +victorious enemy. About the same time the inhabitants of Villarica +abandoned that settlement and took refuge in Valdivia; so that two +Spanish establishments only now remained in the Araucanian country, and +both of them at a great distance from reinforcements or assistance. As +Caupolican determined upon besieging these two cities, he committed to +Lautaro the charge of defending the northern frontier against invasion, +and set out for the south to reduce the cities of Imperial and Valdivia. + +The young and gallant vice-toqui, Lautaro, accordingly took post on the +lofty mountain of Mariguenu, which intervenes between Conception and +Arauco, and which he fortified with extraordinary care, rightly judging +that the Spaniards would take that road in search of Caupolican on +purpose to revenge the defeat and death of their general Valdivia. This +mountain, which has proved fatal to the Spaniards on several occasions +in their wars with the Araucanians, has a large plain on its summit +interspersed with shady trees. Its steep sides are full of rude +precipices and deep clefts or ravines, its western end being rendered +inaccessible by the sea, while on the east it is secured by an +impenetrable forest. The north side only was accessible to the +Spaniards, and even in that way it was only possible to reach the top by +a narrow and winding path. + +The two Promaucians who alone had escaped from the fatal battle of +Tucapel, by favour of the darkness and under covert of a thick wood, +reached Conception, which they filled with grief and consternation, by +relating the total overthrow and massacre of the army of Valdivia. When +the general terror and dismay had a little subsided, the magistrates +proceeded to open the sealed instructions which had been left with them +by Valdivia, when he departed on his late fatal expedition. In these he +named Alderte, Aguirre, and Villagran successively to the vacant +government in case of his own decease. Alderte being gone to Europe, and +Aguirre absent on his expedition into the distant province of Cujo, the +command devolved on Villagran. After such preparations as appeared +necessary under the present emergency, Villagran crossed the Biobio with +a considerable army of Spaniards and Promaucian auxiliaries, intending +to march for Arauco in the first place. In a narrow pass at no great +distance to the south of the Biobio, he was vigorously opposed by a body +of Araucanian warriors, who withstood the utmost efforts of his army for +three hours, and then withdrew continually fighting, towards the top of +the mountain where Lautaro awaited the approach of the Spaniards with +the main body of his army, in a well chosen post defended by a strong +palisade. Villagran ordered the squadrons of cavalry to force their way +up the difficult passage of the mountain, which they effected with +infinite difficulty and severe fatigue, and were received at a short +distance from the summit by showers of stones, arrows, and other +missiles, which were incessantly discharged against them by the vigilant +and brave Araucanians. Villagran, who followed his cavalry at the head +of all the infantry of his army, with six pieces of artillery, seeing +the determined opposition of the enemy, several detachments of whom were +endeavouring to gain his flanks and rear, ordered his musquetry to +advance, and the artillery to take a favourable position for annoying +the enemy. + +The mountain was enveloped in smoke, and resounded on all sides with the +thunder of the Spanish cannon and musquets, while the balls were heard +whistling in every direction, and dealing destruction among the ranks of +the valiant Araucanians, who continued vigorously to defend their post, +undismayed at the numbers who fell amid their thick array. Perceiving +that his principal loss was occasioned by the cannon, Lautaro gave +orders to one of his bravest officers, named Leucoton, to sally from the +camp with a select detachment of troops, and to gain possession of the +cannon at all events, or never more to appear in his presence. Leucoton +executed his orders with the utmost bravery, and after a furious and +bloody contest with the guard of the guns, carried them off in triumph; +while Lautaro, to prevent the Spaniards from sending succours to their +artillery, made a furious general attack on the whole line with all his +troops. Astonished by this bold and general attack, and dismayed by the +loss of their cannon, the Spanish horse and foot fell into confusion and +disorder, and were so furiously pressed upon by the valiant Lautaro and +his troops, that they dispersed and fled with the utmost precipitation. +Three thousand of the Spaniards and their Promaucian allies were slain +in this decisive battle, Villagran himself, having fallen in the +retreat, was on the point of being taken prisoner, when he was rescued +by the almost incredible efforts of three of his soldiers, and remounted +on his horse. The remaining Spaniards urged on their almost exhausted +horses to regain the narrow defile where the engagement had commenced, +and were closely pursued by the Araucanians; but on arriving at the +pass, they found it blocked up with trees, which had been felled across +by orders of Lautaro. The engagement was renewed at this place with the +utmost fury, and not a man of the broken army would have escaped, had +not Villagran opened the pass at the utmost hazard of his life. Though +the Araucanians had lost above seven hundred men in the course of this +eventful battle, they continued the pursuit a long way; but at length, +unable to keep up with the horses, and exhausted with excessive fatigue, +they gave up the pursuit, and Lautaro encamped for the night to refresh +his men, determined upon passing the Biobio next day to follow up the +consequences of his glorious and decisive victory. + +On the arrival of the few Spaniards at Conception who had been able to +escape from the slaughter at Mariguenu, the city of Conception was +filled with indescribable grief and dismay, not a family but had to +deplore the loss of some near relation; and the alarm was greatly +increased by learning that Lautaro was fast approaching with his +victorious army. As Villagran considered it to be impossible to defend +the city under the present dismay of his small remaining force, he +hastily embarked all the old men, women, and children on board two ships +that happened to be then in the harbour, one of which he ordered to +proceed to Imperial, and the other to Valparaiso, while he proceeded by +land for St Jago with all the rest of the inhabitants who were able to +carry arms. Lautaro entered the city next day without opposition, which +he found entirely deserted of its inhabitants, but filled with much +valuable booty, as by its mines and commerce it had already attained +considerable opulence, and the inhabitants were in such haste to escape +with their lives, that they only took what provisions they could procure +along with them, and abandoned their riches. After removing every thing +that was valuable, Lautaro burnt all the houses, and razed the citadel +and other fortifications; after which he returned with his army to +Arauco, to celebrate his triumph after the manner usual in his country. + +While Lautaro thus bravely asserted the independence of his country on +the frontiers, Caupolican marched into the south, as has been already +mentioned, to invest the cities of Imperial and Valdivia, both of which +he held closely blockaded. In this emergency, the governors of these two +cities demanded succours from Villagran; who, notwithstanding his late +terrible defeat, sent a sufficient number of troops for their defence +with all possible speed; and both places being accessible by sea, these +succours were able to arrive in time to prevent Caupolican from gaining +possession of either. + +"When the army of Caupolican drew near to the city of Imperial, the air +was suddenly enveloped in black clouds, whence arose a mighty storm of +hail and rain. In the midst of the tempest the _epumanon_ or war god of +the Araucanians, made his appearance in form of a terrible dragon, +casting out fire at his mouth and nostrils, and desired them to hasten +their march as he would deliver the city into their hands, on which +occasion he enjoined them to put all the Christians to the sword. The +_epumanon_ then disappeared, and they pursued their way joyfully, being +animated by this oracle. On a sudden the heavens cleared up, and a most +beautiful woman was seen, seated on a bright cloud, and having a +charming yet severe and majestic countenance, which much abated the +pride and haughtiness inspired by the former vision. This was the _queen +of heaven_, who commanded them to return to their own homes, for God was +resolved to favour the Christians; and they immediately obeyed[70]." + +[Footnote 70: This paragraph, within inverted commas, is literally +copied from Ovalle, as an instance of the puerile conceits indulged in +by the true Catholic writers of the seventeenth century. The brave and +faithful Bernal Diaz at the beginning of the sixteenth century saw no +miracles during the conquest of Mexico, and the judicious Molina at the +close of the eighteenth, modestly refrains from copying any such +incredible absurdities into his history of Chili.--E.] + +On abandoning the sieges of Imperial and Valdivia, Caupolican went to +join Lautaro at Conception, in order to attempt some enterprise against +the Spaniards more practicable than the attack of fortifications, for +the assault of which the Araucanians possessed no sufficient arts or +arms. Availing himself of the absence of his redoubted enemy; Villagran, +who appears to have gone along with the succours to Imperial, ravaged +the whole Araucanian territory around that city, burning and destroying +the houses and crops, and carrying off all the provisions that were not +destroyed to the town. Though of a humane and generous disposition, +averse from the exercise of violence, Villagran endeavoured to +vindicate the employment of these rigorous measures by the necessity of +circumstances, and the pretended rights of war: But on this occasion +they were of no real service to the Spanish cause, which they +contributed to render more odious to the Araucanians; and in general the +only effect which such barbarous conduct produces, is to heap distress +on the weak and helpless. To the other terrible calamities inseparable +from war, especially when carried on in this barbarous manner, a +pestilential disease was superadded which committed dreadful ravages in +Chili, especially among the natives. During the incursions of Villagran +into the Araucanian territory, some Spanish soldiers, who were either +infected at the time or had recently recovered from the small pox, +communicated that fatal disease for the first time to the Araucanians, +among whom it spread with the more direful and rapid destruction, as +they were utterly unacquainted with its nature. So universal and +dreadful was the mortality on this occasion in several provinces, that, +in one district containing a population of twelve thousand persons, not +more than a hundred escaped with life. This pestilential disorder, which +has been more destructive than any other to the human race, had been +introduced a few years before into the northern parts of Chili, where it +then occasioned great mortality among the natives, and where it has +since frequently reappeared at uncertain intervals, and has greatly +diminished the aboriginal population. For more than a century, counting +from the present times, 1787, the southern provinces of Chili forming +the Araucanian confederacy, have been exempted from the ravages of this +cruel disease, in consequence of the most rigorous precautions being +employed by the inhabitants to prevent all communication with the +infected countries, similar to those used in Europe to prevent the +introduction of the plague. + +"The following anecdote will shew what horror the small-pox has inspired +into the natives of Araucania. Some considerable time ago[71], the +viceroy of Peru sent as a present to the governor of Chili, several jars +of honey, wine, olives, and different seeds. One of these jars happened +to break while landing, and some Indians who were employed as labourers +on this occasion, imagined that the contents of the jar were the +purulent matter of the small-pox, imported by the governor for the +purpose of being disseminated among the Araucanian provinces, to +exterminate their inhabitants. They immediately gave notice to their +countrymen, who stopped all intercourse with the Spanish provinces and +flew to arms, killing above forty Spaniards who were then among them in +the full security of peace. To revenge this outrage, the governor +marched with an army into the Araucanian territory, and a new war was +excited which continued for some time to the great injury of both +nations." + +[Footnote 71: The passage within commas is a note in the original +English publication of Molina; and from subsequent parts of the history, +the event here related appears to have occurred about the commencement +of the seventeenth century, or more than two hundred years ago.--E.] + +While Villagran was using every possible exertion to maintain the +Spanish power in the south of Chili, by combating the brave and +victorious Araucanians, he found himself on the point of being compelled +to turn his arms against his own countrymen. It has been already +mentioned that Valdivia, in the instructions he left with the +magistrates of Conception before his fatal expedition into Araucania, +had nominated Francisco Aguirre in the second place as his own successor +in the government, and that Villagran, only third in nomination, had +succeeded to the command in consequence of the absence of the other two +who were prior to himself. When Aguirre, who was then in Cujo, where he +does not appear to have effected any thing of importance, was informed +of the death of Valdivia, and his own destination to the government of +Chili, he considered the assumption of the vacant command by Villagran +as prejudicial to his own just rights, and immediately returned into +Chili with sixty men who remained of his detachment, determined to +acquire possession of the government by force or favour. His pretensions +and those of Villagran must infallibly have kindled a civil war among +the Spaniards in Chili, to the ruin or vast detriment of the Spanish +interest, had not the competitors agreed to submit the decision of their +respective claims to the royal audience at Lima, which at that time, +1555, held the supreme legal jurisdiction over all the Spanish dominions +in South America. On this appeal, the court of audience thought proper +to set aside the pretensions of both competitors, and issued an edict +authorizing the corregidors of the different cities to command each in +their respective districts, till farther orders. Perceiving the extreme +inconvenience that must have necessarily resulted to the interests of +the colony, from this divided government, especially during so important +a war, the principal inhabitants remonstrated against the impolicy of +this decree. The royal audience listened to the representations of the +colonists, and appointed Villagran to resume the command, but only +granted him the title of corregidor, and gave him orders to rebuild the +city of Conception. Although convinced of the inutility of this measure +in the present conjuncture, Villagran, in obedience to the orders, +proceeded immediately to that place with eighty-five families, whom he +established there, and erected a strong fortification for their defence. + +The native inhabitants of that part of the country which formed the +territory of Conception, were indignant at being again subjected to the +intolerable yoke of the Spaniards, and had recourse to the Araucanians +for protection. Caupolican, who seems at this time to have remained in +almost entire inaction, either ignorant of the proceedings of the +Spaniards, or from some other cause of which we are not informed, +immediately sent Lautaro at the head of two thousand warriors to the +assistance of the distressed natives on the north side of the Biobio. +The young vice-toqui, exasperated at what he called the obstinacy of the +Spaniards in rebuilding the city which he had destroyed, immediately +passed the Biobio, and the Spaniards imprudently awaited him in the open +plain, confiding in their own valour and arms, despising the superior +numbers of the barbarians. The Spaniards, however, were panic struck at +the furious energy of the first encounter, and fled with precipitation +to take shelter behind their ramparts; but were so closely pursued by +Lautaro and his valiant followers, that they were unable to close the +gate. The Araucanians entered the city along with the fugitives, many of +whom were slain; and the small remnant made a precipitate retreat, part +of them by embarking in a ship then in the port, and others by taking +refuge in the woods, whence they returned through bye-paths to St Jago. + +Lautaro immediately plundered and burnt the city, and returned loaded +with spoils to his usual station on the mountain of Mariguenu. The +successful issue of this enterprise excited Caupolican to resume the +sieges or blockades of Imperial and Valdivia, during which Lautaro +undertook to make a diversion of the Spanish forces, by marching against +St Jago, by which he expected to prevent them from sending +reinforcements into the south, and he even conceived that it might be +possible to gain possession of that capital of the Spanish dominions in +Chili, notwithstanding its great distance; as the successes he had +already obtained so filled his mind with confidence that no difficulty +appeared too great to be overcome. In order to execute this hazardous +enterprise, which appears to have been concerted with Caupolican, he +only required five hundred men to be selected by himself from the +Araucanian army; but so many pressed to serve under his victorious +standard, that he was obliged to admit an additional hundred. With this +determined band of six hundred warriors, he traversed all the provinces +between the rivers Biobio and Maule, without doing any injury to the +natives, who hailed him as their deliverer from the Spanish tyranny. But +on crossing the latter river, he immediately proceeded to lay waste the +lands of the Promaucians, who were detested by the Araucanians for +acting as auxiliaries to the Spaniards. Had he treated them with +kindness, he might in all probability have detached them from the +Spanish interest and united them in alliance with his own nation. But +impelled by eagerness for revenge, he did not appreciate the good +effects which might have flowed from a reconciliation with that numerous +and warlike nation, whom he considered as traitors to the common cause. +Having satiated his revenge, he fortified himself in an advantageous +post in their territory on the banks of the Rio-claro, probably on +purpose to gain more correct information respecting the state of the +city he intended to attack. + +This ill-judged delay was of great importance to the inhabitants of St +Jago, by giving them time to prepare for their defence. They could not +at first believe it possible that Lautaro would have the audacity to +undertake a march of three hundred miles beyond the Araucanian frontiers +to attack their city; but undeceived by the refugees from Conception, +and the daily reports of the ravages of the enemy in the territories of +the Promaucians, they dispatched Juan Godinez with an escort of +twenty-five horse into the Promaucian country to watch the motions of +the enemy, and to send intelligence of his proceedings and designs. +Godinez was unexpectedly attacked by a detachment of the Araucanians, +and obliged to make a precipitate retreat to St Jago, with his numbers +considerably diminished, and filled the capital with consternation and +dismay at the intelligence of the near approach of their redoubted +enemy. On this occasion the Araucanians took ten horses and some arms +from the Spaniards, both of which were used by them in the succeeding +actions. + +Villagran, who was at this time unable to take the field in consequence +of illness, sent his son Pedro against Lautaro with such troops as could +be procured, and immediately proceeded to fortify all the approaches to +the city of St Jago with strong entrenchments. In the mean time, young +Villagran attacked the Araucanians in their fortified post. Instructed +by their intrepid yet wary commander, the Araucanians pretended to take +flight after a short resistance; but the Spaniards were no sooner +entered into the abandoned inclosure, than they returned upon them with +such impetuosity, that Pedro and his men were completely routed, and +only the cavalry was able to escape by flight, all the infantry who had +penetrated the Araucanian camp being put to death. After procuring +reinforcements, young Villagran returned three several times to attack +the camp of Lautaro, in all of which attempts he was repulsed with +considerable loss. He now encamped his force in a low meadow on the +banks of the river Mataquito, at no great distance from the entrenched +post of Lautaro. The Araucanian general formed a plan for inundating the +camp of the Spaniards during night, by turning upon them a branch of the +river; but the Spaniards being informed of this design by a spy, +withdrew to St Jago. + +Having recovered from his illness, Villagran was solicited by the +citizens of St Jago to exert himself to dislodge the Araucanians from +their neighbourhood, as they every moment expected to see them at their +gates. He accordingly, some time in the year 1556, set out from the city +at the head of 196 Spaniards and 1000 Indian auxiliaries, in search of +Lautaro. Instructed by his severe defeat at Mariguenu, Villagran +resolved to attack the enemy by surprise; and quitting the direct road, +he secretly directed his march towards the Araucanian encampment in the +night by a private path under the guidance of a spy, and reached their +entrenchments undiscovered at day-break. Lautaro, who had been on guard +all night according to his usual custom, had just retired to rest when +the alarm was given of the attack from the Spaniards. He hastened +immediately to the spot, to observe the enemy and to issue his orders +for defence; but at the moment of his arrival, a dart from the hand of +one of the Indian auxiliaries pierced him to the heart. Encouraged by +this fortunate event, which was soon known to the Spaniards, Villagran +urged the assault of the entrenchments, and soon forced an entrance in +spite of the Araucanians, who made an obstinate defence. Finding their +post carried, the Araucanians retired to an angle of their works, +determined rather to allow themselves to be cut in pieces than to +surrender. In vain the Spanish commander repeatedly offered quarter; +they continued fighting with the utmost obstinacy till every man of them +was cut off, many of them even throwing themselves on the lances of the +Spaniards, as if courting death in preference to submission. This +victory, which was not obtained without considerable loss on the part of +the Spaniards and their allies, was celebrated in St Jago and the other +Spanish settlements with every demonstration of joy. The Spaniards +felicitated themselves on being freed from a redoubted enemy, who at the +early age of nineteen had already obtained so many victories over them, +and who threatened to destroy their settlements in Chili, and even to +harass them in Peru. + +When the terror which this young hero had inspired was removed by his +death, even his enemies extolled his valour and military talents, and +compared him to the greatest generals who had figured in ancient times, +calling him the Chilese Hannibal. To use the words of the abbe +Olivarez:--"It is not just to depreciate the merit of one, who, had he +been of our nation, we should have vaunted as a hero. If we celebrate +the martial prowess of the Spanish Viriatus, we ought not to obscure the +fame of the American Lautaro, as both valorously contended in arms for +the liberties of their country." + +For a long time the Araucanians lamented the untimely fate of the +valiant Lautaro, to whom they owed all the success which their arms had +hitherto atchieved, and on whose conduct and bravery they entirely +relied for the preservation of their independence. His name is still +celebrated in their heroic songs, and his actions are still proposed as +the most glorious model for the imitation of their youth. Above all +others, Caupolican felt and lamented the loss of his valiant associate. +Far from thinking he had got free from a rival of his fame, he +considered that he had lost his chief coadjutor in the glorious cause of +restoring their nation to independence. Immediately on receiving the +mournful intelligence, he quitted the siege of Imperial, though reduced +to the last extremity, and returned with his army to defend the northern +frontiers of Araucania, and to protect his country from the incursions +of the Spaniards, as he learnt by his spies that they soon expected a +large reinforcement of men and warlike stores from Peru under a new +commander. + +On learning the death of Valdivia, as formerly related, Philip II. gave +charge of the government and conquest of Chili to Alderete, the agent +who had been sent by Valdivia into Spain, and furnished him for this +purpose with six hundred regular troops. During the voyage to the Tierra +Firma, the ship was set on fire by accident, by his sister who was +accustomed to read in bed; and of the whole number on board, Alderete +and three soldiers alone escaped to Porto Bello. Overcome with grief and +disappointment at this melancholy catastrophe, Alderete died soon after +in the small island of Taboga in the gulf of Panama. When informed of +this disaster, and of the threatening aspect of affairs in Chili in +consequence of the untoward events in the Araucanian war, the marquis of +Canete, then viceroy of Peru, appointed his son Don Garcia Hurtado de +Mendoza, to the vacant government. As this charge had become both +important and dangerous, the marquis resolved that his son should be +accompanied by such a body of forces as might be able to support his +authority, and might enable him successfully to terminate the war +against the Araucanians. As the civil dissensions in Peru were now at an +end, and that country abounded in military adventurers eager for +employment, he was soon able to levy a respectable force of horse and +foot for this expedition. The infantry, all well equipped and appointed, +with a great quantity of military stores; embarked in ten ships under +the command of Don Garcia in person; and the cavalry marched by land +under the orders of Garcia Ramon, who was appointed quarter-master-general +of Chili. + +Don Garcia arrived with his fleet in safety in the Bay of Conception, in +the month of April 1557, and came to anchor near the island of +Quiriquina, which was chosen as the headquarters as a place of great +security. The scanty population of the island attempted to oppose the +disembarkation of the troops, but being soon dispersed by the artillery, +they retired in their piraguas to the continent. A small number being +made prisoners, the governor sent two or three of them with a message to +the Araucanians, to inform them of his arrival, and that he was desirous +to settle a lasting peace with them on fair terms. In an assembly of the +Ulmens to deliberate upon this message, the general opinion was that no +propositions ought to be listened to from an enemy who had returned in +greater force than ever, under the idea that any terms they might +propose would necessarily be treacherous and unfair. Old Colocolo +observed, however, that no injury could arise from listening to the +proposals of the Spanish governor; and that they even had now a +favourable opportunity for obtaining a knowledge of the amount of his +force, and for discovering his designs. For this purpose, therefore, he +thought it advisable that they should send an intelligent person, under +pretence of congratulating the new governor on his arrival, and thanking +him for his offer of amicable terms of peace, who might at the same time +gain information of whatever he should consider important to regulate +their future conduct. Caupolican and most of the older officers adopted +this judicious proposal, and the important commission was confided to +Millalauco, a person who possessed every requisite for the business +confided to his charge. + +Millalauco accordingly crossed the narrow strait which separates the +island of Quiriquina from the continent, and presented himself to the +Spaniards with all the pride which characterises the Araucanian nation. +In their turn, the Spaniards were willing to give him a high idea of +their military power, and drew out their troops in order of battle for +his reception, conducting him to the tent of the governor amidst +repeated discharges of their artillery. Not in the least disconcerted by +this military parade, Millalauco complimented the governor in the name +of Caupolican and the Araucanian chiefs, declaring that they would all +be happy in the establishment of an honourable peace, advantageous to +both nations, in their desire for which they were solely actuated by +motives of humanity, and not by any dread of the Spanish power. Don +Garcia, though much disappointed by these vague offers, replied in the +same general terms respecting peace; and, after regaling the ambassador +in a magnificent manner, he ordered some of his officers to conduct him +over the whole encampment, in expectation of intimidating him by +displaying the immense military preparations which accompanied him to +Chili. This was exactly suited to the wishes of Millalauco, who observed +every thing with the utmost attention, though with apparent +indifference; and, having taken leave of the Spaniards, he returned to +make his report to the assembled chiefs. On receiving an exact report of +all that had been seen by their envoy, the Araucanian chiefs gave orders +for the establishment of centinels along the coast of their country, to +observe and communicate notice of the movements of the Spaniards, and +commanded the warriors to prepare for taking the field at the first +summons, as they believed a renewal of the war was near and inevitable. + +Don Garcia continued inactive almost the whole of the winter in the +island of Quiriquina, waiting the arrival of his cavalry from Peru, and +for reinforcements which he had required from the cities of Chili. At +length, on the night of the 6th August 1557 he privately landed 130 men +and several engineers on the plain of Conception, and immediately took +possession of Mount Pinto which commands the harbour, where he +constructed a fort well garnished with cannon, and surrounded by a deep +ditch. This event was immediately communicated to Caupolican, who +hastily collected his forces, and passed the Biobio on the 9th of +August, and next morning at day-break, a day remarkable in Europe by the +defeat of the French at St Quintin, he assailed the new fortress on +three sides at once, having sent on in front a body of pioneers to fill +up the ditch with fascines and trunks of trees. The assault was long +urged with all the furious and obstinate bravery which distinguishes the +Araucanians. Numbers mounted the parapet, and some even leapt within the +walls, destroying many of the defendants. But the cannon and musquetry +of the Spaniards were so skilfully directed, and the slaughter of the +assailants so prodigious, that the ditch was filled with dead bodies, +serving as bridges for the new combatants who pressed on to replace +their slain comrades. Tucapel, impelled by his rash and unparalleled +valour, threw himself into the fort, where he slew four of the enemy +with his formidable mace, and then made his escape by leaping from a +precipice amidst a shower of balls. + +While the assault of the fortress was pushed with the utmost fury and +was seen from the island of Quiriquina, the remainder of the Spanish +army came over to the aid of the garrison, and formed in order of +battle. The debarkation was observed by Caupolican who immediately sent +a part of his troops to meet this new enemy. After a severe conflict of +several hours, this detachment was driven back to the mountain with +heavy loss, so that the Araucanians were now placed between two fires; +yet they did not lose courage, and continued fighting till mid-day. At +length, worn out with the length of the combat, the Araucanian general +drew off to the Biobio, determined to collect a new army and to return +to the attack. Having in a short time reinforced his army, Caupolican +began his march towards Conception; but, learning on his way that the +governor had received a numerous reinforcement, he halted on the banks +of the Biobio, deeply chagrined at not being able to effect the +destruction of the new fortress of Conception, which had been twice +performed by Lautaro with the universal applause of the nation. + +In fact, on the preceding day the Spanish cavalry from Peru, consisting +of 1000 well armed men, had arrived at Conception, together with another +squadron of Spanish horse from Imperial, and 2000 Promaucian +auxiliaries. Being now at the head of a numerous and well-appointed +army, Don Garcia determined to invade the Araucanian territory. For this +purpose he crossed the Biobio in boats, six miles above its mouth, where +the river is about 1500 paces broad. As the Spanish cannon in the boats +commanded the opposite bank of the river, Caupolican made no attempt to +obstruct the passage, but drew up his army at no great distance in a +position flanked by thick woods, by which his retreat would be secured +in case of being defeated. The battle began by several skirmishes, which +ended in favour of the Araucanians; several advanced parties of the +Spaniards being repulsed by the enemy with loss, though reinforced by +order of Ramon the quarter-master-general. Alonzo Reynoso likewise, who +was dispatched to their aid with fifty horse, was defeated in his turn, +and obliged to retreat leaving several of his men dead on the field. At +length the two armies met and joined battle. Encouraged by the +advantages they had already gained, the Araucanians used every effort to +come to close quarters with the Spaniards, notwithstanding the heavy +fire of eight pieces of artillery which played incessantly from the +front of the enemy. But when they came within reach of the musquetry, +they were quite unable to resist the close and well directed fire +continually kept up by the veteran troops of Peru. After many +ineffectual attempts to close in with the Spaniards, and losing a vast +number of their bravest warriors, they fell into confusion from the +vacancies in their ranks, and began to give ground. By a well timed +charge, the cavalry put them completely to the rout, and made a +prodigious slaughter among them in their flight to the woods. + +Either from innate cruelty of disposition, or on mistaken principles of +policy, Don Garcia pursued the most rigorous measures against the enemy. +Contrary to the opinion and advice of most of his officers, he was the +first who introduced the barbarous practice of mutilating and putting to +death the prisoners; a system which may intimidate and restrain a base +people accustomed to servitude, but cruelty is detestable in the +estimation of a generous nation, and serves only to exasperate and +render them irreconcileable[72]. Among the prisoners taken on this +occasion was one named Galvarino, whose hands were cut off by order of +Don Garcia, and was then set free. He returned to his countrymen, to +whom he displayed his bloody and mutilated stumps, which so inflamed +them with rage against the Spaniards, that they all swore never to make +peace with them, and even denounced the punishment of death against any +one who should have the baseness to propose such a measure. Even the +women, excited by desire of revenge, offered to take up arms and fight +along with their husbands, which was actually done by many of them in +the subsequent battles. From thence originated the fable of Amazons in +Chili, placed by some authors in the southern districts of that country. + +[Footnote 72: In a note of the original translation, it is said that +"the Indian allies of the Spaniards cut off the calves from the +Araucanian prisoners, which they roasted and eat. And, by means of +certain leaves applied to the wounds, prevented the effusion of a single +drop of blood."--E.] + +After the victory, Don Garcia proceeded with his army into the province +of Arauco, constantly harassed by flying detachments of the enemy, who +never ceased doing them every possible injury. On his arrival at +Melipuru[73], Don Garcia caused several native prisoners to be tortured, +in order to obtain information of the situation of Caupolican, but none +of them would discover the place of his retreat. On being informed of +this barbarous procedure, Caupolican sent notice by a messenger that he +was not far off, and meant to meet the Spaniards the next day. Don +Garcia and his army, being alarmed by this intelligence, passed the +whole night under arms, and accordingly the Araucanian army made its +appearance next morning at day-break, advancing in regular array in +three several lines. The Spanish cavalry made a furious charge upon the +front line, commanded by Caupolican in person, who made his pikemen +receive the charge with levelled spears, while the alternate +mace-bearers were directed to strike at the horses heads. By this +unexpected reception, the Spanish cavalry were obliged to retreat in +confusion; upon which the Araucanian general and his division broke into +the centre of the Spanish infantry with great slaughter, Caupolican +killing five of them with his own hand. Tucapel advanced with his +division in another quarter with equal success, and at the first attack +broke his lance in the body of a Spaniard, and then drawing his sword +slew seven others. He received several wounds at this time, yet seeing +the valiant Rencu, formerly his rival for the office of toqui, +surrounded by a crowd of enemies, he fell upon them with such fury that +he killed a considerable number of them, and rescued Rencu from imminent +danger. Victory, for a long time undecided, was on the point of +declaring for the Araucanians, as the Spaniards were ready to give way; +when Don Garcia gave orders to a body of reserve, hitherto unengaged, to +attack that division of the enemy which was commanded by Lincoyan and +Ongolmo. This order, which was executed with promptitude and success, +preserved the Spanish army from total destruction. This line or division +of the Araucanians being broken and routed, fell back tumultuously upon +the other two divisions, then nearly victorious, and threw them into +such inextricable confusion, that being utterly unable to restore his +troops to order, after repeated ineffectual efforts, Caupolican was +reluctantly constrained to sound a retreat, and yielded the victory to +his enemies which he had fondly imagined was already secured to himself. +In their retreat, the Araucanian army would have been utterly cut to +pieces, had not Rencu, by posting himself in a neighbouring wood with a +party of warriors whom he rallied, called off the attention of the +victors from the pursuit, which they urged with the most deadly rancour. +After sustaining the violence of the Spanish assault till such time as +he judged his dispersed countrymen had ensured their safety, Rencu and +his companions retired through the wood by a secret path and rejoined +his countrymen. + +[Footnote 73: Called Millapoa, perhaps by mistake in Pinkerton's map of +Chili, a place very near the southern shore of the Biobio, and marked +_arruinada_ probably meaning in ruins.--E.] + +Before leaving Melipuru, Don Garcia caused twelve ulmens who were found +among the prisoners, to be hanged on the trees that surrounded the field +of battle, and Galvarino, now again a prisoner, was condemned to the +same fate. That unfortunate youth, notwithstanding the loss of his +hands, had accompanied the Araucanian army, and had never ceased during +the late battle to excite his countrymen to fight valiantly, exhibiting +his mutilated stumps to inspire them with fury and revenge, and even +using his teeth to do all the injury he was able to the enemy. One of +the captive ulmens, overcome with terror, abjectly petitioned for his +life; but Galvarino reproached him in such severe terms for his +cowardice, and inspired him with so great contempt for death, that he at +length rejected a proffered pardon, and even entreated to die the first, +as an expiation of his weakness, and the scandal he had brought upon the +character of his nation. After this barbarous execution, by which he +sullied the glory of his victory, Don Garcia proceeded into the province +of Tucapel to the place where Valdivia had been defeated and slain, +where he built, as if in contempt of the Araucanians, a city which he +named _Canete_[74] from the titular appellation of his family. Being in +the centre of the enemies country, he strengthened this new city or +fortress with a good palisade, a deep ditch, and strong rampart, mounted +with a number of cannon, and left a select garrison for its defence +under the command of Alonzo Reynoso. + +[Footnote 74: Probably the place distinguished in modern maps by the +name of Tucapel-viejo, about 40 miles south from the Biobio.--E.] + +Believing that the Araucanians, whom he had now defeated in three +successive battles, were no longer in condition to oppose his victorious +arms, he went with his army to Imperial, where he was received in +triumph. Soon after his arrival at that place, he sent off a plentiful +supply of provisions for the garrison of his new city under a strong +escort, which was attacked and routed in a narrow pass called Cayucupil +by a body of Araucanians, and had certainly been entirely destroyed if +the enemy had not given them an opportunity of escaping to Canete with +little loss, by eagerness to seize the baggage. The fugitives were +received in Canete with much joy, as Reynoso had learnt that Caupolican +intended to attack him. In fact, only a few days afterwards, that +indefatigable general, whom misfortune seemed to inspire with fresh +courage, made a furious assault upon the place, in which his valiant +troops, with arms so extremely inferior to their enemies, endured a +continual fire of cannon and musquetry for five hours with the most +heroic firmness, pulling up and burning the palisades, filling the +ditch, and endeavouring to scale the ramparts. But valour alone was +unable to prevail in this difficult enterprise, and Caupolican was +constrained to desist from the attempt by open force, and to try some +more secure expedient for attaining his end. With this view he persuaded +one of his officers, named _Pran_, who was of an artful character, to +introduce himself into the garrison as a deserter, in order to fall upon +some device for delivering it up. Pran accordingly obtained admission in +that character, and conducted himself with the most profound +dissimulation. He soon formed a strict friendship with a Promaucian +named Andrew, in the service of the Spaniards, who seemed a fit +instrument for his purpose. One day, either artfully to sound or flatter +him, Andrew pretended to sympathize with his new friend on the +misfortunes of his country; and Pran eagerly took advantage of this +favourable opportunity, as he thought, to carry his designs into +execution, and revealed to Andrew the motive of his pretended desertion, +earnestly entreating him to assist in the execution of his plan, which +was to introduce some Araucanian soldiers into the place, during the +time when the Spaniards were accustomed to indulge in their _siesta_ or +afternoon sleep. Andrew readily engaged to give every assistance in his +power, and even offered to keep one of the gates open on the day +assigned for executing the enterprise. Pran, elated with joy at the +supposed acquisition of a so useful associate, hastened to Caupolican, +who was only at a short distance from Canete, to whom he related the +success of his endeavours. On his side, Andrew gave immediate notice of +the intended plot to Reynoso, the commander of the fort, who desired him +to keep up the deception by appearing to concur in its execution, in +order to entrap the enemy in their own snare. + +Entirely occupied with an ardent desire of accomplishing this enterprise +against Canete, Caupolican lost sight of his wonted prudence, and too +easily reposed confidence in this ill concerted scheme. The better to +arrange his measures on this occasion, he procured an interview with +Andrew by means of Pran, and the artful Promaucian appeared before +Caupolican with that flattering show of respect and attachment which +villains know so well to assume. He broke out into virulent invectives +against the Spaniards, whom he pretended to have always detested, and +declared his readiness to perform the promise he had made to Pran, +asserting that the execution of the plot would be perfectly easy. +Caupolican applauded his partriotism, and engaged, if the plot +succeeded, to raise him to the office of ulmen, and to appoint him first +captain in the Araucanian army in reward of his services. He then shewed +him the troops which he had along with him, appointing next day for +executing the plot, and dismissed him with the strongest assurances of +favour and esteem. Andrew immediately communicated the intelligence to +Reynoso, and the Spaniards employed the whole of that night in making +every preparation to obtain the greatest possible advantage from this +double act of perfidy. When the particulars of this plot were +communicated to the principal officers of the Araucanian army, they +openly disapproved of it, as disgraceful to the national honour, and +refused to accompany Caupolican in the expedition. But he obstinately +adhered to his design, and began his march at day-break for Canete with +three thousand men, with whom he posted himself in concealment near the +place, till Pran came to inform him from Andrew that every thing was in +readiness to deliver the place into his hands. The Araucanians +immediately proceeded in silence towards the city, and finding the gate +open according to promise began to enter it. When a sufficient number +were got in, the Spaniards suddenly closed the gate upon them, and +immediately opened a fire of grape-shot on those without who were +crowding to the gate, making a dreadful slaughter. The cavalry belonging +to the garrison, being all in readiness, issued from another gate, and +completed the destruction of all who had escaped from the fire of the +cannon, so that hardly one of all the Araucanians escaped. Caupolican +escaped the general slaughter of his men with a small number of +attendants, and retired to the mountains, whence he hoped to be soon +able to return with a new army sufficiently numerous to keep the field. +While the cavalry gave a loose to their fury on the Araucanians without +the walls, the infantry were employed within the fort in putting to +death all that had got through the gate; who, finding all chance of +escape utterly hopeless, chose rather to be cut in pieces than +surrender. Pran, discovering his error when too late, rushed among the +thickest of the foe, and escaped by an honourable death from the well +merited reproaches of his imprudent and fatal credulity. Among a few +prisoners taken on this occasion were three ulmens, who were all blown +from the mouths of cannon. + +As Don Garcia believed the Araucanian war was terminated by this +destructive enterprise, he gave orders to rebuild the city of +Conception, and desirous of adding fresh laurels to the victories he had +already obtained, he marched in 1558 with a numerous army against the +Cunches in the south of Chili, a nation which had not yet been assailed +by the Spanish arms. On first hearing of the approach of the Spaniards, +the chiefs of the Cunches met in council to deliberate whether they +should submit or resist the invasion of these formidable strangers. On +this occasion, one Tunconobal, an Araucanian exile, who was present in +the assembly, was desired to give his opinion, which he did in the +following terms. "Be cautious how you adopt either of these measures. If +you submit, you will be despised as vassals and compelled to labour; if +you resist in arms, you will be exterminated. If you desire to get free +of these dangerous visitors, make them believe that you are miserably +poor. Hide your property, particularly your gold; and be assured the +Spaniards will not remain in your country if they have no expectation of +procuring that sole object of all their wishes. Send them such a present +as may impress them with an opinion of your extreme poverty, and in the +mean time retire into the woods." + +The Cunches approved the wise council of the Araucanian, and deputed him +with nine natives of the country to carry a present to the Spanish +general, such as he had recommended. He clothed himself and his +companions accordingly in wretched rags, and made his appearance with +every mark of fear before Don Garcia. After complimenting him in rude +terms, he presented him with a basket containing some roasted lizards +and wild fruits, as all that the poverty of the country could supply. +The Spaniards could not refrain from laughter at the wretched appearance +of the ambassadors and their miserable present, and endeavoured to +dissuade the governor from pursuing the expedition into so unpromising a +region. Unwilling to relinquish his plan with too much facility, he +exhorted his troops to persevere; assuring them that, according to +information he had received, they would find a country abounding in the +precious metals. This was indeed by no means improbable, as it was usual +in America to meet with the richest countries after passing through +frightful deserts. He then inquired of the Cunches which was the best +road into the south. Tunconobal directed him towards the west, which was +the roughest and most mountainous; and on being asked for a guide, left +one of his companions, whom he directed to lead the Spanish army by the +most difficult and desolate roads near the coast. The guide followed the +instructions of Tunconobal with so much judgment, that although the +Spaniards had been accustomed to surmount the severest fatigues in their +pursuit of conquests, they declared they had never encountered such +difficulties in any of their former marches. On the fourth day of this +terrible march, their guide quitted them, and they found themselves in +the middle of a frightful desert surrounded by rugged precipices, whence +they could perceive no way by which to extricate themselves. But Don +Garcia encouraged them to persevere, by the flattering assurance of soon +reaching a happy country which would amply repay all their present +fatigues and privations. + +Having at length overcome all the obstacles in their way, the Spaniards +arrived at the top of a high mountain, whence they discovered the great +archipelago of _Ancud_, more commonly named of Chiloe, the channels +among the islands being covered by innumerable boats or canoes navigated +by sails and oars. They were filled with joy at this unexpected +prospect; and as they had suffered many days from hunger, they hastened +to the shore, and were delighted by seeing a boat making towards them, +in which were fifteen persons handsomely clothed. These natives +immediately leaped on shore without evincing the smallest apprehension +of the Spaniards, whom they cordially saluted, inquiring who they were, +whence they came, whether they were going, and it they were in want of +any thing. The Spaniards asked for provisions, and the chief of these +strangers immediately gave them all the provisions in his boat, refusing +to accept any thing in return, and promised to send them a large +immediate supply from the neighbouring islands. Indeed the famished +Spaniards had scarcely completed their encampment, when numerous +piraguas arrived from the different islands, loaded with maize, fruit, +and fish, all of which the natives distributed gratuitously among them. +Constantly and liberally supplied by these friendly islanders, the +Spaniards marched along the shore of the continent opposite the +archipelago, all the way to the Bay of Reloncavi. Some of them went over +to the neighbouring islands, where they found the land well cultivated, +and the women employed in spinning wool, mixed with the feathers of +sea-birds, which they manufactured into cloth for garments. The +celebrated poet Ercilla was one of the party; and as he was solicitous +of the reputation of having proceeded farther south than any other +European, he crossed the gulf to the opposite shore, where he inscribed +some verses on the bark of a tree, containing his own name and the date +of the discovery, being the 31st January 1559. + +Satisfied with this discovery of the archipelago of Chiloe, Don Garcia +returned towards the north, having one of the islanders as a guide, who +conducted him safely to Imperial through the inland country of the +Huilliches, which is for the most part level and abounds in provisions. +The inhabitants, who are similar in all respects to their western +neighbours the Cunches, made no opposition to his march through their +country; and Don Garcia on this occasion founded the city of Osorno in +their country at the western extremity of a great lake, though +according to some authors he only rebuilt that town. For some time this +place increased rapidly in population and wealth, in consequence of +great abundance of fine gold being found in its neighbourhood, and of +extensive manufactures of woollen and linen carried on by its +inhabitants; but it was afterwards destroyed by the toqui +Paillamacu[75]. + +[Footnote 75: The ruins of Osorno are in lat. 40 deg. 30' S. and long. 73 deg. +20' W. The lake, or _Desaguodero de Osorno_, extends 50 or 60 miles from +east to west, by a breadth of 6 or 7 miles.--E.] + +While Don Garcia was engaged in this expedition into the south of Chili, +Alonzo Reynoso the commandant of Canete used every effort to discover +the place in which Caupolican lay concealed, both offering rewards for +information and even employing torture to extort intelligence from the +natives. He at length found a person who engaged to point out the place +in which the Araucanian general had concealed himself ever since his +last defeat. A detachment of cavalry was accordingly sent under the +guidance of this traitor, and coming upon him by surprise one morning at +day-break, succeeded in taking that great and heroic champion a +prisoner, after a gallant resistance from ten faithful followers who +continued to adhere to him under his misfortunes. During this combat, +his wife incessantly exhorted him to die rather than surrender; and on +seeing him made prisoner, she indignantly threw towards him her infant +son, saying she would retain nothing that belonged to a coward. The +detachment returned to Canete with their prisoner, amidst the rejoicings +of the inhabitants, and Reynoso immediately ordered the redoubted toqui +to be impaled and shot to death with arrows. On hearing his sentence, +Caupolican addressed Reynoso as follows, without the smallest change of +countenance, and preserving all his wonted dignity. "My death, can +answer no possible end, except that of inflaming the inveterate hatred +already entertained by my countrymen against the Spaniards. Far from +being discouraged by the loss of an unfortunate leader, other +Caupolicans will arise from my ashes, who will prosecute the war against +you with better fortune. If however you spare my life, from the great +influence I possess in Araucania, I may be of great service to the +interests of your sovereign, and in aiding the propagation of your +religion, which you say is the chief object of the destructive war you +wage against us. But, if you are determined that I must die, send me +into Spain; where, if your king thinks proper to condemn me, I may end +my days without occasioning new disturbances to my unhappy country." + +This attempt of the unfortunate toqui to prevail on Reynoso to spare his +life was in vain, as the sentence was ordered to be carried into +immediate execution. A priest, who had been employed to converse with +Caupolican, pretending to have converted him to the Christian faith, +hastily administered the sacrament of baptism; after which the prisoner +was conducted to the scaffold erected for his public execution. When he +saw the instrument of punishment, which till then he did not clearly +comprehend, and noticed a negro who was ready to execute the cruel +sentence, he became exasperated, and hurled the executioner from the +scaffold with a furious kick, indignantly exclaiming, "Is there no sword +and some less unworthy hand to put a man like me to death? In this +punishment there is no semblance of justice: It is base revenge!" He was +however overpowered by numbers, and compelled to undergo the cruel and +ignominious punishment to which he had been condemned. The name of +Reynoso is still held in detestation, not only by the Araucanians, but +even by the Spaniards themselves, who have ever reprobated his conduct, +as cruel, unnecessary, and impolitic, and contrary to those principles +of generosity on which they pride themselves as a nation. + + +SECTION VIII. + +_Continuation of the Araucanian War, after the Death of Caupolican, to +the Reduction of the Archipelago of Chiloe by the Spaniards._ + + +The prediction of the great and unfortunate Caupolican was soon +fulfilled, by the succession of new heroes to defend the liberties of +the Araucanians against the Spaniards. Instigated by the most unbounded +rage, that nation immediately proceeded to elect a new toqui, capable of +taking ample revenge for the ignominious death of their late unfortunate +general. On this occasion, a majority of the electors were disposed to +have conferred the vacant office on the brave and impetuous Tucapel; but +the old and sagacious Colocolo prevailed on the assembled Butacayog to +elect the younger Caupolican, eldest son of the late toqui, who +possessed the talents of his celebrated and lamented father. Tucapel a +second time magnanimously submitted to the choice of the ulmens, and +only required to be nominated vice-toqui, which was accordingly granted. +The new toqui immediately assembled an army, with which he crossed the +Biobio, intending to attack the city of Conception, which according to +his information was only defended by a small number of soldiers. Having +learned the intention of the Araucanian general, Reynoso followed him +with five hundred men, and coming up with him at Talcaguano[76], a place +not far from Conception, offered him battle. The young toqui +unhesitatingly accepted the challenge, and, animating his soldiers both +by his exhortations and example, fell with such fury upon the Spaniards, +that he entirely defeated them. Pursued and wounded by the fierce +Tucapel, Reynoso made his escape across the Biobio with a small party of +cavalry; and, having collected fresh troops, returned to attack the +Araucanians in their camp with no better success than before, and was +again compelled to retire with loss and disgrace. + +[Footnote 76: In modern maps, a town called Tolcamando is situated on +the north of the Biobio, not far from Conception, and is probably the +place indicated in the text.--E.] + +After this second action, Millalauco was sent with a message from the +toqui to the Spaniards in the island of Quiriquina, whence he brought +back intelligence that Don Garcia, with a large body of troops from +Imperial, was laying waste the neighbouring provinces belonging to the +Araucanian confederacy. On this information, and influenced by the +advice of the aged Colocolo, young Caupolican deferred his proposed +enterprise against Conception, and hastened into the south to oppose Don +Garcia, leaving a respectable force under Millalauco to make head +against Reynoso. Don Garcia however, on being informed of the march of +the Araucanian array against him, withdrew to Imperial, leaving a body +of two hundred of his cavalry in ambush on the road by which Caupolican +had to pass. Though unexpectedly attacked by the Spaniards, Caupolican +defended himself with admirable courage and presence of mind, and not +only repelled the Spaniards with very little loss on his own side, but +cut in pieces a great number of his assailants, and pursued the rest to +the gates of Imperial, to which he immediately laid close siege. In the +mean time, Reynoso and Millalauco, after several severe yet inconclusive +encounters, agreed to fight a single combat, a practice not unfrequent +during the Araucanian war. They fought accordingly a long while without +either being able to obtain the advantage; and at length, fatigued by +their combat, they separated by mutual consent, and resumed their former +mode of warfare. + +Caupolican prosecuted the siege of Imperial with much vigour, but +possessed no means of making any impression on its fortifications. After +several violent but unsuccessful assaults, he made an attempt to gain +over the Promaucian auxiliaries of the Spaniards by means similar to +what had been unsuccessfully employed by his father on a former +occasion. Two of his officers, named Tulcamaru and Torquin, were +employed on this hazardous service and detected by the Spaniards, by +whom they were both impaled in sight of the Araucanian army, whom they +exhorted in their last moments to die valiantly in defending the +liberties of their country. At the same time, an hundred and twenty of +the Promaucians, who had been seduced to favour the Araucanians, were +hung on the ramparts, all of whom exhorted their countrymen to aid the +Araucanians. Caupolican was anxious to siglize himself by the capture of +a place which his heroic father had twice attempted in vain, and made a +violent effort to carry the place by assault. He several times scaled +the walls of the town in person, exposing his life to the most imminent +danger, and even one night effected an entrance into the city, followed +by Tucapel and a number of brave companions, but was repulsed by Don +Garcia, whose vigilance was incessant. On this occasion, Caupolican +withdrew, constantly fighting and covered by the blood of his enemies, +to a bastion of the fortress, whence he escaped by an adventurous leap +and rejoined his troops, who were in much apprehension for the safety of +their brave and beloved commander. Wearied out by the length of the +siege, which he saw no reasonable prospect of bringing to a favourable +conclusion, and impatient of the inactivity of a blockade, Caupolican +abandoned this ineffectual attempt upon Imperial, and turned his arms +against Reynoso in hope of being able to take revenge upon him for the +death of his father. But Don Garcia, by going to the assistance of that +officer, rendered all his efforts ineffectual. + +In the campaign of the following year, 1559, numerous battles were +fought between the two armies, with various successes; but as these +produced no material change in the state of affairs, it is unnecessary +to give any particular account of them. Though several of these +encounters ended in favour of the Araucanians, yet Caupolican resolved +to protract the war, as his troops were daily diminishing in numbers +from being continually exposed to the fire arms of their enemies, while +the Spaniards were constantly receiving recruits from Peru and Europe. +With this intention, therefore, he took possession of a strong situation +between Canete and Conception, in a place called Quipeo or Cuyapu, which +he fortified so strongly as to be defensible by a few men against any +number of enemies unprovided with artillery. On being informed of this +measure, Don Garcia marched thither immediately with his army in order +to dislodge the Araucanian general, but observing the strength of the +position, he delayed for some time making an attack, in hope of drawing +the enemy from their strong ground, so that his cavalry might have an +opportunity of acting to advantage. In the mean time, frequent +skirmishes took place between the two armies, in one of which the +celebrated Millalauco was taken prisoner, and who reproached Don Garcia +so severely for his cruel manner of making war, that he ordered him +instantly to be impaled. While the Araucanians were thus blockaded in +their intrenched camp, the traitor Andrew had the temerity to go one day +with a message from Don Garcia to Caupolican, threatening him with the +most cruel punishment if he did not immediately submit to the authority +of the Spaniards. Caupolican, though much enraged at seeing before him +the man who had betrayed his father, ordered him immediately to retire, +saying that he would assuredly have put him to death by the most cruel +tortures, if he had not been invested with the character of an +ambassador. Yet Andrew ventured next day to come into the Araucanian +camp as a spy, when he was taken prisoner, suspended by his feet from a +tree, and suffocated with smoke. + +At length Don Garcia commenced his attack upon the camp of the +Araucanians, by a violent cannonade from all his artillery. Caupolican +and his valiant followers made a vigorous sally, and attacked the +Spaniards with so much fury as to kill about forty of them at the first +charge, and continued the battle for some time with much success. After +a short time, Don Garcia, by a skilful evolution, cut off the retreat of +the Araucanians and surrounded them on every side. Yet Caupolican and +his intrepid soldiers fought with such desperate valour that the issue +of the engagement remained doubtful for six hours; till, seeing +Tucapel, Colocolo, Rencu, Lincoyan, Mariantu, Ongolmo, and several +others of his most valiant officers slain, Caupolican attempted to +retreat with the small remnant of his army: But, being overtaken by a +party of horse from which he could not possibly escape, he slew himself +to avoid a similar, cruel fate as that which his father had endured. + +Though Don Garcia had already been mistaken in supposing that the spirit +of the Araucanians was entirely broken after their terrible overthrow at +Canete, he now again thought he had good reason to believe the war +wholly at an end. This victory of Quipeo seemed to him completely +decisive, as the nation was now left without chiefs or troops, all their +principal officers, and those who chiefly supported the courage of the +Araucanians, having perished, with the flower of their soldiers, so that +he believed the nation would henceforwards be entirely submissive to the +will of the conquerors. Impressed with these hopes, he now devoted his +whole attention to repair the losses occasioned by the war, rebuilding +the fortifications which had been destroyed, particularly Arauco, Angol, +and Villarica, all of which he repeopled and provided with competent +garrisons. He caused all the mines which had been abandoned to be +reopened, and others to be explored: And obtained the establishment of a +bishopric in the capital of Chili, to which place he went in person to +receive the first bishop, Fernando Barrionuevo, a Franciscan monk. +Having a considerable number of veteran troops under his command, for +most of whom he believed there was no longer occasion in Chili, he sent +off a part of them under Pedro Castillo to complete the conquest of +Cujo, formerly commenced by Francisco de Aguirre. Castillo subjected the +Guarpes, the ancient inhabitants of that province, to the Spanish +dominion, and founded two cities on the eastern skirts of the Andes, +which he named San Juan and Mendoza, the latter in compliment to the +family name of the governor Don Garcia. The extensive and fertile +province of Cujo remained for a considerable time dependent on the +government of Chili, but has been since transferred to the vice-royalty +of Buenos Ayres, to which it seems more properly to appertain from its +situation and natural boundaries. + +While Don Garcia thus took advantage of the apparent calm which +prevailed in Chili, he received information that Francisco Villagran had +arrived from Spain at Buenos Ayres, appointed to succeed him in the +government of Chili, and that the king had promoted himself to the +viceroyalty of Peru in reward for his services in his present +government. In consequence of this information, he confided the interim +government of Chili to the care of Rodrigo de Quiroga, and withdrew into +Peru, to take possession of the exalted situation of viceroy which his +father had formerly occupied. + +Villagran, who had been governor of Chid previous to Don Garcia, had +gone to Europe when deprived of that government, and had procured his +reinstatement from the court of Spain. Believing, from the information +of Don Garcia and Quiroga, that the Araucanians were in no condition to +give any future trouble, Villagran turned his whole attention after his +arrival in Chili, to the reaquisition of the province of Tucuman, which +had been annexed by himself to the government of Chili in 1549, and had +been since attached to the viceroyalty of Peru. Gregorio Castaneda, whom +he employed on this occasion, defeated the Peruvian commander, Juan +Zurita, the author of the dismemberment, and restored that country to +the authority of the governor of Chili. It continued however only a +short time under their government, as, before the close of that century, +they were again obliged by order from Spain to surrender it to the +viceroy of Peru. + +Though Don Garcia and Quiroga had been long experienced in the character +of the Araucanians, they had formed a very erroneous opinion of their +temper and public spirit, when they deemed them finally subdued in +consequence of the victories gained in the late war. Such is the +invincible spirit of that brave nation, that even the severest reverses +of fortunes are insufficient to induce them to submit. Even the heaviest +losses, so far from filling them with dejection and dismay, served to +inspire them with increased valour. Their heroic constancy under +repeated defeats is perfectly wonderful, and the successful and +determined perseverance with which they have ever defended their +liberties and independence against the superior arms and power of the +Spaniards, is without parallel in the history of the world. The scanty +remains of the ulmens or Araucanian chiefs who had escaped from the late +sanguinary conflicts against Don Garcia, were more resolved than ever to +continue the war. Immediately after their late entire defeat at Quipeo, +the ulmens assembled in a wood, where they unanimously elected an +inferior officer named Antiguenu, who had signalized himself in the last +unfortunate battle, to the vacant office of supreme toqui. Antiguenu +readily accepted the honourable but hazardous command; but represented +to the assembled chiefs, that as almost all the valiant youth of the +nation had perished, he deemed it expedient for them to retire to some +secure situation, until a new army could be collected of sufficient +strength to keep the field. This prudent advice was approved by all, and +accordingly Antiguenu retired with the small remains, of the Araucanian +army to the inaccessible marshes of Lumaco, called Rochela by the +Spaniards, where he caused high scaffolds to be erected to secure his +men from the extreme and noxious moisture of that gloomy retreat. The +young men who enlisted from time to time into the national army, went to +that place to be instructed in the use of their arms, and the +Araucanians still considered themselves free since they had a toqui who +did not despair of vindicating the independence of their country. + +As soon as Antiguenu saw himself at the head of a respectable force, he +issued from his retreat, and began to make incursions into the territory +which was occupied by the Spaniards, both to inure his troops to +discipline, and to subsist them at the expence of the enemy. When this +unexpected intelligence was brought to St Jago, it gave great uneasiness +to Villagran, who foresaw all the fatal consequences which might result +from this new war, having already had long experience of the daring and +invincible spirit of the Araucanians. In order if possible to stifle the +threatening flame at its commencement, he immediately dispatched his son +Pedro into the south, with as many troops as could be collected in +haste, and soon after took the same direction himself with a more +considerable force. The first skirmishes between the hostile armies were +unfavourable to Antiguenu, and an attempt which he made to besiege +Canete was equally unsuccessful. Antiguenu attributed his failure on +these occasions to the inexperience of his troops, and sought on every +occasion for opportunities of accustoming them to the use of arms. At +length he had the satisfaction of convincing them that the Spaniards +were not invincible, by defeating a body of Spaniards on the hills of +Millapoa, commanded by Arias Pardo. To keep up the ardour and confidence +which this success had excited in his soldiers, he now took possession +of the strong post on the top of Mount Mariguenu, a place of fortunate +omen for his country. Being either so much afflicted with the gout, or +averse from exposing himself to the hazard of attacking that strong +post, which had formerly proved so unfortunate to him, Villagran gave +it in charge to one of his sons to dislodge the enemy from that +formidable position. The rash yet enterprising young man attacked the +Araucanian entrenchments with so little precaution that almost all his +army was cut in pieces, and himself killed at the entrance of the +encampment, and on this occasion the flower of the Spanish troops and a +great number of their auxiliaries were cut off. + +Immediately after this signal victory, Antiguenu marched against the +fortress of Canete, rightly judging that it would not be in a condition +to resist him in the present circumstances. Villagran was likewise +convinced of the impossibility of defending that place, and anticipating +the design of the Araucanian general, ordered all the inhabitants to +withdraw, part of whom retired to Imperial and the rest to Conception. +Antiguenu, therefore, on his arrival at that place, so fatal to his +nation, had only the trouble of destroying the fortifications and +setting fire to the houses, all of which he completely destroyed. + +Overcome with grief and anxiety, Villagran died soon after the +disastrous battle of Mariguenu, universally regretted by the Spanish +inhabitants of Chili, who lost in him a wise humane and valiant +governor, to whose prudent conduct on several trying occasions they had +been much beholden for the preservation of their conquests. Before his +death, in virtue of special powers vested in him by his commission from +the court of Spain, he appointed his eldest son Pedro to succeed him in +the government, whose endowments of mind were in no respect inferior to +those of his father. By the death of the governor, Antiguenu conceived +that he had a favourable opportunity for undertaking some important +enterprise. He divided his army, which now consisted of 4000 men, into +two bodies, one of which he ordered to lay siege to Conception under the +command of his vice-toqui Antunecul, to attract the attention of the +Spaniards in that quarter, while he marched with the other division to +invest the fort of Arauco, which was defended by a strong garrison under +the command of Lorenzo Bernal. + +Antunecul accordingly crossed the Biobio and encamped in a place called +Leokethal, where he was twice attacked by the governor of Conception, +against whom he defended himself so vigorously that he repulsed him with +considerable loss, and followed him after the second attack to the city +which he closely invested, by disposing his troops in six divisions +around its walls. He continued the siege for two months, almost every +day of which period was distinguished by some gallant assault or +successful skirmish; but finding all his attempts to gain possession of +the place unavailing, and being unable to prevent the introduction of +frequent succours by sea to the besieged, he at length withdrew with the +intention of making a new attempt at a more favourable opportunity. + +In the mean time Antignenu pressed the siege of Arauco with the greatest +vigour, but was resisted by the Spanish garrison with determined +bravery. Observing that in all his attacks his bravest officers were +pointed out to the Spaniards by their Indian auxiliaries, and made a +mark for their artillery, he contrived by menus of emissaries to +persuade the Spanish commander that the auxiliaries had plotted to +deliver up the fort to the Arancanians. Bernal gave such credit to this +false report, that he immediately ordered these unfortunate men to quit +the place, and turned them out in spite of their remonstrances and +entreaties. This was the very object aimed at by the politic toqui, who +immediately caused them all to be seized and put to a cruel death in +sight of the Spaniards, who were exceedingly exasperated at seeing +themselves so grossly imposed upon by one whom they counted an ignorant +barbarian. As the siege was protracted to a considerable length and +Antiguenu was impatient for its conclusion, he challenged the governor +to single combat, in hope of becoming master of the place by the death +of Bernal; who, deeming himself secure of the victory, accepted the +challenge in spite of the remonstrances of his soldiers. The battle +between these champions continued for two hours, without either being +able to obtain any advantage, or even to give his antagonist a single +wound; when at length they were separated by their men. What Antiguenu +had been unable to attain by force, was performed for him by famine. +Several boats loaded with provisions had repeatedly attempted in vain to +relieve the besieged, as the vigilance of the besiegers opposed an +invincible obstacle to their introduction. At length Bernal found +himself compelled to abandon the place for want of provisions, and the +Araucanians permitted him and the garrison to retire without +molestation, contenting themselves with burning the houses and +demolishing the fortifications. The capture of Angol, after that of +Caneto and Arauco, appeared so easy to Antiguenu, that he gave it in +charge to one of his subalterns; who defeated a body of Spaniards +commanded by Zurita, while on his march to invest Angol: But the +Araucanian officer was defeated in his turn near Mulchen[77] by Diego +Carranza, who had been sent against him by the inhabitants of that city. + +[Footnote 77: No such name occurs in the modern maps of Chili, but a +town called Millaqui is situated about 20 miles to the north of +Angol.--E.] + +Solicitous to maintain the reputation of his arms, Antiguenu marched in +person at the head of two thousand men to resume the attack upon Angol. +Before proceeding to attack that place, he encamped at the confluence of +the river Vergosa with the Biobio, where he was attacked by a Spanish +army under the command of Bernal. In this engagement the Araucanians +made use of some Spanish musquets which they had taken at their late +victory of Mariguenu, which they employed with much skill, and bravely +sustained the assault for three hours. At length, when four hundred of +the auxiliaries and a considerable number of Spaniards had fallen, the +infantry began to give way, upon which Bernal gave orders to his cavalry +to put to death every one who attempted flight. This severe order +brought back the Spanish infantry to their duty, and they attacked the +entrenchments of the enemy with so much vigour that at length they +forced their way into the camp of the Araucanians. Antiguenu exerted his +utmost efforts to oppose the assailants; but he was at length forced +along by the crowd of his soldiers, who were thrown into irretrievable +confusion and fled. During the flight, he fell from a high bank into the +river and was drowned. The Araucanians were defeated with prodigious +slaughter, many of them perishing in the river in their attempt to +escape by swimming. In this battle, which was fought in the year 1564, +almost the whole of the victorious army was wounded, and a considerable +number slain; but they recovered forty-one musquets, twenty-one +cuirasses, fifteen helmets, and a great number of lances and other +weapons which the Araucanians had obtained in their late victories, and +had used against their former proprietors. + +While these events were passing on the banks of the Biobio, an +Araucanian officer named Lillemu, who had been detached by Antiguenu to +lay waste the provinces of Chillan and Itata, defeated a Spanish +detachment of eighty men commanded by Pedro Balsa. To repress these +ravages, the governor of Conception marched against Lillemu with an +hundred and fifty men, and cut off a party of Araucanians who were +desolating the province of Chillan. Lillemu hastened to their succour, +but finding them defeated and dispersed, he was only able to save the +remainder of his troops by making a gallant stand in a narrow pass with +a small select band, by which he checked the advance of the enemy, and +gave time to his army to effect their escape; but he and his brave +companions sacrificed their lives in this gallant effort of patriotism. + +On the death of the valiant Antiguenu, the Araucanians elected as his +successor in the toquiate a person named Paillataru, who was brother or +cousin to the celebrated Lautaro, but of a very different character and +disposition. Slow and circumspect in all his operations, the new toqui +contented himself during the first years of his command in endeavouring +to keep up the love of liberty among his countrymen, whom he led from +time to time to ravage and plunder the possessions of the Spaniards, +always avoiding any decisive conflict. About this time likewise the +royal audience of Lima appointed Rodrigo de Quiroga to succeed the +younger Villagran in the government of Chili; and Quiroga began his +administration by arresting his predecessor in office, whom he sent +prisoner into Peru. + +Having received a reinforcement of three hundred soldiers in 1565, +Quiroga invaded the Araucanian territory, where he rebuilt the fort of +Arauco and the city of Canete, constructed a new fortress at the +celebrated post of Quipeo, and ravaged all the neighbouring provinces. +Towards the end of the year 1566, he sent Ruiz Gamboa with a detachment +of sixty men to reduce the archipelago of Chiloe to subjection. Gamboa +met with no resistance in this enterprise, and founded in the large +island of Ancud or Chiloe, the small city of Castro, and the sea-port of +Chacao. The islands of this archipelago are about eighty in number, +having been produced by earthquakes, owing to the great number of +volcanoes with which that country formerly abounded, and indeed every +part of them exhibits the most unequivocal marks of fire. Several +mountains in the great island of Chiloe, which has given name to the +archipelago, are composed of basaltic columns, which could have only +been produced by the operation of subterranean fire[78]. Though +descended from the Chilese of the continent, as is evident from their +appearance, manners, and language, the natives of these islands are +quite of a different character, being of a pacific and rather timid +disposition; insomuch that, although their population is said to have +exceeded seventy thousand, they made no opposition to the handful of +Spaniards sent on this occasion to reduce them, nor have they ever +attempted to shake off the yoke until the beginning of the eighteenth +century, when an insurrection of no great importance was excited, and +very soon quelled[79]. + +[Footnote 78: These are the opinions of Molina, not of the editor, who +takes no part in the discussion between the Huttonians and Wemerians; +neither indeed are there any data in the text on which to ground any +opinion, were he even disposed by inclination or geognostic knowledge to +become a party on either side.--E.] + +[Footnote 79: In the text, Molina gives here some account of the natives +of Chiloe, which is postponed to the close of this chapter.--E.] + + +SECTION IX. + +_Continuation of the Araucanian war to the Destruction of all the +Spanish settlements in the territories of that Nation_. + + +The long continuance of the Araucanian war, and the great importance of +the kingdom of Chili, at length determined Philip II. to erect a court +of Royal Audience in Chili, independent upon that which had long +subsisted in Peru. To this court, which was composed of four oydors or +judges and a fiscal, the civil and military administration of the +kingdom was confided; and its members made a solemn entry into the city +of Conception, where they fixed their residence, on the 13th of August +1567. Immediately on assuming their functions, the judges removed +Quiroga from the government, and appointed Ruiz Gamboa to the command of +the army with the title of general. Learning that Paillataru, the toqui +of the Araucanians, was preparing to besiege the city of Canete, Gamboa +hastened to that place with a respectable force, and finding the toqui +encamped not far from the threatened city, he attacked his fortified +post, and defeated him after a long and obstinate contest. After this +victory, Gamboa overran and laid waste the Araucanian territories for a +whole year without opposition, and carried off great numbers of women +and children into slavery. He employed every effort however, repeatedly +to induce the Araucanians to enter into negotiations for peace, but to +no purpose, as they preferred the endurance of every possible evil +before the loss of their national liberty, and continually refused to +listen to his proposals. + +As peace, so necessary to the well being of the Spanish settlements in +Chili, seemed every day more remote, in spite of every effort for its +attainment, it at length, appeared to the court of Spain that the +government of a country in a continual state of war was improperly +placed in the hands of a court of justice: Accordingly it was again +confided to the management of a single chief, under the new titles of +President, Governor, and Captain-general. Don Melchior Bravo de Saravia +was invested with this triple character in 1568; a man well qualified to +act as president of the court of audience and civil governor of the +kingdom, but utterly incompetent to sustain the charge of +captain-general; yet he was anxious to signalize the commencement of his +government by the attainment of a splendid victory over the redoubtable +Araucanians, for which an opportunity soon offered, but which redounded +to his own disgrace. + +Paillataru had collected a new army, with which he occupied the strong +position of Mariguenu, so fatal to the Spaniards, and which for some +unaccountable reason they had neglected to fortify. Immediately on +learning this circumstance, the governor marched against the toqui at +the head of three hundred Spanish soldiers and a large auxiliary force. +Like several of his predecessors, Paillataru had the glory of rendering +this mountain famous by the total defeat of the Spanish army. The +governor had the good fortune to make his escape from this battle, and +precipitately withdrew with a small remnant of his troops to Angol, +where he resigned the command of the army, appointing Gamboa +major-general and Velasco[80] quarter-master. He was at this time so +intimidated by his defeat, that he ordered these officers to evacuate +the fortress of Arauco, so often already destroyed and rebuilt. While +escorting the inhabitants of that place to Canete, these officers fell +in with a division of the Araucanians, which they attacked and defeated. +Yet Paillataru, who had removed from Mariguenu to the post of Quipeo, +marched two days afterwards against Canete, which he proposed to +besiege; but Gamboa advanced to meet him with all the troops he could +collect, and gave him battle. The engagement continued more than two +hours, and was one of the bloodiest and hardest contested ever fought in +Chili. Though severely handled, the Spaniards remained masters of the +field, and the Araucanians were compelled to retreat. Gamboa now invaded +the Araucanian territory, intending to ravage it as formerly; but +Paillataru, having repaired his losses in a short time by fresh levies, +returning to defend his country, and compelled Gamboa to retreat with +loss. + +[Footnote 80: In a subsequent passage Molina names this officer Benal. +--E.] + +From this time, till the death of Paillataru, about four years +afterwards, a suspension of arms or tacit truce was observed between the +Spaniards and Araucanians. This was probably owing in a great measure to +the general consternation occasioned by a dreadful earthquake which was +felt throughout the whole country, and did great injury to the Spanish +settlements, particularly to the city of Conception, which was entirely +destroyed. Ever anxious to consolidate and give importance to their +conquests, the court of Spain erected in 1570, a new bishopric in the +city of Imperial, to which the vast extent of country between the river +Maule and the southern confines of Chili was assigned as a diocese[81]. + +[Footnote 81: Since the loss of Imperial, Conception has been the +residence of this bishop--E.] + +About this time the _Mestees_, or descendents of Spaniards by Indian +women had multiplied greatly in Chili, and perceiving the great +advantage that might be derived from their assistance against the +Spaniards, and to attach them to their cause by a strong acknowledgement +that they were their countrymen, the Araucanians conferred the office of +toqui upon one of these men named Alonzo Diaz, who had assumed the +Chilese name of Paynenancu, and had distinguished himself for ten years +by his valour and abilities, continually fighting in their armies. If +his predecessor Paillataru had the fault of being too cautious in +conducting the operations of the war, the new toqui was on the contrary +so rash and daring, to avoid that imputation, that he constantly +attacked the Spaniards with far inferior numbers, whence all his +enterprises were unfortunate as might naturally have been expected. + +Immediately on receiving the investiture of the toquiate, he crossed +the river Biobio, probably intending to have attacked Conception; but, +before reaching that place, he was attacked and defeated by the +quarter-master, notwithstanding the great valour with which he defended +himself for a long time. Among the prisoners taken by the Spaniards on +this occasion were several Araucanian women, all of whom killed +themselves the same night. Paynenancu, having escaped from the carnage, +raised a new army and marched against Villarica, but was again defeated +by Rodrigo Bastidas, the military commandant of that city. + +While the war continued to rage in 1575, the licentiate Calderon arrived +in Chili from Spain, with a commission to examine and regulate the +government of that kingdom. His first step was to suppress the court of +audience, on the sole principle of economy, and instead of the president +Melchior Bravo, Rodrigo Quiroga, who had been formerly appointed +governor by the audience of Lima, was reinstated in that office. Having +assembled all the troops he could raise, the new governor proceeded in +1576 to the frontiers, to oppose the ravages of Paynenancu, who, though +twice defeated, continued to harass the Spanish settlements by frequent +inroads. But, as the toqui carefully avoided any rencounter, the +governor contented himself with ravaging the Araucanian territories in +revenge. Having afterwards received a reinforcement of two thousand men +from Spain, he gave directions to his father-in-law[82] Gamboa to found +a new city at the foot of the Cordellieras[83], between the cities of St +Jago and Conception, which has since received the appellation of Chillan +from the river on which it stands, and has become the capital of the +fertile province of the same name. Shortly after the foundation of this +new city, the governor died in 1580 at a very advanced age, having +previously nominated Gamboa to succeed him in the government of the +kingdom. Gamboa continued three years in the command, continually +occupied in opposing the Araucanians in the south under their toqui +Paynenancu, and in defending the kingdom on the east against the +Pehuenches and Chiquillanians, who now began to molest the Spaniards at +the instigation of the Araucanians. + +[Footnote 82: Thus in the original, though probably his son-in-law, as +Quiroga died soon after at an advanced age.--E.] + +[Footnote 83: The city of Chillan, instead of being at the foot of the +Andes, is in the plain country more than half way between that great +chain and the sea.--E.] + +The Pehuenches are a numerous tribe who inhabit that portion of the +Andes of Chili which lies between the latitudes of 34 deg. and 37 deg. S. to the +eastwards of the Spanish provinces of Calchagua, Maule, Chillan, and +Huilquilemu. Their dress resembles that of the Araucanians, except that +they wear a piece of cloth like the Japenese round the waist which hangs +down to the knees[84], instead of drawers or breeches. Their boots or +shoes are all of one piece of skin, being that of the hind leg of an ox +taken off at the knee, which is fitted to the foot of the wearer while +green, turning the hair side inmost, and sewing up one of the ends, the +skin of the knee serving for the heel. By being constantly worn and +frequently rubbed with tallow, these shoes become as soft and pliant as +the best dressed leather[85]. Though these mountaineers are valiant and +hardy soldiers, yet are they fond of adorning themselves like women, +decorating themselves with ear-rings and bracelets of glass-beads, with +which also they ornament their hair, and hang small bells around their +heads. Although possessed of numerous herds of cattle and sheep, their +usual food is horse flesh, which like the Tartars they prefer to all +other kinds, and always eat cooked, either by boiling or roasting. Like +the Bedowin Arabs, the Pehuenches dwell in tents made of skins, disposed +in a circular form around a spacious area, in which their cattle feed +while the herbage lasts; and when that begins to fail they remove their +camp to a fresh pasture, continually traversing in this manner the +valleys among the Andes. Each village or encampment is governed by a +hereditary ulmen. Their language and religion resemble those of the +Araucanians. They are extremely fond of hunting, and often traverse the +immense plains which stretch from the great Rio Plata to the Straits of +Magellan in pursuit of game, sometimes extending their excursions as far +as Buenos Ayres, and even occasionally indulge in plundering the +vicinity of that city. They frequently attack the caravans which pass +between Buenos Ayres and Chili, and have been so successful in these +predatory enterprises as almost to have stopped that commerce entirely. + +[Footnote 84: A comparison more familiar to the British reader might be +made to the _philabeg_ or short petticoat worn by the Scots +Highlanders--E.] + +[Footnote 85: In this part of dress they likewise resemble the Scots +Highlanders of old, who wore a kind of shoes made of raw hides with the +hair on, called _rough rullions_. In both of course using the most +obvious and easiest means of decency and protection. Before the +introduction of European cattle into Chili, the natives must have +employed the skins of the original animals of the country, probably of +the _guemul_ or _huemul_, the equus bisulcus of Molina and other +naturalists, an animal having some resemblance to a horse but with +cloven hoofs--E.] + +It may be proper to relate what I noticed on a journey in that country, +having set out from Mendoza in the province of Cujo, on the 27th of +April 1783, with post horses for Buenos Ayres. We soon learnt, from some +people whom we met, that the Pehuenches were out upon predatory +excursions, and soon afterwards received the melancholy intelligence +that they had committed horrible massacres in the _Portion of +Magdalena_. In consequence of this, all the post-houses where we stopped +were in a state of alarm, and some of them were entirely deserted. +During the year before, three hundred of these Indians appeared suddenly +before the post of Gutierrez, all lying back upon their horses and +trailing their lances, in order to make it appear that it was only a +drove of mares which is a very common sight in those _Pampas_ or almost +unlimited plains. Although they saw but one man who patroled the wall +with his musquet, and was indeed the only person in the post, they were +deterred from making any attack, supposing it to be strongly guarded. +This man knew well that the horses were guided, by the exact order they +pursued, though he could see nothing of the riders till they were very +near. He had the prudence likewise to refrain from firing his musquet, +which probably led them to believe there was a greater force within the +place, and induced them to abandon the enterprise, venting their rage on +the other unprotected inhabitants of the plains. The commander of the +post of Amatrain was not so fortunate, as he was killed that same year +along with a negro who accompanied him. These posts are fortified with +palisades, or with a mud wall, and have a ditch and draw-bridge. + +Although the Pehuenches frequently commit depredations in these eastern +plains, they have many years refrained from any hostilities within the +boundaries of Chili, unless in times of actual war between the nations; +induced to this either from fear of the military population of Chili, or +by the advantages which they derive from trading with the inhabitants of +that kingdom. Their favourite weapon is the _laque_ or leathern thong +with a stone at each end, which they always carry fastened to their +girdles. It is highly probable that the ten Americans in the ship +commanded by Orellana, of whose amazing and desperate courage, mention +is made in Ansons voyage, were of this tribe. Notwithstanding their +wandering and restless mode of life, they are more addicted to +industrious and even commercial habits than any of the savage natives of +South America. When in their tents, they are never idle. The women weave +cloths of various colours, and the men occupy themselves in making +baskets, and a variety of beautiful articles of wood, leather, skins, or +feathers, which are much prized by the Spaniards. Every year they +assemble in large numbers on the Spanish frontiers, where they hold a +kind of fair which generally lasts fifteen or twenty days. On these +occasions they bring for sale, besides horses and cattle, fossil salt, +gypsum, pitch, bed-coverings, ponchos, skins, wool, bridle-reins +beautifully wrought of plaited leather, baskets, wooden vessels, +feathers, ostrich-eggs, and a variety of other articles; and receive in +return wheat, wine, and European manufactures. In the conduct of this +barter they are very skilful, and can with difficulty be overreached. +Lest they should be cheated or plundered by the Christian merchants, who +think every thing lawful against unbelievers, they never drink all at +one time; but separate themselves into several companies, some of whom +keep guard while the rest indulge in wine. They are generally humane, +courteous, just in their dealings, and possessed of many estimable +qualities. + +The Chiquillanians, whom some persons have supposed a tribe of the +Pehueaches, live to the north-east of that nation, on the eastern +borders, of the Andes[86]. These are the most savage, and consequently +the least numerous of any of the tribes of the Chilese; for it is an +established fact, that the ruder the state of savage life the less +favourable it is to population. They go almost naked, merely wrapping +the skins of the _Guanaco_ round their bodies, and they speak a +corrupted and guttural dialect of the Chili-dugu or Chilese language. It +is observable that all the Chilese tribes which inhabit the elevated +valleys of the Andes, both Pehuenches, Puelches, Huilliches, and +Chiquillanians, are much redder than those of their countrymen who dwell +in the lower country to the west of these mountains. All these +mountaineers dress themselves in skins, paint their laces, subsist in a +great measure by hunting, and lead a wandering and unsettled life. They +are in fact the so much celebrated Patagonians, who have been +occasionally seen near the Straits of Magellan, and who have sometimes +been described as giants, and at other times as not much beyond the +ordinary stature of mankind. Generally speaking however, they are of +lofty stature and have great muscular strength. + +[Footnote 86: In the map accompanying the English translation of Molina, +the Penuenches and Chiquillanians are placed under the same parallel +between lat. 33 deg. SO' and 36 deg. S. The former on the western and the latter +on the eastern side of the Andes.--E.] + +On information being sent to Spain of the death of Quiroga, as formerly +mentioned, Don Alonzo Sotomayor Marquis of Villa-hermoso was sent out +as governor with six hundred regular troops. He landed at Buenos Ayres +in 1583, from whence he proceeded to St Jago. On taking possession of +his government, he appointed his brother Don Luis to the new office of +Colonel of the Kingdom, and sent him with a military force to relieve +the cities of Villarica and Valdivia, which were both besieged by the +Araucanians. After twice defeating the toqui, Paynenancu, who opposed +his march, he raised the sieges and supplied both places with +reinforcements. The indefatigable but unfortunate toqui, after two +defeats from Don Luis, turned his arms against Tiburcio Heredia and +Antonio Galleguilios, who were ravaging the country with separate strong +detachments of cavalry, and was successively defeated by both of these +officers, yet the victors paid dear for their successes. + +While these events were going on in the south, the governor had to +oppose the Pehuenches who had invaded the new settlement of Chilian, and +whom he defeated and constrained to retire into their mountains. He then +marched into Araucania at the head of seven hundred Spaniards and a +great number of auxiliaries, resolved to pursue the cruel and rigorous +system of warfare which had formerly been adopted by Don Garcia, in +preference to the humane procedure of his immediate predecessors. The +province of Encol was the first to experience the effects of this +severity, as he laid it entirely waste with fire and sword, and either +hanged his prisoners, or sent them away with their hands cut off to +intimidate their countrymen. The adjoining provinces of Puren, Ilicura, +and Tucapel would have experienced a similar fate, if the inhabitants +had not ensured their personal safety by flight, after setting their +houses and crops on fire, and destroying every thing they could not +carry off. Only three prisoners were taken in these provinces, who were +impaled. Notwithstanding these severities, many mestees and mulatoes +joined the Araucanians, and even some Spaniards, among who was Juan +Sanchez, who acquired great reputation among them. + +Impelled either by his natural rash valour, or by despair on finding +that he had fallen in the estimation of the Araucanians by his want of +success, Paynenancu gave battle to the whole Spanish army on the +confines of the province of Arauco with only eight hundred men; yet such +was the resolute valour with which they fought that the Spaniards were +unable to break their firm array, till after a hard contested battle of +several hours, in which they lost a considerable number of men. Almost +the whole of the Araucanian troops engaged in this unequal contest were +slain; but Paynenancu was made prisoner and immediately executed. The +victorious governor encamped with his army on the banks of the +Carampangui river, and caused the fortress of Arauco to be rebuilt, of +which he gave the command to Garcia Ramon the quarter-master. + +The Araucanian valour, which had been repressed by the imprudent conduct +of Paynenancu, was revived in 1585, by the elevation of Cayancura to the +dignity of toqui, an ulmen of the province or district of Mariguenu. +Immediately on his election, he dispatched an hundred and fifty +messengers to every corner of the country, with the symbolical arrows to +summon the martial youth of Araucania to the national army. Having by +these means assembled a respectable force, the new toqui determined upon +making an attack at midnight on the Spanish camp, which was still on the +banks of the Carampangui, and of the exact situation of which he had +procured information by means of a spy. For this purpose, he formed his +army in three divisions, of which he gave the command to three valiant +officers, Lonconobal, Antulevu, and Tarochina. The divisions proceeded +by three several roads which led to the camp, and coming upon it by +surprise, cut the auxiliaries to pieces who were the first to oppose +their progress. Fortunately for the Spaniards, the moon rose about the +middle of the assualt, and enabled them, after a short period of +confusion, and the loss of several men, to form themselves in good +order, and to make head against the assailants, who at length began to +give way after suffering severely from the fire of the Spanish +musquetry. Just at this critical time, the governor charged the +Araucanians and forced them to give way, after both sides had suffered +considerable loss. Cayancura, who had halted with a body of reserve at +the entrance of the Spanish camp for the purpose of supporting the +attack, on finding his troops retiring exhausted and dispirited, drew +off the whole to some distance where he permitted them to take rest and +refreshment during the remainder of the night, and returned at day-break +next morning to the attack. The Spanish army marched out to meet them in +the open field, and a most obstinate and bloody battle ensued. After a +brave contest, the Araucanians were overpowered by the artillery and +cavalry of the Spaniards, and constrained to quit the field with great +loss, though the Spaniards paid dear for their victory; insomuch that, +immediately after the action, the governor raised his camp and retired +to the frontiers, where he built two forts named Trinidad and Spiritu +Santo on the northern shore of the Biobio. He also sent orders to the +major-general to raise as many recruits as possible throughout the +kingdom of Chili, which officer brought him accordingly a reinforcement +of two thousand[87] horse and a considerable number of infantry. + +[Footnote 87: From the original army of the governor having only seven +hundred men, I am apt to believe the number of horse in the text ought +only to have been two _hundred_.--E.] + +Undismayed by his recent losses, the Araucanian general determined to +take advantage of the governors retreat to lay siege to the fort of +Arauco; and in order to secure the success of this enterprise, he +endeavoured to occupy the Spanish arms in other quarters. For this +purpose, he ordered one of his officers named Guepotan to make +incursions on the territory of Villarica from the fortified post of +Liben, where he had supported himself for several years. To Cadiguala, +another officer who afterwards became toqui, he gave it in charge to +harass the district of Angol; appointed Tarochina to guard the passage +of the Biobio, and sent Melilauca and Catipillan to keep the garrison of +Imperial in check. These officers had several encounters with the +Spaniards attended with various success. Guepotan lost the fortified +post of Liben, which was taken by the governors brother. Tarochina made +himself master of a great number of boats on the Biobio, which were +conveying supplies of men and warlike stores to the recently erected +forts on that river. + +In the year 1586, the toqui Cayancura began the siege of Arauco, which +he surrounded with strong lines, so as not only to intercept all +succours, but to prevent the retreat of the garrison[88]. Perceiving +from these preparations, that they must finally be compelled to +surrender or perish by famine, the garrison thought it better to die at +once with arms in their hands than to be reduced to such extremity. They +attacked therefore the works of the enemy with such vigour, that after +an obstinate and sanguinary combat of four hours, they succeeded in +forcing them, and put the Araucanians to flight. Cayancura was so +exceedingly mortified by this defeat, that he retired to his ulmenate, +leaving the command of the army to his son, Nangoniel, a young man of +great hopes and much beloved by the nation. This young commander +immediately collected a new army, in which were an hundred and fifty +horse, which from this time forwards became a regular part of the +Araucanian military force. With these troops he returned to invest the +fortress of Arauco, and guarded all its environs so closely that the +garrison were unable to procure a supply of provisions, and were at +length compelled to evacuate it, probably on capitulation. Encouraged by +this good fortune, Nangoniel proceeded towards the Biobio, intending to +attack the fort of Trinidad, which protected the passage of supplies in +that direction from Spanish Chili to the forts on the south of that +river. But while on his march, he was encountered by a detachment of +Spanish troops commanded by Francisco Hernandez, by whom he was +defeated. In this action he lost an arm and received several other +dangerous wounds. Being obliged by this misfortune to take refuge on a +neighbouring mountain, where he was drawn into an ambush by the +sergeant-major[89] of the Spanish army, he and fifty of his soldiers +were slain, after defending themselves valiantly for a long time. On the +same day, an officer named Cadeguala, who had obtained great reputation +in the Arancanian army for his courage and military skill, was +proclaimed toqui by the officers. + +[Footnote 88: Lines, it would appear of circumvallation and +contravallation, probably suggested by some of the Spaniards who had +joined the Araucanians.--E.] + +[Footnote 89: This officer in the Spanish service seems somewhat +equivalent to our adjutant; and the sergeant-major of the array in +Chili, may be considered as a kind of adjutant-general.--E.] + +About this time, while the Araucanians were valiantly endeavouring to +oppose the Spanish arms, the English also planned an expedition against +them in that remote quarter of the world. Sir Thomas Cavendish sailed +with this view from Plymouth on the 21st of July 1586 with three ships, +and arrived on the coast of Chili in the following year. He landed at +the desert port of Quintero[90], and endeavoured to enter into a +negociation with the natives of the country; but he was attacked by +Alonzo Molina, the corregidor of St Jago, and compelled to reimbark with +the loss of several soldiers and seamen, and quitted the coast after a +very short stay. + +[Footnote 90: The port of Quintero, in about lat. 32 deg. 45' S. is about 8 +or 10 miles to the north of the river Quillota in Spanish Chili. The +voyage of Sir Thomas Cavendish will appear in an after division of this +work.--E.] + +Cadeguala, the new toqui, signalized the commencement of his +administration by several successful inroads into the Spanish +possessions, the particulars of which are not recorded. Having notice of +the alarm in Spanish Chili occasioned by the English squadron, he +resolved to avail himself of that diversion of the Spanish forces to +make an effort against the city of Angol by surprise. He maintained a +secret intelligence with some of the inhabitants of that place, by whose +means he prevailed upon a number of native Chilese, who were in the +service of the Spanish citizens, to set fire to their masters houses at +a certain hour of an appointed night, when he was to be ready with his +army at the gates to assault the place. His plan was accordingly +executed; and entering the city during the confusion occasioned by the +fires, he divided his force, consisting of a thousand foot and an +hundred horse, into several detachments, which made a horrible carnage +of the citizens, who flying from the flames fell into the hands of the +Araucanians. The garrison attempted in vain to dislodge the enemy, and +the whole population of the place had been assuredly put to the sword, +but for the courage and conduct of the governor, who had fortunately +arrived at the city only two hours before the attack. He immediately +hastened with his guards to the different quarters which were occupied +by the enemy, where with wonderful presence of mind he collected the +dispersed inhabitants who had escaped the sword of the enemy, and +conducted them to the citadel. Having armed and marshalled all the most +resolute of the inhabitants, he sallied out from the citadel at their +head against the enemy, whom he compelled to evacuate the city at break +of day. It would appear that the Araucanians had now become less +scrupulous than formerly in their mode of making war; for Cadeguala was +not abandoned by any of his officers on this occasion, as Caupolican had +formerly been in his attempt to surprise Canete by similar means. + +Although the Arancanian general had not succeeded in this daring +enterprise according to his expectations, he was so little discouraged +by its failure that he immediately undertook the siege of Puren, which +appeared more easy to be taken as it was situated at some distance from +the Spanish frontiers. He accordingly invested it regularly with four +thousand men in four separate divisions, under the respective commands +of Guanoalca, Caniotaru, Relmuantu, and Curilemu, the most valiant +officers of his army. On receiving notice of the investiture of Puren, +the governor hastened to its relief with a strong reinforcement, but +was opposed on his march by Cadeguala at the head of an hundred and +fifty Araucanian horse armed with lances, and compelled to retreat after +a long and obstinate combat, in which several fell on both sides. Elated +by this success, the toqui made proposals to the besieged, either to +enter into his service or to allow them to retire unmolested. These +terms, which he pretended were very advantageous for men in their +situation, were disdainfully rejected; yet one man of the garrison, +named Juan Tapia, went over to the Araucanians by whom he was well +received, and even got advancement in their army. As these terms were +rejected, Cadeguala determined to endeavour to shorten the siege in a +different manner. He presented himself one day before the walls mounted +on a fine horse which he had taken from the governor, and boldly defied +Garcia Ramon the commander of the garrison to single combat at the end +of three days. The challenge was accepted, and the intrepid toqui +appeared in the field at the time appointed, with a small number of +attendants, whom he placed apart. Ramon likewise came out from the fort +to meet him, attended by an escort of forty men, whom he ordered to +remain at some distance. The two champions, having taken their distance +set spurs to their horses and ran their course with such fury that +Cadeguala fell at the first rencounter, pierced through the body by the +lance of his adversary. He refused however to acknowledge himself +vanquished, and even endeavoured to remount his horse to renew the +combat, but died in the attempt. His attendants hastened to raise him, +and even carried off his body after a sharp contest with the Spaniards. + +After the death of their commander, the Araucanians retired from the +blockade for a short time; but soon returned to the siege, after having +elected Guanoalca to the vacant toquiate, having been informed by the +Spanish deserter Tapia, that the garrison was ill supplied with +provisions, and divided into parties. Cut off from all hopes of relief, +and dissatisfied with the conduct of their officers, the besieged soon +determined upon evacuating the place; and the Araucanians allowed them +to march off unmolested, according to their usual policy. Guanoalca +immediately marched against another fort which the Spaniards had +recently erected in the neighbourhood of Mount Mariguenu; but finding +that it had been recently and considerably reinforced, he proceeded +against the forts of Trinidad and Spiritu Santo on the banks of the +Biobio. As the governor of Chili was apprehensive that he might not be +able to defend these forts, or perhaps considered them of too little +importance to hazard the safety of their garrisons, he evacuated them +in 1589, and transferred their garrisons to another fortress which he +directed to be constructed on the river Puchanqui as a protection for +the city of Angol, so that the operations of the war consisted mostly in +the construction and demolition of fortifications. + +The toquiate of Guanoalca was more remarkable for the exploits of a +heroine named Janequeo than by his own. This famous woman was wife of +Guepotan, a valiant officer who had long defended the fortified post of +Liben near Villarica. After the loss of that important place he retired +to the Andes, where he used every effort to stimulate the Puelches +inhabiting that mountainous region to rise in defence of the country +against the Spanish invaders. Being desirous of having his wife along +with him, he descended into the plains in search of her, but was +surprised by a party of Spaniards, and preferring to be cut in pieces +rather than yield himself a prisoner, he was slain in the unequal +combat. Janequeo, inflamed by an ardent desire to revenge the death of +her husband, put herself at the head of an army of Puelches in 1590, +assisted by Guechiuntereo her brother, with which she made inroads into +the Spanish settlements, killing all of that nation who fell into her +hands. Reinforced by a regiment of veteran soldiers which had been sent +him from Peru, the governor Don Alonza Sotomayor, marched against the +heroine; but, by constantly occupying the high grounds, attacking +sometimes the van, sometimes the rear of the Spaniards, and harassing +them in every possible way, she at last obliged the governor to retire, +after having lost much time and a considerable number of men to no +purpose. As the governor was of opinion that rigorous measures were best +calculated to quell the pride of the Araucanians, he ordered all the +prisoners taken in this incursion to be hung before his retreat. On this +occasion, one of these men requested to be hanged on a higher tree than +the rest, that the sacrifice he had made of himself for his country +might be the more conspicuous, and inspire his surviving countrymen with +the more ardent determination to defend their liberties. + +Having thus foiled all the endeavours of a general who had gained high +reputation in the wars of Italy, Germany, and Flanders, Janequeo +proceeded to attack the recently constructed fortress of Puchanqui, not +far from which she defeated and slew the commandant, Aranda, who had +advanced to meet her with a part of the garrison. Not being able to gain +possession of this fort, she retired at the commencement of the rainy +season to the mountains near Villarica, where she fortified herself in +a place surrounded by precipices, from whence she continually infested +the environs of that city in such a manner that no one dared to venture +beyond the walls. Moved by the distresses of the citizens, the governor +sent his brother Don Luis to their aid, with the greater part of two +reinforcements which he had recently received from Peru, under the +command of Castillejo and Penalosa. The intrepid Janequeo awaited him in +her fortified post, which she deemed secure, and repelled for a long +time the various assaults of the Spaniards with great presence of mind. +At length, her soldiers being dispersed by the fire of the artillery, +she had to seek for safety in flight. Her brother was made prisoner, and +obtained his life on condition of promising to keep his sister quiet, +and to secure the friendship of his vassals and adherents to the +Spaniards. But, while proposing this measure in a national council, he +was killed by the ulmen Catipiuque, who abhorred every species of +reconciliation with the enemy. + +The old toqui, Guanoalca, died about the close of 1590, and a young and +enterprising warrior, named Quintuguenu, was elected in his stead in the +year following. Being ambitious of acquiring military glory, the new +toqui assaulted and took the fort of Mariguenu by assault, and +established himself on the top of that famous mountain with two thousand +men, hoping to render himself as celebrated there as Lautaro had been +formerly, by gaining an important victory over the Spaniards. Not +dismayed by the misfortunes which had befallen his countrymen in that +ill-omened place, the governor put himself at the head of a thousand +Spaniards and a large auxiliary force of Indians, and marched without +delay for Mariguenu, determined upon dislodging the Araucanians or of +besieging them in their post. Having disposed his troops in order, and +given the necessary directions, he began at daybreak to ascend the +difficult and steep defile, leading the advanced guard in person, +directly before which was a forlorn hope of twenty half-pay officers +much experienced in similar warfare. He had scarcely got half way up the +mountain when he was attacked with the utmost fury by Quintuguenu; but +animating his troops by his voice and example, he sustained for more +than an hour the utmost efforts of the enemy, and gained the top of the +defile by persevering bravery. On reaching the level summit of the +mountain, the Araucanians were forced to take refuge within their +entrenchments, which they did however in excellent order. The +Araucanians, exhorting each other to conquer or die for their country, +defended their camp with incredible valour against the utmost efforts +of the Spaniards till mid-day; when, after a most obstinate resistance, +Don Carlos Irrazabel forced the lines on the left with his company, +while at the same time the quarter-master and Rodolphus Lisperger, a +valiant German officer, penetrated with their companies on the front and +the right of the encampment. Though surrounded on every side, +Quintuguenu maintained his troops in good order, earnestly exhorting +them not to dishonour themselves by suffering an ignominious defeat in a +place which had so often been the theatre of victory to their nation, +and by his efforts and bravery long kept the fate of the battle in +suspense. While he flew from rank to rank, animating his men and +constantly making head against the enemy, he fell pierced with three +mortal wounds given by the governor, who had taken aim at him. His last +words were an enthusiastic exclamation in favour of liberty. On the +death of the toqui, part of the Araucanian troops allowed themselves to +be cut in pieces, and the rest sought their safety in flight. Almost all +the auxiliaries on the side of the Spaniards fell in this successful +battle, but only twenty of the Spaniards were slain, among whom was a +Portuguese knight of the order of Christ, who was killed at the +commencement of the action. + +Highly gratified with being the first who had defeated the Araucanians +on the formidable heights of Mariguenu, the governor conducted his +victorious army to the sea-shore, where he was saluted by repeated +discharges of cannon from the fleet of Peru, then scouring the coast in +search of the English squadron, and which had witnessed the victory. +These were answered by the army with repeated vollies of musquetry, and +the customary demonstrations of joy on so glorious an occasion. Availing +himself of the opportunity afforded by the presence of the fleet, the +governor sent the quarter-master-general into Peru to solicit the +greatest possible reinforcement of troops without delay, to enable him +to prosecute the war to advantage in the ensuing campaign. In the mean +time, he abandoned the ancient scite of the fort of Arauco, and rebuilt +it in a more convenient situation on the sea-shore. Colocolo, son of the +celebrated ulmen of that name, but of a very different disposition from +that of his father, was lord of that district, and being indignant at +seeing his country occupied by the Spaniards endeavoured to drive them +off; but being defeated and made prisoner, he solicited for his life, +which he obtained on condition of persuading his subjects to return +from the mountains and to submit to the authority of the Spaniards. On +being urged by his wife Millayene, to fulfil the promise made by their +chief, they replied that he ought to endure his misfortunes with the +firmness that became his rank and lineage; that they were willing to +encounter every danger under his command, and according to his example, +or to revenge the outrages he might be subjected to, but could never +consent to betray their country by submitting to obey its bitterest +enemies. Irritated by this patriotic resolution of his subjects, +Colocolo devoted himself in future to the service of the Spaniards, and +even served them as a guide in the pursuit of his own people among the +fastnesses in which they had taken refuge. + +In the year 1592 there happened to be a Spanish prisoner among the +Araucanians, who by his ingratiating manners had acquired the confidence +and esteem of the principal people of that high-spirited nation. Either +by secret instructions from the governor, or from gratitude for the kind +treatment he had received while prisoner, this man exerted himself to +effectuate a treaty of peace between the nations, and had at one time a +fair prospect of bringing it about. But the preliminaries which he +proposed as the ground work of a reconciliation did not prove +satisfactory to either party, and all his endeavours were abortive. The +governor, being irritated at the rejection of his proposals, marched +into the province of Tucapel which he laid waste on every side with fire +and sword. As Paillaeco, who had been elected toqui in place of +Quintuguenu, did not think his force sufficient to oppose the enemy in +the open field, he endeavoured to draw them into an ambush. With this +view, he placed an hundred horsemen at the entrance of a wood, within +which he had concealed the remainder of his troops, giving orders to the +horse to counterfeit flight on the coming up of the enemy to draw them +within reach of the ambushment. This scheme seemed at first to promise +success, but in the end turned against its contriver. The Araucanians +took to flight and were pursued by the Spaniards, who soon discovered +that it was only a stratagem, and turned back accordingly as if struck +with a panic, in hopes of decoying the enemy to quit the wood and attack +them in the open field. Not aware of this repetition of their own trick, +the Araucanians fell into the snare they had laid for their enemies; and +being surrounded on every side, were mostly cut in pieces together with +their commander, after selling their lives at a dear rate, a small +remnant taking refuge in the marshes from the pursuit of the victors. + +These repeated victories certainly cost much blood to the Spaniards, as +the governor after this last action withdrew to St Jago to await the +reinforcements he expected from Peru, and to raise as many recruits as +possible in the northern provinces of Chili. As the reinforcements did +not appear to him sufficient for continuing the war with a reasonable +prospect of ultimate success, he even went into Peru in person to +solicit more effectual succours, leaving the charge of the civil +government daring his absence to the licentiate Pedro Viscarra, and the +command of the army to the quarter-master. On his arrival at Lima, +Sotomayor met with a successor who had been appointed to the government +of Chili, by the court of Spain. This was Don Martin Loyola, nephew of +St Ignatius, the celebrated founder of the order of the Jesuits, who had +acquired the favour of the viceroy of Peru by taking prisoner Tupac +Amuru the last Inca of Peru. In requital for this service, he was not +only gratified by being appointed to the government of Chili, but was +rewarded by obtaining in marriage the princess or _coya_ Donna Clara +Beatrix, the only daughter and sole heiress of the former Inca Sayri +Tupac. Loyola arrived at Valparaiso, in 1593, with a respectable body of +troops, and immediately proceeded to St Jago, where he was received with +every demonstration of joy by the citizens; but during his +administration the Spaniards experienced the severest disaster that had +ever happened to them in Chili. + +After the defeat and death of Paillaeco, the Araucanians elected +Paillamachu to the supreme command, who was hereditary toqui or prince +of the second Uthulmapu. This military dictator was already much +advanced in years, yet a man of wonderful activity and resources, and +was so fortunate in his enterprises that he far surpassed all his +predecessors in military glory, and had the singular felicity of +restoring his country to its ancient independence by the entire +expulsion of the Spaniards from its territories. Immediately on his +elevation to the supreme dignity of toqui, he appointed two officers of +great valour and merit, Pelantaru and Millacalquin to the important +employments of vice-toqui, deviating from the usual custom of the +nation, which allowed only of one lieutenant-general. And, as the +military force of the confederacy had been greatly diminished by the +late unfortunate incidents in the war, he followed the example of +Antiguenu, a former toqui, by withdrawing into the almost inaccessible +marshes of Lumaco, where he used his utmost efforts to collect and +discipline an army for the execution of the extensive plans he had +formed for the entire liberation of his country. + +After having regulated the police of the capital and the civil +government of the kingdom of Chili, Loyola proceeded to the city of +Conception, where he established his headquarters in order to be at hand +for conducting the operations of the war. The toqui of the Araucanians, +on hearing of his arrival, sent an intelligent and sagacious officer +named Antipillan to compliment him, but charged at the same time to +obtain information of his character and designs. In frequent conferences +with this person, the new governor endeavoured to impress him with an +idea of the vast power and immense resources of the Spanish monarchy, +against which it was impossible as he said for the Araucanians to +contend successfully, and insinuated therefore the necessity of their +submitting to an accommodation. Pretending to be convinced by the +reasoning of Loyola, the ambassador acknowledged the prodigious power of +the Spanish monarchy in comparison with the Araucanian state; which, +notwithstanding the vast disproportion, had hitherto been able to resist +every effort of the Spaniards. He acknowledged even the propriety of his +nation entering into negotiations for peace, but alleged that the +Spaniards affixed wrong ideas to that word; as, under the semblance of +peace, they sought to subject the Araucanians to their authority, which +they would never agree to while one of them remained alive. And finally, +that the only peace to which they would consent, must consist of an +entire cessation of hostilities, a complete restoration of all the lands +which were occupied by the Spaniards within the Araucanian territory, +and an explicit renunciation of every pretence to controul or interfere +with their independent rights. + +As Loyola was of a generous disposition, he could not avoid admiring the +noble and enlightened sentiments of the barbarian ambassador, and +dismissed him with the strongest demonstrations of esteem. Yet so far +was he from any idea of abandoning the posts already established in the +Araucanian territory, that he crossed the Biobio in 1594, and founded a +new city at a short distance from that river, giving it the name of Coya +in honour of his wife a Peruvian princess. This place was intended to +protect the rich gold mines of Kilacoyan, and to serve as a place of +retreat for the inhabitants of Angol in case of need; and in order to +render it more secure, he constructed two castles in its immediate +neighbourhood, named Jesus and Chivecura, on either shore of the Biobio. +Solicitous to destroy this new settlement, which he considered as a +disgrace to his administration, Paillamachu sent in 1595, one of his +officers named Loncothequa, with orders to destroy the fort of Jesus. +After twice penetrating within the works, and even burning a part of the +interior buildings of this place, Loncothequa lost his life without +being able to accomplish the enterprise. + +In 1596, the toqui made frequent incursions into all the Spanish +districts, both within and adjoining the Araucanian territory, on +purpose to subsist his troops and to inure them to a military life. The +Spanish army attempted in vain to prevent or pursue these predatory +detachments, as the wary Paillamachu took the utmost care to avoid any +encounter, determined to reserve his force for some favourable occasion. +On purpose to restrain these incursions Loyola erected two additional +forts in the neighbourhood of the encampment or head-quarters of the +toqui, one on the scite of the old fort of Puren, and the other on the +borders of the marshes of Lumaco, which he garrisoned with the greater +part of a reinforcement of troops which he had just received from Peru. +He sent the remainder of these in 1597 to the province of Cujo, where +they founded a new city, called San Luis de Loyola, which still subsists +in a miserable condition, though placed in a very advantageous +situation. + +The fort of Lumaco was soon afterwards taken by storm, by the toqui in +person, who gave orders to two of his officers to reduce that of Puren. +In ten days they reduced the garrison to the last extremity, but had to +desist from the enterprise by the approach of a reinforcement under the +command of Pedro Cortes, a Spanish officer who acquired great reputation +in the Araucanian war. The governor Loyola arrived there soon afterwards +with his army, and gave orders to demolish the fortifications and to +remove the garrison to Angol, lest it might experience a similar fate +with what had so recently happened to the fort of Lumaco. He then +proceeded to Imperial, Villarica and Valdivia, the fortifications of +which places he carefully repaired, to secure them against the +increasing strength of the enemy, and then returned towards the Biobio +under the security of an escort of three hundred men. As soon as he +thought himself in a place of security, he ordered back the escort, +retaining only along with himself and family sixty-two half-pay officers +and three Franciscan friars. Paillamachu had secretly followed and +watched all the motions of the governor, and concluded that he had now +found a favourable opportunity to attack him. Finding him accordingly +encamped in the pleasant valley of Caralava, he attacked him with a +select band of two hundred Araucanians, on the night of the 22d November +1598, and slew Loyola and all his retinue. + +It would appear that Paillamachu had formed confident hopes in the +successful issue of this bold enterprise, and that it had been long +concerted: as, in consequence of his instructions, the whole provinces +of the Araucanian confederacy, and their allies the Cunches and +Huilliches, were in arms in less than forty-eight hours after the +slaughter of Loyola. In the whole of that country, from the Biobio to +the archipelago of Chiloe, every Spaniard who had the misfortune to be +found without the garrisons was put to death; and the cities and +fortresses of Osorno, Valdivia, Villarica, Imperial, Canete, Angol, and +Arauco, were all invested at the same time by close blockades. +Paillamachu had even the boldness to cross the Biobio, burned the cities +of Conception and Chillan, laid waste the provinces under their +dependence, and returned into Araucania loaded with spoil. + +On the first intelligence of these melancholy events, the inhabitants of +St Jago were filled with consternation and despair, and were almost +unanimously of opinion to abandon Chili and take refuge in Peru. Yet, +having some confidence in Pedro de Viscara, an officer of reputation +then beyond seventy years of age, they assembled in council and +prevailed on him to assume the government of the kingdom till the court +might appoint a successor to Loyola. Viscara, having collected all the +troops that could be procured, began his march for the frontiers in +1599, and had even the courage to cross the Biobio in the face of the +enemy, and withdrew the inhabitants from Angol and Coya, with whom he +repeopled the cities of Conception and Chilian. The government of +Viscara only continued for six months; as on learning the perilous +situation of Chili, the viceroy of Peru sent Don Francisco Quinones +thither as governor, with a numerous reinforcement of soldiers and a +large supply of military stores. The new governor had several indecisive +actions with the toqui to the north of the river Biobio, to which the +Araucanians had gone on purpose to ravage the southern provinces of +Spanish Chili. The most important of these was in the plain of Yumbal. +The toqui was on his return into the south from a successful inroad at +the head of two thousand men, and with a great number of cattle of all +kinds which he had taken in the province of Chillan, and Quinones +attempted to intercept his retreat with an equal force, the greater part +of which consisted of Spanish troops. The two armies advanced with equal +resolution, and the Spaniards attempted in vain to keep the Araucanians +at a distance by a constant fire from eight field pieces and all their +musquetry. They soon came to close quarters, and the battle continued +with incredible fury for more than two hours, till night parted them; +when Paillamachu took advantage of the darkness and repassed the Biobio. +On this occasion, the governor made an improper display of severity, by +ordering all his prisoners to be quartered and hung upon trees, which +was much disapproved of by his officers, who, either from humanity or a +motive of self-interest, urged him not to give the enemy a pretence for +retaliating by similar cruelties. But Quinones obstinately adhered to an +old maxim of endeavouring to conquer by means of terror, and was deaf to +all their remonstrances. We are ignorant of the loss sustained by the +Spaniards in this battle, but it must have been considerable, as Arauco +and Canete were both immediately abandoned, and their inhabitants +withdrawn to the city of Conception. + +Paillmachu does not seem to have been at all disconcerted by the issue +of the late battle, as he continued the sieges of the Spanish cities, +and was himself in constant motion; sometimes encouraging by his +presence the forces that were employed in blockading the cities, and at +other times ravaging the Spanish provinces to the north of the Biobio, +where he did infinite mischief. Having learnt that the siege of Valdivia +had been raised by the officer whom he had entrusted with that +enterprise, he hastened to that place with four thousand men, part +cavalry, seventy of his infantry being armed with musquets which he had +taken from the Spaniards in the late engagements. On the night of the +14th of November[91] he crossed the broad river of Calacala by swimming, +unsuspected by the garrison, stormed the city at day-break, killed a +great number of the inhabitants, and burnt the houses. He even attempted +to gain possession of some vessels in the harbour, on board of which +many of the inhabitants had taken refuge, but these escaped his fury by +immediately setting sail. After this notable exploit, he returned in +triumph into the north of Araucania with a booty of two millions of +dollars, upwards of four hundred prisoners, and a considerable number of +cannon; and rejoined Millacalquin, an officer to whom he had entrusted +the defence of the Biobio during his absence. + +[Footnote 91: According to Garcilasso, Valdivia was taken on the 24th of +November 1599. In a letter from St Jago in Chili, dated in March 1600, +and inserted in the Royal Commentaries of Peru, P.I.B. vii. Ch. xxv. the +Araucanian army on this occasion is said to have amounted to 5000 men, +3000 of whom were horse. Of the foot, 200 were armed with coats of mail, +and 70 with fire-arms, _as was said_. They surprised the city at +daybreak without the smallest alarm, there being only four men on guard, +two of whom went the rounds, the Spaniards being lulled into security by +some recent successes in two different incursions they had lately made +into the country, which they had laid waste for eight leagues all around +during twenty days.--E.] + +Ten days after the destruction of Valdivia, Francisco del Campo arrived +there by sea from Peru with a reinforcement of three hundred men; and +finding it in ashes, he ineffectually endeavoured to introduce these +succours into Osorno, Villarica, and Imperial[92]. Amid so many +misfortunes, an expedition of five ships from Holland arrived on the +coast of Chili in 1660, which plundered the island of Chiloe and put the +Spanish garrison to the sword. But on a part of their people landing in +the island of Talca or Santa Maria[93], inhabited by the Araucanians, +they were repulsed with the loss of twenty-three men, being probably +mistaken for Spaniards. + +[Footnote 92: In the letter quoted from Garcilasso in the preceding +note, Del Campo is said to have raised the siege of Osorno and to have +performed other actions of happy consequence.--E.] + +[Footnote 93: St Mary's island is on the coast of Araucania, in lat. 37 deg. +S.--E.] + +Disgusted with a war which threatened such unfortunate consequences, +Quinones solicited and obtained leave to resign the government of Chili, +and was succeeded by Garcia Ramon who had long been quarter-master of +the army in that kingdom. Great expectations were formed of success in +the war against the Araucanians under his direction, from his long +experience and thorough acquaintance with the manner in which the enemy +carried on their warlike operations. But that experience induced him to +conduct the war on prudent principles of defence, rather than to hazard +the loss of that part of Chili which was subject to Spain. Although he +received a reinforcement consisting of an entire regiment of veterans, +under the command of Don Francisco de Ovalle, father to the historian of +that name, he confined himself almost entirely to the defence of the +frontier line upon the Biobio. Garcia Ramon was however soon superseded +in the government by the appointment of Alonzo Rivera, an officer who +had acquired considerable reputation in the wars in the low countries, +and who now brought out a farther reinforcement of a regiment of veteran +troops. On assuming the government, he established a number of +additional forts on the river Biobio, to defend the frontiers, by which +he greatly encouraged the Spanish colonists, who still entertained an +idea of abandoning Chili to the enemy. + +The populous and opulent city of Villarica, fell into the hands of the +Araucanians in 1692, after a siege or blockade of two years and eleven +months; and soon afterwards Imperial, the capital of the Spanish +settlements beyond the Biobio, experienced a similar fate. The defence +of this city was protracted for some months by the courage of a Spanish +lady, named Donna Innes de Aguilera. Seeing the garrison quite +dispirited by the long continuance of the siege, and ready to +capitulate, she encouraged them to persist in its defence, and even +directed all the operations in person; until at last, on a favourable +opportunity offering, she escaped by sea with the bishop and most of the +inhabitants. During this siege, she lost her husband and brothers, and +her heroism was rewarded by the king with a pension of two thousand +dollars. + +Osorno, likewise a rich and populous city, soon followed; as the enemy, +now freed from the attention they had hitherto given to Valdivia, +Villarica and Imperial, were able to bring their whole force against +that last possession of the Spaniards within the territories of the +Araucanian confederacy. The sufferings endured by the garrison and +inhabitants of Osorno are scarcely to be exceeded by those endured in +the most celebrated sieges recorded in history. They were long obliged +to subsist on the most loathsome food, having no other sustenance than +the carcasses of dead horses; and when these failed on cats and dogs and +the skins of beasts. Thus in little more than three years, all the +settlements which had been established by Valdivia and his successors, +between the river Biobio and the archipelago of Chiloe, and preserved at +the expence of so much blood, were destroyed, and so effectually that +hardly any vestiges of them now remain. None of them have been since +rebuilt, as what is at present called Valdivia is nothing more than a +garrison or fortified post. Though great numbers of the inhabitants of +these cities perished in the defence of their walls, by famine or by the +sword of the enemy, yet Spanish prisoners of all ranks were so numerous +among the Araucanians, that almost every family had at least one to its +share. The married Spaniards were mostly allowed to retain their wives, +and the unmarried men were supplied with wives from among the women of +the country; but the unmarried Spanish women were distributed among the +chiefs of the Araucanians, who by their customs were permitted a +plurality of wives. It is not a little remarkable that the mestees, or +offspring of these marriages, became in the subsequent wars the most +inveterate enemies of the Spaniards. + +On this occasion likewise, the ransom and exchange of prisoners were +permitted, by which means many of the Spaniards escaped from captivity. +Yet some were induced, by love for the children they had by the native +women, to remain captives during their lives. Some even of the Spaniards +acquired the confidence and affection of the natives, by their pleasing +manners, or by their skill in useful arts, and acquired advantageous +establishments in the country. Among these, Don Basilio Roxas and Don +Antonio Bascugnano, both of noble birth, acquired high reputation with +the Araucanians, and both of them left interesting memoirs of the +transactions of their times. Such of the Spaniards as happened to fall +to the share of brutal masters, had much to suffer. + +Paillamachu did not long continue to enjoy the applause of his +countrymen, for having so successfully expelled the Spaniards from +Araucania: He died about the end of the year 1603, and was succeeded by +Huenecura, who had been bred to arms under his direction and example in +the celebrated military school of Lumaco. + + * * * * * + +"Modern as is the History of America, it has had its full share of +fable, and the city of Osorno has furnished the subject of one not less +extraordinary than any of the rest, which is thus related in the +twentieth volume of the _Seminario Erudito_[94]." + +[Footnote 94: This fabulous story of the new Osorno is contained in a +note to Molina by the English Editor.--E.] + + +"During the great effort of the Araucanians to recover their country +from the Spaniards, Osorno resisted their arms with extraordinary vigour +for six months. At the end of this period, the Spaniards repelled a +general assault of the besiegers, and compelled them to abandon the +blockade. Being afraid of another attack, the Spaniards retired about +three or four leagues, to a peninsula at the foot of the Andes, formed +by the lake from which the river Bueno issues. They there built a new +city on the isthmus, which they secured with walls, bulwarks, moats and +draw-bridges; and multiplied in process of time so as to be obliged to +build another city on the opposite side of the lake, and their +descendents still continue to occupy the same place. This people, called +_Alcahuncas_ by the Indians, are armed with lances, swords and daggers, +but whether these are of iron or not, the person who discovered the +existence of these cities had not been able to learn. They also use the +_laque_ or thong and ball with great dexterity, on which account they +are much dreaded by their neighbours. They have also cannon, but no +musquets. They retain the dress, complexion and beard of their Spanish +ancestors. They used formerly to purchase salt from the Pehuenches, and +even from the Indians who live under the Spanish government, which they +paid for in silver, which occasioned so great a demand for that article +in the Spanish settlements, that a loaf of salt used to sell at the +price of an ox. Of late this demand has ceased, as they have found salt +in abundance in their own country." + +"A year only before this account was written, or in 1773, a man from +Chiloe got to the city gates one morning before the drawbridge was +lifted, and knocked for admittance. The soldier who was on guard told +him to hasten back as fast as possible, as their king was a cruel +tyrant, and would certainly put him to death if taken; and even seemed +astonished that the Indians had permitted him to arrive at the gate. +This man was killed on his way back; but the news of his adventure +reached Valdivia, where it was fully believed. It is said that the +people of these two cities live under a grievous tyranny, and are +therefore desirous of making their situation known to the Spaniards; but +that their chiefs use every possible precaution to prevent this, and the +Indians of the intervening country are equally solicitous to prevent any +intelligence respecting this state being conveyed to the Spaniards, lest +it might induce them to make new attempts to penetrate into the +interior." + +"This account is said to have been written in 1774, by Don Ignacio +Pinuer, captain of infantry and interpreter general at Valdivia, in a +letter addressed to the president of Chili. The writer states that his +thorough knowledge of the language of the natives, and his great +intimacy with them, had enabled him to collect this information, by +means of the artful and persevering inquiries of twenty-eight +years[95]." + +[Footnote 95: This absurd story evidently belongs to the same class with +the _Seven cities_ formerly mentioned, and the _El Dorado_ and _Welsh_ +colony, which will both occur in the sequel of this work. Though not +exactly connected in point of time with this fabled city of Osorno, a +similar fable respecting a supposed white nation in the interior of +Chili, may be noticed in this place, the reflections on which, in the +paragraphs subjoined, give a clear explanation of the origin of several +of these tales.--E.] + +"In the reign of the Emperor Charles V. the bishop of Placentia is said +to have sent four ships to the Moluccas. When they had advanced about +twenty leagues within the Straits of Magellan, three of them were +wrecked, and the fourth was driven back into the southern Atlantic. When +the storm abated, this fourth ship again attempted the passage, and +reached the place where the others were lost where they found the men +still on shore, who entreated to be taken on board; but as there was +neither room nor provision for so great a number, they were necessarily +left. An opinion long prevailed that they had penetrated into the +interior of Chili, where they settled and became a nation called the +_Cesares_, whose very ploughshares were said to be of gold. Adventurers +reported that they had been near enough to hear the sound of their +bells; and it was even said that men of a fair complexion had been made +prisoners, who were supposed to belong to this nation. The existence of +this city of the Cesares was long believed, and even about the year +1620, Don Geronimo Luis de Cabrera, then governor of Peru, made an +expedition in search of this _El Dorado_ of Chili. Even after Feyjo had +attempted to disprove its existence, the jesuit Mascardi went in search +of it with a large party of Puelches, but was killed by the Poy-yas on +his return from the fruitless quest[96]." + +[Footnote 96: Dobrizhoffer, III. 407.] + +"The groundwork of this and other similar fables is thus satisfactorily +explained by Falkner[97].--'I am satisfied that the reports concerning a +nation in the interior of South America descended from Europeans, or the +remains of shipwrecks, are entirely false and groundless, and occasioned +by misunderstanding the accounts given by the Indians. When asked in +Chili respecting any settlement of the Spaniards in the inland country, +they certainly give accounts of towns and white people, meaning Buenos +Ayres, and other places to the eastwards of the Andes. And _vice versa_, +on being asked in the east the same question, their answers refer to +Chili or Peru; not having the least idea that the inhabitants of these +distant countries are known to each other. Upon questioning some Indians +on this subject, I found my conjecture perfectly right; and they +acknowledged, when I named Chiloe, Valdivia, and other places in Chili, +that these were the places they alluded to under the description of +European settlements, and seemed amazed that I should know that such +places existed.'" + +[Footnote 97: Falkner, Ch. iv. p. 112.] + + +SECTION X. + +_Farther Narrative of the War, to the Conclusion of Peace with the +Araucanians_. + + +While Alonzo Rivera applied himself with every possible energy to check +the progress of the Araucanians and to guard the frontier of the Biobio, +he was removed, from the government of Chili to that of Tucuman, as a +punishment for having presumed to marry the daughter of the celebrated +heroine Innes Aguilera, without having obtained the royal permission. On +this occasion Garcia Ramon was reinstated in the government, and +received at the same time with his commission a reinforcement of a +thousand men from Europe and two hundred and fifty from Mexico. Being +now at the head of three thousand regular troops, besides a +considerable auxiliary force, he invaded Araucania and penetrated +without opposition into the province of Boroa[98] where he erected a +fort, which he furnished with a considerable number of cannon, and in +which he left a garrison of three hundred men under the command of +Lisperger, a German officer formerly mentioned. + +[Footnote 98: The province of Boroa, formerly mentioned as the residence +of a tribe much whiter in their colour than the other natives of South +America, lies at the foot of the Andes between the heads of the rivers +Hueco and Tolten, to the eastward of the ruins of Villarica.--E.] + +Immediately after the return of the invading army into Spanish Chili, +the new toqui Huenecura proceeded to attack this new establishment. +While on his march he fell in with Lisperger, who had gone out from the +fort at the head of an hundred and sixty of his men to protect a convoy; +and immediately attacked the Spaniards with such fury that he cut the +whole detachment in pieces, and the commander among the rest. After this +first successful essay of his arms, he proceeded without delay against +the fort, which he made three several attempts to take by storm; but was +repelled with so much skill and valour by Gil Negrete who had succeeded +Lisperger in the command, that after an obstinate combat of two hours he +was obliged to desist from the attempt to storm, and established a close +blockade. This was continued till the governor Ramon sent orders for the +garrison to evacuate the place. The Spanish army was now divided into +two separate bodies, one under the command of Alvaro Pineda the +quarter-master of Chili, and the other under the orders of Don Diego +Saravia, who proceeded to lay waste the Araucanian territory without +mercy. Watching his opportunity however, Huenecura attacked and defeated +them in succession, and with such complete success that not even a +single person of either detachment escaped death or captivity. By these +unexpected misfortunes, that fine army on which such flattering hopes of +security at least, if not conquest, had been founded, was entirely +annihilated. In consequence of these repeated and heavy disasters, +orders were given by the court of Spain, that a body of two thousand +regular troops should be continually maintained on the Araucanian +frontier; for the support of which force, an annual appropriation of +292,279 dollars was made from the royal treasury of Peru. At the same +time the court of royal audience was re-established in the city of St +Jago on the 8th of September 1609, after having been thirty-four years +suppressed. This measure gave universal satisfaction to the inhabitants, +and the court has continued there ever since with high reputation for +justice and integrity. + +By this new regulation, Ramon added the title of president to those of +governor and captain-general of Chili. Having received considerable +reinforcements, to replace the army so lately destroyed, Ramon ventured +to recross the Biobio at the head of about two thousand men. Huenecura +advanced to meet him, and a sanguinary and obstinate battle took place +in the defiles of the marshes of Lumaco. The Spaniards were for some +time in imminent danger of being completely defeated; but the valiant +governor, taking his station in the front line, so animated his soldiers +by his presence and example that they at length succeeded in breaking +and defeating the enemy. Shortly after this victory, Ramon died in the +city of Conception, on the 10th of August 1610, universally regretted by +the Spanish inhabitants of Chili, to whom he was much endeared by his +excellent qualities and his long residence among them. He was even +highly esteemed by the Araucanians, whom he had always treated, when +prisoners, with a humane attention which did him much honour. According +to the royal decree for establishing the court of audience, the +government of Chili now devolved upon Don Luis Merlo de la Fuente, the +eldest oydor or judge. + +Much about the same time with Ramon, the toqui Huenecura likewise died, +either from disease or in consequence of wounds received in the late +battle. He was succeeded in the toquiate by Aillavilu the second, who is +represented by Don Basilio Rosas, a contemporary writer, as one of the +greatest of the Araucanian generals, and as having fought many battles +against Merlo and his successor Don Juan Xaraquemada; but he does not +particularize either their dates, the places where they were fought, or +any circumstances concerning them. + +Among the missionaries who were at that time employed for the conversion +of the natives in Chili, was a Jesuit named Luis Valdivia, who, finding +it impossible to preach to the Araucanians during the continuance of +war, went to Spain and represented in strong terms to Philip III. the +great injury suffered by the cause of religion in consequence of this +long and cruel war. That weak prince was more devoted to the advancement +of religion than to the augmentation of his territories, and sent +immediate orders to the government of Chili to discontinue the war, and +to settle a permanent peace with the Araucanians, by establishing the +river Biobio as the frontier between the two nations. On purpose to +secure the punctual execution of these orders, the king offered to exalt +Valdivia to the episcopal dignity, and to appoint him governor of Chili. +He refused both of these high offers, and only stipulated for the +restoration of Alonzo Rivera to the government, whose views were +conformable with his own, and who had been exiled to Tucuman as +formerly mentioned. + +Much gratified with the prosperous issue of his voyage, the zealous +missionary returned to Chili in 1612, carrying a letter written by the +king of Spain to the national assembly of the Araucanian chiefs, +recommending the establishment of peace between the nations, and that +they should promote the propagation of Christianity among their +dependents. Immediately on his arrival in Chili, Valdivia hastened to +the frontiers, and communicated the nature of the commission with which +he was entrusted to the Araucanians, by means of some prisoners of that +nation whom he had purposely brought with him from Peru. Aillavilu the +toqui gave little attention to the proposed negociation, which he deemed +a feint for deceiving and surprising him. But, as he died or resigned +the command soon after, his successor Ancanamon thought proper to +inquire into the reality of the pacific proposals, and directed the +ulmen Carampangui to converse with Valdivia, that his offers might be +laid before a general assembly of the ulmens. Accordingly, on the +invitation of Carampangui, Valdivia repaired to Nancu in the province of +Catiray, where, in an assembly of fifty Araucanian chiefs, he made known +the substance of the proposed pacific negociations, read and expounded +the royal letter to the Araucanian confederacy, and made a long oration +on the motives of his interference and on the important concerns of +their immortal souls. The assembly thanked him for his exertions, and +promised to make a favourable report to the toqui. On his return to +Conception, Valdivia was accompanied by Carampangui, where he was +honourably received by the governor; who dispatched Pedro Melendez one +of his ensigns, under the safeguard of the ulmen, on a message to the +toqui, carrying with him the letter of the king of Spain, and a request +that Ancanamon would meet him at Paicavi, a place near the frontiers, +that they might confer together upon the preliminaries of peace. + +The toqui soon afterwards came to the place appointed, with a small +guard of forty soldiers, and accompanied by several ulmens, bringing +likewise along with him a number of Spanish prisoners of the first +families, whom he set at liberty. The governor, with Valdivia and the +principal officers of the government, received Ancanamon with every +demonstration of respect, and conducted him to the lodgings appointed +for his reception amid the repeated discharges of artillery. The +governor then proposed, as preliminary articles of peace, that the river +Biobio should serve hereafter as the common boundary between the +Spanish and Araucanian nations, beyond which neither should be permitted +to pass with an army: That all deserters should in future be mutually +returned: And that missionaries should be allowed to preach the +doctrines of Christianity in the Araucanian territories. Ancanamon +required as a preliminary, that the forts of Paicavi and Arauco, which +had been lately erected upon the sea coast to the south of the Biobio, +should be evacuated. The governor immediately abandoned Paicavi, and +agreed to give up the other immediately after the conclusion of peace. +Being so far agreed, and as the consent of the four toquis of the +uthalmapus was requisite to ratify the treaty, Ancanamon proposed to +seek for them in person, and to bring them to the Spanish camp. + +While the negociation was in this state of forwardness, an unlooked for +event rendered all these pacific measures abortive. Ancanamon had a +Spanish lady among his wives, who, taking advantage of his absence, fled +for refuge to the governor, accompanied by four other women who were +wives to the toqui, and two young girls his daughters. The toqui was +extremely indignant on this occasion, though less exasperated by the +flight of his wives, than by the kind reception they had experienced +among the Spaniards. Relinquishing every thought of peace, he +immediately returned to the governor, from whom he demanded the +restitution of the fugitives. His demand was taken into consideration by +a council of the officers; but the majority of these, many of whom were +averse to peace, refused to surrender the women to the toqui, alleging +that they were unwilling to expose them to the danger of relapsing from +the Christian faith which they had embraced. After many ineffectual +propositions, Ancanamon consented to limit his demands to the +restitution of his daughters, whom he tenderly loved. To this it was +answered, that as the eldest had not yet embraced the Christian faith, +his request respecting her would be complied with, but as the younger +had been already baptised, they could not think of delivering her into +his hands. + +At this time the almost extinguished hopes of peace were revived for a +time by an unexpected incident. _Utiflame_, the apo-ulmen of Ilicura +near Imperial, had always been among the most inveterate enemies of the +Spaniards, and to avoid all intercourse with them, had constantly +refused to ransom his sons or relations who happened to be made +prisoners. He prided himself on having so successfully opposed all the +Spanish governors of Chili, from the elder Villagran to Rivera, that +the enemy had never been able to acquire a footing in his province, +though near the city of Imperial. One of his sons who had been taken in +the late war, was about this time sent back to him by Valdivia, in +consequence of which he was so highly gratified, that he went +immediately to visit the missionary at the fort of Arauco, where in +return for the civilities he experienced from the governor and Valdivia, +he engaged to receive the missionaries into his province, and to use his +influence with Ancanamon to conclude a peace with the Spaniards. He +observed, however, that it was necessary in the first place to restore +his women, which could be done with safety by obtaining in the first +place a safe conduct from the toqui, and undertook to manage the +business. He accordingly departed from Arauco for Ilicura, accompanied +by three missionaries, one of whom was Horatio Vecchio, the cousin of +Pope Alexander VII. The exasperated toqui no sooner learnt the arrival +of the missionaries at Ilicura, than he hastened to that place with two +hundred horse, and slew them all with their defender Utiflame. Thus were +all the plans of pacification rendered abortive, though Valdivia used +repeated attempts to revive the negociation. All his schemes were +disconcerted by the contrivances of the officers and soldiers, who were +interested in the continuance of the war, and loudly demanded that +vengeance should be taken for the blood of the slaughtered priests. +Notwithstanding his anxious desire for peace and the pious intentions of +the king, the governor found himself compelled to prosecute the war, +which was renewed with more fury than ever. Ancanamon the toqui, being +eager to revenge the affront he had received in regard to his women, +incessantly harassed the southern provinces of Spanish Chili, and his +successor Loncothegua continued hostilities with equal obstinacy; but +only very imperfect accounts of this period of the war have been given +by the contemporary historians. The governor Rivera died at Conception +in 1617, having appointed as his successor Fernando Talaverano the +senior oydor of the royal court; who was succeeded ten months afterwards +by Lope de Ulloa. + +The toqui Loncothegua resigned in 1618, and was succeeded in the supreme +command of the Araucanian armies by an officer named Lientur, whose +military expeditions were always so rapid and unexpected, that the +Spaniards used to call him the wizard. All his designs were perfectly +seconded by Levipillan, his vice toqui. Though the line of the Biobio +was amply secured by fortresses and centinels, these indefatigable +enemies always contrived to pass and repass without experiencing any +material loss. The first enterprise of Lientur was the capture of a +convoy of four hundred horses, which were intended to remount the +Spanish cavalry. He next ravaged the province of Chilian, and slew the +corregidor with two of his sons and several of the magistrates, who had +attempted to resist him in the field. Five days afterwards, he proceeded +towards St. Philip of Austria, otherwise called Yumbel, a place about +sixty miles to the east of Conception, with six hundred infantry and +four hundred horse, all of whom he sent out in various detachments to +ravage the surrounding country, leaving only two hundred men to guard +the narrow defile of Congrejeras. Provoked at this daring enterprise, +Robolledo, the commandant of Yumbel, sent seventy horse to take +possession of the pass and cut off the retreat of the toqui; but they +were received with such bravery by the Araucanian detachment, that they +were compelled to retire for security to a neighbouring hill, after +losing their captain and eighteen of their number. Robolledo sent three +companies of infantry and all the rest of his cavalry to their aid; but +Lientur who had by this time collected all his troops together, fell +upon the Spaniards, notwithstanding the continual fire of their +musquetry, and put their cavalry to flight at the first charge. The +infantry, thus left exposed, were almost all cut to pieces, thirty-six +of them only being made prisoners, who were distributed among the +several provinces of the Arancanian confederacy. If Lientur had then +invested Yumbel it must have fallen into his hands; but he deferred the +siege till the following year, when his attempt was rendered +unsuccessful by the valiant defence of Ximenes who then had the command. +On his repulse however, he assaulted and took a fort named Neculgueno, +the garrison of which was put to the sword, and all the auxiliaries who +dwelt in that neighbourhood were made prisoners. Lientur followed up +these successful exploits with others equally fortunate, which are not +particularized by contemporary writers, who have given him the title of +the _darling of fortune_. + +Ulloa the-governor, more a prey to anxiety and mortification than +disease, died on the 20th of November 1620, and was succeeded in the +government of Chili by Christoval de la Cerda, a native of Mexico, the +eldest oydor, according to the established rule on such occasions. For +the more effectual defence of the frontiers on the Biobio, he caused an +additional fortress to be constructed, named San Christoval, which still +remains. This oydor continued only a year in the government, during +which he was continually occupied in defending the Spanish settlements +against the enterprises of Lientur, with whom he had many encounters. +His successor, Pedro Suarez de Ulloa, continued the war in a similar +manner, contenting himself with acting principally on the defensive, +till his death on the 11th of December 1624; when he was succeeded by +Francisco Alava, his brother-in-law, who retained the office only for +six months, being succeeded by Don Luis de Cordova, in March 1625. + +Lientar being advanced in years and worn out by continual exertions, +resigned his office in 1625, and was succeeded as toqui by Putapichion, +a young man whose courage and conduct much resembled his predecessor in +office. The new governor of Chili was a commander of extraordinary skill +and courage, and being nephew to the viceroy of Peru, was abundantly +supplied with troops and warlike stores, being likewise directed by his +instructions not to confine himself to defensive operations, but to +carry the war into the Araucanian territory. His first care on his +arrival at Conception, was to restore the military discipline, and to +discharge all arrears that were due to the troops. He at the same time +preferred a number of Creoles to the vacant offices, by which he +acquired the esteem of all the inhabitants, and gratified many of the +descendants of the original conquerors who had been hitherto much +neglected. Having established good order in the government, he directed +Alonzo de Cordova, whom he had appointed quarter-master, to make an +incursion with six hundred men into the provinces of Arauco and Tucapel. +In this expedition only an hundred and fifteen prisoners were taken and +a small number of cattle, as most of the inhabitants took refuge in the +mountains with their families and effects. + +In the mean time the new toqui, Putapichion, endeavoured to signalize +the commencement of his administration by the capture of the fort of +Nativity, one of the strongest places on the Biobio, which was +constructed on the top of a high and steep mountain, well furnished with +troops and artillery, and both from its natural and artificial strength +was deemed impregnable. Putapichion came unexpectedly against this +place, and soon scaling the difficult ascent, got possession of the +ditch, set fire to the palisades and houses of the place with fire +arrows, and very nearly succeeded in its capture. But the garrison +collected in the only bastion which had escaped the flames, whence they +kept up so severe a fire against the assailants, that Putapichion was +constrained to abandon the enterprise, carrying away with him twelve +prisoners and several horses. The toqui then crossed the Biobio and made +an attempt upon the fort of Quinel, which was occupied by six hundred +men; but failing also in this enterprise, he made an inroad into the +province of Chillan, whence he brought off a great number of peasants +and cattle, in spite of the exertions of the serjeant-major to stop his +rapid march. Eager for retaliation, the governor resolved in 1628, to +invade. Araucania in three directions, assigning the maritime country to +the quarter-master, the Andes to the serjeant-major, and reserving the +intermediate country to himself. Accordingly, at the head of twelve +hundred regulars and a strong body of auxiliaries, he traversed the +provinces of Encol and Puren, where he captured a great number of men +and cattle; and, having crossed the river Cauten, he ravaged in a +similar manner to the rich province of Maguegua. On his return from this +successful expedition, Putapichion opposed him at the head of three +thousand men in order of battle. In the first encounter, the Spanish +army was thrown into confusion and suffered a severe loss; but, being +rallied by the exertions of their officers, they renewed the battle, +which was severely contested for some time, with considerable loss on +both sides. As the Araucanians had recovered most of the spoil, and +taken some prisoners while the Spanish army was in disorder, the toqui +did not think proper to risk too much on the event of battle, and +sounded a retreat. On his return to Conception, the governor was +rejoined by the serjeant-major and quarter-master. The former had not +been able to effect any thing of importance, as the enemy had taken +refuge in the mountains. The latter reported that he had made two +hundred prisoners, and had acquired a booty of seven thousand horses and +a thousand head of cattle, but had the misfortune to lose most of them +during, a violent tempest while on his return. + +Don Francisco Lasso, an officer who had gained high reputation in the +wars of the low countries, arrived soon afterwards with a commission to +supersede Cordova in the government of Chili. At the commencement of his +administration, he endeavoured to come to an accommodation with the +Araucanians, with which view he set at liberty all the prisoners of +that nation who were confined in the different garrisons. But the minds +of that high-spirited people were not yet disposed towards peace, and +the glory of bringing about that desirable event was reserved for his +successor; yet Lasso certainly contributed to prepare the way for peace, +by the ten years of uninterrupted war which he waged against the +Araucanians, in consequence of their rejecting his pacific overtures, +during which he gained many victories over that valiant people. At the +commencement however of his military operations, Lasso was by no means +fortunate. The quarter-master, Cordova, while advancing by his orders to +invade the maritime provinces of Araucania, was completely routed by +Putapichion in the small district of Piculgue near Arauco. The toqui +placed a part of his army in ambush, and contrived with much skill to +induce Cordova to give battle in an unfavourable situation. In this +action, the Spanish horse, forming the van of the army, was unable to +withstand the charge of the Araucanian cavalry, now become exceedingly +expert, and was put to flight; and the infantry being thus left exposed +and surrounded on all sides, was entirely destroyed after a combat of +five hours, during which they performed prodigies of valour, and +gallantly resisted many furious assaults of the enemy. In this action +Cordova was slain, with five captains, and several other officers of +merit. + +On receiving intelligence of this disastrous action, the governor +marched in person against Putapichion with a considerable body of +troops, leaving Robolledo the serjeant-major to defend the passage of +the Biobio against the enterprises of the toqui; who yet eluded the +vigilance of the serjeant-major, passed the Biobio with a detachment of +two hundred men, and laid waste the neighbouring provinces of Chili in +the absence of the Spanish army. Lasso immediately returned with all his +troops to the Biobio, occupied all the known fords of that river, in +hope of cutting off the retreat of the invaders, and then went in search +of Putapichion with a select detachment equal in number to the enemy. In +this expedition, he was attacked at a place called Robleria on the banks +of the Itata by the toqui with such determined resolution, that the +Spaniards gave way at the first encounter, forty of them with several +officers being slain. The remainder owed their safety to the skill and +valour of the governor, who restored their order with wonderful coolness +and intrepidity, and even repulsed the enemy with considerable loss. +Satisfied with the success he had already obtained, and proud of having +taken the scarlet cloak of the governor, Putapichion now conducted his +retreat to the Biobio with great skill, and got over that river +unopposed. + +On his return from this expedition, the toqui was received by his army +with lively demonstrations of joy, and resolved to gratify his troops by +reviving the almost forgotten festival called _pruloncon_, or the dance +of death. A Spanish soldier, who had been made prisoner in one of the +preceding battles, was selected for the victim of this barbarous +spectacle [99]. "The officers surrounded by the soldiers form a circle, +in the centre of which is placed the official axe of the toqui, with +four poniards representing the four Uthalmapus of the confederacy. The +unfortunate prisoner is then led in on a sorry horse deprived of his +ears and tail, and is placed near the axe, having his face turned +towards his own country. He is then ordered to dig a hole in the ground +with a sharp stake, and is given a handful of small sticks, which he is +ordered to throw one by one into the hole, naming one of the principal +warriors of his nation at each stick, while the surrounding soldiers +load these detested names with bitter execrations. He is then, ordered +to cover up the hole, as if to bury the valour and reputation of the +persons whom he has named. After this, the toqui, or one of his bravest +companions to whom he relinquishes the honour of being executioner, +dashes out the brains of the prisoner with a war-club. The heart is +immediately taken out by two attendants and presented still palpitating +to the toqui, who sucks a little of the blood and passes it to his +officers, who successively repeat the same ceremony. The toqui then +fumigates the four cardinal points of the circle with tobacco smoke from +his pipe. The soldiers strip the flesh from the bones of the victim, and +convert the bones into flutes. The head is cut off and carried round on +the point of a pike, amid the acclamations of the multitude, while +stamping in measured pace, they thunder out their dreadful war-song +accompanied by the mournful sound of their horrible instruments of +music. The mangled body is fitted with the head of a sheep, and the +barbarous festival is terminated by riot and intoxication. If the skull +of the victim has not been broken by the stroke of death, it is made +into a drinking cup, called _ralilonco_, which is used in their banquets +in the manner of the ancient Scythians and Goths." + +[Footnote 99: The particulars of this ceremony are here inserted from a +different part of the work of Molina, B.I. Ch. iv. containing an +account of the manners and customs of the Araucanians.--E.] + +On the present occasion, the honour of dispatching the victim was +conferred upon the ulmen Maulican. This cruel spectacle, which some have +attempted to excuse on the principle of retaliation, has dishonoured the +fame of Putapichion, and was not even pleasing to all the +Araucanians[100]. According to Don Francisco Bascagnan, who was an eye +witness, many of the spectators compassionated the fate of the +unfortunate soldier; and Maulican, to whom the office of dispatching him +was assigned as a mark of honour, is said to have declared that he +accepted of it with extreme reluctance, and merely to avoid offending +his commander the toqui. The torture of an innocent prisoner, upon +whatever motive or pretence, is certainly a crime against humanity of +the deepest dye, and can never be justified on any principle whatever. + +[Footnote 100: It certainly was not more cruel or more dishonourable +than the empalements and mutilations ordered by the Christian enemies of +the Araucanians: But the latter were unbelievers, and were rebels +against the authority of the Catholic king and the grant of the holy +father of the Christian world.--E.] + +Having received a reinforcement of five hundred veteran soldiers from +Peru, and raised two companies of infantry and a troop of cavalry at St +Jago, the governor with these new troops, added to thirteen hundred +Spaniards and six hundred auxiliaries composing the army on the +frontiers, marched to relieve the fort of Arauco which was menaced by +the toqui. Putapichion had in reality commenced his march for that place +at the head of seven thousand chosen men, whose valour he thought +nothing was able to resist. But in consequence of some superstitious +auguries of the ex-toqui Lientur, who had resolved to share the glory of +this enterprise, the greater part of the Araucanian troops were +intimidated, and deserted to their homes during the march. Putapichion +was not discouraged by this defection, and observing that there could be +no better omen in war than an eager desire to conquer, he continued his +march with three thousand two hundred of his most determined followers, +and encamped at a short distance from the fort of Arauco. Some of his +officers advised him to assault the fort that same night; but he +declined this to give his troops time for rest and refreshment, and +that the Spaniards might not reproach him with always taking advantage +of the darkness, like a robber, to favour his enterprises. + +The governor, who was close at hand with his army, having resolved to +offer battle to the enemy next day, ordered his men to prepare +themselves for battle, and had a skirmish that night with an advanced +party of the Araucanians, who had advanced so near the fort of Arauco as +to burn the huts of the auxiliaries on the outside of the +fortifications. At daybreak, Lasso took possession with his army of a +strong position called Alvarrada, which was defended on either flank by +a deep torrent, so that it could not be turned. He placed all his +cavalry on the right, under the command of the quartermaster _Sea_, +while the infantry on the left were under the orders of Rebolledo the +serjeant-major. Putapichion advanced with his army in such excellent +order, that the governor who had been all his life inured to arms, could +not avoid openly expressing his admiration of the excellent disposition +of the enemy. The Araucanian soldiers, whose heads were adorned with +beautiful plumes of feathers, seemed as if going to a banquet, instead +of the doubtful chance of battle. For some time the two armies remained +motionless, as if observing each other; when at length the signal of +attack was sounded by Quepuantu, the vice-toqui, by order of +Putapichion. The governor then gave orders to the Spanish horse to +charge that belonging to the enemy; but it met with so warm a reception, +that it was broken and put to flight, and obliged to take shelter in the +rear of the infantry. Upon this event, the Araucanian infantry made so +violent a charge upon the Spanish foot as to throw them into confusion, +insomuch that the governor gave up all for lost. At this critical moment +Putapichion was slain; and the governor availed himself so effectually +of the confusion which this circumstance produced among the Araucanians, +that he was able to rally his troops, and led them up anew to the +charge, while the Araucanians were solely intent upon carrying off the +dead body of their toqui. They even effected this, but were completely +defeated and driven in disorder from the field. Quepuantu, the +vice-toqui, exerted himself in vain to restore order and to bring back +his troops to the charge, even killing several of the fugitives with his +own hand; but all his efforts were fruitless, and the Araucanians +suffered prodigiously in their flight, being pursued for more than six +miles in all directions. Many of the Spaniards fell in this battle, the +most decisive that had been fought for a long time against the +Araucanians. + +From the death of Putapichion to the termination of the government of +Lasso, the successive toquis of the Araucanians continued the war with +more rashness than skill; none of them, like Antiguenu and Paillamachu, +having sufficient judgment to repair the losses sustained by the nation, +and to counterbalance the power and arms of the Spaniards by skill and +conduct. Quepuantu, who was advanced to the rank of toqui after the +defeat at Alvarrada, retired to a sequestered vale under the covert of +thick woods, where he built a house with four opposite doors, to +facilitate his escape in case of being attacked. The place of his +retirement having been discovered to the governor, he sent the +quarter-master to surprise him with four hundred light armed troops. As +these came upon him by surprise, Quepuantu took refuge in the wood; but +soon returned at the head of fifty men who had come to his assistance, +and attacked the Spaniards with great courage. After a desperate +engagement of half an hour, in which the toqui lost almost all his men, +he accepted a challenge from Loncomallu, chief of the auxiliaries +attached to the Spaniards, and was slain after a long combat. In 1634, a +similar fate befel his successor Loncamilla, in an engagement with a +small number of Araucanian troops against a strong detachment of +Spaniards. Guenucalquin, his successor, after making some successful +inroads into the Spanish provinces, lost his life in an engagement with +six hundred Spaniards in the province of Ilicura. Curanteo, who was +created toqui in the heat of this action, had the glory of terminating +it by the rout of the enemy; but was killed soon afterwards in another +conflict. Curimilla, the next toqui, more daring than several of his +predecessors, repeatedly ravaged the provinces to the north of the +Biobio, and undertook the siege of Arauco and the other forts on the +frontiers; but was slain at length by Sea in Calcoimo. + +During the government of this toqui, the Dutch made another attempt to +form an alliance with the Araucanians, in order to obtain possession of +Chili, but with no better fortune than on the former occasion. Their +squadron, consisting of four ships, was dispersed in a storm on its +arrival on the coast in 1638. A boat well manned and armed, being +afterwards dispatched to the island of Mocha, to enter into a parley +with the Araucanians, was attacked by the inhabitants, who put all the +crew to death and took possession of the boat. Another boat experienced +a similar misfortune in the small island of Talca or Santa Maria, and +the Dutch were obliged to retire without being able to establish any +intercourse with the Araucanians, who were equally jealous of all the +European nations, and not without reason. Some years afterwards, +notwithstanding the ill success of the Dutch, a similar enterprise was +undertaken by Sir John Narborough, an English naval commander, by order +of Charles II. In passing through the Straits of Magellan, this whole +fleet was lost. + +In the mean time, taking advantage of the imprudence and unskilfulness +of the Araucanian commanders, the governor continued constantly to lay +waste their territories. He had at first given orders that every +prisoner capable of bearing arms should be put to death; but afterwards, +recurring to more humane measures, he ordered them to be transported to +Peru, a sentence to them more intolerable even than death. Whenever +these unhappy exiles came in sight of land, which often happened in that +navigation, they used to throw themselves overboard in hopes to escape +by swimming, that they might return to their country. Many had the good +fortune to save themselves in that manner; but such as were unable to +elude the vigilance of the sailors, as soon as they were landed on the +island or at the port of Callao, exposed themselves to every toil and +danger to regain their beloved country, travelling with incredible +perseverance and fatigue the immense extent of coast between that port +and the Biobio. When the relations of the prisoners, more anxious to +deliver them from the miseries of exile than even from death, frequently +sent messages to the governor to negociate the ransom of such as were +condemned to be sent to Peru, he always refused his consent, unless the +nation would lay down their arms and submit to his authority. Laso was +exceedingly anxious to perform a promise which he had made like several +of his predecessors, of putting an end to the war, and used every +possible effort for that purpose, for which no one was better fitted to +succeed; but he had to contend against an invincible people, +enthusiastically bent upon the preservation of their liberties. He +employed every means that could be suggested by wise policy and profound +military skill to effect their subjugation; now endeavouring to humble +their, pride by his victories, at other times ravaging their country +with fire and sword, and endeavouring to restrain them by the +establishment of fortresses in different parts of their territory. Among +these, he founded a city not far from the ruins of Angol, to which he +gave the name of San Francisco de la Vega, and left in it a garrison of +four troops of horse and two companies of foot. But it was taken and +destroyed in the same year in which it was built by the toqui Curimilla. +A great number of men were necessarily expended in the prosecution of +this obstinate war, so that the Spanish army, though annually reinforced +with numerous recruits from Peru, was diminished to less than a half of +its force at the commencement of the government of Laso. On this account +he sent over Don Francisco Ayendano to Spain to solicit new +reinforcements, and with a promise of bringing the war to a conclusion +in the course of two years. But, judging from the past that so +successful an issue was little to be expected, the court sent out Don +Francisco de Zuniga, Marquis of Baydes, as his successor, who had given +unquestionable proofs of his political and military talents, both in +Italy and Flanders, where he had executed the charge of +quarter-master-general. On his arrival in Chili in 1640, either in +consequence of private instructions from the prime minister, or of his +own accord, Zuniga procured a personal conference with Lincopichion, who +had been elected toqui on the death of Curimilla. Fortunately for the +interests of humanity, both commanders were of the same disposition in +wishing for peace, and equally averse from the continuance of the +destructive war which had so long raged between their hostile nations. +They readily agreed upon the most difficult articles in settling the +preliminaries, and a day was appointed at the commencement of the +following year for ratifying the conditions of a definitive peace +between the nations. + +Accordingly, on the 6th of January 1641, the marquis came to Quillin, +the place of meeting, a village in the province of Puren, attended by a +retinue of about ten thousand persons collected from all parts of Chili, +who insisted to accompany him on this joyful occasion. Lincopichion came +there likewise at the time appointed, accompanied by the four hereditary +toquis of the Araucanians, and a great number of ulmens and other +natives. Lincopichion opened the conference with an eloquent speech; and +then, according to the customs of his nation, he killed a _chilihueque_ +or Araucanian camel, and sprinkling a branch of the _boighe_ or Chilese +cinnamon tree with its blood, he presented it to the governor in token +of peace. The articles of the treaty of peace were next proposed, agreed +to, and ratified, being similar to those formerly mentioned which had +been accepted by Ancanamon, with the addition of one insisted upon by +the marquis, that the Araucanians should not permit the landing of any +strangers on their coast, nor furnish supplies to any foreign nation +whatever. As this was entirely conformable to the political maxims of +the Araucanian nation, it was readily agreed to, and the peace finally +ratified and confirmed. Thus was an end put to a destructive and +sanguinary war, which had desolated the possessions of the two nations +for ninety years. This, important negociation was closed by the +sacrifice of twenty-eight chilihueques, and by an eloquent harangue from +Antiguenu, the ulmen of the district where it was concluded, in which he +enlarged on the advantages which both nations would reap from the +establishment of peace. After this, the two chiefs cordially embraced, +and congratulated each other on the happy termination of their joint +endeavours. They then dined together, and made mutual presents to each +other, and the three succeeding days were spent by both nations in +festivities and rejoicing. + +In consequence of this pacification, all prisoners were released on both +sides, and the Spaniards had the satisfaction of receiving, among many +others, forty-two of their countrymen who had been in captivity ever +since the time of the toqui Paillamachu. Commerce, the inseparable +concomitant of a good understanding among neighbouring nations, was +established between the Spaniards and Araucanians. The lands near the +frontiers on both sides, which had been deserted and laid waste by the +mutual hostile incursions, were repeopled, and a new activity was +excerted in their cultivation by the proprietors, who could now enjoy +the produce in tranquillity and safety. The hopes of disseminating the +truths of Christianity among the infidels were again revived, and the +missionaries began freely to exercise their beneficent functions among +the inhabitants of Araucania. Notwithstanding the manifold advantages of +peace to both nations, there were some unquiet spirits, both among the +Araucanians and Spaniards who used their endeavours on specious +pretences to prevent its ratification. The Araucanian malecontents +alleged that it was merely a trick to deceive their nation, in order to +conquer them at a future opportunity with the more facility, when they +had become unaccustomed to the use of arms. Those of the Spaniards, on +the contrary, who were adverse to peace, pretended that by the +establishment of peace, the population of the Araucanians would increase +so fast that they would soon be able to destroy all the Spanish +establishments in Chili. Some of these had even the audacity to cry _to +arms_, and endeavoured to instigate the auxiliaries to commence +hostilities, while the conferences were going on. But the marquis had +the wisdom and good fortune to prevent the renewal of the war, by +justifying the purity and good faith of his intentions to the evil +disposed among the Araucanians, and by reprimanding and keeping in awe +the malecontent Spaniards, and finally accomplished this glorious +measure, which was approved and ratified by the court of Spain. + +Two years after the peace, in 1643, the importance of the article which +the marquis procured to be inserted into this treaty was rendered very +apparent to the Spaniards, by its contributing materially to the failure +of a third and last attempt by the Dutch to acquire possession of Chili. +On this occasion their measures were so well taken, that if they had +been seconded by the Araucanians they must have infallibly succeeded. +They fitted out a numerous fleet, well provided with men, artillery, and +military stores from Brasil, and took possession of Valdivia which had +been deserted by the Spaniards for more than forty years, and at which +place they intended to form an establishment from whence to conquer the +rest of the kingdom. With this view, they immediately began to build +strong forts at the entrance of the river, in order to secure possession +of that important port, and invited the Araucanians to join them by the +most flattering promises. But that gallant nation steadily refused to +listen to the proposals, and adhering honourably to the stipulations in +the treaty of Quillin, absolutely refused to supply them with +provisions, of which they were much in want. The Cunchese, in whose +territories Valdivia was situated, in consequence of the counsels of +their Araucanian allies, likewise refused to enter into any connection +or correspondence with the Dutch, or to supply them with provisions. In +consequence of this refusal, being pressed by famine, and hearing that a +combined army of Spaniards and Araucanians was in full march against +them, the Dutch were compelled to abandon Valdivia in three months after +taking possession. Soon after their retreat, the Marquis de Mancura, son +to the viceroy of Peru, arrived at Valdivia in search of the Dutch with +ten ships of war. To prevent the recurrence of a similar attempt, he +fortified the harbour, and particularly the island at its entrance, +which has ever since borne the name of his family title. + +On the termination of the sixth year of his pacific government, the +Marquis de Baydes was recalled from Chili, and Don Martin Muxica +appointed governor in his place. He likewise succeeded in preserving the +kingdom in a state of tranquillity; and the only unfortunate +circumstance that occurred during his government was a violent +earthquake, by which part of the city of St Jago was destroyed on the +8th of May 1647. His successor, Don Antonio de Acugna, had a very +different fortune, as during his government the war was excited anew +between the Spaniards and Araucanians; as will fall to be mentioned in +the following section. + + +SECTION XI. + +_Renewal of the War with the Araucanians, and succinct Narrative of the +History of Chili, from 1655 to 1787_. + + +I regret much the want of materials for this part of my work, as all the +memoirs of which I have hitherto availed myself terminate at this +period. In the year 1655, the war recommenced after a peace of between +fourteen and fifteen years endurance, but contemporary writers have left +us no account of the causes which interrupted the good understanding +which had been so happily established by the Marquis de Baydes. All we +know is that Clentaru, the hereditary toqui of the Lauquenmapu, was +unanimously elevated to the supreme command in 1655, and signalized the +commencement of his administration by totally defeating the Spanish army +commanded by the serjeant-major of the kingdom, who fell in the action. +This victory was followed by the capture of the fortresses of Arauco, +Colcura, San Pedro, Talcamavida, and San Rosendo. In 1656, the toqui +crossed the Biobio, completely defeated the governor Acugna in the +plains of Yumbel, destroyed the forts of San Christoval and Estancia del +Rey, and burned the city of Chillan. We can only add, that this war +continued with great violence for ten years, during the governments of +Don Pedro Portel de Cassanate, and Don Francisco de Meneses, as the +successes of Clentaru are only incidentally mentioned in any of the +writers belonging to this period. + +Don Francisco de Meneses, a Portuguese by birth, had the glory to +terminate this new war in 1665 by a peace, which proved more permanent +than that concluded by Baydes. After freeing himself from the +Araucanians, he had the misfortune of being involved in a contest with +the members of the royal audience, who opposed his marriage with the +daughter of the Marquis de la Pica, as contrary to the royal +regulations. This difference proceeded to such a length, that the +Marquis de Navamorquende was sent out from Spain to Chili with full +powers to arrange matters; who, after due inquiry, sent Meneses to Peru +and assumed the government himself. After Navamorquende, the government +of Chili was administered successively to the end of the seventeenth +century, by Don Miguel de Silva, Don Jose de Carrera, and Don Thomas +Marin de Proveda, by all of whom a good understanding appears to have +been kept up with the Araucanians: But in 1686, war had nearly been +again occasioned with that nation, in consequence of removing the +inhabitants of the island of Mocho to the north shore of the Biobio, in +order to prevent any intercourse with foreign ships. + +The commencement of the eighteenth century was remarkable in Chili by +three events: The deposition of the governor Don Francisco Ibanez, the +rebellion of the inhabitants of Chiloe, and the establishment of trade +with the French. Ibanez was accused of having espoused the Austrian +party in the succession war, and was banished to Peru; and after him, +the government was successively administered until the year 1720, by Don +Juan Henriquez, Don Andres Uztariz, and Don Martin Concha. The rebellion +of the islanders of Chiloe was soon suppressed, and the inhabitants +reduced to obedience, by the prudent management of Don Pedro Molina, the +quarter-master-general of Chili, who was sent against them with a +considerable body of troops, but who succeeded in restoring them to good +order more by mild and conciliatory measures than by useless victories. +In consequence of the succession war, by which a prince of the house of +Bourbon was placed on the throne of Spain, the French acquired for a +time the whole external commerce of Chili. From 1707 to 1717, the ports +of that kingdom were filled with French ships, which carried from thence +incredible sums in gold and silver; and many Frenchmen settled at this +time in the country, who have left numerous descendants. During this +period the learned Feuille resided three years in Chili, and made his +well known botanical researches and many profound metereological +observations. + +For some time the Araucanians had been much dissatisfied with several +articles in the peace, under colour of which the Spaniards availed +themselves of forming establishments in their country. They also were +exceedingly impatient of the insolent behaviour of certain persons, +called _captains of the friends_, who had been introduced under the +pretence of protecting the missionaries, and now arrogated a +considerable degree of authority over the natives which they submitted +to with extreme reluctance. Stimulated by resentment for these +grievances, the Araucanians resolved in 1722 to have recourse to arms, +and in this view they proceeded to the election of a toqui or military +dictator. On this occasion they chose a person named Vilumilla, a man of +low rank, but who had acquired a high character with his countrymen for +judgment, courage, and extensive views, entertaining no less an object +than the entire expulsion of the Spaniards from Chili. To succeed in +this arduous undertaking, he deemed it necessary to obtain the support +and assistance of all the native Chilese, from the confines of Peru to +the Biobio, and vast as was the extent of his plan, he conceived it +might be easily executed. Having slain three or four Spaniards in a +skirmish, among whom was one of the captains of friends, as they were +called, he dispatched messengers with the symbolical arrows, each of +whom carried a finger of the slain Spaniards, to the various Chilese +tribes in the Spanish provinces, inviting them to take up arms on the +exhibition of a signal, to be given by kindling fires on the tops of the +highest mountains all over the country. Accordingly, on the 9th of March +1723, the day previously fixed upon for the commencement of hostilities, +fires were lighted up on the mountains of Copaipo, Coquimbo, Quillota, +Rancagua, Maule, and Itata. But either owing to the smallness of their +number, their apprehension of the issue of the war, or their long +habitude of submission, the native Chilese in the Spanish provinces +remained quiet, and this vast project of the toqui was entirely +disconcerted. + +Having declared war against the Spaniards, Vilumilla set out immediately +at the head of an army to attack the Spanish settlements: Yet before +commencing hostilities, he requested the missionaries to quit the +country, that they might not be injured by his detached parties. +Vilumilla signalized the commencement of this new war by taking the fort +of Tucapel by storm. Being apprehensive of a similar fate, the garrison +of Arauco abandoned that place. After destroying these two forts, +Villumilla directed his march for Puren, of which he expected to gain +possession without resistance. But the commander made so vigorous a +defence that he was under the necessity of besieging it in form. In a +short time the garrison was reduced to extreme distress, both from +scarcity of provisions and want of water, the aqueduct which brought +water to the fort being destroyed by the enemy. During a sally made by +the commander to obtain supplies, he and all his followers were slain. +In this critical situation, Don Gabriel Cano, who had succeeded Concha +in the government, arrived with an army of five thousand men. As +Vilumilla expected an immediate attack, he chose a strong position for +his army which he drew up in order of battle behind the deep bed of a +torrent: But, though repeatedly challenged to battle by the enemy, Cano +thought it more prudent to abandon the place, and accordingly withdrew +the remainder of the garrison. The war was afterwards reduced to +skirmishes of small importance, and was soon terminated by a peace +concluded at Negrete, a place situated at the confluence of the Biobio +and the Laxa, by which the provisions of the treaty of Quillan were +renewed, and the odious title of captains of the friends abolished. + +After a mild and harmonious government of fifteen years, Don Gabriel +Cano died at St Jago, and was succeeded by his nephew Don Manuel de +Salamanca, who was appointed by the viceroy of Peru, and who conducted +the government in conformity with the excellent maxims of his uncle. Don +Joseph Manso, who was sent from Spain as his successor, brought orders +to collect the Spanish inhabitants who were dispersed over the country +into cities. For this purpose, in 1742, the new governor founded the +cities of Copaipo, Aconcagua, Melipilla, Rancagua, San Fernando, Curico, +Talca, Tutaben, and Angeles. In reward for this service, he was promoted +to the high dignity of viceroy of Peru. His successors continued to form +new establishments, and in 1753, Santa Rosa, Guasco-alto, Casablanca, +Bellaisla, Florida, Coulemu, and Quirigua were founded by Don Domingo +Rosas; but these have never flourished like the former. This governor +likewise sent a colony to occupy the larger island of Juan Fernandez, or +Isola de Tierra, which had remained uninhabited till that time, to the +great injury of commerce, as the pirates found there a secure retreat +whence they could easily annoy the trade of Peru and Chili. In 1759, Don +Manuel Amat, who was afterwards Viceroy of Peru, founded the cities of +Santa Barbara, Talcamavida, and Gualqui on the Araucanian frontier. + +Tranquillity was again disturbed about the year 1770, under the +government of Don Antonio Gil Gonzago, who absurdly endeavoured to +compel the Araucanians to live in cities. Many councils were held to +devise the most suitable means for carrying this chimerical scheme into +execution, which was much ridiculed by those who were best acquainted +with the dispositions of the Araucanians, while others sided with the +governor in supposing it practicable. The Araucanians were informed of +these intentions of the governor by their spies; and being apprehensive +of danger to their liberties from the proposed innovation, their chiefs +met secretly to deliberate upon the best measures for eluding the +designs of the governor without having recourse to arms. On this +occasion the following resolutions were entered into by the Butacoyog, +or national assembly of the ulmens. 1st, To delay the business as long +as possible, by equivocal replies and delusive promises. 2d, When +pressed to commence building, to require tools and other necessary aids +from the Spaniards. 3d, To have recourse to war, when they found +themselves no longer able to elude the demands of the governor; but that +only the provinces that were compelled to build should declare war, +while the others remained neutral on purpose to mediate a peace. 4th, +When the mediation of these should be refused, the whole confederacy to +join in the war. 5th, To allow the missionaries to depart in safety, as +they had nothing to accuse them of but being Spaniards. 6th, To elect a +supreme toqui, who should have the charge of executing these +resolutions, and was to have every thing in readiness for taking the +field when necessary.--Accordingly Antivilu, apo-ulmen of Maquegua, was +unanimously elected toqui; but as his province was one of those which +were to remain neutral, he declined to accept the office, and +Curignancu, brother to the ulmen of Encol was elected in his stead. + +At the first conference, the governor proposed his plan to the +Araucanians under every aspect that he thought might render it +acceptable and agreeable. In pursuance of their previous agreement, the +Araucanians objected, equivocated, and at length appeared to consent, +but ended by requesting the necessary assistance for beginning the work. +Accordingly, having pointed out the situations which he thought most +eligible for the new cities, the governor sent them a great quantity of +wrought iron, together with provisions for the labourers, and cattle for +transporting the timber. As the work made no progress, the +quarter-master Cabrito repaired to the frontiers with several companies +of soldiers, to stimulate the tardy operations, and placed for this +purpose superintendents in different quarters. The serjeant-major +Rivera, was entrusted with the building of Nininco, and Captain Bargoa +with that of another city on the banks of the Biobio, while Cabrito +directed all the operations from his head-quarters at Angol. + +Finding all their acts of equivocation and delay ineffectual, the +Araucanians flew to arms, and having united to the number of five +hundred men under the toqui Curignancu, they proceeded to besiege +Cabrito in his camp. Burgoa, who had been made prisoner and very roughly +treated, was set at liberty in consequence of being represented as +inimical to the quarter-master. Rivera crossed the Biobio in sight of +the enemy who were seeking to slay him, but he got away in safety under +the protection of a missionary, and afterwards returned with four +hundred men to relieve Cabrito. Another missionary requested the +Araucanian officer who escorted him, to forgive a Spaniard by whom he +had been grievously offended: The Araucanian answered that he had +nothing to fear while in company with the missionary; and that it was +now no time to think of revenging private injuries. Such was the +attention paid to the sanctity of the missionaries, that not a single +Spaniard was slain who had the good fortune of getting under their +protection. + +In order to attack the Araucanians in several places at once, the +governor formed an alliance with the Pehuenches, who inhabit the western +slopes of the Andes between the latitudes of 33 deg. 30' and 36 deg. S. and +between the heads of the rivers Maypo and Chillan. They accordingly sent +an army through the defiles of the mountains to invade Araucania: But +Curignancu, being informed of their approach, fell upon them by surprise +while descending from the Andes and completely routed them, taking their +general Coligura and his son, both of whom he put to death. Though this +event might have been supposed calculated to occasion eternal enmity +between the Pehuenches and Araucanians, it yet so effectually reconciled +them, that the Pehuenches have been ever since faithful allies to the +Araucanians, and implacable enemies to the Spaniards. Even in this war, +Curignancu availed himself of the assistance of these mountaineers to +harass the Spanish possessions in the neighbourhood of St Jago. Since +that time, the Pehuenches frequently attack the Spanish caravans between +Buenos Ayres and Chili, and almost every year furnishes some melancholy +events of that kind. + +The mortification of seeing his grand project completely overthrown +preyed on the mind of Gonzago, already afflicted by a severe chronic +illness, which was so much aggravated by this disappointment as to cut +him off in the second year of the war; and Don Francisco Xavier de +Morales was appointed his successor by the viceroy of Peru. As formerly +concerted, the neutral provinces of Araucania now declared in favour of +those who had first begun hostilities, and the war was prosecuted with +vigour by the whole confederacy. Curignancu and his brave vice-toqui +Leviantu, kept the Spanish troops in constant motion and alarm, though +reinforced by several divisions from Spain. Having no materials for +giving an account of the events of this war, it can only be mentioned +that a bloody battle was fought in the beginning of the, year 1773, by +which period the expences of the war had exceeded 1,700,000 dollars. In +the same year an accommodation was agreed upon, and Curignancu was +invested by the Butacayog with full powers to settle the articles of +peace. He required as a preliminary, that the conferences should be held +in the city of St Jago, which was conceded by the Spanish governor +though contrary to the usual custom. During the negociations in that +city, he made another demand still more extraordinary, "That his nation +should be allowed to keep a resident agent in the capital of Chili." +This was warmly opposed by the Spanish officers; but the governor +thought proper to grant this likewise, as an excellent expedient for +readily adjusting any differences that might arise between the two +nations. The other articles of the peace were adjusted with all manner +of facility, as the treaties of Quillan and Negrete were revived by +mutual consent. + +On the death of Gonzago being known in Spain, Don Augustino Jauregui was +sent out to assume the government of Chili, who has since filled the +important office of viceroy of Peru with universal approbation. He was +succeeded by Don Ambrosio Benarides, who rendered the country happy by +his wise and beneficent administration. "On the 21st of November 1787, +Don Ambrosio Higgins a native of Ireland, formerly brigadier-general of +the cavalry in Chili, was appointed president, governor, and +captain-general of the kingdom, a gentleman of an enlightened mind and +excellent disposition, who has gained the love and esteem of all the +inhabitants. In 1792 he continued to discharge the duties of his high +station with all the vigilance and fidelity which belong to his +estimable character, and which are required in so important, a +situation. On his first accession to the government, he visited all the +northern provinces, for the purpose of dispensing justice, encouraging +agriculture, opening the mines, and improving the commerce and fisheries +of the kingdom. He has also established schools, repaired the roads +throughout the country, and has built several new cities[101]." + +[Footnote 101: This last passage within inverted commas, is an addition +to the text of Molina by the original translator.--E.] + + +SECTION XII. + +_State of Chili towards the end of the Eighteenth Century_[102]. + + +[Footnote 102: The information of Molina appears to have closed about +1787; but in some notes by the translator, interwoven here into the +text, a few short notices to the year 1792 occur.--E.] + +From the short deduction of the occurrences in Chili since its +discovery, which has been attempted in the foregoing pages, it will be +seen that the acquisition and maintenance of that interesting and +important colony has cost more expenditure of blood and treasure to +Spain than all the rest of her American possessions. The Araucanians, +though only occupying a small extent of territory, and with far inferior +arms, have not only been able to resist the military power of Spain, +till then reckoned invincible, but have endangered the loss of her best +established possessions. Though most of the Spanish officers employed in +the early period of the Araucanian war had been bred in the low +countries, that excellent school of military knowledge, and her soldiers +were armed with those destructive weapons before which the most +extensive empires of America had so early fallen, and were considered as +the best disciplined and bravest troops in the world; yet has this brave +people been able to resist their utmost efforts, and still maintain +their independence unimpaired. This will appear wonderful, especially +when we consider the decided superiority which European military +discipline and skill have given to its troops in all parts of the world. +The rapidity of the Spanish conquests in America excited universal +astonishment; and a small number of Portuguese gained with almost +incredible facility an extensive territory in the east, even although +the natives were extremely numerous and accustomed to the use of +fire-arms. Yet, in spite of every effort of force and skill, the +Araucanians have valiantly defended their country, evincing that a free +people, however inconsiderable in point of numbers, can perform wonders. + +Since losing their possessions in Arancania, the Spaniards have +prudently confined their views to the preservation and improvement of +that part of Chili which lies between the southern confines of Peru and +the river Biobio, extending between the latitudes of 24 deg. and 36 deg. 30' S. +As formerly mentioned this kingdom is divided into _thirteen_ provinces. +Of late years two other provinces have been formed by the disjunction of +Maule, and the provinces of Cauquenes and Cunco are nominally added to +the former number, but without any addition of territory. Besides these, +they possess the fortress and port of Valdivia in the country of the +Cunches, the archipelago of Chiloe, and the island of Juan Fernandez. +This colony or kingdom of Chili is governed by an officer, who combines +the titles and functions of civil governor, president of the court of +audience, and captain-general, and usually holds the rank of +lieutenant-general in the Spanish army. He resides in the city of St +Jago, and is solely dependent upon the king, except that in time of war +he is subject in some points to receive orders from the viceroy of Peru. +In quality of captain-general, he is commander-in-chief of the army, +having under his immediate orders the three principal military officers +of the kingdom, the quarter-master-general, the serjeant-major, and the +commissary-general, besides the four commandants of Chiloe, Valdivia, +Valparaiso, and Juan Fernandez. As president and governor, he has the +supreme administration of justice, and presides in the superior +tribunals established in the capital, whose jurisdiction extends over +all the provinces and dependencies of Chili. The chief of these is the +royal audience, whose decisions are final in all causes both civil and +criminal, and which is divided into two chambers, one for civil and the +other for criminal causes. Both are composed of several respectable +oydors or judges, a regent, fiscal, royal procurator, and protector of +the Indians, all of which officers have high salaries from the crown. +In civil causes where the sum at issue exceeds the value of 10,000 +dollars, an appeal lies from their sentence to the supreme council of +the Indies. The other supreme courts are those of Finance, of the +_Cruzada_, of Vacant lands, and the Consulate or tribunal of +commerce. + +The provinces of Chili are governed by officers who were formerly called +corregidors, but are now known by the title of sub-delegates, which +ought to be nominated by the crown, but are generally appointed by the +governor, owing to the distance from Spain. These, as lieutenants of the +governor, have jurisdiction both in civil and military affairs, and as +their emoluments are entirely derived from fees, their amount is by no +means regular. In each capital of a province, there is or ought to be a +municipal magistracy denominated the Cabildo, composed of several +regidors appointed for life, of a standard-bearer, a procurator, a +forensic judge called the provincial alcalde, a high sheriff called, +alguazil-mayor, and two alcaldes. These latter officers are nominated +annually by the cabildo from the most respectable inhabitants, and have +jurisdiction both in civil and criminal causes in the first instance. + +All the inhabitants able to carry arms are divided into regiments, which +are bound to march to the sea-coast or the frontiers in case of war. In +1792, the militia amounted to 15,856 men, in the two bishoprics of St +Jago and Conception; 10,218 in the former, and 5,638 in the latter. This +force which was established in 1777, during the government of Don +Augustino Jaregui, is only called out on great occasions, and is seldom +obliged to perform the duty of centinels and patroles; but is obliged to +hold itself always in readiness for war, and frequently to exercise in +the use of arms. Besides this regular militia, there are a great number +of city corps, who are commanded by officers named commissaries instead +of Colonels. These are divided into several companies, according to the +extent and population of their respective districts; and the companies +have no fixed numbers, sometimes exceeding a hundred men, and at other +times falling short of that number. This city militia supplies guards +for the prisons and for the escort of prisoners, and performs the duties +required by the police, without being exempted from military service +when occasion requires; and from these companies recruits are drawn to +supply vacancies in the regular militia. Every one capable of bearing +arms is thus enrolled either in these companies or in the regular +militia, except such as are indispensably necessary for cultivating the +land and taking care of the cattle. Besides this militia, the crown +maintains a regular force of veteran troops part at St Jago and part at +Conception for the protection of the Araucanian frontier. In 1792, all +the veteran troops in Chili amounted to 1976 men, divided into two +companies of artillery, nine troops of horse, including a regiment of +dragoons at St Jago, and the rest infantry. The cavalry is commanded by +a brigadier-general, who is quarter-master-general of the kingdom, and +intendant of Conception. The infantry and artillery are under the +command of two lieutenant-colonels. Besides these royal troops, the city +of St Jago keeps several troops of dragoons in constant pay for its +particular protection. + +In regard to ecclesiastical polity, Chili is divided into two extensive +bishoprics, those of St Jago and of Conception, the bishops of these +dioceses being suffragans to the archbishop of Lima. The bishopric of St +Jago extends from the confines of Peru to the river Maule, and includes +the province of Cujo on the east side of the Andes. The bishopric of +Conception comprises all the rest of Chili and the islands; but the +greater part of this extent is inhabited by pagans, being the +confederacy of Araucania and its auxiliaries. The two cathedrals have a +competent number of canons or prebendaries, whose revenues as well as +those of the bishops depend upon the tythes. The _holy_ tribunal of the +inquisition at Lima, has a commissary and several subaltern officers or +familiars resident at St Jago. Upon his first coming into Chili, +Valdivia brought with him several monks of the order of Mercy. About the +year 1553, the Dominicans and Franciscans were established in the +country, the Augustins in 1593, and the Hospitallers of St John of God +in 1615. These orders all have a number of convents, and the three first +form distinct jurisdictions under their respective provincials. The +brothers of St John have the charge of the hospitals, under the +direction of a commissary, dependent on the provincial of their order in +Peru. The Jesuits came likewise into Chili in 1593, along with Don +Martin Loyola, nephew to their founder, and formed a separate province, +but were afterwards suppressed along with the rest of their order in all +parts of christendom. Other orders have several times attempted to form +establishments in Chili, but have always been resisted by the +inhabitants. There are several convents of nuns in the cities of St Jago +and Conception, but none are contained in the other cities of the +kingdom. + +Though the cities are in general built in the most fertile districts of +the kingdom, many of them might have been more conveniently situated for +trade upon the banks of the navigable rivers; as is more particularly +the case with those of recent erection. The streets in all the cities +are laid out in straight lines, intersecting each other at right angles, +and are generally about forty feet wide. The houses are mostly of one +storey, yet are very commodious, are all whitewashed on the outside, and +handsomely painted within, each being accommodated with a pleasant +garden, irrigated by means of an aqueduct or canal, which likewise +furnishes water for the use of the family. Those houses which belong to +the wealthier classes, particularly the nobility, are splendidly and +tastefully furnished. Noticing that old buildings of two stories had +resisted the most violent earthquakes, many of the inhabitants have of +late years ventured to construct their houses in the European manner, +and to reside in upper rooms; employing bricks and stone in the +construction of their new buildings, instead of clay hardened in the sun +which was formerly supposed less liable to injury. By this change the +cities have a much handsomer appearance than formerly. Cellars, sewers, +and wells, were of old much more common than now; and the want of these +may have contributed to render the buildings more secure from the +effects of earthquakes. + +The churches in Chili are in general more remarkable for their wealth +than their architecture; but the cathedral and the church of the +Dominicans in St Jago are both built of stone and in a handsome style. +The cathedral was recently constructed at the royal expence, under the +direction of the bishop Don Manuel Alday. The plan was drawn by two +_English_ architects, who superintended the work. It is built in a +masterly style, and extends 384 French feet in length. When about half +finished, the architects refused to proceed unless their wages were +augmented; but two Indians who had worked under the _Englishmen_ had +privately made themselves acquainted with every branch of the art, and +offered to complete the fabric, which they did with as much skill as +their masters. The following edifices in the capital are also deserving +of notice. The barracks for the dragoons; the mint, lately built by a +Roman architect; and the hospital for orphans, founded by the Marquis of +Monte-pio, and endowed by the crown. + +In consequence of the free trade lately granted to Chili, it is +increasing in population with a rapidity proportional to the salubrity +of its climate and the fertility of its soil. The Europeans mostly +consist of emigrants from the southern provinces of Spain, with a few +French, English, and Italians. The Creoles, or descendents of European +settlers are still more numerous. The character of that race, with some +slight differences owing to climate and government, is similar to that +of other American Creoles descended from Europeans. "The Creoles are +generally well made, and are rarely found with those deformities which +are so common in other countries. Their courage has frequently +signalized itself in war, by a series of brilliant exploits, nor would +there be better soldiers in the world if less averse from submission to +discipline. Their history furnishes no examples of that cowardice, +treachery, and baseness which dishonour the annals of all nations, and +scarcely can an instance be adduced of a Creole having committed a +disgraceful action. Untainted by the mean vices of dissimulation, +artifice, and suspicion, they possess great frankness and vivacity of +character, joined to a high opinion of themselves, and their intercourse +with the world is not stained by that mysterious reserve so common in +Europe, which obscures the most amiable characters, depresses the social +spirit, and chills sensibility of disposition. Possessed of an ardent +imagination and impatient of restraint, they are prone to independence +yet inconstant in their inclinations and pursuits. By the warmth of +their temperature, they are impelled to the pursuit of pleasure with an +eagerness to which they sacrifice their fortunes and often their lives. +They possess keen penetration, and a remarkable facility of conceiving +and expressing their ideas with force and clearness, together with a +happy talent of observation, combined with all those qualities of mind +and character, which render men capable of conceiving and executing the +greatest enterprises, especially when stimulated by oppression[103]." + +[Footnote 103: This character of the Creoles is inserted by the original +translator, in a note, from the Abbe Raynal.--E.] + +Whatever intelligent and unprejudiced travellers have observed +respecting the characters of the French and English Creoles, will +perfectly apply to those of Chili. The same modes of thinking and the +same moral qualities are discernible in them all. They generally have +respectable talents, and succeed in all the arts to which they apply. +Had they the same motives to stimulate them as are found in Europe, they +would make as great progress in the useful sciences as they have +already made in metaphysics. They do not readily imbibe prejudices, and +are not tenacious in retaining them. As however, scientific books and +philosophical instruments are very scarce and difficultly attainable in +Chili, their talents have no opportunity of being developed, and are +mostly employed in trifling pursuits; and as the expence of printing is +enormous, they are discouraged from literary exertion, so that few among +them aspire to the reputation of becoming authors. The knowledge of the +civil and canon law is held in high estimation, so that many of the +youth of Chili, after completing their academical education in their own +country, proceed to Lima to study law. The fine arts are in a low state +in Chili, and even the mechanical arts are far from perfection. The arts +of carpentry, of working in iron, and in the precious metals, are +however to be excepted, in which they have made considerable progress, +in consequence of the information and example of some German artists, +who were introduced into Chili by that worthy ecclesiastic Father +Carlos, a native of Hainhausen in Bavaria. The important changes which +the beneficence of an enlightened administration in Spain have lately +introduced into the American colonies, by directing the attention of the +subjects to useful improvements, have extended their influence even to +Chili. Arts and sciences, formerly unknown or but very imperfectly, now +engage the attention of the inhabitants, and there is reason to hope +that the country will soon assume a better aspect. + +The peasantry of Spanish Chili, though for much the greater part of +Spanish descent, dress after the manner of the Araucanians. Thinly +dispersed over an extensive country, and unincumbered by restraint, they +enjoy complete liberty, and lead a tranquil and happy life, amidst the +enjoyment of abundance, in a delightful climate and fertile soil. The +principal part of these healthy and vigorous men live dispersedly upon +their respective possessions, and cultivate with their own hands a +greater or less extent of ground. They are naturally gay, and fond of +all kinds of diversion. They have likewise a strong taste for music, and +even compose verses, which, though rude and inelegant, possess much +pleasing native simplicity, often more interesting than the laboured +compositions of cultivated poets. Extemporary rhymers are common among +them, like the _improvisatori_ of Italy, and are called _Palladores_, +who are held in great estimation, and devote themselves entirely to +that occupation. In the Spanish provinces of Chili, no other language +than Spanish is spoken, except upon the frontiers, where the peasants +speak both Araucanian and Spanish. The men dress in the fashion of +Spain, and the women in that of Peru; only that the women in Chili wear +their garments longer than is usual in Peru. Lima prescribes the +fashions for Chili, as is done by Paris for the rest of Europe; and the +inhabitants of Chili and Peru are equally luxurious, as in both +countries the wealthy make a splendid display in their dress, titles, +coaches, and servants. Chili enjoys alone of all the American colonies, +the high honour of having two of its citizens exalted to the dignity of +grandees of Spain: Don Fernando Irrazabel, Marquis of Valparaiso, born +in St Jago, who was viceroy of Navarre, and generalissimo of the Spanish +army in the reign of Philip IV. and Don Fermin Caravajal, Duke of San +Carlos, a native of Conception, who resides at present[104] at the court +of Madrid. Don Juan de Covarrubias, a native of St Jago, who went into +the service of France in the beginning of the eighteenth century, was +rewarded with the title of marquis, the order of the Holy Ghost, and the +rank of Marshal in the French army. + +[Footnote 104: This refers to 1787, when Molina published his work.--E.] + +The salubrity of the climate, and the constant exercise on horseback to +which the natives of Chili are accustomed from their infancy, render +them strong and active, and preserve them from many diseases. The +small-pox is not so common as in Europe, but makes terrible ravages when +it appears[105]. In the year 1766, it was first introduced into the +province of Maule, where it proved exceedingly fatal. At this time, a +countryman who had recovered from this loathsome disease, conceived the +idea of curing those unhappy persons who were deemed in a desperate +situation, by means of cows milk, which he gave to his patients to +drink, or administered in clysters. By this simple remedy, he cured all +whom he attended; while the physicians saved very few by their +complicated prescriptions. I mention this circumstance, as it strongly +confirms the practice of M. Lassone, physician to the queen of France, +published in the Medical Transactions of Paris for 1779, who was +successful in curing the small-pox with cows milk, mixed with a +decoction of parsley roots. From these instances it would appear, that, +milk has the power of lessening the virulence of this terrible disease. + + +[Footnote 105: Several years ago, before that terrible French eruption +which now desolates Spain, the Spanish government communicated to all +her colonies, however distant, the inestimable benefit of vaccination. +It may be here mentioned that it has been long known among the +illiterate cow-herds in the mountains of Peru, all either native +Peruvians or Negroes, that a disease of the hands which they are liable +to be infected with on handling diseased cow udders, the _cow-pox_, +effectually arms all who have been subjected to it against the infection +of the _small-pox_.--E.] + +The Creole inhabitants of Chili are in general generous and benevolent. +Contented with a comfortable subsistence, so easily acquired in that +country, they are rarely infected with the vice of avarice, and even +scarcely know what parsimony is. Their houses are universally open to +all travellers, whom they entertain with much hospitality, without any +idea of being paid; and this virtue is even exercised in the cities. +Hence, they have not hitherto attended to the erection of inns and +public lodging-houses, or hotels, which will become necessary when the +commerce of the interior becomes more active. The inhabitants of Chili +are very dexterous in using the _laqui_, which they constantly carry +with them on their excursions. It consists of a strap of leather several +fathoms in length, twisted like a cord, one end of which is fastened to +the girth under the horses belly, and the other end terminates in a +strong noose, which they throw over any animal they wish to catch with +so much dexterity as hardly ever to miss their aim[106]. It is used +likewise on foot, in which case one end is fixed to the girdle. The +peasants of Chili employed this singular weapon with success against +certain English pirates who landed on their coast. Herodotus makes +mention of the employment of a similar noose in battle by the Sagartii, +a nation of Persian descent, who used no offensive weapons except +daggers, depending principally upon cords of twisted leather, with a +noose at one extremity, with which they used in battle to entangle their +enemies, and then easily put them to death with their daggers. The +inhabitants of Chili are likewise very expert in the management of +horses; and, in the opinion of travellers who have seen and admired +their dexterity and courage on horseback, they might soon be formed into +the best body of cavalry in the world. From their attachment to horses, +they are particularly fond of horse-races, which they conduct in the +English manner. + +[Footnote 106: The _laqui_ in use to the east of the Andes, at least so +far as employed in war, has either a ball or stone at one or both +ends.--E.] + +The negroes, who have been introduced into Chili by contraband means, +are subjected to a much more tolerable servitude than in other parts of +America, where the interested motives of the planters have stifled every +sentiment of humanity. As the cultivation of sugar and other West Indian +produce has not been introduced into Chili, the negro slaves are +employed only in domestic services, where by attention and diligence +they acquire the favour of their masters. Those most esteemed are either +born in the country, or mulattoes, as they become attached to the +families to which they belong. By the humanity of government, excellent +regulations have been introduced in favour of this unfortunate race. +Such as have been able by their industry to save a sum of money +sufficient to purchase a slave, are entitled to ransom themselves by +paying it to their masters, who are obliged to receive it and grant them +their liberty; by which means many of them have obtained their freedom. +Those who are ill treated by their masters, can demand _a letter of +sale_, which entitles them to seek for a purchaser; and if the master +refuses, they apply to the judge of the town or district, who examines +into their complaint, and grants the required permission, if well +founded. Such instances are however rare, as the masters are careful not +to reduce their slaves to this necessity on account of their own +reputation, and because the slaves are generally so much attached to +their masters, that the greatest punishment which could be inflicted on +them were to sell them to others. It even frequently happens that those +who have received their freedom in reward of good conduct, do not avail +themselves of it, that they may not lose the protection of the family +they belong to, from which they are always sure of subsistence. Masters +however have the right to correct their slaves, and the kind and degree +of punishment is left with them, except in capital crimes. + +The internal commerce of Chili has hitherto been of small importance, +notwithstanding the many advantages possessed by this fertile country. +Its principal source, industry, or necessity rather, is still wanting. +An extensive commerce requires a large population, and in proportion as +the one increases, the other will necessarily advance. A communication +by water, which greatly facilitates the progress of commerce, has +already been opened. In several of the Chilese ports, barks are now +employed in the transportation of merchandise, which had formerly to be +carried by land on the backs of mules, with great trouble and expence; +and this beneficial alteration will probably be followed with others of +greater importance. Several large ships have been already built in the +harbour of Conception, and at the mouth of the river Maule, in the port +of Huachapure; by which the external commerce of the kingdom is carried +on with Peru and Spain. In the trade with Peru, twenty-three or +twenty-four ships are employed, of five or six hundred tons each, part +of which belong to Chili and part to Peru. These usually make three +voyages yearly, and carry from Chili wheat, wine, pulse, almonds, nuts, +cocoa-nuts, conserves, dried meat, tallow, lard, cheese, bend-leather, +timber for building, copper, and a variety of other articles; and bring +back return cargoes of silver, sugar, rice, and cotton. The ships which +trade directly from Spain to Chili, receive gold, silver, copper, +Vicugna wool, and hides, in exchange for European commodities. A +permission to trade to the East Indies would be very profitable to the +Chilese, as their most valuable articles are either scarce or not +produced in these wealthy regions of Asia, and the passage across the +Pacific Ocean would be easy and expeditious, in consequence of the +prevalence of southerly winds. The only money current in Chili is of +gold and silver, which is considerably embarrassing to internal +commerce, as the smallest silver coin is the sixteenth of a dollar, or +4-1/4d. The weights and measures are the same with those of Madrid. + +"Of the two great sources of commerce, agriculture and manufacturing +industry, the former alone hitherto animates the internal trade of +Chili, or even the commercial intercourse between that country and +Peru[107]. The working of mines also occupies the attention of many of +the colonists, especially in the provinces of Copaipo, Coquimbo, and +Quillota. Manufacturing industry is hitherto so trifling as not to +deserve notice. Notwithstanding the abundance of raw materials for this +purpose, such as flax, wool, hemp, skins, and metals, which might give +employment to a flourishing manufacturing industry, it is still in a +languid condition. The inhabitants however manufacture _ponchos_, +stockings, carpets, blankets, skin-coats, saddles, hats, and other small +articles, chiefly for the use of the poorer people, as those used by the +middle and higher ranks are from the manufactures of Europe. These +enumerated articles, with the sale of hides and leather, grain and +wine, form the whole internal commerce of Chili. The external commerce +is principally with the ports of Peru, and particulary with that of +Callao, the port of Lima. To the amount of about 700,000 dollars is +yearly sent to Peru in the productions of Chili, serving not only to +counterbalance the importations from that country, but leaving an annual +balance of 200,000 dollars in favour of Chili. The trade between Chili +and Buenos Ayres is on the contrary in favour of the latter, as Chili +has to pay about 300,000 dollars yearly in cash for the herb _Paraguay_ +alone. The other articles received from Buenos Ayres are probably paid +for by those which are sent to that place. In the trade with Spain, the +productions of Chili go but a short way in payment of the European goods +which are annually imported to the value of more than a million of +dollars. Gold, silver, and copper, form the whole of the articles sent +from Chili to Spain, as the hides and Vicugna wool are of too little +importance to be considered." + +[Footnote 107: These observations on the trade of Chili, distinguished +by inverted commas, are inserted into the text from a long note in this +part of the work of Molina--E.] + +"Gold to the extent of 5200 marks[108], and as the amounts which are +coined and shipped are nearly equal, there does not appear to be any +clandestine extraction. But a considerable quantity is expended in +bullion, in works of use or ornament. The silver extracted from the +mines of Chili is estimated at 30,000 marks yearly[109]. Of this about +25,000 marks are coined annually, and the residue is employed in the +fabrication of plate. Yet a considerably larger amount is shipped every +year, arising from the coined silver, which is transmitted from Lima. +The remittances of gold and silver from Chili to Spain passes usually +through Buenos Ayres. The gold, being less bulky, is carried by land, by +the monthly packets, in sums of two or three thousand ounces. The silver +is sent by two ships every summer, which likewise carry a part of the +gold. The remittances of gold amount annually to 656,000 dollars[110], +the silver to 244,000[111]; and the copper annually extracted from the +mines of Chili is estimated at from eight to ten thousand quintals[112]. +From these data it will not be difficult to form a general estimate of +the value of yearly produce from Chili[113]." + +[Footnote 108: The mark being eight ounces may be valued at L.4; hence +the yearly production of gold in Chili is equal to about L.166,400 +sterling.--E.] + +[Footnote 109: At eight ounces the mark, and 6s. _per_ ounce, this +amounts only to the yearly value of L.72,000 sterling.--E.] + +[Footnote 110: At 4s. 6d. the dollar, equal to L.147,600 sterling.--E.] + +[Footnote 111: Or L.54,900 sterling.--E.] + +[Footnote 112: The quintal of 100 pounds, at 1s. 6d. a pound, gives an +average value of L.67,500 sterling for the yearly produce of +copper.--E.] + +[Footnote 113: The entire value of the three enumerated articles amounts +to L.270,000 sterling; but the other articles of export from Chili, +formerly enumerated, are not here included.--E.] + + +SECTION XIII. + +Account of the Archipelago of Chiloe [114]. + + +[Footnote 114: This is appended to the English translation of Molina, +and is said to be chiefly extracted from a work on that subject by Pedro +Gonzalis de Agueros, published at Madrid in 1791.--E.] + +The Archipelago of Chiloe, extends from Cape Capitanes to Quillan, from +lat. 41 deg. 50' to 44 deg. S. long. 302 deg. to 303 deg. 25' E, from the meridian of +Teneriffe[115]. On the north it is bounded by the continent, where the +Juncos and Rancos [116], two independent and unconverted nations, +possess the country from thence to Valdivia: on the east by the Andes, +which separate it from Patagonia; on the south by the archipelago of +Guaitecas; and on the west by the Pacific Ocean. The islands of this +archipelago amount to about eighty, and appear to have been produced by +earthquakes, owing to the great number of volcanoes, with which that +country formerly abounded. Every part of them exhibits the most +unquestionable marks of the operation of volcanic fire. Several +mountains in the great island of Chiloe, which gives name to the +archipelago, are composed of basaltic columns, which have been certainly +produced by volcanic fire, whatever may be alleged to the contrary. The +inhabited part of this province, extends from Maullin to Huilad, +comprising forty leagues from north to south, and eighteen or twenty +from east to west, and comprises twenty-five islands. There are Isla +Grande, Ancud, or Chiloe Proper; Achao, Lemui, Quegui, Chelin, Tanqui, +Linlin, Llignua, Quenai, Meulin, Caguach, Alau, Apeau, Chaulinec, +Vuta-Chauquis, Anigue, Chegniau, Caucague, Calbuco, Llaicha, Quenu, +Tabon, Abtau, Chiduapi, and Kaur.--Chiloe Ancud, or _Isla Grande_, being +the largest island as its name imports, is the most populous, and the +seat of government. Its capital, Castro, which is the only city in the +province, was founded in 1566 by Don Martin Ruiz de Gamboa, during the +viceroyalty of Lope Garcia de Castro in Peru, and was honoured with the +name of his family. + +[Footnote 115: Or from long. 75 deg. to 74 deg. 20'W. from Greenwich.--E.] + +[Footnote 116: Called Cunches and Huilliches by Molina. Several +circumstances in this account are interwoven from the text of Molina, +Vol. II. Book iv. ch. ii. This circumstance will account for occasional +repetitions, and perhaps some apparent contradictions, which may +appear.--E.] + +The inhabitants of these islands are descended from the continental +aborigines of Chili, as is evident from their manners, appearance, and +language; yet are they very different in character, being of a pacific +and rather timid disposition. They accordingly made no opposition +against the handful of Spaniards who were sent to subjugate them under +Gamboa, though their population is said to have then exceeded seventy +thousand. Neither have they ever attempted to shake off the yoke, except +once at the beginning of last century, when a very unimportant +insurrection was speedily quelled. The number of inhabitants at present +amounts to upwards of eleven thousand, which are distributed into +seventy-six districts, each of which is governed by a native _ulmen_. +The greatest part of this population is subject to the Spanish +commanders, and are obliged to give personal service fifty days in every +year, pursuant to the feudal laws, which are rigorously enforced in this +province, though they have been long abolished in the rest of the +kingdom of Chili. + +These islanders in general possess great quickness of capacity, and +readily learn any thing that is taught them. They have an apt genius for +all mechanical arts, and excel in carpentry, cabinet-making, turnery, +and the like, and are very expert in the construction of wooden-houses, +as indeed all the habitations and even the churches are of timber. They +are likewise good manufacturers in linen and woollen, of which last +mixed with the feathers of sea-birds they make very beautiful +bed-coverings. They also manufacture _ponchos_ or cloaks of various +kinds, many of which are striped, or embroidered with coloured silk or +worsted. + +These islands abound in wood, of which they supply large quantities +yearly. As it rains almost incessantly, the cultivated lands are +commonly wet the whole year. Though they have abundance of cattle, these +are not employed for ploughing the ground, which is tilled, or +cultivated in the following singular manner. About three months before +seed-time, their sheep are turned upon the lands intended for a crop, +changing their situation every three or four nights, in the manner +called folding in Europe, by which the land is sufficiently manured. The +field is then strewed over with the seed corn, and a strong man +scratches or slightly turns over the soil to cover the seed, by means of +a rude implement composed of two crooked sticks of hard wood fastened +together and made sharp, which he forces into the ground with his +breast. Notwithstanding this very imperfect tillage, the subsequent crop +of wheat generally yields ten or twelve for one. They likewise grow +large quantities of barley, beans, peas, _guinoa_, which is a species of +chenopodium used in making a pleasant species of drink, and the largest +and best potatoes that are to be found in all Chili. Owing to the +moisture of the climate, the grape never comes to sufficient maturity +for making wine; but its want is supplied by various kinds of cyder, +made from apples and other wild fruits which abound in the country. + +Owing to their habitude of frequently going from one island to another, +where the sea is far from being pacific, the Chilotans are all excellent +sailors, and being active, docile, and industrious, they are very much +employed in navigating the shipping of the South Sea. Their native barks +or piraguas are formed of from three to five planks, sewed together, and +caulked with a species of moss which grows on a particular shrub. There +are vast numbers of these barks all through the archipelago, which they +manage very dexterously both with sails and oars, and the natives often +venture as far as Conception in these frail vessels. They are much +addicted to fishing, and procure vast quantities and many kinds of +excellent fish on the sea around their shores. Of these they dry large +quantities, which they export to Chili and Peru, and the other countries +on the Pacific Ocean. They likewise cure considerable quantities of +testaceous fishes, such as conchs, clams, and _piures_, in the following +manner. These shell fish are laid in a long trench, covered over with +the large leaves of the _panke tinctoria_, over which a layer of stones +is laid, on which a hot fire is kindled and kept up for several hours. +The roasted fish are then taken out of the shells, strung upon lines, +and hung up for some time in the smoke of wood fires. Cured in this +manner they keep well for a considerable time, and are carried for sale +to Cujo and other inland districts. + +The Christian religion was very readily embraced by the Chilotans after +their subjugation, and they have ever since continued stedfast in its +observance. Their spiritual concerns are under the direction of the +bishop of Conception. Formerly the government was administered by a +lieutenant-governor appointed by the governor of Chili, but that officer +is now nominated by the viceroy of Peru. The whole external trade of +these islands is carried on by three or four ships which come there +annually from Peru and Chili, by which they receive wine, brandy, +tobacco, sugar, herb of Paraguay, salt, and European goods, for which +they give in exchange red cedar boards, timber of different kinds, +ponchos of various qualities, hams, pilchards, dried shell-fish, +white-cedar boxes, embroidered girdles, and a small quantity of +ambergris which is found on their shores. + +The navigation in this archipelago is difficult and even dangerous owing +to the strength and number of the currents, and nothing can appear worse +adapted for so perilous a sea than the piraguas or boats which are used +by the islanders. They are without keel or deck, and the planks of which +they are composed are sewed or laced together by means of strong +withies, the seams being caulked or stuffed with a kind of moss, or with +pounded cane leaves, over which the withies are passed. The cross +timbers or thwarts are fixed by means of pegs or tree-nails. In these +frail barks, which are very easily overset, the Chilotans venture with a +fearlessness proceeding entirely from being accustomed to danger, not +from skill in avoiding it. Their main source of food is from the sea, +which is general most bountiful in those parts of the world where the +earth is least so. Their mode of fishing is singular and ingenious. At +low water, they inclose a large extent of the flat shore with stakes +interwoven with boughs of trees, forming a kind of basket-work; which +pens or _corrales_ are covered by every flood and left dry by the ebb +tide, at which time they generally find abundance of fish. They likewise +employ as food a species of sea-weed, called _luche_, which they form +into a kind of loaves or cakes which are greatly esteemed even by the +wealthy inhabitants of Lima. Seals are more numerous in the archipelagos +of Guaitecas and Guayneco, still farther to the south, where they are +eaten by the natives, who are said to acquire so rank an odour from the +use of this food that it is necessary to keep them to leeward. Whales +sometimes run aground among these islands but are greatly more numerous +farther to the south. They have probably retired from this part of the +coast in consequence of being persecuted, as ambergris was formerly +found in great abundance on these shores, but is now very rare. + +All the islands are very mountainous and craggy, so that only a few +vallies among the hills and the flat grounds near the shore are +susceptible of cultivation. On this scanty cultivable ground, there are +forty-one settlements, called _pueblas_ or townships, in the _isla +grande_, or large island of Chiloe. There is one road indeed across the +mountains, but the whole interior of the island is uninhabited. The isle +of Quinchau has six pueblas; Lemui and Llaicha each four, Calbuco three, +all the other inhabited islands only one each, and there are three on +the continent, in all eighty-one. In these pueblas or townships, the +houses are much scattered, each being placed upon its attached property. +The church stands near the beach, having a few huts erected in the +neighbourhood, which serve to accommodate the parishioners when they +come to church on Sundays or any festival to attend mass. In the whole +archipelago there are but four places where the houses are placed so +near together as to assume the appearance of a town or village. These +are the city of Castro as it is called, Chacao, Calbuco, and the port of +San Carlos. This last is the largest and most flourishing. In 1774 it +contained sixty houses, with 462 inhabitants. In 1791, it had increased +to two hundred houses and eleven hundred inhabitants; but its prosperity +arose on the ruin of Chacao, which was the only port in the whole +archipelago till 1768. The harbour of Chacao is rendered very dangerous +by reason of many rocks and shoals, and is much exposed to winds from +the north and north-east; on which account Don Carlos de Berenger, when +governor, recommended that a town should be built at _Gacui del Ingles_, +or English harbour, which was accordingly ordered by the court of Spain +in 1767. The bay was then named Bahia del Rey; or Kings Bay, and the +town and harbour San Carlos. It is in lat. 41 deg. 57' S. and long. 73 deg. 58' +W. The port is good, but ships are often wrecked at the entrance, in +consequence of tremendous hurricanes which come on suddenly, at which +time the land cannot be seen. Since the erection of this town, the seat +of government has been removed to it from Castro. + +It is difficult to understand what motives could have induced the +Spaniards to settle in this miserable country, when the whole extent of +this western side of South America was open to them. Where gold and +silver are to be found, or where wealth is to be acquired by commerce, +men will readily settle, however barren and unfavourable the country, or +however pestilential the climate. But Chiloe offers no incitements to +avarice, and only a bare and comfortless subsistence to perpetual +industry. Perhaps the principal part of the original settlers were +people who escaped from the fury of the Araucanians, unable to remove to +Peru, or to subsist if they got there, and who were therefore glad of +getting any place of rest and security. There is perhaps no other colony +in the world to which Europeans have carried so few of their arts and +comforts, or where they have attempted to colonize under so many natural +disadvantages. Two instances indeed may be excepted; the project of +Philip II. to fortify the Straits of Magellan, and the unaccountable +settlements of the Norwegians in Greenland. In Chiloe it often rains for +a whole month without intermission, and these rains are frequently +accompanied by such tremendous hurricanes that the largest trees are +torn up by the roots, and the inhabitants do not feel safe in their +houses. Even in January, their mid-summer, they have often +long-continued heavy rain. If during the height of a storm the smallest +opening be perceived in the clouds towards the south, fine weather soon +succeeds; but first the wind changes suddenly to the south, with even +greater violence than it blew before from the opposite quarter, and +comes on with a crash as loud and sudden as the discharge of a cannon. +The storm then passes away with a rapidity proportional to its violence, +and the weather clears up. But at this critical change of the wind, +vessels are exposed to the utmost danger. Thunder and lightning are +rare, but earthquakes are frequent. In 1737 these islands suffered +severely by an earthquake; a few days after which a cloud or exhalation +of fire, coming from the north, passed over the whole archipelago, and, +as is said, set fire to the woods in many of the islands in the group of +the Guaitecas. It is said also that these islands were then covered over +with ashes, and that vegetation did not again appear upon them till +1750, thirteen years afterwards. + +Though excessively rainy, the climate is not unhealthy; but no people on +earth ever had more cause to believe that the ground was cursed to bring +forth thorns and thistles, and that man is condemned to eat bread with +the sweat of his brow, as there are none who labour so hard and procure +so little. They are so poor as to have no iron, or so very little that a +family which has an axe guards it like a treasure. Their substitute for +a plough has been already described as made of two crooked branches of a +tree, with a sharp point at one end and a round ball at the other, which +they force into the ground by means of their breast, protected by a +sheeps skin during this rude operation of tillage. Laborious as this +mode must be even in a free soil, it is rendered still more so in Chiloe +by the myrtle roots which everywhere infest their cultivated land. The +little corn they raise can never be left to ripen in the field, on +account of the heavy and frequent rains. It must be cut before it +ripens, and its sheaves hung up to dry in the sun-shine, if the sun +happens then to shine; and otherwise it has to be dried within +doors[117]. Bread is consequently a luxury which is reserved for great +occasions; and the want of which is supplied by means of excellent +potatoes, far better than any that are produced in Peru or Chili. + +[Footnote 117: In many parts of Norway, the peasants have to win, or +dry, their corn sheaves spitted on wooden spars set upon stakes in the +open air; and a nobleman in the western Scots Highlands, has shades in +which to dry his corn and hay, where the sheaves are hung upon pegs like +herrings in a curing house. Yet bad as is the climate of Chiloe, Iceland +and Kamtshatka can grow no corn at all.--E.] + +Apples and strawberries are their only fruit, both of which are good and +plentiful. The woods produce a plant called _quilineja_, much resembling +the _esparto_ or broom of Spain, from which they manufacture their +cables; and they make smaller ropes from several leafless parasitical +plants which twine round the larger trees like vines or bindwood. A +species of wild cane or reed serves to roof their houses, and its leaves +serve as hay or fodder for the few horses which are kept in this +inhospitable country. In that part of the continent which belongs to +this province, there is a tree, called _alerse_ by the Spaniards and +_lahual_ by the Indians, which supplies the principal part of their +exports, as from 50,000 to 60,000 planks of its wood are sent yearly to +Lima. It grows to a large size, and has so even and regular a grain as +to admit of being cleft by wedges into boards or planks of any desired +thickness, even smoother than could be done by a saw. Neither Agueros +nor Falkner had ever seen the tree; but the latter supposed it of the +fir tribe from description, and supposes it might thrive in England if +its seeds could be brought over, as the country in which it grows is as +cold as Britain, and it is reckoned the most valuable timber of that +country both for beauty and duration. The bark of this tree makes +excellent oakum for that part of ships which is under water, but does +not answer when exposed to the sun and air. They export also the wood of +a tree named _luma_, for axle-trees and the poles of carriages; of a +particular kind of hazle for ship-building, which answers excellently +for oars; they likewise make chests and boxes of a species of cypress, +and of a tree named _ciruelillo_. + +Hams are a principle article among their exports, as hogs are the most +numerous animals in Chiloe, where they find their own food in the woods. +Few sheep are kept, yet there are sufficient to furnish wool to give +employment to the women. From this they manufacture _ponchos_, two of +which, give sufficient work to a woman for a whole year, as they work +without a loom. The warp is stretched between a set of pegs, and they +weave in the woof with their fingers, yet make the work remarkably fine, +strong, and beautiful. They make also a smaller kind, called +_bordillos_, which are the ordinary dress of the negroes at Lima. +Besides these, they manufacture blankets and rugs, or coverlets for +beds, and linen cloth; which last is woven in looms. + +In summer, when the vessels arrive from Callao, San Carlos is like a +fair, as this is the only opportunity enjoyed by the Chilotans to get +supplied with any thing which is not the produce of their own country, +or to dispose of any portion of their surplus produce. As they have no +money or circulating medium of commerce, the whole trade is carried on +by means of barter, which would leave the islanders at the mercy of the +merchants from Lima, but for the interference of the government. On the +arrival of the first ship of the season, the cabildo or municipal +magistracy of San Carlos, fixes a money price at which every thing is to +be rated on both sides; which means of regulating the market seems +absolutely necessary, as otherwise the Chilotans in buying would be +obliged to give any price demanded by the seller, and in selling would +have to take any price offered. Still it would be much for their +advantage to export their own commodities; but the whole archipelago +does not contain a single vessel large enough to make a voyage to Peru +or even to Chili. Formerly the soldiers who were in garrison in this +province used to receive their pay in clothes and other articles of +which they might be in want; but they were ordered by a late regulation +to be paid in specie; and if this be continued it must occasion an +important change in the commercial situation of Chiloe, by introducing a +circulating medium. In San Carlos there is a garrison of regular troops, +consisting of 33 artillerymen, 58 dragoons, and 53 infantry. The militia +of the archipelago consists of 1569 men, including officers; which have +to do garrison duty, but receive no pay or rations, having to serve +entirely at their own expence. + +The inhabitants of Chiloe consists only of two classes of people, +Spaniards and Indians, there being no negroes and no mixed breed or +mestees. The want of negroes is easily explained by the poverty of the +islanders; but we are not told how it happens that the other two races +have not intermixed[118]. This is the more remarkable, as a most +extraordinary change has taken place in the language of these islands +during the latter half of the eighteenth century; insomuch that the +language of the Indian inhabitants consists entirely of Spanish words, +but all the inflexions, the syntax, and the idiomatic manner of +expression are Chilese, that is to say exactly corresponding to the +Moluchese dialect of the Chilidugu. + +[Footnote 118: Probably the gradations have not been attended to, +because the nice discrimination of ranks has not been deemed worth while +in so poor a country. Perhaps the mestees and their gradations are all +elevated to the rank of Spaniards, or all depressed to that of vassal +Chilotans.--E.] + +Both men and women of the Spanish population in Chiloe go barefooted, +except a few of the principal families who sacrifice convenience to +pride; as in a country so continually wet it is safer to go about with +naked feet than to have them in wet coverings. The men universally wear +the _poncho_. The houses, or hovels rather, are all built of wood, and +the crevices are stopped with sheep-skin or rags. The roofs are all +thatched; and the climate is so rainy that this soon rots and must be +frequently renewed. These dwellings consist of a single room, in which +the family, the cattle, and the poultry, are all accommodated. A few of +the inhabitants who can afford superior accommodation, have houses +divided into several apartments, wainscoted within, and roofed with +deal. Being all of wood, fires are frequent occurrences; but as the +houses are scattered, the mischief does not extend. Owing to the +inclemency of the weather, and the miserable state of the roads, a +family in the scattered and solitary situation in which the houses are +placed, is often weeks, and sometimes months without any communication +with their neighbours. There is neither hospital, physician, nor surgeon +in the whole province. A sick person is laid in a bed or a heap of skins +near a large fire, and remains there till recovery or death supervene. +The missionaries who visited these islands could find no books from +which to teach the children to read, and when they wished them to write +there was no paper. Necessity produced a substitute, and they used +wooden boards or tablets, on which they wrote with a substance which +could be washed out. Such is the miserable situation of the Spanish +inhabitants of the archipelago of Chiloe: yet they dare not leave their +wretched birth-place in the hope of bettering their fortunes. The +small-pox is hitherto unknown among them, and those, who have attempted +to go elsewhere have been cut off by that loathsome disease. In 1783, +the entire population of this dreary province amounted to 23,477, of +whom 11,985 were of Spanish descent, and 11,492 Indians. + + +SECTION XIV. + +_Account of the Native Tribes inhabiting the southern extremity of South +America [119]._ + + +[Footnote 119: This supplementary section or appendix is added to the +second volume of Molina, apparently by the English translator, and is +said to be chiefly extracted from the description of Patagonia by +Falkner. As the subject is new and interesting, we have been induced to +extend somewhat beyond the rigid letter of a collection of voyages and +travels. The picture of man in varied circumstances of savage life, is +one of the most important pieces of information to be derived from a +collection such as that we have undertaken and where direct means of +communicating that intelligence are unattainable, it is surely better to +employ such as on be procured than none.--E.] + +The poet Ercilla has made the name of the _Araucanians_ so famous that +it were improper now to change the appellation. But that denomination +properly belongs only to these tribes of the _Picunches_ who inhabit the +country of Aranco[120]. The nations or tribes who inhabit the southern +extremity of South America are known among themselves by the general +names of _Moluches_ and _Puelches_; the former signifying the warlike +people, and the latter the eastern people. + +[Footnote 120: It will easily be seen in the immediate sequel, that +Falkner very improperly uses Picunches as a generic term, as it +signifies in a limited manner the northern people. Molina most properly +denominates the whole aborigines of Chili on both sides of the Andes, +Chilese, as speaking one language, the Chili-dugu; names the tribes of +Arauco and those in the same republican confederacy Araucanians; and +gives distinct names like Falkner to the allied tribes: the Puelches, +Cunchese, Huilliches, Pehuenches, and others. Falkner appears to have +chosen to denominate the whole from the tribe whose dialect he first +became acquainted with; and some others seem to select the Moluches as +the parent tribe.--E.] + +The _Moluches_ or warlike people, are divided into the _Picunches_, or +people of the north, the _Pehuenches_ or people of the fine country, and +_Huilliches_ or people of the south. The Picunches inhabit the mountains +from Coquimbo to somewhat below St Jago in Spanish Chili. The Pehuenches +border on these to the north, and extend to the parallel of Valdivia. +Both of these are included in history under the name of +Araucanians[121]. Their long and obstinate wars with the Spaniards, with +the Puelches and with each other, have greatly diminished their numbers; +but they have been still more diminished by the havoc which has been +made among them by brandy, that curse of the American Indians, for which +they have often been known to sell their wives and children, and to +engage in savage scenes of civil bloodshed, entailing wide and endless +deadly feuds. The small-pox has nearly completed the work of war and +drunkenness, and when Falkner left the country they could hardly muster +four thousand men among them all. + +[Footnote 121: This account differs essentially from the history we have +just given from the writings of Molina, an intelligent native of Chili, +which cannot be repeated in the short compass of a note.--E.] + +The Huilliches possess the country from Valdivia to the Straits of +Magellan. They are divided into four tribes, who are improperly classed +together as one nation, since three of them are evidently of a different +race from the fourth. That branch which reaches to the sea of Chiloe and +beyond the lake of Nahuelhuaupi speaks the general language of Chili, +differing only from the Pehuenches and Picunches in pronunciation. The +others speak a mixed language, composed of the Moluche and Tehuel +tongue, which latter is the Patagon; and these tribes, from their great +stature, are evidently of Patagonian origin. Collectively these three +tribes are called the Vuta-Huilliches, or great southern-people; +separately they are named Chonos, Poy-yes, and Key-yes. The Chonos +inhabit the archipelago of Chili, and the adjoining shores of the +continent. The Poy-yes or Peyes possess the coast from lat. 48 deg. to +something more than 51 deg. S. The Key-yes or Keyes extend from thence to +the Straits of Magellan. The Moluches maintain some flocks of sheep, +principally for the sake of their wool, and cultivate a small quantity +of corn. + +The Puelches or eastern people, which name they receive from the natives +of Chili, are bounded on the west by the Moluches, on the south by the +Straits of Magellan, on the east by the sea, and on the north by the +Spaniards. They are subdivided into four tribes, the Taluhets, Diuihets, +Chechehets, and Tehuelhets. The _first_ of these or _Taluhets,_ are a +wandering race who prowl over the country, from the eastern side of the +first _desaguadero_ as far as the lakes of Guanacache in the +jurisdiction of San Juan and San Luiz de la Punta. Some of them are also +to be found in the jurisdiction of Cordova, on the rivers Segundo Terzo +and Quarto. When the Jesuits were expelled from the missions, this tribe +could scarcely raise two hundred fighting men, and even in conjunction +with all their allies not above five hundred. The _second_ of these +tribes, called the _Diuihets,_ is, also a wandering race, which borders +westwardly on the Pehuenches, between the latitudes of 35 deg. and 38 deg. S. +They extend along the rivers Sanguel Colorado and Hueyque, and nearly to +the Casuhati on the east. This nation and that of the Taluhets are +collectively called Pampas by the Spaniards, whose settlements in +Tacuman and on the southern shore of the La Plata they have always +infested, and sometimes even endangered. The _third_ tribe of the +Puelches is named the Chechehets, or eastern-people. The country which +they chiefly frequent is situated between the rivers Hueyque and the +first desaguadero or Rio Colorado, and from thence to the second +desaguadero or Rio Negro. They are a tall and stout wandering race +resembling the Patagonians, but speak a quite different language. Their +dispositions are friendly and inoffensive, but they are a bold and +active enemy when provoked. They are now reduced to a small number by +the ravages of the small-pox. The fourth race, called the _Tehuelhets,_ +or in their own language the Tehuel-kunnees or southern-men, are the +real Patagonians. These are again subdivided into many tribes, all of +which and the Chechehets also are called _Serranos_ or mountaineers by +the Spaniards. The _Leuvuches,_ who seem to be the head tribe of all the +Serranos, live on the Rio Negro. They speak the same language with the +Chechehets, but with a small mixture of the Tehuel. This tribe used to +keep on good terms with the Spaniards, that they might hunt in security +in the pampas or immense plains of Buenos Ayres. About the year 1740, +however, they were provoked to war by a most wanton and treacherous +attack, and Buenos Ayres would in all probability have been destroyed, +had not these injured people been appeased by the Jesuit missionaries. +The Tehuelhets are more numerous than all the other tribes of these +parts together, and are the perpetual enemies of the Moluches who are so +terrible to the Spaniards, whom they would have long since destroyed if +they had been equally well supplied with horses. + +To the south of these are the Chulilau-Kunnees, and the Sehuan-Kunnees, +who are the most southerly of the equestrian tribes. The country beyond +them, all the way to the Straits of Magellan, is possessed by the last +of the Tehuel tribes, called Yacana-Kunnees or foot-people, as they have +no horses. These are an inoffensive race, who are very swift runners, +and subsist mostly on fish. The other Tehuelhets and the Huilliches +sometimes attack this tribe for the purpose of making slaves of the +prisoners. The ordinary stature of all the Tehuel tribes is from six to +seven feet. None of the Puelches either keep sheep or cultivate the +ground, but depend altogether on hunting, for which purpose they keep a +great number of dogs. + +The belief in an infinite number of spirits, good and evil, is common to +all the native tribes south of the Rio Plata. From the north of that +river to the Orinoco a different language prevails, accompanied by a +different form of superstition The Puelches do not appear to acknowledge +any of those numerous spirits as supreme over the rest. The Taluhets and +Diuihets call a good spirit _Soychu,_ or he who presides in the land of +strong drink. The Tehuelhets call an evil spirit Atskanna Kanatz, the +other Puelches denominate the same being Valichu. Huecuvu must be +another name for the evil spirit; as the Chechehets give the name of +Huecuvu-mapu or the devils-country to a great sandy desert, into which +they never venture lest they should be overwhelmed. + +Among the northern Indians, each cast or small tribe is distinguished by +the name of some animal; as the tribe of the tyger, the lion, the +guanaco, the ostrich, and the like. They believe that each tribe had its +own particular creator, who resided in some huge cavern under a lake or +bill, to which all of that tribe will go after death, to enjoy the +felicity of eternal inebriation. These good creative spirits, according +to their opinion, having first created the world, made the different +races of men and animals, each in their respective cave. To the Indians, +they gave the spear, the bow and arrow, and the _lague_ or ball and +thong: to the Spaniards fire arms. Animals they allege were likewise +created in these subterranean abodes of the spirits, such as were +nimblest coming first out. When bulls and cows were coming out last of +all, the Indians were frightened at the sight of their horns, and +stopped up the mouth of their cavern; but the Spaniards were wiser and +let them out. Thus they explain the reason why they had no cattle till +after the coming of the Spaniards. In. their opinion, all the animals +who have been created in these hidden caverns have not yet emerged. They +attribute all the misfortunes or diseases which happen to men or animals +to the agency of the evil spirits, who are continually wandering about +the world in search of mischief. Their priests or jugglers rather, are +each supposed to be attended by two familiar evil spirits, to whom the +souls of these jugglers are associated after death, and with whom they +go about to do mischief. The jugglers are of both sexes; but it seems as +if it were thought an occupation beneath the dignity of a man, as the +male wizards are compelled to dress like women and are not permitted to +marry. The female jugglers are under no such restriction. They are +generally chosen while children to be initiated in the mysteries of this +profession, from among those who are most effeminate, and such as happen +to be subject to epilepsy or St Vitus' dance are considered as +especially marked out for the service of the jugglers. It is a very +dangerous profession, as these jugglers are frequently put to death when +any calamity happens to befal either the chiefs or the people. + +No ceremonies are performed in honour of the good spirits. That which is +addressed to the evil ones is performed in the following manner. The +assistants assemble in the hut or tent of the wizard, who is concealed +in a corner of the tent, where he has a drum, one or two round +calabashes with a few small sea shells in them to make a noise, like the +_maraca_ or rattle of the Brazilian sorcerers, and some square bags of +painted hide in which he keeps his spells. He begins the ceremony by +making a strange noise with his drum and rattle, after which he feigns +to fall into a fit, which is supposed to be occasioned by a struggle +with the evil spirit who then enters into him. During this fit, he keeps +his eye-lids lifted up, distorts his features, foams at the mouth, seems +to dislocate his joints, and after many violent and unnatural motions +remains stiff and motionless, like a person in a fit of epilepsy. After +some time he comes to himself, as if having gained the victory over the +evil spirit. He next causes a faint shrill mournful voice to be heard +within his tabernacle, as of the evil spirit, who is supposed to +acknowledge himself vanquished; after which the wizard, from a kind of +tripod, answers all questions that are put to him. It is of little +consequence whether these answers turn out true or false, as on all +sinister events the fault is laid on the spirit. On these conjuring +occasions, the juggler is well paid by those who consult the destinies. + + +These southern nations make skeletons of their dead, as is done likewise +by the native tribes on the Orinoco; but it is singular that this +practice does not prevail among the intermediate tribes, that inhabit +between the Maranon and Rio Plata. On such occasions, one of the most +distinguished women of the tribe performs the ceremony of dissection. +The entrails are burnt, and the bones, after the flesh has been cut off +as clean as possible, are buried till the remaining fibres decay. This +is the custom of the Molnuches and Pampas, but the Serranos place the +bones on a high frame-work of canes or twigs to bleach in the sun and +rain. While the dissector is at work on the skeleton, the Indians walk +incessantly round the tent, having their faces blackened with soot, +dressed in long skin mantles, singing in a mournful voice, and striking +the ground with their long spears, to drive away the evil spirits. Some +go to condole with the widow and relations of the dead, if these are +wealthy enough to reward them for their mourning with bells, beads, and +other trinkets; as their customary condolence is not of a nature to be +offered gratuitously, for they prick their arms and legs with thorns, +and feel pain at least if not sorrow. The horses belonging to the +deceased are slain, that he may ride upon them in the _alhue-mapu,_ or +country of the dead; but a few of these are reserved to carry his bones +to the place of sepulchre, which is done in grand ceremony within a year +after his death. They are then packed up in a hide, and laid on the +favourite horse of the deceased, which is adorned with mantles, +feathers, and other ornaments and trinkets. In this manner the cavalcade +moves to the family burial-place, often three hundred leagues from the +place of death, so wide and distant are their wanderings in the +boundless plains to the south of the Rio Plata. + +The Moluches and Pampas bury in large square pits about six feet deep, +the bones being first accurately put into their proper places and tied +together, clothed in the best robes of the deceased, and ornamented with +beads and feathers, all of which are cleaned or changed once a-year. +These skeletons are placed in a sitting posture in a row, with all the +weapons and other valuables belong to each laid beside him. The pit is +then covered over with beams or twigs, on which the earth is spread. An +old matron of each tribe is appointed to the care of these sepulchres, +who has to open them once a-year, to clean and new clothe the skeletons, +for which service she is held in great estimation. The bodies of the +slain horses are placed round the sepulchre, raised on their feet and +supported by stakes. These sepulchres are generally at a small distance +from the ordinary habitations of the tribe. Every year they pour upon +them some bowls of their first made _chica,_ or fermented liquor, and +drink to the happiness of the dead. The Tehuelhets and other southern +tribes carry their dead to a great distance from their ordinary +dwellings, into the desert near the sea-coast, where they arrange them +above ground surrounded by their horses. It is probable that only those +Indians who carry their dead to considerable distances reduce them to +skeletons, from the following circumstance. In the voyage of discovery +made in 1746 in the St Antonio from Buenos Ayres to the Straits of +Magellan, the Jesuits who accompanied the expedition found one of these +tents or houses of the dead. On one side six banners of cloth of various +colours, each about half a yard square, were set up on high poles fixed +in the ground; and on the other side five dead horses stuffed with straw +and supported, on stakes. Within the house, there were two _ponchos_ +extended, on which lay the bodies of two men and a woman, having the +flesh and hair still remaining. On the top of the house was another +_poncho,_ rolled up and tied with a coloured woolen band, in which a +pole was fixed, from which eight tassels of wool were suspended. + +Widows are obliged to observe a long and rigorous mourning. During a +whole year after the death of their husbands, they must keep themselves +secluded in the tents, never going out except on the most necessary +avocations, and having no communication with any one. In all this time, +they must abstain from eating the flesh of horses, cows, ostriches, or +guanacos, must never wash their faces which are constantly smeared with +soot, and any breach of chastity during this year of mourning is +punished with the death of both parties by the relations of the husband. + +The office of _ya,_ or chief, is hereditary, and all the sons of a ya +may be chiefs likewise if they can procure followers; but the dignity is +of so little consequence that nobody almost covets the office. To him +belongs the office of protecting his followers, of composing +differences, and of delivering up any offender who is to be capitally +punished; in all which, cases his will is the sole law. These petty +despots are prone to bribery, and will readily sacrifice their vassals +and even their kindred for a good bribe. They are esteemed in proportion +to their eloquence, and any chief who is not himself eloquent employs an +orator to harangue the tribe in his place. When two or more tribes form +an alliance against a common enemy, they elect an _apo,_ or +commander-in-chief, from the ablest or most celebrated of the _yas,_ or +hereditary chiefs. But this office, though nominally elective, has been +long hereditary among the southern tribes in the family of Cangapol. The +hereditary chiefs, named _yas, elmens_, or _ulmens,_ have no power to +take any thing from their vassals, neither can they oblige them to +perform any work without payment. On the contrary they must treat them +kindly and relieve their wants, or their vassals will put themselves +under the protection of a more generous chief. Many of them therefore +wave the privilege of their birth, and decline having any vassals, +because they are expensive appendages, which yield little profit. But +every-one must attach themselves to some chief, or they would +undoubtedly be put to death or reduced to slavery. + +Every man buys his wife from her relations, with or without her consent, +and then takes possession of her as his property. But if the woman +happens to have fixed her affections on another, she contrives to wear +out the patience of her purchaser, who either turns her away or sells +her to the man of her choice, but seldom uses her ill. Widows, and +orphan girls are at their own disposal. The yas or ulmens have generally +two or three wives; and even the common people may have as many as they +please, but wives are dear and they are generally contented with one. +The lives of the women are one continued series of labour. They fetch +wood and water; dress the victuals; make, mend, and clean the tents; +cure the skins; make them into mantles; spin and manufacture ponchos; +pack up every thing for a journey, even the tent poles; load, unload, +and arrange the baggage; straiten the girths of the horses; carry the +lance before their husbands; and at the end of the journey set up the +tents. Sickness or even the most advanced pregnancy give no relief from +these labours, and it would be reckoned ignominious in the husbands to +give them any assistance. The women of noble families may have slaves to +relieve them of these labours; but when in want of these, must undergo +the same fatigues as the rest. Yet the tribes of the southern extremity +of America are not brutal to their women like those in the north, and +the marriages only endure during pleasure, though those who have +children seldom separate. The husband invariably protects his wife, even +when in the wrong; and if detected in any criminal intercourse, all his +anger falls upon the paramour, who is cruelly beaten, unless he can +atone for the injury by payment. Their jugglers sometimes persuade them +to send their wives into the woods, to prostitute themselves to the +first person they meet, which is obviously a device for consoling +themselves from the celibacy to which they are condemned. The husbands +readily obey these directions; but there are women in whom native +modesty overpowers superstition, who refuse obedience to their husbands +on such occasions, and bid defiance to the wizard. + +The dresses of all these tribes are formed of skins; but all except the +_serranos_ or mountaineers, weave mantles or ponchos of woollen yarn, +beautifully died of various colours, which when wrapped round the body +reach from the neck to the calf of the legs. A similar mantle is tied +round the waist and reaches to the ankles. Besides these they have a +three-cornered piece of dressed hide, of which two of the corners are +tied round the waist, and the third, being passed between the legs is +fastened behind. The hair is tied up from behind with the points +upwards, by means of a woollen band bound many times round the head; but +they are fond of wearing hats when they can get them from the Spaniards. +They paint their faces red or black, and wear necklaces and bracelets of +sky-blue beads. When on horseback they wear a particular kind of cloaks, +having a slit in the middle through which they put their heads, and the +skirts hang down to the knees or even sometimes to the feet. Their +stockings or boots consist of the skin of a horses thigh and leg, flayed +off whole, dried and softened with grease, and rendered supple by +wringing. The women wear straw hats in shape like those used by the +Chinese. Their defensive armour consists of a helmet of double bulls +hide shaped like a broad-brimmed hat; a tunic or bodice of hardened skin +three or four fold, which is very heavy, but effectually resists the +arrow and spear, and is even said to be musquet proof. When on foot, +they have likewise a large unwieldy shield of bulls hide. The Tehuelhets +and Huilliches sometimes poison their arrows. Their spears are of cane, +four or five yards long, and are pointed with iron; and they use swords +when they can procure them from the Spaniards. They use the _laqui_ both +in war and hunting; but that used in war has a ball, or weight fastened +to one or both ends of the leathern thong instead of a noose. The ball +weighs about a pound. When used single, or with only one ball, it is +aimed at the head of the enemy, to knock out his brains. With the double +_laqui_, having a ball at each end, they can fasten a man to his horse, +and effectually entangle both man and beast. + +END OF THE HISTORY OF CHILI. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +DISCOVERY OF FLORIDA, AND ACCOUNT OF SEVERAL INEFFECTUAL ATTEMPTS TO +CONQUER AND SETTLE THAT COUNTRY BY THE SPANIARDS. + +INTRODUCTION. + + +In the preceding Chapters of this _Second Book_, we have given an +extended account of the _Discovery_ of AMERICA by COLUMBUS, and of the +establishment of the principal Spanish Colonies in the New World, from +authentic Original authors, a large portion of which never appeared +before in any Collection of Voyages and Travels, and some important +parts are now given for the first time in the English language. It is +not the object of this work to attempt giving a regular series of the +History of America, by inserting the establishments of all the European +colonies which have been settled in that quarter of the world, which +would occupy more room than can be conveniently allowed in our +Collection, and for which we do not possess original documents of +sufficient interest. In the present chapter it is only meant to give a +relation of the Discovery of Florida by Juan Ponce de Leon in 1512; of +the disastrous attempt of Panfilo de Narvaez to conquer that country in +1528; and of the romantic exploratory expedition of Ferdinand de Soto in +the years 1539-1543: All of which is taken from the General History of +America by Herrera, which may be considered as an original and almost +contemporary authority. + +Antonio de Herrera, who was historiographer to the king of Spain, +appears to have composed his work only a short time after the middle of +the sixteenth century, as he continues the series of events no farther +than 1554; though he incidentally alludes to one transaction which +happened in 1572. The authenticity of his work is unquestionable, as the +author assures us that it was composed by royal command, from all the +best and most authentic sources of information which the crown could +furnish, both in print and manuscript; and that he had carefully +consulted and followed the original papers preserved in the royal +archives, and the books, registers, relations, and other papers of the +supreme council of the Indies, together with all the best authors on the +subject then extant. As a literary curiosity of its kind, we subjoin his +list of what were then considered the best writers on the affairs of the +New World--Those in Italics have been already inserted into this work. + +Peter Martyr of Angleria.--Diego de la Tobilla.--Motolinea.--_Don +Hernando Colon_.--Olonsa de Ojeda.--Alonso de Mata.--Enciso.--Gonzalo +Hernandez de Oviedo.--Francisco Lopez de Gomara.--Andres de San +Martino.--Pedro de Zieza.--Alvar Nunnez Cabeza de Vaca.--_Bernal Diaz +del Castillo_.--The Bishop of Chiapa, Las Casas.--The Dean +Cervantes.--Francisco de Xeres.--Gonzalo Ximenes de Quesada.--Garibay. +--Pedro Pizarro.--The relations of Cortes.--Nunno de Guzman.--Diego +Fernandez de Palentia.--_Augustino de Zarate_.--The Pontifical History. +--Don Alonzo de Ercilla.--Geronimo Benzon.--Theodore de Brye.--Jusepe +de Acosta.--Father Augustino Davila.--Garcilasso Inga.--Gabriel Lasso +de la Vega.--Don Antonio de Saavedra. + +In the Catalogue of Spanish Books and Manuscripts consulted by our +illustrious Historian of America, WILLIAM ROBERTSON, an edition of +Herrera is quoted as printed at Madrid in 1601, in 4 vols. folio. We +have used on the present occasion the Translation of Herrera into +English by Captain John Stevens, in 6 vols. 8vo. printed at London in +1725. Though assuredly authentic and to be depended upon so far as it +goes, the plan of this _General History of the vast Continent and +Islands of America_, is exceedingly ill devised, and very troublesome +for being consulted; as the author endeavours continually to preserve +the chronological series of events throughout the numerous discoveries, +colonizations and conquests of the Spaniards, in all the islands and +continental provinces of Spanish America, by which he is forced into +perpetual and abrupt transitions from subject to subject; instead of +using a double arrangement, geographical as well as chronological, in +which the narrative belonging to each territorial division might have +been distinctly and separately arranged in chronological order. Thus in +regard to _Florida_, which constitutes the subject of our present +chapter, we have had to travel through every one of the _six_ volumes of +Herrera, on purpose to reduce all the scattered notices respecting the +early discovery of that country under one unbroken narrative. + +Owing to the utter impossibility of ascertaining the various parts which +were visited by the Spaniards, in these early peregrinations in Florida +as related in this chapter, we have not given any map of the country on +this occasion, which will be supplied in a future division of this work, +when we come to particular and more recent travels in that province of +North America. Indeed the country originally named Florida by the +Spaniards was vastly more extensive than the modern application of that +name, and appears to have included all Louisiana, with Georgia the +Carolinas and Virginia, and the entire countries on the Mississippi and +Ohio rivers. In fact it was meant as a generic term, including all of +the eastern parts of north America, not previously comprised under New +Spain and its dependencies; just as Virginia was applied in the reign of +Queen Elizabeth to all that part of North America claimed by the +English, which was afterwards partitioned into many provinces, from Nova +Scotia to Georgia both inclusive. Besides, a map to serve the purposes +of the present chapter is of almost impossible construction, as all the +appellations of towns and territories, especially in the extensive +peregrinations of Ferdinand de Soto, are merely the fugacious names of +the caciques or sachems who happened at the time to rule over the +various tribes of savages which were visited by Soto in his singularly +erratic expedition. One point only in the whole course of his wanderings +can be ascertained with certainty, the Bay of _Espirita Santo_ on the +western coast of Florida, in about lat. 28 deg. N. and long. 83 deg. W. +_Mavila_. may possibly be what has since been called _Mobile_, and the +_Rio Grande_ or great river was most probably the Mississippi. All the +other points are involved in impenetrable obscurity, or would require an +extended discussion inadmissible on the present occasion. In the course +of the chapter some conjectures will be attempted respecting the +geography of the wanderings of Soto, and his adventurous followers, +whose sole object appears to have been to search for mines of the +precious metals, in which they were altogether unsuccessful. + +One circumstance, to be gathered from the peregrinations of Soto seems +worthy of remark; that the scattered tribes then occupying the southern +portion of North America which he visited, were more agricultural than +when the country came afterwards to be colonized by the English, and not +addicted to the horrible practices of the North American savages of +torturing their prisoners taken in war. Perhaps they were afterwards +extirpated by a more savage race from the northwest, who have no +hereditary chiefs, as were found by Soto. From these differences, and +their worship of the sun and moon, the tribes met with by Soto were +probably branches of the Natches, a nation which will be described in +the sequel of this work, and which does not now exist. + + +SECTION I. + +_Discovery of Florida, by Juan Ponce de Leon_. + + +After the settlement of Hispaniola in peace by Obando, Juan Ponce de +Leon was appointed lieutenant of the town and territory of Salveleon in +that island. Learning from the Indians of that district that there was +much gold in the island of Borriquen, now called San Juan de Puerto +Rico, or Porto Rico, he procured authority from Obando to go over to +that island, which he reduced[122]. He was afterwards appointed by the +king of Spain to the government of that island, independent of the +admiral Don James Columbus. In a war between De Leon and the natives, +wonderful havoc was made among these poor people by a dog belonging to +the governor, called Bezerillo, insomuch that the Indians were more +afraid of ten Spaniards with this dog than of a hundred without him, on +which account the dog was allowed a share and a half of all the plunder, +as if he had been a cross-bow-man, both in gold, slaves, and other +things, all of which was received by his master[123]. + +[Footnote 122: Herrera, I. 327.] + +[Footnote 123: Herrera, I. 339.] + +Having acquired much wealth, and being deprived of the government of +Porto Rico, Juan Ponce de Leon determined upon making discoveries to the +northwards, that he might gain honour and advance his estate[124]. For +this purpose, he fitted out three ships well manned and stored with +plenty of provisions, with which he sailed from the port of St German +on Thursday the 3d of March 1512, steering for _Aguada_. Next night he +stood to the N.W. and by N. and on the 8th of the same month came to +anchor at the shoals of _Babecua_, near the _Isola del Viejo_, in lat. +22 deg.-1/2 N. Next day he anchored at one of the Bahama or Lucayos islands +called _Caycos_, and then at another called _Yaguna_, in lat. 24 deg. N. On +the 11th he came to the island of _Amaguayo_, and then passed _Manegua_, +in lat 24 deg.-1/2 N. He came to _Guanahani_, in lat. 25-1/2 N. on the 14th, +where he refitted the ships before crossing the bay to windward of the +Lucayos. This island of Guanahani was the first land discovered by the +admiral Don Christopher Columbus in the New World, and by him called +_San Salvador_. From thence De Leon steered to the north-west, and on +Sunday the 27th of March, being Easter-day, called _Pasqua de Flores_ by +the Spaniards, he saw and passed by an island. Continuing the same +course till Wednesday 30th of March, when the wind became foul, he +altered his course to W.N.W. and on the 2d of April came to nine fathoms +water a league from the land, in lat. 30 deg. 8' N. Running along the land +in search of a harbour, he anchored at night in eight fathoms near the +shore. Believing the land to be an island, he gave it the name of +_Florida_, because it appeared very delightful with many pleasant +groves, and all level, as also because first seen during Easter, which +the Spaniards call _Pasqua de Flores_, or _Florida_. At this place Ponce +went on shore to take formal possession. + +[Footnote 124: Id. II. 33. We now enter upon the discovery of Florida, +which will be found regularly referred to the fragments of its History, +as scattered through the work of Herrera, at each respective +transition.--E.] + +On Friday the 8th of April he continued his course along the coast as +before; and next day changed to the S. and by E. till the 20th, when he +perceived some _bohios_, or Indian huts on the coast, off which he came +to anchor. Next day the ships continued their course along shore, but +met with so strong a current as drove them back though with a fair wind. +The two ships nearest the shore dropt their anchors, but the force of +the current was so great as to strain their cables. The third was a +brigantine, and farther out at sea; which either found no bottom for +anchoring, or did not perceive the current, so that it was carried to +sea and lost sight of by the rest, though the weather was fair. Being +invited on shore by the natives, Ponce landed, and the natives +immediately endeavoured to seize the boat, oars, and arms of the +Spaniards, who were forced to fight in their own defence, during which +two of them were wounded with darts and arrows pointed with sharp bones. +Night parted the combatants, and Ponce collected his people with some +difficulty, having done very little damage to the Indians, and returned +to the ships. He sailed next day along the coast to a river, which he +named _Rio de la Cruz_, where he proposed to wood and water and to wait +the return of the brigantine. He was opposed at this place by sixty +Indians, one of whom was made prisoner, that he might learn Spanish, and +be able to give information respecting the country. Leaving at this +place a stone with an inscription, he doubled the Cape of Florida on +Sunday the 8th of May, giving it the name of _Cabo de las Corrientes_, +or Cape Currents, because they are there stronger than the wind; after +which he came to anchor near an Indian town called _Aboaia_. All this +coast, from Cape _Arracifes_ to Cape _Corrientes_ lies north and south +one point east, being clear and free from rocks and shoals, with six +fathoms water near the shore. + +After passing Cape Corrientes, he sailed on till he fell in with two +islands to the southwards, in lat. 27 deg. N. At one of these, which he +named _Santa Martha_, about a league in circumference, he watered. On +Friday the 13th of May, he sailed along a shoal with a chain of islands, +to one called _Pola_, in 26 deg. 30' N. Between these islands and the +continent is a spacious sea like a bay. On the 15th of May he proceeded +ten leagues along the chain of small islands, to two white ones which he +called _Los Martires_ in 26 deg. 15' N. He continued along the coast, +sometimes N. sometimes N.E. till the 23d of May, and on the 24th ran +along the coast to the southwards as far as some small islands that lay +out at sea, still believing that he was coasting along the shore of a +large island. As the anchorage between these small islands and the coast +appeared convenient for the purpose, he continued there till the 3d of +June taking in wood and water, and at the same time careened one of the +ships named the St Christopher. At this place the Indians for the first +time came off in canoes to view the Spaniards, who refused to venture on +shore though repeatedly invited. Seeing the Spaniards about to heave one +of the anchors, on purpose to shift its situation, the Indians laid hold +of the cable as if to draw the ship away; on which the long-boat was +sent after them, and the crew going on shore took four women and broke +two old canoes. No hostilities of any moment occurred, and the Indians +even bartered some skins and low gold with the Spaniards for trinkets. + +On Friday the 4th of June, while waiting for a wind to go in quest of a +cacique named _Carlos_, who was reported by the Indians to have gold, an +Indian came on board who was able to converse with the Spaniards, and +who was consequently supposed to be a native of Hispaniola or of some of +the other islands possessed by the Christians. This man desired them to +remain at their present anchorage, as the cacique intended to send gold +to barter. Accordingly, they soon after saw twenty canoes approaching, +some of which were lashed two and two together. Some of these canoes +went to the anchors, which they endeavoured to weigh, but being unable +attempted to cut the cables, while others of them drew near the ships +and began to fight. The long-boat well manned and armed was sent against +them, and put them to flight, taking four prisoners and killing several +of the Indians. Ponce sent two of the prisoners to tell the cacique that +he was willing to make peace with him, although he had slain one of the +Spaniards. Next day the boats were sent to sound the harbour, and some +of the men landed, when they were assured by the Indians that the +cacique would come next day to trade; but this was a mere feint to gain +time, as at eleven o'clock eighty canoes well equipped and full of men +attacked the ship nearest the shore, and fought till night without doing +any harm, as all their arrows fell short, and they durst not come near +for fear of the cross-bows and great guns. At length they retired, and +the Spaniards having staid nine days resolved to return to St Domingo +and Porto Rico, endeavouring to discover some islands by the way of +which they had received accounts from the Indians. Ponce accordingly set +sail on his return on the 14th of June, and sailed among islands till +the 21st, when he arrived at the small islands called _Las Tortugas_, or +the tortoises, because the crews took 170 of these creatures in a short +time of one night in one of these islands, and might have had more if +they pleased. They also took fourteen dog-fishes[125], and killed at +least 5000 seagulls and other birds. + +[Footnote 125: Probably Sharks.--E.] + +On the 24th, leaving Tortugas, they steered S.W. and by W. On the 26th +they saw land, which they sailed along till the 29th, when they came to +anchor to trim their yards and sails, but could not tell what country it +was. Most of the Spaniards believed they were on the coast of Cuba, +because they found canoes, dogs, knives, and others tools of iron. On +the 25th of July they were among a cluster of low islands, still +ignorant of where they were, till Ponce sent to view an island which +appeared to be Bahama, as indeed it was said to be by an old woman whom +they found in another island, and in which they were confirmed by a +pilot named Diego Miruelo, who happened to be there in a boat from +Hispaniola. Having ranged backwards and forwards till the 23d of +September, and refitted the ships, Juan Ponce resolved to send one of +them to take a view of the island of Bimini, which the Indians reported +to contain much wealth, and to have a spring which made old people young +again. Juan Perez de Ortubia was appointed captain of that ship, and +Antonio de Alaminos pilot. They took two Indians along with them to +point out the shoals, which were so numerous that it was both difficult +and dangerous to get through among them. Twenty days afterwards, Juan +Ponce returned to Porto Rico, and was followed some time after by +Ortubia, who had found the island of Bimini, which was large, pleasant, +and abounding in good water and delightful groves; but the wonderful +spring was not be discovered. It is certain that Juan Ponce de Leon, +besides the main design of discovering new islands which all the +Spaniards then aspired to, was desirous of finding out the spring of +Bimini and a certain river in Florida, in both of which it was asserted +by the natives of Cuba and Hispaniola that old people became young again +by bathing in their waters. It is likewise well known that many of the +natives of Cuba, firmly believing the existence of such a river, had +gone over into Florida in search of it, and had built a town there +before the coming of the Spaniards to the West Indies, and that their +descendents continue there to this day. This report prevailed among all +the princes or caciques in these parts, who were all so anxious to find +out this wonderful river, that there was not a river, brook, or lake in +all Florida in which some of them had not bathed, and many still persist +in the belief that it is the river now called Jordan at Cape _Santa +Elena_, without reflecting that the Spaniards first gave it that name in +1520, when the country of Chicora was discovered. + +Although this voyage turned out to little or no account to Juan Ponce, +it yet encouraged him to go to court to sue for some reward for having +discovered this new country, which he still continued to believe an +island or cluster of islands, and which opinion was retained by the +Spaniards for some years. Yet this voyage was actually beneficial on +another account, by the discovery of a passage to Spain from the West +Indies through the channel of Bahama, which was first performed by the +pilot Alaminos. For the better understanding the voyage of Ponce, it +must be observed that the Lucayo or Bahama Islands consist of three +groups, the _first_, or Bahama cluster gives name to the passage, and in +which the currents are most impetuous: The _second_ is called _De los +Organos_; and the _third_ the _Martyrs_, which are next to the _Cayos de +las Tortugas_, or Turtle Keys to the westwards; which last are not to be +seen from any distance, being all low sands, and in consequence many +ships have perished on them, and all along the Bahama channel, and on +the islands of Tortugas. Havannah in the island of Cuba and Florida, are +south and north of each other; and between them are these +before-mentioned islands of Organos, Bahama, Martyrs, and Tortugas, +having a channel with a violent current, twenty leagues across in the +narrowest part between Havannah and the Martyrs, and fourteen leagues +from the Martyrs to Florida. The widest part of this channel is forty +leagues, with many shoals and deep channels between these, but has no +safe passage for ships, and is only practicable for canoes. But this +passage from the Havannah for Spain, is along the channel of Bahama, +between the Havannah, the Martyrs, the Lucayos, and Cape Canaveral. + + * * * * * + +No farther attempt appears to have been made towards the conquest and +settlement of Florida by the Spaniards, till the year 1528, when Panfilo +de Narvaez made a most disastrous expedition to that country, which will +form the subject of the ensuing section of this chapter; except that +about the year 1525, the licentiate Luke Vasquez de Ayllon sailed with +three ships for that country from Santiago in the island of +Hispaniola[126]. Vasquez arrived with his small armament at Cape Santa +Elena in Florida, where he found an Indian town called _Oritza_; since +named _Chicora_ by the Spaniards, and another town in the neighbourhood +called _Guale_, to which the Spaniards have given the name of +_Gualdape_. At this place is the river _Jordan_, so named from the pilot +by whom it was discovered, and where Vasquez lost one of his ships. He +proceeded however in his enterprise with the other two ships, and landed +two hundred men upon the coast of Florida; but being himself +unacquainted with military discipline, and little regarded by his men, +his troops were defeated by the natives and mostly slain. The few who +escaped returned to Hispaniola; some alleging that Vasquez was of the +number, while others assert that he was slain in Florida. In this +unfortunate expedition, from which great consequences had been expected, +no other towns but the two above mentioned were seen in Florida; and by +this disaster all attempts for the conquest and settlement of that +country were laid aside for some time, more especially as all the +natives who had been there met with appeared poor and miserable, and +having very small quantities of gold and silver, and even what little +they had appeared to have been brought to them from remote parts of the +country. + +[Footnote 126: Herrera, III. 367.] + + +SECTION II. + +_Narrative of a Disastrous attempt by Panfilo de Narvaez to conquer +Florida; together with some account of that Country_[127] + + +[Footnote 127: Id. IV. 27.] + +The abortive attempt of Panfilo de Narvaez to supersede Cortes in the +command of the expedition against Mexico has been already related. He +afterwards endeavoured to settle a colony at the _Rio de las Palmas_ in +the bay of Mexico, whence he was expelled by the arrogance of Nunno de +Guzman, who had been appointed governor of the adjoining province of +Panuco, and endeavoured to appropriate the territories belonging to +others in his neighbourhood to his own advantage and emolument in the +most unjustifiable manner. In March 1528, Narvaez sailed from Cuba with +four ships and a brigantine for the conquest of Florida, having a force +of about four hundred men with eighty horses. During the voyage, the +squadron was carried among the shoals of Canarreo by the unskilfulness +of the pilot Meruelo, where the ships got aground and remained for +fifteen days constantly touching with their keels and unable to get into +deep water. At the end of this period a storm at south brought so large +an accession of water from the bay upon these flats that the ships got +off. At _Guaniguanigo_ they encountered another storm in which they were +near perishing, and met with a third at Cape Corrientes. Three days +after getting to windward of Cape St Antonio, they were driven by +contrary winds to within twelve leagues of the Havannah; and when about +to put in there for shelter were carried back by a south wind to the +coast of Florida, where they arrived on the 12th of April, and came to +anchor in the mouth of a bay where they could perceive some Indian huts +on the shore[128]. Alonzo Enriquez, the comptroller of the armament, +hailed the natives from a small island in the bay, and procured from +them some fish and venison by means of barter. + +[Footnote 128: Having no indications whatever of the place of landing, +it is quite impossible to attempt tracing the steps of Narvaez in his +short and disastrous expedition to Florida.--E.] + +Next day, Narvaez went on shore with as many men as the boats could +carry, and found the dwellings of the natives abandoned, one of them +being large enough to contain three hundred men. In the houses were +found a number of fishing nets, and along with these a sort of tabor or +drum, ornamented with gold bells. On the day following, Narvaez landed +all the rest of his men, and forty-two horses, the others having died +during the voyage. Narvaez took formal possession of the country in the +name of the king of Spain. Some of the Indians drew near that day, but +having no interpreter they could not be conversed with, though it +appeared by their threatening signs that they warned the Spaniards to +leave their country. On the same day Narvaez marched northwards into the +country, with forty men and six horses, and came to a large bay which +seemed to penetrate far into the interior. Having halted at that place +for the night, he returned next day to the ships. The pilot Meruelo was +sent in the brigantine to find out a harbour for the squadron, and to +endeavour to procure provisions. Having taken four prisoners, some maize +was shewn them, to endeavour to discover if the natives were acquainted +with that grain, as none had been seen hitherto in the country. They +accordingly offered by signs to lead the Spaniards to where some of it +could be procured, and guided them to the town or village where they +dwelt, where some maize was growing in a field in the environs. In the +same place, they found some Spanish chests, in each of which was a dead +body wrapped up in painted deers skins; and as the commissary Juan +Xuarez considered this to be some idolatrous institution, he ordered the +chests and bodies to be burned. They likewise found some pieces of linen +and woollen cloth, with several plumes of feathers which seemed to have +come from Mexico, and a small quantity of gold. Being interrogated by +signs whence these things were procured, the Indians made them +understand by similar means that there was great abundance of gold in a +province at a very great distance called _Apalache_[129]. + +[Footnote 129: The name of Apalache is now given to a large bay on the +western coast of East Florida, and towards its northern extremity, the +bottom or northern extremity of which is in lat. 30 deg. N. and long. 67 deg. +13' W. where a small river named St Marks enters the sea. The river +Apalachicola, likewise named R. des Cahuilas, or Catahoche, runs into +the western part of the same bay by two mouths, the easternmost of which +is about fifteen miles S.W. of St. Marts River, and western mouth about +twenty miles farther to the W.S.W. The same name is applied to the south +western extremity of the great range of mountains in the middle states +of North America; dividing the Atlantic country from the western waters +which run into the Ohio, called Blue Mountains, Alleghany Mountains, and +Apalachean Mountains. These last divide North Carolina from the sources +of the Tenassee and Cumberland rivers. A part likewise of Georgia, east +from the Apalachicola river, along the northern boundary of East +Florida, is still named the Apalachi country.--E.] + +Twelve leagues from thence they came to an Indian town consisting of +fifteen houses, near which there was great plenty of maize just ripe. +Narvaez and others were of opinion that they should march immediately +into the interior, sending the ships in search of a safe harbour on the +coast; but the treasurer of the expedition, Alvar Nunnez Gabeza de Vaca, +advised that they should all embark till such time as a safe harbour +could be discovered. The other opinion prevailed, and the whole land +forces set out upon their march on the 1st of May, being about three +hundred foot and forty horse, every man carrying two pounds of biscuit, +and half a pound of bacon. With only that scanty provision, they +proceeded for fifteen days, finding nothing to eat in the country, +except some _palmetoes_ like those of Andalusia, and without seeing any +towns, house, or Indians in the whole way. At this time they came to a +river which they crossed, some by swimming and others on rafts or +floats, which employed them a whole day in consequence of the strength +of the current. They were opposed by about two hundred Indians on the +opposite bank, who only threatened them without coming to blows. Of +these they took six prisoners who conducted the Spaniards to their +dwellings, where they found a considerable quantity of Indian corn, +which proved a great relief to their urgent necessities. From this place +two officers were sent with a detachment in search of the sea-coast, in +hopes of establishing a communication with the ships; but all they found +was a creek only fit for receiving canoes. + +After a short stay, they marched onwards in quest of the province of +_Apalache_, which the Indians had reported to be rich in gold, guided in +the way by some of their prisoners. After marching fifteen days without +meeting with any inhabitants, they fell in with an Indian chief, who was +dressed in a painted deers skin, carried on the back of one of his +subjects, and attended by a great number of Indians, some of whom went +before him playing upon a kind of pipes made of reeds. On being informed +by signs that the Spaniards were in search of the province of Apalache, +he seemed to intimate that he was an enemy to the people of that +country. The Spaniards gave this cacique beads, hawk-bells, and other +such trinkets, and continued their march. They came that night to a +river which was so rapid that they durst not venture to cross it on +floats, and were therefore obliged to construct a canoe for that +purpose. Juan Velasquez ventured to attempt crossing it by swimming his +horse, but both were drowned, and the Indian attendants on the cacique +drew the drowned horse from the river and eat him for their supper. On +their arrival at the town belonging to the cacique, they were supplied +with Indian corn, and next day were guided on their way through thick +woods, in which the road was obstructed by many fallen trees, and the +fragments of others which had been shivered by lightning, as the country +was subject to severe thunderstorms. On the 25th of June, Narvaez and +his people came in sight of Apalache, without having been perceived by +any of the inhabitants; and, though weary and hungry they were all in +high spirits, thinking themselves at the end of their labours, and that +they should find some great treasure in recompence of their fatigues. +Some horsemen immediately entered the place, in which they found only +women and children; but the men soon returned and attacked them with +their bows and arrows, and were soon repulsed, yet killed the +comptrollers horse. This town of Apalache contained forty low huts or +cabins, enclosed among thick woods and morasses in which they found +abundance of maize, deer-skins, mantles, head-dresses for women, and +stones for grinding corn, but no gold. All the country, from the place +where the Spaniards landed to Apalache was one continued sandy flat, yet +thickly overgrown with woods of walnut, laurel, liquid-amber, cedar, +savine, oak, pine, and palmetoes; interpersed with many swamps or +morasses which were very troublesome to pass, and many fallen trees +which lay athwart the way. In their march they saw three different kinds +of deer, hares, rabbits, bears, and _lions_[130], with other wild +beasts; and among these an animal called the opossum, which carries its +young in a pouch under the belly till they are able to shift for +themselves. The country is cold[131], and has good pasture for cattle. +In the woods and marshes through which they passed they saw many +different kinds of birds, as geese, ducks, herons, partridges, falcons, +hawks, and many others. Two hours after the arrival of the Spaniards, +the inhabitants of Apalache came to demand their wives and children, all +of whom were set free; but as the cacique was detained they were much +displeased, and came next day to assault the place, endeavouring to set +fire to their own houses, but on the appearance of the Spaniards they +fled to the morasses; and next day a similar attempt was made but with +the same consequences. + +[Footnote 130: It is hardly necessary to say that there are no lions in +America. The Spaniards must accordingly have given this name to the +cougar, now called the panther by the North Americans, a very inferior +species of the feline race.--E.] + +[Footnote 131: This must be considered as in comparison with the climate +of Cuba and Hispaniola, to which the Spaniards had been long accustomed, +as the climate of Florida is certainly hot in reference to any part of +Europe.--E.] + +The Spaniards remained twenty-five days at this place, during which time +they made three incursions into the country to some distance, finding it +every where ill-inhabited and difficultly penetrable, owing to similar +obstacles with those they had already encountered. From, the cacique +whom they had in custody, they were informed that Apalache was one of +the best towns in these parts, and that on going farther inland the land +was worse and more thinly peopled. He added, that at nine days journey +southwards there was a town called _Aute_ near the sea, inhabited by a +tribe in amity with him, who had plenty of provisions. Taking this +information into consideration, and especially as the Indians of +Apalache did them considerable injury by frequent assaults, and always +retreated to their fortresses in the marshes, the Spaniards determined +upon returning towards the sea. On the second day of their retrograde +march, they were attacked by the Indians while passing across a morass, +and several both men and horses were wounded, without being able to take +vengeance on their enemies, as they always fled into the water. These +Indians were of large stature and well made, very nimble, and went +entirely naked, being armed with bows as thick as a mans arm and twelve +spans long. They marched in this manner, under continual assaults, for +eight days, at the end of which period they came to the town of Aute, +where they got Indian corn, pompions, kidney-beans, and other +provisions. From this place the treasurer, Cabeza de Vaca, was sent with +a party to endeavour to find the sea; but came back in three days, +reporting that the sea was far off, and he had only been able to reach +some creeks which penetrated deep into the land. They had already +travelled two hundred and eighty leagues from the place at which they +first landed, in all which way they had seen neither mountain nor even +any thing which could be called a hill[132]. The men were become much +dejected and very sickly, and no longer able to travel so as to +endeavour to make their way back to where they left the ships; in which +miserable condition it was resolved to build some barks for the purpose +of making their way along shore in search of the ships. They accordingly +constructed five barks, each of them twenty cubits long, which they +caulked with the husks of palmetoes, making ropes of the manes and tails +of their horses, and sails of their shirts; but were hardly able to find +enough of stones to serve for ballast and anchors. + +[Footnote 132: Their wandering had probably been in the country of the +Creeks, in the western parts of Georgia, and the two rivers they crossed +may have been the Catahehe and Mobile; but we have no indications from +which to form any conjecture as to the part of the coast on which they +built their ill-fated barks.--E.] + +They embarked on the 22d of September, after having eaten all their +horses, and having lost above forty of their men from sickness, besides +several who were slain by the Indians. Their barks were hardly able to +carry them, and they had no sailors among them to direct their perilous +navigation. After five days painful progress among intricate +creeks[133], they came at last to an island, where they found five +canoes abandoned by the Indians, and on going into a house they found +some dried skates which were a very acceptable though scanty relief to +their necessities. Proceeding onwards with the help of these canoes, +they suffered extremely for want of water, during which five of them +died in consequence of drinking sea-water too freely. Owing to this +necessity they were again obliged to land on the continent, where they +found water and fish ready dressed in some Indian houses. At night these +people attacked them, and the cacique of Apalache whom they had hitherto +kept along with them made his escape, leaving a mantle of sables behind +him so strongly scented with ambergris that it could be smelt from a +considerable distance. Obliged to reimbark, and the weather proving +stormy, the barks were all dispersed, and none of them ever more heard +of except that in which Cabeza de Vaca was, which was thrown ashore. +Panfilo de Narvaez and most of his men were assuredly lost in the storm, +or destroyed by the Indians on shore; though there was a foolish report +long current that he had penetrated to the South Sea. + +[Footnote 133: These intricacies may possibly have been between Mobile +Bay, and the western bay of Spiritu Santo at the mouths of the +Mississippi.--E.] + + * * * * * + + +SECTION III. + +_Adventures and wonderful escape of Cabeza de Vaca, after the loss of +Narvaez._ + + +When cast on shore, as mentioned at the close of the former section, +Cabeza de Vaca and the people along with him were relieved by the +Indians; and on endeavouring again to put to sea, the bark was overset, +three of the Spaniards were drowned, and Cabeza and a few more got again +on shore, naked and without arms. On seeing the miserable plight of +these unhappy Spaniards, the Indians came to them with provisions, sat +down by them and lamented their misfortunes, carried them to their +houses, and made fires by the way to warm them, otherwise they must have +perished with the cold, as they were naked and it was now the month of +November. They were put into a house with a good fire, the natives +dancing all night close by them, which the Spaniards were sadly afraid +was a prelude to their being sacrificed next day. But as they were +plentifully supplied with provisions they began to recover their spirits +and confidence next day. Cabeza de Vaca and his companions were soon +afterwards joined by the Spaniards who had escaped from the wreck of +another bark. At first they were in all eighty men; but in a short time +their number was reduced to fifteen, as they were forced to winter on +the island, exposed to excessive cold and great scarcity of provisions. +Owing to their misfortunes, they called this _Isola de Mal-hado_, or the +isle of Bad-Luck[134]. + +[Footnote 134: As we have no information in the text which could lead to +suppose that Cabeza ever crossed the great river Missisippi, either +before landing on the island of Mal-hado, or in his subsequent journey +to New Spain, the isle of Bad-Luck may have been to the west of the +Missisippi.--E.] + +The inhabitants of this island were of large stature, their only weapons +being bows and arrows. The men had one of their nipples bored, wearing a +piece of reed in the hole, and a similar ornament in their under lip. +They dwelt in this island from October to February, feeding much on +certain roots. In the months of November and December they caught fish +in a kind of wears inclosed with reeds; but these were not to be got at +any other time. At the latter end of February, when all the roots were +eaten, they were forced to remove from the island in search of food +elsewhere. These natives were extraordinarily fond of their children, +the parents and kindred lamenting for such as died during a whole year, +after which they completed the funeral ceremonies, and washed off the +black paint they had worn in token of mourning. They did not lament for +the death of the old, alleging that they had lived their time, and that +they took away the food which ought to go to the children. All the dead +were buried, except the _physicians_[135], whose bodies were burnt, and +their ashes kept for a year, after which these ashes were mixed with +water and drank by the relations of the deceased. Every man was +contented with one wife; but these physicians had usually two or three +each, who lived together very amicably. When a man engages to marry the +daughter of another, he gives her all he possesses, and sends to the +father of his bride every thing he kills, and in return his diet is sent +him from the house of his father-in-law, as he is not permitted to enter +the house during the first year of the marriage. Should his +father-in-law or any of the brothers of his wife meet him during that +time, they always look down and pass on without speaking; yet in that +period the woman converses freely with the father or other relations of +her husband. These customs are observed both in the island of _Mal-hado_ +and through all the country of Florida for fifty leagues inland. When a +son or brother dies, the people of the house will rather starve than go +in quest of any thing to eat during three months, in all which time the +relations of the family send in all that is necessary for their +sustenance. Owing to this, several families in Mal-hado were in great +straits while the Spaniards resided among them, as many had died and the +survivors strictly observed the custom. The houses in the island were of +mats, and strewed with oyster shells, on which they lay at night stark +naked round the fire. The inhabitants of the province of +_Tegesta_[136], reaching from the Martyrs to Cape Cannaveral, feed +better than those Indians among whom Cabeza resided, being +extraordinarily expert fishers. Two of them will venture out in a small +canoe to attack, whales when any are seen upon the coast. One of them +steers or paddles the canoe; while the other, being provided with two or +three stakes and a mallet, leaps into the sea as soon as he sees a whale +rise to the surface, gets upon its head, and immediately drives one of +the stakes into one of the spiracles or blowing holes by which the whale +breathes. The whale immediately dives to the bottom; and when forced to +come up again to breathe, he repeats the operation and plugs up the +other spiracle, so that it cannot get breath and is soon suffocated. +When the whale dies, they fasten a line of withes or twisted branches to +its neck, and tow it to the shore, where it serves a long while for them +to feed upon. + +[Footnote 135: So called by the translator of Herrera, but perhaps these +were a kind of priests or conjurers.--E.] + +[Footnote 136: In some modern maps _Tegesta_ is considered as the +southern extremity of the province of East Florida.--E.] + +Cabeza de Vaca and the remnant of his unfortunate companions remained in +the isle of Mal-hado till the end of April 1529, by which time all the +food in the island being devoured, the whole population was forced by +hunger to go over to the continent of Florida, where they fed upon wild +berries. The Spaniards were obliged to act as physicians to the natives, +as otherwise they were refused food. In the exercise of this profession, +they made the sign of the cross on the parts affected, reciting the +_Pater noster_, and prayed to God to heal their patients, who all +affirmed that they derived great benefit from these ceremonies, and +supplied the Spaniards with food in return. There were two languages +used among these natives within a very little distance, those who spoke +the one being called _Capoques_, and the others _Han_. When the natives +happened to meet together after a long separation, they would often sit +down and weep for half an hour before they began to converse. + +All the remaining Spaniards, to the number of fourteen, went away along +the coast, leaving Cabeza de Vaca behind, who happened to be sick and +unable to travel. On his recovery, he had to search among the water for +roots[137] on which to support himself. Wearied of this uncomfortable +manner of life, and being entirely naked, he went away among a tribe +called the _Charrucos_, who dwelt among mountains, where he fared much +better, as he turned merchant, going about from place to place bartering +such things as they wanted, and in this way he travelled over forty or +fifty leagues of the coast. He dealt in sea-shells like those of snails +which were used as beads, and in a different kind of shells which were +used instead of knives; and in return for these he procured deer-skins, +vermillion, and ochre, with which the natives paint themselves, flints +for pointing arrows, a kind of bitumen with which these arrow heads are +fastened, and reeds with which the arrow shafts are made, as also tufts +of deers hair dyed red, which are used as ornaments. By means of this +trade Cabeza de Vaca had liberty to go wherever he pleased, and was well +received wherever he went, receiving provisions in return for his +merchandize. + +[Footnote 137: Probably the translator has mistaken the original of this +passage, and Cabeza may have searched for shell fish adhering to the +roots of trees under water.--E.] + +Cabeza de Vaca continued in this mode of life to the year 1535, always +well entertained, and always travelling towards the south west to gain +ground in hopes of regaining his liberty by getting out of the country +into Mexico[138]. Though naked and alone, and enduring much hunger and +cold, he enjoyed his liberty, and remained six years in that part of the +country, always in hopes of being able to bring away his two remaining +countrymen, Oviedo and Alanis, who had tarried in the island of +Mal-hado. At length Alanis died, and he set off along with Oviedo. +Coming to a creek near a mile in breadth, supposed by them to be that +called _Del Espiritu Santo_[139], they were informed by some Indians +that they would find three men like themselves farther on, whose names +they told. They also said that the Indians had slain Orantes, +Valdivieso, Huelva, Esquibel, and Mendez[140]; but that the three who +still lived were very ill used, especially by the boys, who kicked, +beat, and abused them for their amusement. At this time the Indians +treated Cabeza and Oviedo very ill, so that Oviedo went back along with +some of the natives, but Cabeza stayed and they two never met more. + +[Footnote 138: Herrera, V. 92.] + +[Footnote 139: It is quite impossible to form any reasonable conjecture +as to the situation of this creek, which could not be the bay of +Espiritu Santo in East Florida; nor that of the same name nearly +opposite in West Florida at the mouth of the Missisippi.--E.] + +[Footnote 140: There is considerable difficulty to understand the +translation here, as Mr Stevens does not seem to have understood his +original. Orantes appears in the sequel to have been still alive; but we +must take the translation as it is, not having the original to +consult.--E.] + +Two days after the departure of Oviedo, the Indians with whom Orantes +resided came to the banks of this creek to eat nuts, on which they fed +two months of the year. Orantes went to visit Cabeza who had been hidden +by some Indians who favoured him, and it was a great satisfaction to +these friends to meet, though in great trouble as being naked and +miserable in a land of savages. They agreed to endeavour to proceed to +the south-west, but to remain with the Indians till the nuts were +consumed, and then to remove along with them to another place where they +fed upon _tunas;_ because if they should attempt to escape the Indians +would kill them. + +All the rest belonging to the expedition had perished, some having been +stoned to death by the natives, and others drowned, among whom was +Panfilo de Narvaez, as Figueroa, who was present, related to Cabeza. +Among these Indians who fed upon _tunas_ they endured much hunger, as +there was not enough for them all. In that country there were grey and +black wild cattle of low stature, like those of Barbary, having very +long hair, but their flesh was coarser than the beef of Spain. Having +concerted to make their escape, the Indians among whom they lived had a +quarrel on account of a woman, and parted company, so that the Spaniards +were obliged to separate likewise, but agreed to meet again at the same +place next year, which they did accordingly, but were again separated on +the very day when they meant to have fled. Yet they appointed to meet +again on the 1st of September, when the moon was full. Two of them came +on the 13th and Orantes on the 14th, when they actually fled. Coming to +a tribe of Indians called _Avares_, they were well received and procured +plenty of provisions, as these people had learnt that the Christians +performed cures. That same night three Indians came to wait upon them +who were troubled with pains in their heads, desiring Castillo to cure +them, and as soon as he had blessed them with the sign of the cross they +became well; in reward for which they brought _tunas_ and venison, and +blazed abroad the wonderful cures which had been performed upon them by +the strangers. In consequence of this so many persons came to be cured, +and brought with them such abundance of provisions that the Spaniards +knew not how to dispose of it, and the Indians made a solemn dance for +joy of the cures. The Spaniards intended to have proceeded farther, but +on being informed that the country through which they meant to travel +was desert, the tunas all eaten, and the climate excessively cold, they +agreed to remain with the Avares all winter, who went five days journey +into the country to feed on a sort of fruit called _yeros_. When they +had settled their habitation near a river, many Indians came with their +sick to be cured by Castillo, who blessed them and prayed to God to cure +them, as this was the only means they had for subsistence. Next morning +they were all well to the great satisfaction and astonishment of the +Indians; and for which the Spaniards returned thanks to God, confiding +that he would deliver them out of their miserable bondage. + +Departing from the _Avares_, the Spaniards came to certain tribes of +Indians called _Maliconas_, _Susolas_, and _Atayos_, among whom their +wonderful cures were already known, so that many sick persons were +brought to them. But as Castillo was a man who feared God, and despaired +of being able to do them good on account of his unworthiness, Cabeza de +Vaca was obliged to officiate in his stead. Taking along with him +Orantes and the mulatto Estevanillo, he went to visit a sick person in a +very dangerous condition, being almost dead, with his eyes turned in his +head, and no pulse; and so confident were the Indians of his approaching +death that his house was already pulled down according to their custom +on such occasions. Cabeza took off the mat from the dying man, prayed to +God to restore him to health, and when he had several times blessed the +man and breathed on him, the attendants presented him with a bow and +arrows and a basket of _tunas_, conducting him to cure others in the +same manner. After this the Spaniards returned to their quarters, and +were informed by the Indians that the dying man had got up, spoken to +his friends, and eaten with them, and that all the rest of their +patients were in perfect health. The fame of these cures spread over all +the country, so that many other sick persons were brought to them to be +healed, bringing presents of provisions. According to their account, the +Spaniards remained eight moons among the _Avares_, neither Orantes nor +Estevanillo having yet performed any cures, though so much importuned +that they were at length forced to comply, being called the _children of +the sun_. Being intent on prosecuting their journey, they fled one days +journey into the country of the _Maliconas_, where they fed for twelve +days on a small kind of fruit till the _tunas_ were ripe. Having endured +much hunger there for some time, they were directed to the habitations +of another tribe which spoke the same language. To add to their +sufferings, they lost their way, and it rained very much which +distressed them greatly, as they were entirely naked. They rested that +night in a wood, where they roasted tunas as food. Next morning, when +endeavouring to find out their way, they met a number of women and +children who all ran away to call the men, who conducted the Spaniards +to their village, consisting of fifty houses. The natives gazed on the +strangers with much fear and admiration, touching their faces and +bodies; and when recovered from their fright they brought their sick to +be cured by them, and even forbore from eating themselves that they +might supply the Spaniards with food. + +So great is the want of food in all the country from the isle of +Mal-hado to this district of the Maliconas, that the natives are often +three days without eating; on which account it is the custom of mothers +to suckle their children till twelve years of age, and they never have +any intercourse with their husbands till two years after delivery. When +a married pair do not agree, it is customary for them to part and form +new connections, but this is never done when they have children. When +the men fall out among themselves they only use their fists or cudgels, +never employing their bows and arrows in private broils; and on these +occasions the women only venture to interpose to part them. These +Indians are very brave, and are as vigilant against their enemies as the +best soldiers in Europe. They dig ditches, throw up entrenchments, make +loop-holes, lay ambushes, and use various stratagems with great art and +patience, usually killing each other by surprise in the night. They are +very cruel, are always ready on any alarm, and are watchful of +opportunities to take revenge and to gain advantage over any want of +foresight in their enemies. When actually engaged in battle, they have a +strange manner of skipping about from side to side, to prevent their +enemies from taking aim, and they shoot their arrows in a stooping +posture, to prevent being observed. Their languages are exceedingly +various, changing almost at each town. + +Coming to another town, the Indians brought their children to touch the +hands of the Spaniards, giving them meal made of a fruit like carobs, +which was eaten along with a certain kind of earth, and was very sweet +and agreeable. Departing from thence, after passing a great river the +water of which reached to their breasts, they came to a town of an +hundred houses, whence the people came out to meet them with great +shouts, clapping their hands on their thighs, and making a kind of music +by means of hollow gourds with stones in them. These Indians received +them with great kindness, carrying them to their houses without +suffering their feet to touch the ground, and great numbers flocked to +them to be blessed. Next day they continued their journey, and were well +received by the next Indians, who supplied them with plenty of venison, +and brought their sick to be cured. They were equally well treated by +the next succeeding tribe, by whom so great rejoicing was made for their +arrival, that they could not sleep for the noise. They observed a +strange custom among all these Indians, who, when they escorted the +Spaniards to another tribe, always plundered the houses they came to. +Cabeza and his companions were much concerned at this; but those who had +lost their goods in this manner made quite light of the matter, desiring +them not to be troubled at it, as they would repay themselves farther on +among tribes who were very rich. At this place the Spaniards began to +perceive a chain of mountains which they thought extended towards New +Spain, and to which they now directed their journey accompanied by the +Indians, who pillaged as usual wherever they went. When their guides +retired, their new hosts presented the Spaniards with such things as +they had hidden, being beads, vermillion, and some small bags of silver. + +At this place the Spaniards agreed not to make for the mountainous +country, where the inhabitants were reported to be ferocious, but to +continue in the low country in which the people were extremely +courteous. Many men and women loaded with water bore them company, and +their authority was so great that no one would presume to drink without +their leave. In this part of their journey they proceeded along a river, +having been abandoned by their Indian guides, and were supplied with +some meal made of Indian corn by two women. About sun-set they came to a +village of about twenty houses, where the inhabitants were in great fear +of being plundered by their guides; but were quite rejoiced on seeing +them come alone. Next morning, when the Spaniards were about to depart, +the inhabitants of the former town came in a body and plundered that in +which they had spent the night; telling the inhabitants that these +strangers were children of the sun and cured the sick, though able to +destroy them all, and therefore that they must be respected; they told +them likewise to go and plunder the next town according to custom, and +to carry the strangers on their way. The Spaniards were accordingly well +treated by this tribe, who carried them on for three days to a place +having many houses, sending some before to give an account of what the +others had said of the Spaniards, to which they added much of their own +invention, being fond of novelty and much addicted to lying, especially +where any advantage was expected. The Spaniards were well received, and +their guides plundered as much as they could find and then returned to +their own habitations. From this place the Spaniards travelled above +fifty leagues along the face of a mountain, and came to a town of forty +houses, in one of which they were shewn a large copper hawks-bell +ornamented with a face, which these people valued highly, saying that +they got it from a neighbouring tribe. Travelling from thence seven +leagues over a mountain, the stones of which were iron ore, they came to +some houses on the banks of a river, where the principal men came out to +meet them, having their children on their backs, and presented the +Spaniards, with small bags of fine sand and powdered antimony, with +which they daub their faces, and gave them also beads and cloaks made of +dressed skins. The food at this place was tunas and the kernels of pine +apples, better than those of Spain, but smaller, as were the trees[141]. + +[Footnote 141: This surely is a mistake of the translator, as pine +apples do not grow on trees, nor are their kernels the edible part. It +may possibly have been pine nuts, or something of a similar kind.--E.] + +At this place a man was brought to Cabeza who had been wounded by an +arrow, the point of which as he said had reached his heart and gave him +much pain, being still there, and he was to all appearance in extreme +danger. Cabeza opened his breast with a knife and extracted the arrow +head with much difficulty, after which he stitched up the wound and +staunched the bleeding with the scrapings of a cows hide. The point of +the arrow was exhibited all over the country, and caused much rejoicing. +After some days, Cabeza removed the stitches, and the man was quite +sound, declaring himself free of pain. This cure acquired the Spaniards +so great reputation that they could do any thing they pleased. From this +place they proceeded through so many different tribes that it were +tedious and indeed impossible to mention them all; and all the way each +tribe as they conducted the Spaniards to the next, plundered their +neighbours in succession. Through the whole journey the Spaniards had so +much company that they knew not how to turn themselves. During their +journey the Indians killed many deer, hares, pigeons, and other birds by +means of their arrows and spears, all of which they presented to the +Spaniards, and would not use them for their own necessities without +leave. Sometimes they were attended by above four thousand persons at +once, which was extremely troublesome, as none of them would either eat +or drink till the Spaniards had blessed the food and drink and breathed +on them. + +They travelled in this manner for upwards of thirty leagues, at the end +of which the mode of their reception was considerably changed as the +Indians who accompanied them ceased plundering; yet the tribe at which +they arrived offered every thing they had, which was divided among the +escort, who then returned to their own dwellings, and this tribe +recovered what they had given away in a similar manner on accompanying +the Spaniards to the next tribe. In the course of their journey however +the Spaniards had to travel for more than fifty leagues through a craggy +mountainous country, where they suffered extremely for want of food, +till at length they arrived at a plain country where they met with a +kind reception, and where their escort received abundance of goods and +provisions and then returned to their own habitations. As the people +farther on were at war with the tribe where the Spaniards then were, two +women were sent on to inform the hostile tribe of the approach of the +Christians, as it was usual among these people, even when at war, to +continue an intercourse of trade by means of their women. Continuing +their journey, the Spaniards were inclined to change the route more to +the northwards, as no person came to meet them from the tribe to which +the women were sent; but the Indians who accompanied them objected to +this measure, as they alleged that the natives in that direction were +wicked and cruel, and that besides they would be unable to procure food +or water. As the Spaniards were displeased at this interruption, the +Indians declared themselves ready to go with them wherever they were +pleased to command, even though sure to perish, and they accordingly +went on; but as many of the Indians fell sick, and eight of them died in +this part of the journey, the other tribes were thrown into great +consternation, believing that they should all die upon being visited by +the Spaniards. So great was the dread and reverence in which the +Spaniards were held by the Indians, who imagined they were the cause of +the sickness and death of their countrymen, that they earnestly +entreated the Spaniards not to be angry with them. Cabeza de Vaca and +his companions became apprehensive that this mortality might estrange +the Indians from them, and therefore prayed earnestly to God to put a +stop to the sickness, and accordingly all who were sick began +immediately to recover. + +Three days journey from thence, Orantes and Estevanillo went under the +guidance of a female slave to a village in which her father lived, and +where they saw the first houses that were built in any thing like +regular order, the inhabitants of which cultivated kidney-beans, +pompions, and maize. Cabeza de Vaca and his companions went to this +place, dismissing their former conductors. At this town a new custom +began among the natives. Instead of coming out to meet the Spaniards as +had been the case hitherto, the inhabitants were all seated in their +houses, hanging down their heads with their hair before their eyes, and +all their goods in a heap in the middle of the floor, presenting all +they possessed to the strangers. These natives were well shaped and +industrious, and their language easily comprehended. The women and such +men as were unfit for war were dressed in mantles made of deer skins. +After remaining two days among these Indians, who directed them to go in +the first place up a river to the northwards, where they would find +abundance of wild cattle, and then to turn westwards, in which direction +the natives cultivated maize. Following this direction, they proceeded +for thirty-four days across the country, till they came at length to the +South Sea. In this journey the Spaniards suffered prodigious hardships +and were reduced to extremity by famine, having to pass through the +territories of a tribe which feeds on pounded straw for a considerable +portion of the year, and they had the misfortune to come among them at +that period. At length they came to a better country, in which the +natives had tolerable houses, with plenty of corn, pompions, and +kidney-beans, the people being decently dressed in cotton mantles. From +this place their former conductors returned well pleased with the things +they procured according to the usual customs among the natives. Cabeza +and his companions travelled above an hundred leagues with much +satisfaction in this country, blessing God for having brought them at +length into a land of plenty, as besides vegetable food in abundance, +the natives killed venison and other game, and presented the Spaniards +with cotton mantles, coral beads procured from the South Sea, turquoise +stones, and several arrow heads made of emeralds, which they procured +from a neighbouring nation in exchange for various coloured plumes of +feathers. + +In this country the women were more modestly clothed than any they had +hitherto seen. Every person, whether sick or well, came to the Spaniards +to be blessed, believing them to be men come down from heaven, so that +their authority was unbounded among the natives. It fortunately happened +that the Spaniards could make themselves understood wherever they went, +although they only knew six of the Indian languages, which would have +been of little use if Providence had not preserved them, considering the +vast multiplicity of languages spoken among the detached tribes of +America. Wherever they travelled, the tribes who happened to be at war +immediately made peace at their approach, that they might have the +opportunity of seeing the Christians; who thus left them all in amity, +and exhorted them wherever they went to worship the one only true God +who had created the heaven and earth, the sun, moon, and stars, and all +other things, and from whom proceeded all blessing. The Spaniards +likewise earnestly urged them to refrain from injuring one another by +going to war or taking away the goods of others, with many similar +instructions, all of which were well received. The whole country along +this coast seemed well peopled, and abounded in provisions, as the +natives sowed maize and kidney beans thrice a-year. In one town the +natives used poisoned arrows, their points being dipped in the juice of +some kind of fruit or plant. At this place they staid three days; and +after a days journey, coming to another town, they were obliged to stop +for fifteen days, owing to the river being in flood. At this place +Castillo observed an Indian who had a sword buckle and a horse shoe +hanging from his neck, who alleged that he got them from heaven; but on +being farther interrogated, he said that some bearded men had come from +heaven to that river, having horses, spears, and swords, who had gone +again to sea, where they and their spears plunged under water, but +appeared afterwards above it again. Cabeza and his companions joyfully +gave thanks to God for hearing some news of Christians after their long +and distressing sojourn among the barbarians, and hastened on their +journey to find them the sooner, telling all the Indians that they were +going to order these bearded men not to kill or make slaves of the +natives nor to do them any harm. + +In continuing their journey they passed through a considerable extent of +fruitful and agreeable country, which was totally destitute of +inhabitants, all the Indians having fled to the mountains for fear of +the Spaniards. They came at length to the top of a hill where a great +number of Indians had withdrawn, who presented them with a vast quantity +of corn, which they gave to the poor famished natives who had escorted +them thither. Continuing their journey, they observed many indications +of Spaniards having been in the country, and they pressed onwards giving +praise to God that their long and miserable captivity seemed near a +close. One day, while Cabeza and Estevanillo were in advance, +accompanied by eleven Indians, they overtook four Spanish horsemen, who +were much astonished at being accosted in their own language by persons +in their strange garb and appearance. Cabeza requested to be conducted +to their commander, Diego de Alcaraz, who informed him they were now in +_New Galicia_, and about thirty leagues from the town of San Miguel. +Castillo and Orantes then came up, attended by above six hundred of the +Indians who had deserted their habitations from fear of the Spaniards. +By their means all the others were induced to return to their houses in +peace and to sow the land. Cabeza and his three companions having taken +leave of the Indians who accompanied them with many thanks for their +protection, travelled twenty-five leagues farther to a place called +_Culiacan_[142], where they arrived much spent with long fatigue and +after having endured much hunger and thirst during their arduous and +anxious peregrinations through the vast wilderness from Florida to New +Galicia. + +[Footnote 142: Culiacan, or Hueicolhuacan, on a river of the same name +which discharges itself into the Vermilion Sea or Gulf of California, is +in lat. 24 deg. 50' N. long. 106 deg. 40' W. in the province of Cinaloa. Cabeza +de Vaca and his companions had therefore followed an oblique course from +the north-east in the south of Louisiana entirely across the continent, +to the south-west, from about the latitude of 31 deg. to 25 deg. both north; a +journey in all probability exceeding 1200 English miles in a straight +line. The beginning of their journey seems to have been to the west of +the Missisippi, as that great river is not mentioned; neither indeed do +we find any indications of the Rio Bravo del Norte, which they must +necessarily have crossed.--E.] + +Melchior Diaz, who was captain and alcalde of the province, received +them with singular humanity, giving praise to God for having delivered +them out of their tedious and miserable captivity, and requested them to +use their endeavours to appease the Indians of that part of the country, +who were in arms against the Spaniards. This they most readily +undertook, and sent messages by some of the Indians to the neighbouring +caciques, three of whom came to Culiacan attended by thirty Indians, +bringing presents of feathers and emeralds. In conversation with these +Indians about their religious belief, they said they believed in a being +named _Aguar_, the lord of all things, who resided in heaven and sent +them rain when they prayed to him for it; such being the tradition they +had learnt from their fathers. Cabeza told them that _Aguar_ was GOD the +Creator of heaven and earth, who disposed all things according to his +holy will, and who, after this life, rewarded the good and punished the +wicked. He exhorted them therefore to believe henceforwards in this only +true God, to return to their houses and live in peace, to build a house +for the worship of God after the manner of the Christians, and when any +Spaniards came to visit them, that they should meet them with crosses in +their hands, and not with bows and arrows; promising, if they did this, +that the Spaniards would be their good friends and would teach them +every thing they ought to know, that God might make them happy in the +next life. All this the Indians engaged to perform. Cabeza de Vaca and +his companions went on from Culiacan for San Miguel[143], attended by a +few Indians, the natives by the way coming out to meet them in great +numbers with presents, whom they exhorted to become Christians as they +were now subjects to the king of Spain. They all received these advices +in the most friendly manner, requesting to have their children baptized. +While on the road they were overtaken by Alcaraz, by whom they were +informed that all the deserted country through which they had lately +travelled was again well peopled and in peace, and that the Indians were +all occupied in sowing their lands. + +[Footnote 143: San Miguel is not to be found in the most recent map of +New Spain by M. de Humboldt; that name may possibly have been given to +the city of Mazatlan, in lat. 23 deg. 15' N. on the coast of Cinaloa.--E.] + +Cabeza de Vaca and his companions judged that the extent of country +through which they had travelled, from Florida on the Atlantic to San +Miguel on the South Sea, could not be less than two hundred +leagues[144], as they declared upon oath before a notary at San Miguel +on the 15th of May 1536, before whom likewise they subscribed a +narrative of all the incidents of their weary pilgrimage. After resting +fifteen days in San Miguel, they proceeded to the city of +Compostella[145], a distance of an hundred leagues, where Nunno de +Guzman then was, by whom they were kindly received and furnished with +clothes and all other necessaries. From thence they went to Mexico, +where they arrived on the 22d of July, and met with a courteous +reception from the viceroy, Don Antonio de Mendoza. Leaving Castillo and +Estevanillo at Mexico, Cabeza de Vaca and Orantes proceeded to Vera +Cruz, whence they passed over into Spain in 1537. + +[Footnote 144: Two hundred Spanish leagues of 17-1/2 to the degree, or +about 800 English miles. It has been already stated in a former note +that the direct distance they had travelled could not be less than 1200 +miles, probably 1600 allowing for deflections.--E.] + +[Footnote 145: San Miguel and Compostella are both omitted in the most +recent map of New Spain by Humboldt, though both are inserted in +Governor Pownalls map of North America; in which San Miguel is placed +about 27 miles S.E. from Culiacan, and Compostella 230 miles S.S.E. from +San Miguel; all three near the western coast of New Spain, the former in +the province of Culiacan, the latter in that of Guadalaxara--E.] + +We learn from Herrera[146], that Alvar Nunnez Cabeza de Vaca was sent +out in 1540 as governor of the incipient Spanish settlements on the Rio +Plata, in which expedition he was accompanied by his former companion in +distress Orantes. In the year 1545, he was made prisoner by some +mutinous officers of the colony and sent into Spain, where his conduct +was cleared by the council of the Indies, yet he was not restored to his +government. + + +[Footnote 146: Herrera, V. 342, 390, 402.] + + +SECTION IV. + +_Narrative of a new attempt to Conquer Florida, by Ferdinand de +Soto_[147]. + + +[Footnote 147: Herrera, V. 223--239.--This narrative, as will be seen by +the series of quotations from Herrera, is broken down by that writer +into detached fragments, in consequence of rigid attention to +chronological order. In the present instance these are arranged into one +unbroken journal, but with no other alteration in the text. It is one of +the most curious of our early expeditions of discovery, bearing strong +internal evidence of having been taken by Herrera from an original +journal, and so far as we know has never been adopted into any former +Collection.--E.] + +Ferdinand De Soto, had served with much reputation in Castilla del Oro +and Nicaragua, and went with Pizarro upon the conquest of Peru, being +even promoted for his worth and valour to the distinguished office of +lieutenant-general under Pizarro. On the breaking out of the +disturbances between the factions of Pizarro and Almagro, he was so much +disgusted that he returned into Spain, without having acquired the +riches that his services and good qualities deserved, considering the +immense wealth which was found in Peru. Aspiring to undertake some +brilliant enterprise suited to his lofty genius, he petitioned the king +to be allowed to undertake the conquest of Florida, which was readily +granted to him, as he was a person of experience, of a fine presence and +graceful carriage, and well fitted by the strength of his constitution +to encounter the hardships incident to such hazardous enterprises. Since +the entire failure and destruction of Panfilo de Narvaez and his +armament, as already related, no one had hitherto offered to attempt the +reduction of that country till now. Among the terms granted to Soto on +this occasion, he was appointed governor of the island of Cuba, which +was to serve as a place of arms from whence to conduct the intended +conquest of Florida. On the design of this enterprise being made public, +near a thousand men were soon raised for the expedition, among whom were +many gentlemen of good birth, encouraged by the reputation of the +commander, and the hopes of acquiring wealth. + +Ten ships were fitted out at San Lucar for carrying out the troops and +all the necessary stores, which set sail on the 6th of April 1538, +accompanying the fleet for New Spain, the whole being under the supreme +command of the adelantado Ferdinand de Soto so far as the island of +Cuba, after which the _flota_ was to be commanded by Gonzalo de Salazar, +the factor of New Spain. To shew his proud and turbulent disposition, on +the first night after going to sea, Salazar pushed a cannon shot a-head +of all the fleet to affront the admiral, who immediately ordered a shot +to be fired at him. The ball went through all the sails of Salazars ship +from the poop to the head; and by a second shot, all the side of his +ship was torn immediately above the deck. Salazars ship became +unmanageable from the injury done to her sails, and on the admiral +pushing forwards the two ships ran foul of each other and were both in +imminent danger of perishing in the dark, but by cutting all the rigging +of the other ship the admiral got clear. Soto was so highly incensed by +this haughty conduct of Salazar that he had well nigh ordered him to be +beheaded; but forgave him on submission and promise of better behaviour +in future. + +The fleet arrived safe at Santiago in Cuba. Not long before this a +Spanish ship commanded by Diego Perez had an engagement of four days +continuance with a French privateer, separating courteously by mutual +consent every night, and recommencing furiously every morning; but the +Frenchmen slipped off during the fourth night. Immediately on his +arrival in Cuba, Soto sent orders to repair the Havannah, which had been +burnt by some French privateers, and he ordered a fort to be built for +the protection of that place. Having sent some persons of skill to +discover and examine the harbours along the coast of Florida, and +appointed his lady to administer the government of Cuba in his absence, +he prepared to enter upon the great object of his expedition. + +Accordingly, having embarked nine hundred men and three hundred and +thirty horses, he sailed from the Havannah on the 12th of May 1539, and +came to anchor on the last day of that month in the Bay of _Espiritu +Santo_ on the coast of Florida[148]. He immediately landed three hundred +men, who lay on shore all night without seeing a single native. About +day-break next day the Spanish detachment was attacked by a prodigious +multitude of Indians, and compelled to retreat precipitously to the +shore. Basco Porcallo de Figuero was sent with a party to their relief, +as the Indians pressed hard upon them with incessant flights of arrows, +and the Spaniards being raw soldiers unaccustomed to arms or discipline +knew not how to resist. On the approach of Porcallo the Indians were +obliged to retire in their turn; yet killed that commanders horse with +an arrow, which pierced through the saddle lap and penetrated a span +deep into the horses body. All the forces were now landed, and marched +about two leagues inland to a town belonging to the cacique +_Harrihiagua_[149], who had fled to the mountains lest he should be +called to account for his cruelty to the Spaniards who had been here +formerly along with Panfilo de Narvaez. None of these were now alive in +the country except one man named Juan Ortiz, who had been saved by the +wife of the cacique, who abhorred the cruel disposition of her husband. +By her assistance, Ortiz had been enabled to make his escape to another +cacique named _Mucozo_, who protected him and used him well. Having +learned where this man was, Soto sent Baltasar de Gallegos with sixty +horsemen to bring him to the camp, wishing him to act as interpreter +with the natives. At the same time Mucozo was sending Ortiz with an +escort of fifty Indians to offer peace to the Spaniards. These Indians +were all stark naked, except that each wore a small clout, but their +heads were ornamented with great plumes of feathers. They all carried +bows in their hands, and all had quivers well filled with arrows. + +[Footnote 148: It has been already mentioned that there are two bays of +this name, one in _East_, and the other _West_ Florida. There can be no +doubt that the one here mentioned in the text is the former of these, in +lat. 27 deg. 48' N. long. 83 deg. 20' W. It lies on the western coast of East +Florida, and runs about 35 miles into the land, dividing at its head +into two coves or bays named Hillsborough and Tampa.--E.] + +[Footnote 149: This name considerably resembles the names of men and +places in Hispaniola and Cuba, hence we may conjecture Harrihiagua to +have been cacique over some of the emigrants said to have gone from Cuba +to Florida, as mentioned in the first section of this chapter.--E.] + +Immediately on seeing the horsemen, the Indians ran for shelter into the +wood, being afraid of an attack, and the raw Spaniards went full speed +after them in spite of their commander. Ortiz alone remained in the open +plain, and was assaulted by Alvaro Nieto with his lance. Ortiz leaped to +one side to avoid the lance, and called out in the Indian language +having forgot his own by long disuse, but fortunately made the sign of +the cross, on which Nieto asked if he were Juan Ortiz. Answering in the +affirmative, Nieto took him up behind him on his horse and carried him +to his captain Gallegos, who was gathering his men that had dispersed in +pursuit of the Indians. Some of the natives never stopped till they +reached the town of their cacique, but others were appeased, and seeing +one of their companions wounded they exclaimed bitterly against Ortiz, +as it had happened through his inadvertence. Soto was much pleased that +he had got Ortiz, whom he greatly caressed. He was likewise very kind to +the Indians who had accompanied him, and ordered the one who had been +wounded to be carefully dressed; and sent by them a message to the +cacique Mucozo, thanking him for his kind usage of Ortiz, and offering +his friendship. + +Ortiz could give very little account of the country, as his whole +employment under his first master had been to carry wood and water, and +he had never ventured to go out of sight of the other who used him well, +lest he might be suspected of endeavouring to escape; but he had been +told that the interior of the country was pleasant and fertile. Mucozo +came to visit Soto, who entertained him and gave him some Spanish +trinkets to secure his friendship. Soon afterwards the mother of the +cacique came weeping to the Spaniards, demanding to have her son +restored, and begging that he might not be slain. Soto endeavoured to +sooth and reassure her, yet she ate of such victuals as were offered +with much hesitation, asking Ortiz whether she might eat in safety, as +she was fearful of being poisoned, and insisting that Ortiz should taste +every thing in the first place. Mucozo remained a week among the +Spaniards, amusing himself with the novelty of every thing he saw, and +making many inquiries respecting the customs of Spain. During this time +Soto endeavoured to learn some particulars respecting the country, +remaining always with his troops at the town belonging to Harrihiagua, +because near the Bay of the Holy Ghost. At this time he dismissed the +ships, that his men might have no hopes of getting away from the +country, following in this measure the example of many ancient and +modern commanders, and among these Cortes on his invasion of Mexico. He +reserved however four of his ships to serve upon particular occasions. + +Soto used every means to acquire the friendship of Harrihiagua, giving +strict charges that no damage should be done in his country, being +extremely unwilling to give the first cause of offence, but nothing +could prevail on that cacique to enter into any friendly connection. As +some of the men were sent out daily, under a strong escort, to bring in +forage for the horses, they were one day suddenly assailed by a +multitude of Indians, making such hideous yells as scared them for some +time. Before the Spaniards could recover from their panic, the Indians +laid hold of a soldier named Grajal, whom they carried off without doing +any other harm. More Spaniards coming out on this alarm, the Indians +were pursued on the track for two leagues by twenty horsemen, when they +were found among some tall reeds eating, drinking, and making merry with +their women, and bidding Grajal eat, as they told him they would use him +better than Ortiz. On hearing the trampling of the horses all the men +fled, leaving the women and children with Grajal, whom they had +stripped naked. The Spaniards returned well pleased with Grajal and the +women and children, all of whom Soto set free along with some men who +had been made prisoners formerly, on purpose if possible to conciliate +the cacique and his subjects. + +After remaining three weeks in that place, Soto sent a detachment of +sixty horse and an equal number of foot under Gallegos to explore the +country beyond the districts belonging to Harrihiagua and Mucozo, which +belonged to a cacique named _Urribarracuxi_. On asking guides from +Mucozo for this expedition, he refused it saying that it would be +treacherous to furnish guides for doing injury to his friend and +brother-in-law. The Spaniards answered that they meant no injury, and he +might send his friend notice of their intended visit, as they were +resolved at all events to go. In that part of the country they found +many wild vines, walnut-trees, mulberry, plum, oak, pine, and other +trees resembling those which grow in Spain, and the open fields appeared +pleasant and fertile. But they found Urribarracuxi's town, which was at +the distance of seventeen leagues, entirely abandoned, and could by no +means prevail upon him to come out of the woods or to contract any +friendship with them, though he likewise entirely refrained from doing +them any harm. Gallegos sent back word to inform Soto of the nature of +the country he had explored, and that there were plenty of provisions in +the town to which he had penetrated. Being anxious to take Harrihiagua +prisoner, his lieutenant Vasco Porcallo went out with a party on that +service, though Soto advised him to send some other person. When +Harrihiagua learnt the object of this expedition, he sent word to +Porcallo that his labour would be all in vain, as the roads were so bad +he would never be able to reach the place in which he dwelt. Porcallo +however persisted, and coming to a deep morass which his men refused to +enter, he spurred on his horse to set a good example; but his horse soon +floundered in the morass and Porcallo fell off and was nearly stifled. +Considering that he was well up in years and had a good estate, Porcallo +considered this as a warning to him to desist from such dangerous and +fatiguing enterprises, for which reason he asked leave to return to +Cuba, and distributed his horses, arms, and provisions among the troops, +leaving his son Gomez Xuarez de Figuero well equipped behind him to +continue the enterprise, which was better fitted for younger men, and in +which Gomez acquitted himself like a man of honour. + +On receiving intelligence from Gallegos of the pleasantness of the +interior country, Soto determined to advance with the bulk of his men, +leaving Calderon to command at the town belonging to Harrihiagua with +forty horsemen, to secure the ships, provisions, and stores. On this +occasion he gave strict orders to Calderon, to give no offence to the +Indians, but rather to wink at any injuries they might offer. Soto did +not think proper to halt in the town of Mucozo, lest he might be +burdensome to him and his people with so great a force, though that +friendly cacique offered to entertain him. But he recommended to Mucozo +to be kind to the Spaniards who had been left at the Bay of the Holy +Ghost. Soto marched N.N.E. to the town of Urribarracuxi, but neglected +to make proper marks in the country through which he travelled, which +was a great fault, and occasioned much trouble in the sequel. On coming +to the town of Urribarracuxi, he used every possible endeavour to +prevail upon that cacique to enter into friendship, but quite +ineffectually. Endeavouring to penetrate farther into the country in +search of that cacique, they came to a morass which was three leagues +over, and the road through which was so difficult as to take two days of +hard labour; and next day the advanced party or scouts returned saying +that it was quite impossible to proceed farther in that direction, on +account of a number of rivers which took their rise in the great morass +and intersected the country in every direction. Three days were +ineffectually spent in searching for some way to pass onwards, Soto +being always among the foremost to go out upon discovery. During this +period the Indians made several excursions from the woods and morasses +to assail the Spaniards with their arrows, but were generally repelled +without doing any harm, and some of them made prisoners, who, to regain +their liberty, pretended to shew the passes to the Spaniards, and led +them to such places as were not fit for the purpose. On their knavery +being discovered, some of them were torn in pieces by the dogs, which so +intimidated the rest, that at length one of them undertook to guide +them, and very easily brought them into the open country. + +Soto and his men came soon afterwards to another morass, which had two +large trees and some branches laid across its narrowest part to serve as +a bridge. Soto sent two of his soldiers who were good swimmers to repair +the bridge, but they were set upon by many Indians in canoes from whom +they difficultly escaped after being severely wounded. But as the +Indians no more appeared at this pass, the bridge was soon repaired, and +the army passed over into the province or district of another cacique +named _Acuera_; who, upon receiving an offer of peace, sent back for +answer that he would rather have war than peace with vagabonds. Soto +continued twenty days in this country, during which time the Indians +killed fourteen Spaniards who had straggled from the main body, whose +heads they carried to their cacique. The Spaniards buried the bodies of +their companions wherever they found them; but the Indians dug them up +again and hung their quarters upon trees. In the same time the Spaniards +only killed fifty Indians, as they were always on their guard and kept +among the woods and swamps. Leaving the town of Acuera, to which they +did no harm, Soto continued his march inland for _Ocali_, keeping a +direction a little to the east of north, through a fertile country free +from morasses. At the end of about twenty leagues they came to Ocali, a +town of about six hundred houses, abounding in Indian corn, pulse, +acorns, dried plums, and nuts. The cacique and all his people had +withdrawn into the woods, and at the first message desiring them to come +out sent a civil evasive answer, but complied at the second summons with +some apprehension. + +Going some days afterwards accompanied by this cacique to examine a +river over which it was intended to lay a bridge, there appeared about +five hundred Indians on the other side, who shot their arrows towards +the Spaniards, continually crying out "go away with you, vagabond +robbers!" Soto asked the cacique why he permitted his subjects to behave +in this manner; to which he made answer that many of them had thrown off +their obedience because he had entered into friendship with the +Spaniards. Soto therefore gave him permission to rejoin his subjects, on +promising to return, but which he never did. The proposed bridge over +this river was constructed of two cables stretched across, having planks +laid between them, of which they procured abundance fit for the purpose +in the woods. By this means the whole force inarched across with the +utmost ease and satisfaction, the Spaniards on this occasion becoming +engineers and pioneers to build bridges and construct roads, after the +manner of the ancient Romans. As the guides had fled, the Spaniards made +prisoners of thirty other Indians to shew them the roads, whom they +treated well and presented with baubles so much to their satisfaction, +that they conducted the army for sixteen leagues through a fine open +country to the district of _Vitacucho_ which was about fifty leagues in +circumference and was then divided among three brothers. + +On coming to a town called _Ochile_ about break of day, the Spaniards +surrounded it before the natives were aware; but on hearing the drums +and trumpets they ran out, and finding all the avenues blockaded they +stood on their defence though the cacique was invited to enter into +friendship. He continued for some time to resist; but as his people +perceived that the Spaniards released the prisoners without doing them +any harm, they represented this to their chief, on which, making a +virtue of necessity, he submitted to Soto and was well treated. After +this, he accompanied Soto, with many of his people, and conducted the +Spaniards into a spacious and delightful vale in which there were many +scattered habitations. The cacique sent likewise to acquaint his +brothers that the Spaniards were marching through to other countries, +only requiring to be supplied with provisions on their way, and did no +harm to those who accepted their friendship. One of the brothers +returned a favourable answer, and treated the Spaniards with great +respect; but the eldest and most powerful of the three, would not allow +the messengers to return, and sent afterwards a reproof to his brothers, +who he said had acted like foolish boys, and might tell the strangers +that, if they ventured into his country, he would roast one half of them +and boil the other. But as Soto sent another kind message to him, he +consented to visit Soto accompanied by five hundred warriors gaily +adorned after their fashion, and was received with much civility and +presented with such ornamental trinkets as pleased him much. He was +greatly astonished at the appearance of the Spanish troops, and asked +pardon for his rude and threatening expressions, promising to make +amends by his future good conduct. This cacique, named _Vitacucho_, was +about thirty-five years of age, strong limbed, and of a fierce aspect. +Next day the Spanish army entered Vitacucho's town in martial order. It +consisted of about two hundred houses or cabins, besides a great many +others scattered all over the country. All the towns in this country +have no other names except those of the caciques to which they +respectively belong. After remaining two days in this town making merry, +the two younger caciques asked permission of Soto to return to their own +districts, which was granted, and having received some presents from +Soto, they went away well pleased. + +Vitacucho continued slily for some time to behave respectfully to Soto +and the Spaniards, yet contriving how best to destroy them. For this +purpose he concerted with all his neighbours, whom he persuaded that it +was proper and necessary to destroy these wicked vagabonds who had come +into their country to reduce them to servitude. He imparted his design +to four Indians who attended Soto in quality of interpreters, whom he +informed that he had ten thousand well armed Indians in readiness to aid +him in the execution of this enterprise, and that he proposed to roast +some of the Spaniards, to boil others, to hang up another part on the +loftiest tress, and to poison all the rest in such a manner as to pine +and rot away for a long time before they died. Being desired to keep the +secret and to give their opinion of this design, they answered that they +approved it highly, as an exploit worthy of his wisdom and valour, and +that nothing could be better contrived. Vitacucho thus encouraged, +determined to persevere, and sent notice to his confederates to hold +themselves in readiness; but the four Indians, satisfied of the +impracticability of the design, owing to the excellent discipline and +vigilance of the Spaniards, made a discovery of the whole plot to Juan +Ortiz, who communicated it without delay to Soto. In a council of the +officers held to consult how to act in this emergency, it was thought +best to take no immediate notice of the matter, except standing +vigilantly on their guard as if ignorant of the treacherous intention of +the cacique, but to contrive to make him fall into his own snare. + +When the day concerted between Vitacucho and his confederates for +putting their enterprise into execution was come, the crafty cacique +requested Soto to go with him out of the town to see his subjects whom +he had drawn up in martial array for his inspection, that he might be +acquainted with his power, and with the manner of fighting practised +among the Indians. Soto was a prudent man well versed in the art of war, +in which he had gradually risen by his merit. On this occasion he +courteously accepted the proposal of the cacique, saying that it was +likewise customary among the Spaniards, to shew honour to their friends +by displaying their troops in order of battle. The Spanish forces +accordingly marched out in good order, prepared for whatever might +occur; and the better to conceal his suspicions, and the purpose he had +now in view, he walked out of the town on foot along with the cacique. +The Indian warriors, to the number of about ten thousand men, were found +drawn up in good order at some distance from the town, having their left +wing protected by a wood and their right by two lakes. They were well +equipped after their manner, their heads adorned with high plumes of +feathers of herons, swans, and cranes. Their bows lay beside them on the +ground, and their arrows were covered over with grass, to make it appear +that they were unarmed. Besides the main body in the position before +mentioned, they had a wing on each flank advanced into the plain. + +Soto and the cacique advanced into the plain towards the Indian army, +each attended by twelve chosen men. The Spanish troops moved forwards in +order of battle on the right of Soto, the cavalry being in the middle of +the plain, while the infantry moved close to the wood on the left of the +Indians. When Soto and Vitacucho were arrived at the place where it was +previously known that the cacique intended to have given a signal for +attacking the Spaniards, who were now all in readiness and fully +instructed how to act, Soto gave notice to his army to commence the +attack by ordering a musket to be fired off. The twelve Spaniards who +attended Soto immediately seized the cacique according to the +instructions they had received for that purpose; and Soto mounting his +horse led on the Spanish cavalry to the charge, being always foremost on +every occasion, whether for fighting or hard labour. The Indians took up +their arms and resisted the Spaniards as well as they could by repeated +flights of arrows, even killing the horse on which Soto rode, as they +chiefly aimed at the horses of which they stood in much fear. Soto soon +got another horse from his page, and as the cavalry now penetrated the +main body of the Indians their whole army took to flight, some seeking +for safety in the wood and others by throwing themselves into the lakes. +All who fled along the open plain were either killed or made prisoners. +About nine hundred of the Indians took shelter in the smaller lake, +which was immediately surrounded to prevent their escape, and the +Spaniards likewise kept up an incessant attack upon them with their +fire-arms and cross-bows, to induce them to surrender. Although in the +water, the Indians continued to shoot as long as their arrows lasted, +many of them standing on the backs of their comrades, who were swimming, +till their arrows were spent, and then giving similar aid to others. +They continued in this manner from about ten in the morning till +midnight, always surrounded by the Spaniards, refusing to surrender +though assured of their lives. At length many of the feeblest +surrendered, after being fourteen hours in the water. As the rest +observed that no injury was offered to the prisoners, they mostly +surrendered next day at noon, when they had been above twenty-four hours +in the water; and it was observed that they came out excessively tired, +hungry, sleepy, and swollen. Seven still obstinately remained in the +water till about seven in the evening; when Soto, thinking it a pity +such resolute men should perish, ordered twelve Spaniards to swim to +them, with their swords in their mouths, who dragged them all out +half-drowned. Care was taken to recover them; and when asked the reason +of their obstinacy, they alleged that as commanders, they were willing +to convince their lord that they were worthy of their rank, by dying in +his service and leaving a good name behind them, even expressing a +desire that they had been permitted to perish. Four of these men were +about thirty-five years of age. The other three were lads about +eighteen, the sons of chiefs, who had obeyed the summons of Vitacucho, +in hopes of acquiring honour, and were unwilling to return home +vanquished. Soto presented some small mirrors and other baubles to these +youths and dismissed them; but he told the four commanders, in presence +of Vitacucho, that they all deserved to be put to death for having +broken their plighted faith, yet he forgave them in hopes that they +would take warning by what had now befallen them, and behave better for +the future. He then invited Vitacucho to dine at his own table every +day, being of opinion that more was to be gained among these barbarians +by kind usage than severity, unless when indispensably necessary. + +The prisoners taken on this occasion amounted to above a thousand men, +who were distributed as servants among the Spanish troops. Vitacucho +gave these men secret orders to fall upon and destroy the Spaniards +while at dinner, and appointed the seventh day after the engagement for +the execution of this new plot. On that day, while Vitacucho as usual +was at dinner along with Soto and the principal Spanish officers, he +started up on a sudden and gave a loud _whoop_ or war cry, which was the +appointed signal of attack, and laying hold of Soto gave him so violent +a blow with his fist as knocked him to the ground, and immediately fell +upon him endeavouring to kill him; but the other officers who were at +dinner killed Vitacucho immediately. On hearing the signal from the +cacique, all the other Indians attacked their masters, some with +fire-brands, others with the cooking kettles, pitchers, or whatever they +could get hold of, of which the fire-brands did most harm; but as the +Spaniards immediately seized their arms in their defence, all the +Indians were slain. + +Four days after this fray, the troops marched to another town called +_Osachile_ after the name of its cacique. Coming to a river which could +not be forded, it was proposed to construct a bridge similar to that +employed on a former occasion; but on account of opposition from a body +of Indians on the farther bank it was necessary in the first place to +drive these away. For this purpose an hundred men armed with muskets and +cross-bows were ferried over on six rafts, and thirty horsemen got over +by swimming their horses. The Indians then fled, and the bridge was +constructed in the same manner as formerly described, over which all the +rest of the army passed. About two leagues after crossing the river, the +army came to some corn-fields with scattered houses, and were galled for +some time by the Indians, who lurked among the standing maize, whence +they discharged their arrows at the Spaniards: But they were soon put to +flight and several of them speared by the cavalry. On arriving at +Osachile they found the town abandoned, and the cacique of that place +could never be persuaded to make his appearance. Some Indians were made +prisoners on this march, who were more tractable than any they had +hitherto met with, and undertook to act as guides. It was now necessary +for the Spaniards to consider of a proper place in which to pass the +winter, and as there had been much talk about the province or district +of Apalache, as producing gold, the army only halted two days at +Osachile, and recommenced their march in the direction of Apalache. +After marching twelve leagues through a desert wilderness, they came to +a swamp half a league over, where the pass was defended by a +considerable number of Indians. An engagement ensued in which several +were killed on both sides, and the Spaniards were foiled for that day. +But on the next, after a bloody encounter, the Spaniards drove the +Indians from the swamp and got possession of the pass, all of which was +fordable except about forty paces in the middle, over which there was a +bridge of trees made fast together. + +Having crossed the swamp, a very thick wood was found on the other side, +above a league and half through, which the army had great difficulty to +penetrate, neither indeed was it able to pass through the wood in one +day. During this difficult march, an hundred horsemen armed with targets +led the van, and were followed by an hundred musqueteers and +cross-bow-men, all of whom carried axes to hew down trees and make a +clear space for the army to encamp, which it did in the middle of the +forest, and was all night long disturbed by the incessant war-hoops of +surrounding Indians. Next day they continued their march through the +wood, which now became more open, but they were constantly harassed by +the Indians, more especially as the cavalry could be of very little +service among the trees, and wherever there were any open spaces, the +Indians had cut down trees to obstruct the passage. After getting out of +this forest into the open country, they marched two leagues farther, +killing or making prisoners of all the Indians who attempted to make any +opposition; so that the natives became at length convinced that they +were unable to destroy the Spaniards or to expel them from the country. +The army now encamped at the commencement of the cultivated lands +belonging to the _Apalaches_, but the Indians still continued to annoy +them, by continually pouring flights of arrows into the camp. + +Next day the army marched two leagues through a perpetual succession of +fields of Indian corn, interspersed with straggling houses, and were +frequently vexed by lurking Indians who shot off their arrows and then +ran away. At the farther side of this cultivated plain, they came to a +deep brook running through a wood, the ford of which was fortified by +palisades or fallen trees, to prevent the passage of the cavalry: But a +hundred of them alighted from their horses, and cleared the way with +their swords and targets in spite of the Indians, who fought with much +obstinacy, and did not give way till many of them were slain, but some +of the Spaniards were killed in this engagement. They marched four +leagues next day with little opposition: and the day following were +informed _Capasi_, cacique of Apalache, had taken post at the distance +of two leagues with a large body of brave Indians intending to give them +battle. The horse immediately advanced to attack him, and took some of +his men, but Capasi made his escape. The town of Apalache, of which they +now took possession, consisted of two hundred and fifty houses, having +several other small dependent towns or villages, and many detached +cabins or farm-houses scattered over the cultivated fields. The country +was fertile and agreeable, the climate excellent, and the natives +numerous and warlike. After some days rest, parties were sent out in +different directions to explore the country. Those who penetrated +northwards into the interior, reported that the country was excellent, +fertile, populous, and free from woods and swamps; while those who went +south towards the coast, found a rugged, barren, and impracticable +country, being the same through which Cabeza de Vaca had travelled. + +It being now the month of October, Soto determined to winter in this +place; for which purpose he ordered sufficient fortifications to be +constructed for defence, and provisions to be stored up for the supply +of his army. He likewise sent back a party by the same way which the +army had marched, being an hundred and fifty leagues to the bay of the +Holy Ghost[150], to bring away the cavalry that had been left there to +rejoin the rest of the army. He also sent a message to Capasi, the only +cacique who had been hitherto met with having a proper name different +from that of his town, requesting him to come in and make peace with the +Spaniards, to which he would by no means consent. Being informed that +Capasi had intrenched himself in the middle of a wood about eight +leagues from Apalache, Soto marched against him and assailed his +fortified post. The Indians defended themselves for some time with great +bravery; but at length begged quarter which was granted, and Capasi was +brought out on mens shoulders; as he was either so fat and unwieldy, or +so much disabled by some distemper, that he was unable to walk, and was +therefore carried on a kind of litter or bier, or crawled on his hands +and knees. Soto returned well pleased at this good fortune to his +quarters at Apalache, expecting that the Indians would give him no more +disturbance, now that their chief was in his hands. But matters turned +out quite otherwise; for having no ruler the Indians became even more +disorderly and troublesome than before, and refused to obey the command +of Capasi to remain in peace with the Spaniards. + +[Footnote 150: Although in the text the general direction of the march +of Soto is mentioned as to the N.E. there is every reason to believe it +must have been to the west of north, into the country of what are now +called the _Creek_ Indians. The town of Apalache in which Soto spent the +winter 1539-40 may have been on the river Catahoche otherwise called of +Apalachicola, or on the Alibama, which runs into the Mobille. There +still is a place known by the name of Apalache near the mouth of the +Mobille river.--E.] + +Under these circumstances, when Soto complained to the cacique of the +perpetual hostilities of his people, Capasi pretended, if he were +permitted to go to a place about six leagues from Apalache, to which the +head men of the tribe had retired, that they would obey his orders on +seeing him among them and agree to peace. Soto accordingly gave his +permission, and Capasi went to the place indicated, carried as usual on +a bier, and accompanied by a strong guard of Spaniards. The cacique then +issued orders for all his people to appear before him next day, having +some important matters to communicate. The Spaniards posted their +guards for the night and went to rest, believing every thing secure; but +when day appeared next morning neither the cacique nor any of his +attendants were to be found. Taking advantage of the centinels falling +asleep, Capasi had crept out from among them on all fours, after which +his Indians carried him off to some more secure place than the former, +as he was never more seen. The Spanish escort returned much ashamed of +themselves to Soto, pretending that Capasi and his attendants must have +been carried off through the air, as it was impossible for him to have +got away from among them in any other manner. Soto prudently accepted of +this excuse, saying with a smile that the story was very probable as the +Indians were notable sorcerers. He was unwilling to punish his men for +their negligence, being always more desirous to gain the affection of +his soldiers by kind usage, as far as consistent with military +discipline, that they might be ready to endure the fatigue and danger he +expected to encounter in the prosecution of his enterprise. + + +SECTION V. + +_Continuation of the Transactions of Ferdinand de Soto in Florida_[151]. + + +[Footnote 151: Herrera, V. 507.--541.] + +We have already mentioned that Soto, having determined to spend the +winter 1539 at Apalache, sent a detachment back to Harrihiagua on the +bay of the Holy Ghost, to bring away Captain Calderon and the men who +had been left there. This detachment consisted of thirty horse under the +command of Juan de Anasco. On coming to the ford of the river Ocali, +Anasco was obliged to pass it by means of rafts, as the river was +flooded; and though they used the utmost diligence, the Indians were up +in arms on both sides of the river to oppose him, so that the Spaniards +had to fight both to the front and rear while their baggage, horses, and +selves were wafted over. Having got safely over, they found it necessary +to go to the town, as one of their comrades was quite benumbed in +passing the river. Believing the Spaniards more numerous than they +really were, the Indians only defended their town till their wives and +children were got away to a place of safety, and then abandoned the +place, of which Anasco took possession. The Spaniards made four large +fires in the marketplace, on purpose to restore their benumbed comrade, +to whom likewise they gave the only clean shirt they had among them. +They likewise dried their clothes and saddles, which had been all wetted +in passing the river, and furnished their wallets with provisions from +the stores of the Indians. In the mean time, ten horses at once were +allowed to feed, while all the rest stood ready bridled in case of +attack. About midnight an alarm was given by the centinels of the +approach of a numerous body of Indians; on which the whole party +mounted, tying the benumbed man who was now somewhat recovered, fast +upon his horse which was led by another soldier, and set off on their +march with so much expedition that they were five leagues from the town +by day-break next morning. In this manner they continued their journey +with as little delay as possible, going on at a round trot wherever they +found the country inhabited, and walking their horses in passing through +the wilderness. + +On the seventh day after leaving Apalache, Pedro de Atienza was taken +very ill, and died a few hours afterwards. Having travelled that day +near twenty leagues they arrived at the great swamp[152] in the evening, +and remained all night on its border, making great fires to keep them +warm as the weather was extremely cold. Next morning, on attempting to +pass, the horses refused on account of the excessive cold; but about +noon the sun yielding some heat, they got across; On the third day +after, while continuing their march with the usual diligence, they +observed the track of horses, and some appearance of their having used a +pool of water by the way side. Their horses even took heart at these +appearances, smelling the track of others, and Anasco and his men were +much rejoiced, having been previously afraid that Calderon and his +troops had either gone away to Cuba, or had been slain by the Indians. +About sunset of this day, being the tenth after leaving Apalache, they +came in sight of Harrihiagua, just as the horse patrole was leaving the +town. The new comers set up a loud shout for joy at seeing their +friends, and Calderon came immediately out to welcome them with equal +satisfaction. + +[Footnote 152: A great swamp is laid down in lat. 81 deg. N. on the +frontiers between Georgia and East Florida, at the head of the rivers of +St Mary and St Mark, the former of which flows east to the Atlantic, and +the latter south-west into the Bay of Apalache.--E.] + +When the cacique Mucozo learnt the arrival of Anasco, he went to visit +him, and brought the horse belonging to the man who had died by the way, +which had been left in a meadow with the saddle hanging to a tree, which +likewise was brought in by an Indian on his back, not knowing how to +fasten the girths. Mucozo inquired after the health of Soto in a +friendly manner, and expressed his sorrow that the other caciques were +not of the same friendly disposition with himself. Calderon and Anasco +consulted together as to the best way of going back to Apalache. As the +stores of provisions shoes and clothes which had been provided liberally +by Soto for the expedition were very large and could not be removed to +Apalache, it was agreed to leave all these under the charge of Mucozo. +It was likewise resolved that Anasco should proceed by sea with two of +the brigantines to the Bay of Aute, which he had discovered when +detached by Soto to explore the country to the south of Apalache, while +Calderon was to go by land. Accordingly, every thing being in readiness, +seven days after the arrival of Anasco, Calderon set out by land for +Apalache with seventy horse and fifty foot soldiers, all the rest going +by sea along with Anasco. + +On the second day of his march, Calderon came to the town of Mucozo, and +was hospitably entertained by that friendly chief. Nothing remarkable +happened during this march till they came to the great swamp, except +that one horse was killed by an arrow which penetrated through his +breast to his bowels. These Indians are such powerful archers that they +have been known to shoot through four folds of mail; for which reason +the Spaniards laid aside their European armour, and used a kind which is +stuffed with cotton, called _escaupiles_, to defend both themselves and +their horses. Calderon travelled with very little opposition or +difficulty all the way to the swamp of Apalache, where the Indians +attacked him desperately and killed one of his horses. Next day he was +again attacked, and disturbed all the ensuing night, the Indians +constantly upbraiding the Spaniards as vagabonds and robbers, and +threatening to quarter them. On the following day Calderon and his men +reached Apalache, where ten or twelve of his people died of their +wounds. Anasco arrived safe with the remainder of the Spaniards at the +Bay of Aute[153], whence he marched by land to Apalache. Having now +collected his whole force at Apalache, Ferdinand de Soto sent Diego +Maldonado with the brigantines to explore the coast to the westwards, +ordering him to return in two months with a particular description of +all the ports, creeks, and headlands he might fall in with. Maldonado +executed these orders; and on his return reported that he had discovered +a very excellent harbour, called _Achusi_, sixty leagues to the +westwards of Aute[154], whence he brought two Indian prisoners. Soto +then sent Maldonado with the brigantines to the Havannah, carrying +letters to his lady, and directed him to inform the colonists of Cuba +that he had found an excellent harbour in Florida, and that the country +was pleasant and fertile, by way of encouraging settlers to come over. + +[Footnote 153: No bay is now known of this name, but it may possibly +have been that now known by the name of Mobille.--E.] + +[Footnote 154: This distance from Mobille Bay would lead us considerably +to the west of the Missisippi, perhaps to Ascension Bay, or perhaps to +the entrance of Ouachas Lake.--E.] + +It happened one day that seven Spanish horsemen riding out from the town +of Apalache saw an Indian man and woman gathering old kidney-beans in +the fields. Immediately on seeing the horsemen the man took up the woman +in his arms and carried her into the wood, whence he returned with his +bow and arrows to attack the horsemen, who would have saved his life on +account of his bravery, calling out to him to yield; but he was so +desperate that he wounded them all, and when his arrows were expended he +gave one of them so violent a blow with his bow on the head-piece that +it stunned him, on which provocation he killed the Indian with his +lance. While Soto wintered in Apalache, he used every exertion to obtain +intelligence respecting the country towards the west, in order to +prepare for extending his discoveries in the spring; and among the +Indians who were brought to him on this occasion, was one about +seventeen years of age who had been a servant to some Indian travelling +merchants. + +From this youth he was informed that, about thirteen of fourteen days +journey farther on, there was a province called _Cofachiqui_[155], which +produced gold, silver and pearls. This intelligence was very pleasing to +the Spaniards, and made them wish anxiously for the season in which to +march forwards. During all the winter, which the Spaniards spent in +Apalache, when any parties of them went out into the country, the +Indians seldom failed to kill some of the men or horses with their +arrows, yet always kept at a distance or among the woods, carefully +avoiding to encounter them in the open fields. + +[Footnote 155: Perhaps the country of the Chicasaws.--E.] + +The season being at length come, in the spring of 1540, for taking the +field, Soto set out on his march from Apalache towards the north, and on +the third day encamped in a peninsula formed by a swamp, having wooden +bridges of communication with the dry land. This being an elevated +situation, several towns could be seen from the encampment, which was +still in the district belonging to Apalache. The Spaniards rested here +two days, during one of which seven men strolled out from the camp +without orders, six of whom were slain by the Indians before they had +got two hundred paces from the camp, and the seventh difficultly escaped +with two wounds. Leaving the province of Apalache, the Spaniards now +entered that called _Atalpaha_, the first town they came to being +abandoned by the natives. Six of the principal people remained behind, +who were brought before Soto, whom they boldly asked whether he was for +peace or war with their nation. Soto answered by means of his +interpreter that he had no inclination for war, as his only intention +was to pass through their country, yet desired that his people might be +supplied with provisions. To this they answered, if such were his +intentions there was no occasion to have made them prisoners, and if he +conducted himself in a friendly manner he might depend on better +treatment than he had received at Apalache. They accordingly dispatched +some of the common people to desire the natives to return to their +houses to serve the Spaniards, whom they conducted to a better town, +where the cacique came to ratify a peace, which was punctually observed +during three days that Soto remained there. + +From that place they advanced for ten days to the northwards along the +banks of a river, through a fertile country, in which all the +inhabitants behaved in a friendly manner. After this they entered the +province of _Achalaqui_, which was poor, barren, and thinly inhabited, +having very few young men, and the old people being mostly +short-sighted and many of them quite blind. Quickening the march through +this bad country they came to the province of _Cofachi_, where, besides +other presents, Soto gave the cacique some boars and sows for a breed, +having brought above three hundred of these animals with him to Florida, +where they increased very fast, as the Spaniards had no occasion to kill +them, getting abundance of other provisions. During this expedition, +Soto made it an invariable practice, before entering any province, to +send a message to the cacique offering peace and demanding leave to pass +through his dominions, that the natives might not be alarmed at the +appearance of so many armed strangers; and besides it was always his +wish to employ fair means in his intercourse with the Indians, rather +than force. He accordingly sent a message to the cacique of _Cofa_ with +the usual requests of peace, provisions and a free passage, with which +the cacique complied, coming himself to meet the Spaniards, for whom he +appointed quarters and plenty of provisions. The land being plentiful, +Soto and his army rested here five days. The next province belonged to a +brother of Cofa, named Cofaqui, who came out to meet the Spaniards +attended by a great number of his people, all finely adorned with plumes +of feathers, and wearing mantles of rich sables and other valuable furs. +After this friendly reception, the cacique went away to another town, +leaving his own entirely for the accommodation of the Spaniards. This +country abounded in maize or Indian corn, which is used by the Indians +as wheat is in Europe. They had also abundance of dried fruits; but +flesh was rare, being only what they procured by hunting, as they had no +domesticated animals. + +Next day, Cofaqui returned to Soto, offering a supply of provisions and +a strong escort of armed Indians, to enable the Spaniards to cross a +desert or wilderness of seven days journey leading to the next province +of Cofachiqui[156]. Immediately there appeared four thousand Indians to +carry burdens, and the like number armed, to accompany the Spaniards. + +[Footnote 156: The word _Cofa_ seems to have signified lord or chief +among these Indians; as we have four successive chiefs in the text, +named Cofa, Co-fachi, Cofa-qui, and Cofa-chiqui.--E.] + +On seeing so great a number of men, Soto was on his guard like a good +soldier and prudent commander, that he might not be taken by surprise. +On this occasion the cacique made a speech to the commander of his +forces, enjoining him, as he knew the ancient enmity subsisting between +him and the people of Cofachiqui, that he should not let slip the +present favourable opportunity of taking severe revenge upon their +enemies, considering that he was now supported by these valiant +strangers. The Indian commander, throwing off his mantle of furs, +flourished a two-handed sword or war-club, the ensign of his command, +and told his lord in pompous terms what he would do for his service. On +this, the cacique took from his own shoulders a rich mantle of sables, +thought by the Spaniards to be worth a thousand ducats, which he put +upon the shoulders of his general, and placed a splendid plume of +feathers on his head. The presentation of a mantle and plume of feathers +is considered among the Indians as the highest honour which can be +bestowed. + +There were two Indians among the Spaniards who were extremely familiar, +named ordinarily Mark and Peter though not baptized. On the night before +commencing the new march for Cofachiqui, Peter made a violent outcry as +if in danger of being slain. All the forces turned out under arms on +this alarm, and found Peter in great trepidation and distress. He +alleged that the devil and a number of his imps had threatened to kill +him if he acted as a guide to the Spaniards, and had dragged him about +and beaten him so unmercifully that he had assuredly been killed if they +had not come to his assistance; and, since the great devil fled from two +Christians, he begged to be baptized that he might be a Christian like +them and able to drive away the devil. This appeared to be no fiction, +by the bruises and swelling which Peter exhibited; and accordingly Soto +gave him in charge to the priests, who remained with him all night and +baptized him; and next day he was mounted on horseback, being unable to +walk on account of the drubbing he had got from the Devil! + +The two armies marched apart, pursuant to the wise precautions adopted +by Soto. The Indians kept excellent order, having a regular van and rear +guard, and making those who carried the provisions and baggage keep in +the centre. Every night the two armies lay at some distance, each +appointing their own guards. On the third day of the march from Cofaqui +they entered upon the wilderness, through which they marched for six +days, finding the country very agreeable. They had two rapid rivers to +cross, at both of which the cavalry was made to form a kind of wall +above the ford to break the force of the stream, by which means they all +got safe over. On the seventh day both Spaniards and Indians were much +at a loss, as the road they had hitherto followed was now at an end, so +that they knew not which way to take through the rest of the wilderness. +Soto asked the Indian general how it could possibly happen that among +eight thousand men of his nation, more especially as they had always +been at war with the people to whose country they were going, no one +should know the road. The Indian chief answered that none of them had +ever been there; for the war was never carried on by means of complete +armies, as they merely killed or made prisoners of each other, when they +chanced to meet at the fisheries on the rivers, or while hunting; and as +the people of Cofachiqui were most powerful, his countrymen did not +venture so far into the wilderness, by which reason they were +unacquainted with the country. He farther assured Soto that he might +rely on the probity and good faith both of the cacique and himself, who +had no intention of fraud or perfidy; yet he might if he pleased take +what hostages he thought proper for his security, and if that were not +sufficient, he would submit to lose his own head, and that all his men +should be put to death, wherever they were found to harbour any evil +intentions. + +Satisfied with these assurances, Soto sent for Peter the Indian, who was +likewise at a loss, as he had not been in these parts for five years. +They marched on however the rest of that day, without knowing any thing +of the road, yet found the woods easily passable. Towards evening they +arrived at a great river which could not be forded[157]. This +circumstance added greatly to their perplexity, as they now had only +seven days provisions, which would not hold out till they could make +rafts to pass this river. Next day Soto sent off four several +detachments in different directions to explore the country, with orders +to return in five days; and with each of these went a thousand Indians, +to assist in finding the way of which they were in search. The Indians +who carried the baggage, and who remained at the encampment, went out +every morning armed, and returned at night with herbs, roots, birds, +some small land animals, and a little fish, part of which they gave to +the Spaniards; but this scanty supply was quite insufficient for their +necessities. Soto now ordered some of the swine which accompanied the +army to be slaughtered, and distributed eight ounces of their flesh +daily to every one of his men. Even this was only protracting their +misery, yet all shewed wonderful patience, as their commander gave them +a good example. + +[Footnote 157: In the utter impossibility to trace the route of Soto, it +may even appear absurd to suppose that this may have been the Tenasse or +Hogohegee River, formerly called the Cherokee River; yet he assuredly +marched in various directions through the interior country of North +America, westwards of the present states of Virginia, the Carolinas, and +Georgia, to the north of modern West Florida, now occupied by the +Creeks, Cherokees, Catawbas, Chactaws, and Chickasaws.--E.] + +Three of the detachments that had been sent out on discovery returned on +the sixth day unsuccessful. But the commander of the fourth, Juan de +Anasco, who had gone up the banks of the river, sent back four horsemen +to inform Soto that he had found a small town on the same side of the +river, which had a good store of provisions, and had seen several towns +still higher up, where there was a good deal of cultivated land. The +messengers brought with them many ears of _zara_[158], and some cows +horns, without knowing whence these were procured, not having hitherto +seen any cows in the country. The Indian general _Patofa_ and his men, +who accompanied Anasco, killed all the inhabitants of that town whom +they could lay hands on, taking off their _skulls_[159], and plundering +the temple or place of burial, where the best of the effects were +secured. This town was in the province of _Cofachiqui_; and as the +Indians accompanying the Spaniards did much injury to the country, Soto +now sent them home again to prevent any farther harm being done under +his auspices; and by making presents to the Indian general and the other +chiefs, and supplying them with provisions for their journey, they went +away well satisfied. Soto now advanced with the Spaniards through a +pleasant and plentiful country, but which was abandoned by the natives +on account of the ravages and slaughters that had been committed by +Patofa and his people. + +[Footnote 158: This word, left unexplained by the translator of Herrera, +perhaps means some species of millet cultivated by the Indians.--E.] + +[Footnote 159: This ought in all probability to have been translated +_scalps_.--E.] + +Three days afterwards, to avoid going on at random, Soto sent on Juan +Anasco with thirty horse to explore the country. Anasco set out a little +before night, and after proceeding about two leagues, he heard the +barking of dogs and the noise of some children, and saw some lights; but +on going towards the place for the purpose of trying to seize one or two +Indians from whom to gain intelligence, he found that the town was on +the other side of the river. He halted therefore at a place which seemed +to be used as a landing for canoes; and having fed and rested the +horses, he returned to give Soto an account of what he had observed. +Soto went accordingly next day with an hundred horse and an equal number +of foot to view the town; and as the Indians fled on seeing the +Spaniards, the two Christian Indians, Peter and Mark called to them +across the river that no harm was intended. Upon this six Indians +ventured across the river in a canoe, and came to wait on Soto, who was +seated in a chair, which was always carried with him to receive the +natives in state, as the customs of these people required. On +approaching Soto, the six Indians made their obeisances; first to the +sun, then to the moon, and lastly to the Spanish commander, whom they +asked whether he was for peace or war with their nation. He answered by +means of his interpreter, that he was desirous of peace, and required +nothing from them but provisions for his people. They replied that they +willingly accepted of peace, but were sorry to say that they were very +scarce of provisions in consequence of a pestilence which had lately +raged among them; but they would inform their sovereign of his demands, +who happened to be a young unmarried woman. When they had delivered +their message to the princess, two large canoes covered with awnings +were seen to set out from the town on the other side of the river, into +one of which seven or eight women embarked, and six men in the other. +Among the women was the princess who ruled over the tribe; and +immediately on coming to Soto, she sat down on a stool before him, which +her people brought for her use, and after some complimentary discourse, +she expressed her sorrow for the scarcity which then existed in her +country, but that having two storehouses filled with provisions for +relieving the necessities of her subjects, she would give him one of +these, and hoped he would leave her in possession of the other. She said +likewise that she had two thousand measures of maize at another town, +which she would give him, and would quit her own house and half the town +to accommodate him and his people, and if that did not suffice, that the +whole of the town should be cleared for his use. Soto thanked her in a +courteous manner for her friendly offers, declaring that he would be +perfectly satisfied with whatever she was pleased to give. While he was +speaking, she took off a string of pearls which she wore round her neck, +and gave it to Juan Ortiz the interpreter to present it in her name to +Soto, as she could not deliver it with her own hands without +transgressing the rules of decorum[160]. Soto stood up and received it +with much respect, and presented her in return with a ruby which he wore +on his finger. Thus peace was ratified with this princess, who now +returned to the other side of the river, all the Spaniards admiring her +beautiful appearance and good behaviour. + +[Footnote 160: The circumstance of great quantities of pearls being +found in this part of the country tends in some measure to confirm the +idea of Soto being now on the Tenasse River. In the most recent maps of +this part of America, a part of this river near its great bend, where it +sweeps round from a S.W. to a N.N.W. direction, is distinguished by the +appellation of the _Muscle Shoals_, and it is well known that the +fresh-water muscles are often very productive in pearls.--E.] + +After this all the Spanish force was transported across the river, on +rafts and in canoes, four horses being drowned in the passage. The +Spaniards were all commodiously quartered in the middle of the town, and +the country round was found to be extraordinarily fertile. The mother of +the princess of this tribe was a widow, and resided about twelve leagues +from this town in great retirement; and on being sent for by her +daughter to see the strangers, she not only refused, but sent a severe +reproof to her daughter for admitting those persons of whom she knew +nothing. Soto sent Juan Anasco with thirty horse, with a respectful +message to the old lady inviting her to come to visit him. Anasco was +accompanied on this occasion by an Indian of considerable rank, who +seemed pensive and melancholy. After travelling some leagues, they +stopped for rest and refreshment, and sat down under the shade of a tree +to partake of a repast. Throwing off his mantle of sables, the Indian +took the arrows one by one from his quiver, which were very curiously +made of reeds, having heads of bones with _three points_[161] all of +them feathered on three sides, and both them and his bow beautifully +painted with some kind of bituminous substance, as smooth and glossy as +the finest varnish. The last arrow which he drew out was headed with +flint, sharp-pointed, and double-edged like a dagger. Seeing that the +Spaniards were all intent upon observing the curious arrows, he cut his +own throat with the flint-headed arrow, and immediately fell down dead. +The other Indians who accompanied Anasco said that in their opinion he +had killed himself because he was carrying a message which he believed +was disagreeable to the old lady. A short time after this, as Anasco was +still proceeding, one of the Spaniards observed that they were going +blindly in search of a woman who was said to have gone to hide herself +from them in another place; and as Soto already had the daughter in his +power, he had no occasion for the mother also, and as their number was +small they were exposed to much danger, and had much better return to +head-quarters. As this advice was universally approved of, they turned +back. + +[Footnote 161: Perhaps this ought to have been _triangular_ pointed +heads.--E.] + +Three days afterwards Soto sent twenty Spaniards up the river in two +canoes at the request of the daughter to seek her mother, under the +conduct of an Indian who offered to conduct them to her place of +concealment. While on this expedition, the Spaniards recollected that +Peter and Mark had reported there was both gold and silver in that +province; but upon search they found much copper of a golden colour, and +great plates of _ore_[162] which was very light and mouldered away like +earth, which probably had deceived the young Indians. A wonderful +quantity of pearls were found, and the old lady gave them leave to go +into a sacred house where the chiefs or nobles of the tribe were buried, +to take what pearls were there, and to another temple, or sepulchre +rather, near the town, in which the bodies of her own ancestors were +reposited, where they found pearls in still greater abundance. In these +repositories of the dead they found a number of wooden chests in which +the bodies were laid; and beside them in baskets made of reeds there +were great quantities of large and seed pearls, as also garments both +for men and women, made of skins and fine furs. So great was the +abundance of pearls found on this occasion, that the kings officers +weighed five hundred pounds weight. As Soto was unwilling to encumber +his troops with so much additional weight, he proposed that no more than +fifty pounds should be then taken, to send to the Havannah to learn +their value; but as they were already weighed, the officers begged that +they might be all carried away, to which he consented, and gave his +captains two handfuls of pearls as large as pease to make strings of +beads or rosaries. + +[Footnote 162: These large plates of _ore_, were probably +silver-coloured mica; and the golden-coloured copper in the text may +have been bright yellow pyrites.--E.] + +Leaving Cofachiqui, the army came to another town called _Tolomeco_, in +a temple or charnel-house more properly of which place, opposite the +residence of the chief, they found strings of large pearls hanging on +the walls, and others in chests, with many fine garments like those +formerly mentioned; and in rooms over this charnel-house were great +numbers of pikes with copper heads resembling gold, and clubs, staves, +and axes of the same metal, and bows, arrows, targets, and +breast-plates. Soto would not take away any of these, being resolved to +continue his march. Accordingly, taking leave of the princess of +Cofachiqui, he divided the army into two parts for the better +convenience of provisions, retaining the immediate command of one, and +confiding the other to the charge of Baltasar de Gallegos. In this order +they moved on to the province of Chalaqui; and next day were exposed to +such a storm of wind, lightning, and hail, that many of them must have +perished, but for the shelter afforded by the trees, as the hail-stones +were as large as pigeons eggs. On the sixth day of this new march, they +came to the valley of Xaula, a pleasant country to the N.N.E. The +sailors who accompanied the army believed the river which flowed past +Cofachiqui to be the same which is known on the coast under the name of +_Santa Ellena_; and computing their marches at four leagues a-day, it +appeared that the forces had come two hundred leagues from Apalache to +Xaula[163]; which, with an hundred and fifty leagues from the Bay of the +Holy Ghost to Apalache, made four hundred and ten leagues in all[164]. + +[Footnote 163: Two hundred Spanish leagues would amount to near 800 +English miles. But as the march, was entirely in an uncertain and +probably changing direction, this estimate does not assist in +determining any thing of its extent Eight hundred miles would reach, +even from Espiritu Santo Bay, to beyond the Ohio.--E.] + +[Footnote 164: The numbers in the text are obviously corrupt, as the +particulars do not agree with the sum; but it is impossible to correct +or reconcile them, neither indeed is it of much consequence, as no +establishment was made in Florida by Soto, and the names of the places +he visited are now unknown and uninteresting. Four hundred and ten +Spanish leagues, or 1640 English miles, would carry us into Upper +Canada.--E.] + +The Spanish forces rested a fortnight in the vale of Xaula, which was +subject to the princess of Cofachiqui, though a separate province, being +induced to this delay by finding abundance of all things, and on purpose +to recruit their horses. Leaving this place, they marched one day +through an agreeable country, and then five days over an unpeopled +mountain[165], though not disagreeable, as it had many fine groves, +waters, and pasture-grounds, the way over being about twenty leagues. +Four Indian chiefs who accompanied them by order of the princess of +Cofachiqui, sent to require the cacique of _Guanale_ to receive the +Spaniards with kindness, or otherwise to declare war against him. While +on the march, a foot-soldier named Juan Terron pulled a little bag from +his wallet full of large well-coloured pearls not pierced, which he +offered to a horseman, who advised him to keep them as the general meant +soon to send to the Havannah, where he might purchase a horse for them +to ease him from marching on foot. On this refusal, Terron threw his +pearls on the ground, alleging they were troublesome to carry, and they +were picked up by his comrades. He sorely repented of this afterwards, +as he was informed they would have been worth 6000 ducats in Spain. The +Spaniards stopped four days at Guanale, and in five days march from +thence they reached _Ychiaha_, a town situated on an island in the river +about five leagues in length. As the general always made inquiry every +where concerning the country farther on, the cacique of Ychiaha told him +there were mines of yellow metal about thirty leagues from thence, and +presented him with a long string of large pearls, which would have been +of extraordinary value if they had not been bored. As Soto seemed to +prize them, the cacique said there were many such in the burial place of +his ancestors which he was welcome to take if he pleased. In return Soto +presented the cacique with some pieces of velvet and satin, with which +he was much gratified. Two soldiers were sent on, accompanied by a party +of Indians, to view the reported mines of yellow metal, who reported +that they were only copper, that the country was fruitful, and that they +had been well treated by the inhabitants. Some of the men likewise were +ordered to drag the river for the pearl oysters, where they soon brought +up large quantities, which were laid on a fire to make them open their +shells, and the pearls were taken out somewhat damaged by the heat. A +soldier who boiled some of these oysters, while eating one of them, +almost broke his teeth on a pearl as big as a hazle-nut, which he +presented to Soto for his lady, as it was bright and well shaped; but +the general refused it, desiring him to keep it to purchase horses, and +in return for his good will paid the kings fifth out of his own money, +its value being estimated at 400 ducats. Soto was exceedingly generous +and obliging to his soldiers, making no distinction between himself and +them, in clothes, eating, lodging, or enduring hardships, and enjoyed +their entire confidence and affection. + +[Footnote 165: If correct in the idea of Soto having crossed the +Tenassee, the mountainous district here indicated may have been the +Cumberland mountains, between the Tenassee and Cumberland Rivers.--E.] + +From Ychiaha, the Spaniards proceeded onwards to Acoste, where the +cacique received them with ill-will, and an open breach had like to have +taken place; but Soto prevented this by conciliatory management, and +still preserved the peace, which had not been infringed since leaving +Apalache. Next day the Indians of Acoste became better humoured, and +having contented them, Soto crossed the river into the large province of +_Coza_, through which he marched for an hundred leagues, finding it +every where populous and fertile, and the Spaniards were every where +received in a friendly manner, well treated, and commodiously lodged. At +the town of Coza, the cacique came out to meet Soto attended by a +thousand Indians wearing plumes of feathers and rich mantles of furs. +The town consisted of about five hundred houses along the side of the +river, and here the Spaniards were most hospitably entertained. While +dining one day with Soto, the cacique requested he would spend the +winter in his country and establish a colony there; and indeed it was +better land than any that the Spaniards had hitherto passed through. +Soto thanked him for his friendly offer; but said that it was necessary +for him in the first place to explore the country farther on, that he +might be able to judge what articles were necessary for trade, and that +he might give orders for seeds and all other requisites, after which he +would return and accept his offer. He staid twelve days at this place, +more to oblige the cacique than on any other account; and then set out +towards the sea, which he had long designed, making a semicircular turn +that he might march back by a different route to explore the country, +meaning to make his way to the port of _Anchusi._ + +In five days march he reached _Talisse_, a town fortified with +entrenchments of timber and earth, on the frontiers of the territories +of the cacique of _Tascaluza_, who was in enmity with the cacique of +_Coza_, who went so far with the Spaniards on purpose to intimidate +Tascaluza. At this place Soto was received by a son of Tascaluza, only +eighteen years of age, and so tall that none of the Spaniards reached +higher than his breast. This young man offered his fathers compliments +of friendship to the Spaniards, and conducted Soto to Tascaluza, who +received him sitting after their manner on a kind of chair, with a great +number of men standing round him; and though the different commanders +came up successively to salute him, no one stirred till Soto came +forwards, when the cacique stood up and advanced twenty paces to meet +him. Tascaluza was like a giant, much taller than his son, well-shaped, +and of a good aspect. The Spaniards were well received, abundantly +supplied, and commodiously quartered. They set out again on their march +on the third day; and as the cacique Tascaluza chose to accompany them, +one of the baggage horses belonging to Soto was selected for him to ride +upon. When mounted, his feet reached within, a span of the ground. He +was not fat, as his waist was hardly a yard in compass, and he did not +seem to exceed forty years of age. In the course of this days march, +after coming to a fortified town, the Spaniards had to cross the river, +which they did with considerable difficulty, being badly supplied with +rafts or floats. On taking up their quarters for the night, two +Spaniards were amissing; and when the Indians were asked about them, +they answered in a haughty manner, _they were not given to our keeping_, +so that it was strongly suspected they were murdered. Upon this cause of +jealousy, and being likewise privately informed that the cacique had +assembled a great number of men at a place called Mavila, under pretence +of serving the Spaniards, Soto sent three confidential officers to view +that place, which was about a league and a half from quarters. They +reported that they had seen no person by the way, but that Mavila was a +much better fortified place than, any they had hitherto seen in Florida. + +As the Spaniards were bound for Mavila, and under circumstances very +considerable suspicion as to the good intentions of Tascaluza and his +subjects, they marched with the utmost circumspection. Soto led the van +in person, consisting of an hundred horse and an hundred and fifty foot. +He was accompanied by Tascaluza, and as he marched with diligence, he +arrived at Mavila at eight in the morning, the main body not coming up +for a considerable time after. The town of Mavila was seated in a plain, +enclosed by a double row of piles with timbers laid athwart, and the +interstices rammed full of straw and earth, so that it looked like a +wall smoothed by a masons trowel. At every eighty paces distance, there +was a tower or platform where eight men could stand to fight, having +many loop holes. It likewise had two gates. Though it only consisted of +eighty houses, these were so large that each could have contained a +thousand men. In the middle of the town was a large square or +market-place, into which when Soto and the cacique were come and had +dismounted, Tascaluza, pointed out to the interpreter a house in which +the general might take up his quarters and another for his kitchen, +saying that huts and barracks were provided for the rest of the +Spaniards on the outside of the town. To this Soto made answer, that, +when the major-general came up, he would distribute the troops to proper +quarters. + +Tascaluza now retired into a house where all his chiefs were assembled, +on purpose to consult how best to kill all the Spaniards, which he had +been long plotting to accomplish. It was proposed in this council to +attack them in their present divided state, before the rest of the +Spaniards could get forwards to the town; but another opinion prevailed, +which was to allow them all to assemble, as the Indian chiefs had a +large force concealed in the houses of the town, and thought themselves +perfectly able to encounter with the Spaniards. When the meat was +dressed at the quarters of Soto, Juan Ortiz the interpreter was sent +with a message to Tascaluza desiring his presence; but he was refused +admission to deliver his message, and on pressing to get in, an Indian +came to the door exclaiming angrily, "What would these unmannerly +vagabonds have with my lord? Down with the villains, there is no +enduring their insolence!" He immediately bent his bow, and levelled at +some Spaniards who were in the street; but Baltasar de Gallegos, who +happened to be close by, gave him a cut on the shoulder which cleft him +to the middle. An Indian youth now let fly six or seven arrows at +Gallegos, which did him no harm as he was in armour, after which the +Indian gave him three or four strokes on the helmet with his bow, but +Gallegos killed him with two thrusts of his sword. The moment these +Indians were slain an alarm was given, and above seven thousand +warriors, who had been concealed in the large houses of the town, rushed +out into the streets and drove all the Spaniards out of the town. + +The Spaniards who managed best on this alarm, ran immediately to mount +their horses, which had been left tied on the outside of the town; while +others cut the halters or reins that the Indians might not shoot them. +Others remained tied, and were slain by the Indians. Such of the +Spaniards as had been able to mount their horses, with others who now +arrived, charged the Indians who were engaged with the infantry, making +room for them to draw up in regular order. Having re-established their +ranks, a troop of horse and a company of foot made so furious a charge +on the Indians that they drove them into the town, and attempted to get +in at the gate after them; but they were received by such a volley of +arrows and stones as compelled them to retire two hundred paces, yet +without turning their backs, in which consisted their safety. As the +Indians followed them, they made a fresh charge, and drove the Indians +back to the town, yet dared not to venture too near the wall; and the +fight continued in this manner for some time, alternately gaining and +losing ground, several of the Spaniards being killed and wounded. +Finding they had the worst of it in the open field, the Indians kept +close behind the walls of the town. On this Soto alighted from his +horse, causing others to do the same, and advanced up to the gate at the +head of a party armed with targets, under cover of which two hundred men +with axes hewed down the gate and rushed in, not without much hazard and +some loss. Others of the Spaniards contrived to mount the wall, helping +each other, and hastened to succour those who had gained the gate. +Seeing the Spaniards had forced their way into the town, which they +deemed impregnable, the Indians fought desperately in the streets, and +from the roofs of the houses, for which reason these were set on fire by +the Spaniards. After entering the town, Soto remounted his horse, and +charged a body of Indians in the market-place, killing many with his +spear; but, raising himself in the stirrup to make a home thrust, an +arrow penetrated through his armour and wounded him in the hip, so that +he could not regain his seat: yet, not to discourage his men, he +continued to fight during the remainder of the action, though obliged to +stand the whole time in the stirrups. Another arrow pierced quite +through the spear of Nunno de Tovar, near his hand, but did not break +the shaft of the lance, which continued to serve after the arrow was cut +off. + +The fire which had been put to the houses burned fiercely, as the houses +were all of wood and covered with thatch, by which great numbers of the +Indians perished. About four in the afternoon, being sensible of their +own weakness and that they were likely to be worsted, the Indian women +began to join in the battle, armed with the spears, swords, and +partizans which the Spaniards had lost, some even with bows and arrows, +which they managed as dexterously as their husbands, and some armed only +with stones exposed themselves courageously in the heat of the action. +The foremost of the Spanish main body, which had fallen greatly behind +the van little thinking of what was to happen, on hearing the noise of +trumpets, drums, and shouts, gave the alarm to the rest, and hastening +forwards came up about the close of the engagement. At this time many of +the Indians got over the wall into the fields, and endeavoured to make +head against the newly arrived Spaniards, but were soon slain. On the +arrival of the Spanish main body, about twelve fresh horsemen made a +furious charge on a large body of Indian men and women who still +continued the battle in the market-place, and soon routed them with +great slaughter. This ended the fight about sunset, after it had lasted +nine hours, being on St Lukes day in the year 1541[166]. + +[Footnote 166: The date of 1541 seems here erroneous, Soto having +landed in 1539, and spent only one winter in the country, the +transactions in this part of the text ought only to refer to the year +1540.--E.] + +During the night and next day, Soto ordered the best possible care to be +taken of the wounded, some of whom died for want of proper necessaries, +no bandages, lint, oil, or medicines being to be had, as all these +things had been plundered along with the other baggage at the +commencement of the battle by the Indians, and having been carried into +the town were all there burnt along with the houses. Forty-eight +Spaniards were slain in this battle; thirteen others died shortly of +their wounds, and twenty-two some time afterwards, so that the entire +loss was eighty-three men, besides forty-five horses, which were much +missed, as the cavalry constituted the main strength of the army. It was +reckoned that eleven thousand Indians perished, four thousand of whom +were found dead without the town, and young Tascaluza among them. The +dead bodies within the town were computed at three thousand, as the +streets were all full of them; and it was believed that upwards of four +thousand were consumed by fire in the houses, for above a thousand +perished in one house, as the fire began at the door and they were all +stifled. When the Spaniards afterwards scoured the country round, many +were found to have died of their wounds in various parts, and some of +them four leagues from the town. The body of the cacique Tascaluza could +not be found, whence it was concluded that he had perished in the +flames, a victim to his eager desire to destroy the Spaniards, which he +had anxiously premeditated from the first notice he had received of +their arrival in the neighbourhood of his territories. It was reported +by some women who were made prisoners, that on the Indians of Talisse +complaining of having been ordered by their cacique to carry the baggage +of the Spaniards, Tascaluza had exhorted them to have a little patience, +as he would soon deliver up these strangers to them as slaves. These +women said that they were strangers who had accompanied their husbands +at the invitation of Tascaluza, who had promised to give them scarlet +and silk dresses, and fine jewels to wear at their dances, and to divide +the Spaniards and their horses among them. They said likewise that all +the women of the surrounding country, married and single, had collected +on this occasion; as it had been given out that an extraordinary +festival was to be held in honour of the Sun, after the destruction of +the Spaniards. Besides the destruction of their baggage on this +occasion, the Spaniards lost all the wine, chalices, and holy vestments +for celebrating the mass, so that in future they could only have +ordinary prayers and sermons, without any consecration or communion, +till after their return among Christians. + +The Spaniards remained a fortnight at Mavila, making frequent excursions +into the country, where they found plenty of provisions. From twenty +Indians whom they took prisoners, they were informed that there were no +warriors left to oppose them in all the surrounding country, as all the +bravest men of the nation and its allies had been slain in the battle. +At this time they received the intelligence that Maldonado and Gomez +Arias were making discoveries along the coast; and Soto was much +inclined to have established a colony at the port of _Achiusi_ or +_Anchusi_[167], to carry on trade with another establishment twenty +leagues up the country, but this was opposed by some of his officers, +who thought the Spanish force too small for subduing so warlike a +people, considering the experience they had of their fierceness in the +battle of Mavila. They objected likewise that they saw no reason for +exposing themselves to such hazards, without hope of reward, as they had +found no mines in all the vast extent of country they had travelled +over. This opposition was exceedingly perplexing to Soto, as he had +expended the whole of his substance on the expedition, and was afraid +his men would desert him if he came near the coast, when he was not in a +condition to raise new forces. For these reasons he resolved to +penetrate into the interior of the country; and, being disgusted at +seeing all his projects disappointed, he never succeeded afterwards in +any of his undertakings. + +[Footnote 167: It is quite impossible to conjecture even where this +place may have been situated; perhaps it is the same bay or creek +formerly called Auche, and may have been that now called Mobille Bay. +The Mavila of the text may likewise have been on the river now called +Mobille. We know that the _b_ and _v_ are often interchanged in the +Spanish names of places and persons; as for example Baldivia and +Valdivia are both applied to the original Spanish conqueror of Chili. In +the present instance, Mavila may afterwards have been changed to Mabila, +and then by the French to Mobille. All this however is mere +conjecture.--E.] + +When the sick and wounded were so far recovered as to be able to travel, +Soto set out from Mavila, and marched through a fine country for three +days, after which they entered the province of _Chioza_, where the +natives refused to receive him in a peaceable manner. They abandoned +their town, and took post to defend the passage of a very deep river in +which were many craggy places. At this pass above eight thousand Indians +collected, some of whom crossed in canoes to attack and harass the +Spaniards: But Soto caused some trenches to be made, in which he +concealed several bodies of musqueteers, targeteers, and crossbow-men, +who fell upon the rear of the Indians, who forbore to repeat these +attempts after having been twice discomfited in this manner. As it was +found impossible to cross over in the face of so large a force of +Indians in the ordinary manner, two very large piraguas were privately +built in the woods, which were got ready in twelve days, and were then +drawn out of the wood on rollers by the Spaniards with the assistance of +their horses and mules. These were launched into the river without being +perceived by the Indians; and forty musqueteers and crossbow-men were +embarked in each with a few horses, and these pushed across the river +with the utmost diligence. They were descried however, by five hundred +Indians who were scouring the country, who with loud cries gave the +alarm to the rest, and all hastened to defend the pass. Most of the +Spaniards were wounded while on the water, as the Indians continually +shot their arrows against them unopposed. One of the piraguas got +straight across to the landing, but the other was forced some way down +by the current, and had to be towed up. Two horsemen landed from the +first piragua, who drove the Indians above two hundred paces back, and +made four several charges before any reinforcement could land; but at +length were joined by other four horsemen, and made several desperate +charges on the Indians, so as to allow of the infantry getting on shore; +but as these were almost all wounded, they were obliged to take shelter +in an Indian town hard by. Soto came over in the second trip of the +piraguas, accompanied by sixty men; and the Indians, on seeing the +Spanish force increase, retired to a fortified town in the +neighbourhood, whence they frequently sallied out to skirmish with the +Spaniards; but as the cavalry killed many of them with their spears, +they evacuated that place during the night. + +The Spaniards now broke up their piraguas, keeping the iron work for +future service, and advanced farther into the country. In four days they +reached a town called _Chicoza_[168], well situated in a fertile +country among brooks and surrounded by abundance of fruit trees. +Resolving to spend the winter in this place, Soto caused it to be +fortified, huts to be built for the accommodation of his troops, and all +the provisions that could be procured to be collected. At this place +they remained in peace for about two months, the horsemen making +frequent excursions into the surrounding country in quest of provisions. +Such Indians as happened to be made prisoners on these occasions were +immediately set at liberty, receiving various trinkets for themselves +and presents for their chiefs, with messages desiring them to repair to +the Spanish quarters to enter into terms of peace and amity. The chiefs +sent presents of fruit in return, and promised soon to visit the Spanish +general. Soon afterwards they began every night to alarm the Spaniards; +and one night three considerable bodies of them drew near the town about +midnight, and when about an hundred paces from the entrenchments they +set up loud shouts and made a prodigious noise with their warlike +instruments; after which, with burning wreaths of a certain plant tied +round their arrows, they set the town on fire, all the houses being +thatched. Undismayed at this calamity, the Spaniards repaired to their +alarm posts, and Soto issuing out in his _escaupil_ or cotton armour, +mounted his horse and went to attack the Indians, being the first to +kill one of the assailants with his spear; as upon all occasions of +danger he gave a wonderful example of cool and intrepid courage. Some +sick Spaniards and several horses were burnt on this occasion; but +Captain Andres de Vasconcelos with four horsemen fell with such fury on +the enemy that he forced them to retire. Soto, being eager to slay an +Indian who particularly distinguished himself in this action, leaned +forwards so much that he and the saddle fell off; but being bravely +rescued by his men, he mounted again and returned to the fight. At +length after two hours hard fighting, the Indians were constrained to +fly, and were pursued as far as they could be seen by the light from the +burning houses, after which Soto sounded a retreat. In this fatal night, +the Spaniards lost forty men and fifty horses, twenty of them being +burnt. All the swine likewise perished in the fire, except a few that +broke out of an enclosed yard. During this engagement prodigious shots +of arrows were made by the Indians, one of which pierced through both +shoulder-blades of a horse, and came out four fingers breadth on the +opposite side. + +[Footnote 168: This word seems to have almost the same sound with +Chicasaw, and Soto may on his present return into the interior have +crossed the river Yazous, which flows into the Missisippi in lat. 32 deg. +30' N. a short way above the Natches.--E.] + +Soto now thought proper to remove the army to a town named _Chicacolla_, +about a league from that which had been burnt; and, having fortified +these new quarters, the Spaniards were obliged to make new saddles, +spears, targets and clothes, to supply the places of those which had +been burnt. The clothes were made of goats skins[169]. At this place the +Spaniards spent the rest of the winter, during which they suffered +extreme hardships for want of clothes, as the weather was excessively +cold. Being sensible that they had done much harm to the Spaniards in +the late night attack, the Indians returned again to make a similar +attempt; but their bow-strings being wetted by violent rain, they +withdrew, as was learnt from an Indian prisoner. They returned however +every night to alarm the Spaniards, of whom they always wounded some; +and though the cavalry scoured the country every day four leagues round, +they could meet none of the natives, so that it was wonderful how they +should come nightly from so great a distance. + +[Footnote 169: More probably of deer skins found in the Indian towns, as +goats certainly were not among the indigenous animals of North +America.--E.] + +The Spaniards contrived to shift in a very miserable manner at +Chicacolla till about the latter end of March 1542[170], when they +resumed their march. At the end of about four leagues, the advanced +guard returned with a report that they had seen an Indian fort which +appeared to be defended by about four thousand warriors. After viewing +it, Soto told his soldiers that it was indispensably requisite to +dislodge these people, who would otherwise annoy them with night +attacks, and that it was likewise necessary to do this that they might +preserve the reputation they had already gained in so many provinces of +the country. This fort, called _Alibamo_[171], was of a square form, +each side being four hundred paces in length, and the gates were so low +that the horsemen could not ride in, similar in all respects to what has +been already said respecting Mavila.[172] The general therefore gave +orders to three companies of infantry to assail the gates, those who +were best armed being placed in front. When they were all ready to +begin the assault, a thousand Indians sallied out from the town, all +adorned with plumes of feathers, and having their bodies and faces +painted of several colours. At the first flight of arrows, five of the +Spaniards were shot, three of whom died of their wounds. To prevent the +discharge of more arrows, the Spaniards immediately closed and drove the +Indians in at the gates, which they entered along with them, making +dreadful havock with their swords, as may easily be imagined, the +Indians being all naked. To escape from the infantry, the Indians threw +themselves from the walls, by which means they fell into the hands of +the horsemen, who slew many of them with their spears. Others of the +Indians endeavoured to escape by swimming a river behind the fort; but a +squadron of horse passed the river, and killed many of them, so that on +the whole two thousand Indians were supposed to have been slain in this +battle. During this engagement, an Indian challenged Juan de Salinas to +single combat, which he accepted, and when his comrade made offer to +cover him with his target, he refused, saying that it was a shame for +two Spaniards to engage one Indian. Salinas shot his bolt through the +breast of the Indian, and in return the Indians arrow went through the +neck of the Spaniard. + +[Footnote 170: Herrera persists in the error already noticed of +advancing his chronology a year, as hitherto between May 1539 he has +only accounted for two winters, and ought consequently to have been now +only in the spring of 1541.--E.] + +[Footnote 171: At present Toulouse, built on the scite of an Indian +village called Alibama, stands on a river of the same name, which flows +into the left or east side of the Mobille River in the back part of +Georgia, and seems to have been surrounded by a tribe called the +Alibamons. If this be the place indicated in the text, it is quite +adverse to the idea of Chicoza being to the north-west of the +Yazous.--E.] + +[Footnote 172: These square forts of logs rammed full of earth may have +given rise to the entrenchments which have lately occasioned some +speculation in America, as having belonged to a people more advanced in +civilization than the present race of savage hunters.--E.] + +At this time the Spaniards were reduced to great distress from want of +salt, owing to which they were afflicted with lingering fevers, of which +several died, and their bodies stunk so violently, that there was no +coming near them. As a remedy for this evil, the Indians taught them to +make a lye of the ashes of a certain herb, into which they dipped their +food by way of sauce. At this time likewise the Spaniards were put to +much trouble for interpreters, on account of the great diversity of +languages, so that they were obliged to employ thirteen or fourteen +others besides Juan Ortiz, among the various tribes they met with in +traversing the country; but so acute were the natives, that such of +their women as happened to live with the Spaniards were able to +understand them in two months. After three days march from Alibamo, the +Spaniards came to another town named _Chisca_, on a river to which they +gave the name of _El Grande_[173] or the Great River, as it was the +largest they had yet seen. Coming upon this place by surprise, most of +the inhabitants were made prisoners; but some of them made their escape +to the residence of the cacique, which stood on a high and difficult +ascent, to which the only access was by means of stairs. Though old and +sick, the cacique was coming down to attack the Spaniards, whom he +threatened to put all to death, but he was stopped by his women and +servants. As there was no proper access for the horsemen to assail the +residence of the cacique, and besides as Soto was always more inclined +to carry his purposes by gentle means than by the exertion of force, he +very courteously offered to enter into peace and amity with this cacique +and his people. In less than three hours, more than four thousand +Indians assembled at the residence of the cacique, among whom there was +great difference of opinion as to the choice of peace or war with the +Spaniards, many of them inclining to war as accordant with the natural +ferocity of their dispositions. The opinion however of the wiser +prevailed, who deemed it better to make peace, by which they might +recover their wives and children, and retrieve their property without +bloodshed, and might save their corn, which was then ripe, from being +destroyed. Peace was accordingly concluded, on condition that the +Spaniards should not insist upon going up to the residence of the +cacique; the prisoners were set at liberty, all the plunder of the town +restored, and the Spaniards were supplied with provisions. + +[Footnote 173: From what will appear in the sequel, there can scarcely +be a doubt that this great river must have been the Missisippi. +According to the Governor Pownall's map of North America, Soto fell in +with this river in 1541, about the lat. of 34 deg. 30' N. in the country of +the Chicasaws and to the west of the Yazous, near where we have already +supposed Chicoza to have been situated.--E.] + +Having rested sixteen days in Chisca, on purpose to give time for the +sick and wounded to recover, during which time they gained the +friendship of the cacique, the Spaniards resumed their journey, and went +four days along the river in search of some place in which it could be +crossed, as the banks were everywhere high and almost perpendicular, and +closely wooded. Although above six thousand Indians, with great numbers +of canoes, were seen posted on the opposite side of the river, it was +deemed necessary to get across in search of provisions, for which +purpose two large piraguas were ordered to be built. In the mean time +four Indians came to the camp, and having made their adorations to the +sun and moon, they addressed Soto in the name of their cacique, bidding +him welcome to his territories, and offering his friendship. The general +returned a courteous answer, and was well supplied with provisions for +his forces during his stay, but could never prevail on the cacique to +visit him, who always excused himself under pretence of sickness; but it +was afterwards found that this peace was concluded by the Indians on +purpose to save their harvest, which was then ready to be carried home. +In fifteen days the two piraguas were finished for crossing the river, +although some damage was done by the Indians from the opposite side by +means of their canoes; but the Spaniards drove them always away, as they +kept a constant guard concealed behind trenches. These piraguas were so +large as to contain an hundred and fifty foot and thirty cavalry, all of +whom embarked in sight of the Indians, and plied up and down the river +with sails and oars; and the Indians were so astonished and intimidated +by the sight of such huge floating machines, that they abandoned the +opposite bank of the river and dispersed. + +After passing the river, the Spaniards came to a town of about four +hundred houses, constructed upon some high bluffs or ridges near another +river[174], and surrounded by spacious fields of Indian corn, and +abundance of fruit-trees of several kinds. The Spaniards were +courteously received at this place by order of the cacique, named +_Casquin_[175], who resided at a different town higher up the river, and +sent to compliment the Spanish commander. After resting six days, they +proceeded up the banks of the river, through a plentiful and populous +country, till they came to the town where Casquin resided, who received +and entertained them with great attention and kindness. + +[Footnote 174: This other river may have been the St Francis, which +flows into the west side of the Missisippi a little above where Soto is +supposed to have crossed.--E] + +[Footnote 175: The memory of this name perhaps is still preserved in a +small river or creek, called Kaskin-opa, which runs into the east side +of the Missisippi about 20 miles below the mouth of the Ohio. The +situation indeed is materially different from that in which Soto is +supposed to have found the cacique named Casquin in the text; but the +roaming tribes of Indians frequently change their places of residence, +as influenced by success or misfortune in war and hunting.--E.] + +Three days after their arrival, the cacique waited upon Soto, and, after +making his obeisance to the sun and moon, he said "he was persuaded the +Spaniards worshipped a better God than the Indians, since he had given +them victory with so small a number over such multitudes of Indians: +Wherefore he requested that Soto would pray to his God to send rain, of +which they were in great want." The general answered, that though he and +all his men were sinners, they would humbly pray to God to shew mercy. +Having accordingly ordered a cross to be erected on a hill, he and all +the forces, except a guard left to protect the quarters, went in solemn +procession to adore the cross, accompanied by the cacique and some +Indians, the Christian priests singing the litanies, and all the +soldiers joining in the responses. Being come to the cross, many prayers +were recited on their knees, after which they returned to their quarters +chanting appropriate psalms. Above twenty thousand natives stood gazing +at this religious procession, some on the same side of the river, and +others on the opposite bank, all of whom occasionally set up loud +shouts, as if begging of God to hear them. It pleased God to answer +their humble prayers, as towards midnight there fell sufficient rain to +satisfy the wants of the Indians, and the Christians returned solemn +thanks for the mercy which God had been pleased to grant at their +intercessions. + +Nine days afterwards, the Spaniards again set out on their march, +accompanied by Casquin and a great number of Indians carrying water and +other necessaries. The cacique was also accompanied by five thousand of +his warriors, as he was at war with the cacique of the next adjoining +tribe, and took the opportunity of the Spaniards to assist in the war. +During this march they spent three days in getting across a great swamp, +when they came in sight of Capaha[176], being the frontier town of the +next tribe. This place was fortified on three sides by a wet ditch forty +fathoms wide and ten fathoms deep, into which water was conveyed from +the great river by a canal three leagues in length. The fourth side, +which had no ditch, was secured by high and thick palisades. As the +cacique of Capaha was unprovided for resistance, he went away on seeing +the approach of his enemies along the canal in a canoe, and sheltered +himself in a fortified island in the great river. Many of his subjects +accompanied him, and those who remained were butchered by the followers +of Casquin, who took the whole scalps[177] of all they killed to carry +home as trophies. They plundered the town, and took many prisoners, +among whom were two beautiful women, wives of the cacique. They likewise +demolished the burial-place belonging to Capaha, throwing about the +bones of his ancestors, and recovered the scalps of their own countrymen +which were hung up there as memorials of victory. All this evil was done +before the arrival of Soto and the Spaniards, who had not been informed +by Casquin of the enmity between him and Capaha. He would even have +destroyed the town, if he had not feared giving offence to Soto. + +[Footnote 176: On the western bank of the Missisippi, and in the country +of the Akansas, there are two Indian towns named Kappas or Quapa, which +may possibly have some connection with the Capaha of the text.--E.] + +[Footnote 177: On all occasions the text of Herrera, as translated by +Stephens, names these savage trophies of massacre sculls, which we have +ventured to call scalps, consistent with the now universal practice of +the North American savages. Possibly the entire scull might be the +original trophy, for which the scalp was afterwards substituted as more +portable.--E.] + +On the coming up of the Spaniards, Soto sent a message to the fugitive +cacique by means of some prisoners, offering peace; but Capaha would not +hear of any friendly intercourse, and loudly declared his resolution to +take ample vengeance of his enemies. Learning that the Spanish commander +was making preparations for an attack on Capaha, Casquin requested him +to wait for sixty canoes which he had ordered up the river, by means of +which the army could be transported to attack the fortified island. In +the mean time the troops of Casquin marched through the country of their +enemies, which they laid waste on all sides, and in their course set +free some of their own countrymen who were there in captivity, and had +been lamed by cutting the sinews of one of their legs to prevent them +from running away. On going in the canoes to attack the island, a great +part of its coast was inaccessible, being overgrown with thick briars +and brambles, which formed an impenetrable barrier, and the only +accessible part was fortified by several rows of strong palisades. Soto +ordered two hundred of his Spanish soldiers to endeavour to land along +with the Indians belonging to Casquin. On this occasion one Spaniard was +drowned by too great eagerness to get first to land; but the rest +managed so well that they soon gamed the first palisade, on which the +women and children belonging to the defenders set up a terrible cry of +consternation. A desperate opposition was made at the second palisade, +in which consisted the last refuge of the defenders. The subjects of +Capaha reviled those of Casquin, calling them cowardly dogs, who had +never ventured before to attack that place, and threatened them with +ample vengeance when the valiant strangers had left the country. The +subjects of Casquin were so intimidated by these threats and the brave +opposition they experienced, that in spite of every thing their cacique +could say they took to flight, carrying off forty of the canoes, and +would have done the same with the other twenty, had not two Spaniards +that were left in charge of each defended them with their swords. Being +thus deserted by their allies, and having no horses to act against the +Indians, the Spaniards began to retire; and when the Indians proposed to +pursue them, Capaha restrained them, thinking this a favourable +opportunity to embrace the peace he had before rejected, and the +Spaniards accordingly retired unmolested. + +Next day, without taking any notice whatever of Casquin, Capaha sent +four messengers to Soto, apologizing for having before refused peace, +which he now sued for, and requested leave to wait upon him. Soto was +well pleased with this, and returned a suitable answer. Accordingly, +Capaha came next day to the town, attended by an hundred Indians finely +adorned with plumes of feathers; and before waiting on the general went +to the sepulchre of his forefathers, where he gathered together the +bones with anxious care, kissed them with much reverence, and replaced +them in their chests or coffins. On coming into the presence of Soto, he +paid his compliments with a good grace, and though only about twenty-six +years of age gave an intelligent account or the affairs of his country. +Turning to his enemy Casquin, he addressed him as follows: "I suppose +you are now well pleased at having seen what you never expected, for +which you may thank the power of these valiant strangers: But when they +are gone, you and I shall understand each other. In the mean time I pray +the sun and moon to send us good seasons." Being informed of what Capaha +had said, the general without giving time to Casquiu to reply, assured +Capaha that he and his Spaniards had not come into the country to +inflame the enmity of the tribes, but to reconcile them. After more +friendly discourse of this nature, Capaha consented to be friends with +Casquin, and the two chiefs sat down to dinner with Soto. After the +repast, the two women who belonged to Capaha and had been taken +prisoners were brought in and restored to him, at which he seemed well +pleased, yet presented them to Soto, who declined accepting them; but +Capaha desired him to give them to any one he pleased, as they should +not stay with him, and they were accordingly admitted among the +followers of the Spanish army. + +At this time the Spaniards suffered excessively for want of salt, when +they were informed by some Indians that there was plenty to be had, and +likewise of the metal they called gold only about four leagues from +thence. Soto accordingly sent Ferdinand de Silvera and Pedro Moreno +under the guidance of these Indians to the place, ordering them likewise +to examine diligently into all the circumstances of the country they +passed through. They returned after eleven days with six loads of rock +salt, as clear as crystal, and one load of fine copper; and reported +that the country they had passed through was rather barren and thinly +inhabited. On receiving this report, the general resolved to return in +the first place to Casquin, and thence to proceed towards the west, +having marched northward all the way from Mavila, in order to remove to +a distance from the sea. After resting five days at Casquin, they +marched other five days down the river, where at a town in the province +of _Quiguate_ the inhabitants fled without any hostilities, but they +returned in two days and the cacique made an apology for his absence. In +the interval, the inhabitants of that place wounded two of the +Spaniards, which the general thought proper to overlook under the +present circumstances. Departing from Quiguate after a sojourn of seven +days, they arrived in five days more at the province of _Colima_, +marching still down the river, and were received in a friendly manner. +At this place they found another river having blue sand, which was salt +to the taste. The Spaniards being much in want of salt, steeped some of +this sand in water, which they strained and boiled, and procured +excellent salt to their great joy; yet some ate of it so voraciously +that ten of them died. + +Departing from this province of Colima, which the Spaniards named _De +Sal_, or the Salt Country, they marched four days through an uninhabited +wilderness, after which they came to a province called _Tula_[178]. On +approaching the first town, the whole population both male and female +came out to oppose them, and a battle ensued in which the Indians were +defeated, and the Spaniards rushed into the town along with the +fugitives; and as the inhabitants obstinately refused to submit or +surrender they were all massacred. After this, on Reynoso Cabeza de +Vaca[179] going into one of the houses, he was suddenly beset by five +women who had hidden themselves in a corner, who would have stifled him +if he had not been rescued by two soldiers who came in upon hearing his +cries for assistance, and who were forced to kill the women before they +could extricate him from their hands. From this place Soto sent out +parties of his cavalry to view the country. When any Indians were made +prisoners in these excursions, they used to throw themselves on the +ground, exclaiming "_either kill me or leave me_," refusing obstinately +to accompany the Spaniards, or to give any account of the country. At +this place the Spaniards found several well dressed cows hides, though +they could never learn from whence they came[180], and likewise other +good skins of various kinds. Four days after the arrival of the +Spaniards at this place, they were attacked one morning early by +surprise by a large party of Indians, in three several places at once, +all calling out _Tula! Tula!_ continually, which was considered as a +watch-word to know each other in the obscurity and confusion of the +attack. The Spaniards seized their arms in all haste, invoking the +blessed virgin and their patron apostle St Jago for aid, as they were in +the utmost peril. In this battle the Indians fought with great clubs, a +weapon which had not been seen before in Florida. The Indians continued +the assault with such obstinacy till after sunrise, and the Spaniards +had been so completely surprised, that they were forced to lay aside all +punctilios of military discipline, each using his utmost individual +efforts for safety, and the officers even submitting to fight +occasionally under the command of their inferiors. At length the Indians +were repulsed, and retired unpursued by the Spaniards, of whom four were +killed and a good many wounded. + +[Footnote 178: It is proper to observe that this place is named Fula on +another occasion by Herrera.--E.] + +[Footnote 179: This may have been a relative of Alvar Nunnez Cabeza de +Vaca, whose adventures in escaping from the disastrous expedition of +Panfilo de Narvaez to Florida have been related in the third section of +this chapter.--E.] + +[Footnote 180: It is however well known that buffaloes are found in +various parts of North America.--E.] + +While the Spaniards after the battle were surveying the dead, and +looking at the dreadful wounds made by their swords and spears, an +Indian started up from among the dead, on which Juan de Caranza ran to +attack him. But the Indian gave him such a stroke with a Spanish +battle-axe he had laid hold of, as to cleave his target and wound him in +the arm. On this Diego de Godoy came up to assail him, but was soon +disabled. Francisco de Salazar came on next, and made several thrusts at +the Indian who skulked behind a tree, but at length gave Salazar so +violent a blow on the neck that he dropped from his horse. The fourth +Spaniard who came against this single Indian was Gonzalo Silvestre, who +conducted himself with more caution. Having avoided a blow aimed at him +by the Indian, he gave him in return a back stroke with his sword on the +forehead, which glanced down his breast, and cut off his left hand at +the wrist. The Indian rushed on aiming a blow at the face of Silvestre, +who warded it off with his target, underneath which he with another back +stroke cut him almost in two at the waist. The general and many others +went up to see this Indian who had made himself so remarkable by his +valour, and to admire the wonderful cut he had received from Gonzalo +Silvestre; who was well known at the court of Madrid in 1570, by his +valour and dexterity. + +After remaining twenty days in Tula, the Spaniards departed from thence, +accompanied only by one Indian woman and a boy belonging to that place, +the former having attached herself to Juan Serrano de Leon, and the +other to Christopher de Mosquera. In two days march, they came to the +territory of Vitangue, through which they marched for four days, and +then took up their quarters in a well built town, which they found +abandoned. The situation of this place was advantageous, as it was +inclosed with good palisades and there was plenty of provisions both for +the men and horses; and as the winter advanced with hasty strides, Soto +resolved to remain here till the ensuing spring, although the Indians +were continually troublesome, and rejected every proposal for peace. + + +SECTION VI. + +_Conclusion of the Expedition to Florida by Ferdinand de Soto_[181]. + + +[Footnote 181: Herrera, VI. 1--30.] + +Soto and his men accordingly took up their quarters in the town of +Vitangue at the latter end of the year 1541[182]. As during their abode +at this place, the Spaniards often went out to kill deer, rabbits, and +roe-bucks, all of which were plentiful and good in the surrounding +country, they were frequently on these occasions way-laid by the +Indians, who discharged their arrows at them from ambushments and then +made their escape. A great deal of snow fell during the winter, but as +the Spaniards had abundance of fire-wood and provisions, among which was +excellent fruit, they lived in tolerable comfort and in plenty. The +cacique of the province, desirous of becoming acquainted with the +strength and numbers of the Spaniards, that he might know how best to +attack them, sent several messages to the general under pretence of +offering to visit him. At first the Spaniards admitted these people into +their quarters even under night; but at length Soto began to suspect +some sinister purpose, by the frequency of these messages, and gave +orders that no more of them should be admitted at night, reproving those +who did not chastise and turn back these unseasonable visitors. In +consequence of these orders, one of the centinels killed an Indian who +impudently endeavoured to force his way into the town next night, for +which he was much commended by the general. + +[Footnote 182: At this place the text returns to the true date of 1541, +quite conformable with the whole tenor of the narrative, and fully +confirming our observations respecting erroneous dates in the text on +former occasions.--E.] + +Towards the end of winter, several parties were sent out in different +directions to endeavour to procure Indians for carrying the baggage, who +brought in very few. Upon this Soto set out himself on a similar +expedition, with 100 horse and 150 foot. After a march of twenty leagues +into the province of _Naguaten_, which was very populous, he attacked a +town by surprise one morning at day-break, and returned with many +prisoners. In April 1542, the Spaniards broke up from their winter +quarters at Vitangue, and in seven days through a fruitful country +arrived without opposition at the chief town of Naguaten, where they +found abundance of provisions, and remained seventeen days. On the sixth +day after their arrival, a message was brought from the cacique, to +excuse himself for not having visited the general and offering his +services. Soto received this messenger with much civility, and sent back +a courteous answer. Next day four chiefs came attended by 500 servants +with a large quantity of provisions, saying they had been sent by their +lord to attend upon the general, but the cacique never made his +appearance. + +On departing from Naguaten, and after the Spaniards had marched two +leagues, they missed a gentleman of Seville, named Diego de Guzman, who +had always hitherto behaved himself well, but was much addicted to +gaming. On inquiry it was found that Guzman had lost every thing he had +at play the day before, among which was a good black horse and a +beautiful young Indian woman to whom he was much attached. He had +punctually delivered up every thing he had lost, except the woman, whom +he promised to yield up in five days. It was concluded therefore that +the reason of his disappearance was from shame of having abandoned +himself to gaming, and owing to his love for the woman. On this +occasion, the general required of the four chiefs belonging to Naguaten +to restore Guzman, or that he would detain them as prisoners. They +accordingly sent to inquire after him, and it was found that he had gone +along with the woman to the cacique, whose daughter she was, that the +Indians used him well, and that he refused to return. Upon this, one of +the four chiefs asked permission of the general to go and inquire the +reason of Guzman refusing to come back, and requested a letter to the +deserter to that effect, saying that it was not reasonable he and his +comrades should be reduced to slavery for the fault of another person +who renounced his country and deserted from his commander. Soto +accordingly ordered Baltasar de Gallegos, who was the friend and +townsman of Guzman, to write him a letter reproving his behaviour and +advising him to return; promising in the name of the general that his +horse and arms should be returned, or others given in their room. The +Indian who carried this letter was ordered to threaten the cacique with +having his country laid waste if he did not restore Guzman. The +messenger returned in three days, bringing back the letter, having +Guzmans name wrote upon it with a piece of burnt stick, and an answer +peremptorily refusing to return. Along with this letter, the cacique +sent a message, declaring that he had done nothing to oblige Guzman to +stay, and did not think himself obliged to force him back, but would on +the contrary be well pleased if many others of the Spaniards would stay +with him, all of whom should be well used: And if the general thought +proper on this account to kill the four chiefs who were in his power and +to ruin the country, he certainly might do so, but it would in his +opinion be extremely unjust. Perceiving that it was impossible to induce +Guzman to return, and that the cacique was in the right, Soto dismissed +the four chiefs with some presents, and continued his progress. + +After five days march through the province of Naguaten, the Spaniards +entered upon a new territory called _Guacane_, inhabited by a fierce and +warlike tribe, who obstinately refused to be at peace with them. In all +the houses of this tribe, _wooden-crosses_ were found; supposed to have +been occasioned by what Cabeza de Vaca and his companions had taught in +their progress through some other provinces of Florida, from whence +these crosses had been conveyed to this province and several +others[183]. Soto, having now lost half of his men and horses, was very +desirous to establish some colony, that the fatigues and dangers which +had been endured by him and his men might turn out to some useful +purpose. With this view he was now anxious to return to the great river, +repenting that he had not built a town at _Achusi_, as he once designed. +He had now a strong inclination to found a colony in some convenient +situation near the great river; where he could build two brigantines to +send down to the sea, to give notice of the large and fertile provinces +he had discovered, considering that if he should happen to die, all the +fruits of his labours would be lost. Having marched eight days through +the hostile province of _Guacane_, he proceeded by long marches in +search of the great river through seven extensive provinces, some of +which were fertile. In some of these the Spaniards were received in a +friendly manner, as they used every possible means to avoid war, because +their numbers were so much diminished, and they feared the summer might +pass away before they could reach the great river. Having entered the +province of _Anilco_, they marched thirty leagues through it to a town +of four hundred houses, having a large square in which the residence of +the cacique stood on an artificial mount on the bank of the river, which +was as large as the Guadalquiver at Seville. On their approach to this +place, the cacique drew out 1500 warriors to combat the Spaniards; yet +as soon as they drew near, all the Indians fled without shooting a +single arrow, and crossed the river in canoes and on floats, carrying +off their women and children, only a small number being taken by the +Spaniards. Soto sent several messages to the cacique requesting peace, +but he constantly refused to be seen or to send any answer. + +[Footnote 183: In Governor Pownalls map of North America, Soto is said +to have reached a place called Caligoa in Louisiana on a branch of a Red +river, in lat. 36 deg. N. and about 230 miles west from the Missisippi.--E.] + +Leaving Anilco, and crossing the river on which it stood without +opposition, the Spaniards marched through an extensive unpeopled +wilderness overgrown with wood, and came into the province of +Guachacoya. The first town they came to was the capital of the province, +and was situated on several hillocks at the side of the great river, on +one of which hillocks stood the residence of the cacique. Being taken by +surprise, as he had received no intelligence of the approach of the +Spaniards in consequence of being at war with Anilco, the cacique of +Guachacoya saw no likelihood of being able to defend his town, and made +therefore a precipitate retreat across the river with his people in +canoes and floats, carrying off as many of their effects as they could. + +The wars which were carried on among the tribes inhabiting the various +districts or provinces of Florida, were not intended to deprive each +other of their dominions, neither did they ordinarily engage in pitched +battles with their whole forces; but consisted chiefly in skirmishes and +mutual surprises, carried on by small parties at the fishing-places, in +the hunting grounds, among the corn-fields, and on the paths through the +wilderness. Sometimes they burnt the towns of their enemies, but always +retired into their own country after any exploit; so that their warlike +enterprises seemed rather for exercise in the use of arms, and to shew +their valour, than for any solid or public purpose. In some places they +ransomed or exchanged prisoners. In others they made them lame of a leg +in order to retain them in their service, more from pride and vain glory +than for any substantial use or benefit[184]. + +[Footnote 184: It is perhaps singular that no mention is made of the +cruel manner in which the North American Indians were in use to put +their prisoners to death. Probably that practice was then confined to +the tribes farther to the north and west.--E.] + +Three days after the arrival of the Spaniards at Guachacoya, the cacique +became acquainted with the unfriendly reception they had received at +Anilco. Though a barbarian, he could perceive the advantage which might +be derived from that circumstance to obtain revenge upon his enemies, by +an alliance with the warlike strangers. He sent therefore four of his +inferior chiefs to wait upon the Spanish general attended by a +considerable number of Indians loaded with fish and fruit, and desiring +permission to wait upon him at the end of four days. Soto accordingly +received the messengers with great courtesy, and sent back a friendly +answer; yet the wary cacique sent fresh messengers every day to see in +what disposition the Spanish general was. At length, being satisfied +that Soto was disposed to receive him well, he made his appearance +attended by ten chiefs splendidly dressed after their manner, in fine +plumes of feathers, and rich furs, but all armed. Soto received them in +a friendly manner, and had a long discourse, with the cacique in one of +the spacious rooms belonging to his residence, by the intervention of +interpreters. At one time the cacique happened to sneeze, on which all +the Indians who were present bowed their heads and extended their arms, +in token of salute; some saying, _the sun preserve you_, others _the sun +be with you_, and others _may the sun make you great_, with other +complimentary expressions of similar import. Among other discourse at +this interview, the cacique proposed to Soto to return into the province +of Anilco to take revenge on the cacique for his enmity, and offered to +supply 80 canoes to carry the Spaniards down the great river and up that +of Anilco, the distance being only twenty leagues, when the rest of the +army marching by land might form a junction in the centre of the enemies +country. As Soto was inclined to take a full view of the country, +meaning to form a settlement between these two provinces, where he might +build his brigantines, he agreed to this proposal, and accordingly +orders were given out to prepare for the march. Juan de Guzman was +ordered to embark with his company on board the canoes, which were +likewise to carry 4000 Indians, and who were expected to join the forces +which marched by land at the end of three days. Soto and the rest of the +Spanish forces marched by land, being accompanied by Guachacoya with +2000 warriors, besides a large number carrying the provisions. + +They all met at the time appointed, and as the Anilcans were unable to +oppose the groat force which came against them, the Guachacoyans entered +the town killing all they met, without regard to age or sex; committed +all imaginable barbarities, broke open the sepulchres scattering and +trampling on the bones, and took away the scalps of their countrymen and +other trophies which the Anilcans had hung up in commemoration of their +victories. On seeing the barbarity of his allies, Soto sounded a +retreat and ordered the Spaniards to turn the Indians out of the town, +wishing anxiously to put a stop to any farther mischief, and to prevent +it from being set on fire. But all his efforts were ineffectual, as the +Guachacoyans thrust burning brands into the thatch of the houses, which +soon took fire, and the town was utterly destroyed. The Spaniards and +their allies now returned to Guachacoya, where Soto gave orders for +cutting down and hewing timber with which to build the brigantines, and +to prepare iron work for their construction; designing when the vessels +were finished to cross the river into a province named _Quiqualtangui_, +which was very fertile and populous, the cacique of which had a town of +five hundred houses, but who could never be induced to listen to +proposals of peace from the Spaniards: On the contrary, he had sworn by +the sun and moon, that he would give battle to these vagabond robbers, +and would hang up their quarters on trees. The general endeavoured to +appease him with presents and fair words, being always generous towards +the leaders of the barbarians, endeavouring to bear with and soften +their savage manners, and to conciliate their friendship. By this wise +conduct he had hitherto been able to subsist his troops for so long a +time among so many fierce and savage nations. + +While engaged in these things, Soto was seized with a violent fever, +which increased upon him so that he soon perceived it would prove +mortal. He made therefore his will, and endeavoured to prepare for death +like a good Christian. That nothing might be left unprovided for, he +appointed in presence of all his officers and principal followers Luis +Moscoso de Alvarado to succeed him in the command till the king might +order otherwise; and after commending the virtue and bravery of +Alvarado, he entreated and commanded all to yield him implicit +obedience, even taking their oaths to that purpose, and represented to +them how necessary it was for them all to be united and obedient, for +their own preservation among these barbarous nations. He then took an +affectionate leave of all his officers and soldiers, and departed this +life on the seventh day of his illness, after performing all the duties +of a zealous Christian. Ferdinand de Soto was of a comely appearance and +pleasant countenance, and of affable and generous dispositions. He was +an excellent soldier, and managed his weapons with much dexterity both +on foot and on horseback; skilful and experienced in all military +affairs; always brave and cool in action, and the foremost in every +enterprise of danger: severe in punishing when necessary, yet easy to +forgive, and always inclined to please his soldiers when that might be +done without lessening his authority. At his death he was only forty-two +years of age, and had expended his whole fortune, exceeding 100,000 +ducats on this romantic and fruitless expedition. His death was +universally lamented among his followers, as he had acquired their +universal love and esteem by his excellent qualities and conduct. It was +thought necessary to bury him under night, that his death might not be +known to the Indians, nor the place of his interment, lest they should +insult his remains; but in spite of all their precautions the secret was +revealed; for which reason they hollowed out a log of oak into which +they put his body, and sunk it in the middle of the great river, at a +place where it was a quarter of a league across and nineteen feet deep. + +When the funeral of the general was over, Luis de Alvarado assembled his +officers to hold a council upon the present state of their affairs. +After thanking them for admitting him as their commander, and making a +statement of their numbers, arms, and ammunition, he desired they would +determine upon what was best to be done, considering the fierceness and +inveterate enmity of the barbarous nations by whom they were surrounded: +Whether to prosecute what had been previously resolved upon by their +late lamented general, or to devise some other measure for extricating +themselves from the country, declaring that he was ready to proceed +according to their opinion and advice. In their answer, the officers +thanked him for the compliment he paid them, but referred the +determination respecting their future proceedings to himself, and again +submitted to obey him as their commander. The death of Soto had made a +great change in the minds of the Spanish forces, who now determined to +abandon the country they had taken so much pains to discover. +Accordingly, they set out on the 5th of July 1542, and marched above 100 +leagues to the westwards, through a barren and desert country[185]. On +leaving Guachacoya they were joined by an Indian youth of about sixteen +years of age, whom they did not observe till the fourth day of their +march. Suspecting him of being a spy, Alvarado asked him who he was and +what was his object in following them. He said that he had fled from +Guachacoya, because the chief whom he served was at the point of death, +and he had been appointed to be buried alive along with his master, as +it was the custom of the country to inter women and servants along with +great personages, to minister to them in the next world. + +[Footnote 185: Though not directly so expressed in the text; it may be +inferred from circumstances in the after part of the narratives that the +present object of Alvarado and the Spaniards, was to endeavour to find +their way by land to the northern part of New Spain.--E.] + +At the end of the 100 leagues of wilderness, the Spaniards came to a +province called _Auche_, where they were well received, and where they +rested for two days. Still determined upon proceeding to the westwards, +they were informed that they had a desert wilderness of four days +journey to cross, and received a supply of provisions sufficient for the +journey, with a guide to conduct them through the wilderness. But after +having marched for eight days in that direction, still in the +unhospitable and unpeopled wilds, and having been three days without +Indian corn, they discovered that they had been imposed upon and were +likely to perish of famine. Alvarado now ordered a dog to be let loose +upon the faithless guide; who acknowledged that he had received orders +from the cacique of Auche to lead them into the heart of the desert that +they might there perish, because he did not think himself able to +contend with them in arms. He craved pardon therefore of the general for +having obeyed the orders of his chief, and engaged to lead the army in +three days more, still proceeding to the westwards, to an inhabited +country where they would find provisions. But the Spaniards were so +incensed against him for leading them into the present alarming +situation, that they would not listen to his apology or promises, and +permitted the dogs to devour him. Thus left in the utmost want of +provisions, and utterly ignorant of the country, the Spaniards held on +their way towards the west for other three days, during which they had +to subsist upon any wild plants they could find; and at length came to +an inhabited though barren country. They here procured the means of +subsistence, particularly beef, and saw many fresh cows hides, though +the Indians never shewed them any cows[186]. While the Spaniards were +proceeding on their march through this province, which they denominated +_De los Vaqueros_[187], or the tribe of cow-herds, they observed an +Indian approach from the skirts of a wood, and believing he might have +brought some message from the cacique, they permitted him to draw near. +But as soon as he was within reach, he levelled an arrow at five or six +soldiers who stood together, who fortunately escaped the danger by +stepping to a side; but the arrow flew among some Indian women who were +dressing provisions for their masters, pierced one of them quite +through, and wounded another in the breast, so that both died. On the +alarm being given, Baltasar Gallegos, who happened to be at hand, +overtook the Indian before he could get back to the wood, and slew him. + +[Footnote 186: Unquestionably because they had none to produce. The beef +and the hides were assuredly acquired by hunting the wild American +buffaloe or bison.--E.] + +[Footnote 187: In this rare instance our maps throw some light on the +text. Nearly in the latitude of the mouth of the Ohio, but 700 or 800 +miles west from the Missisippi, there is a nation named the Apaches +Vaqueros, probably the same indicated in the text. The route thither +from the Missisippi leads through several tribes of savage Indians, +named Ozages, Paducas, and Kanzez.--E.] + +Having travelled above thirty leagues westwards through this province of +the cow-herds, they discovered a ridge of vast mountains still farther +to the west, which from their own scouts and the information of the +Indians, they learnt were barren, desert, and unpeopled. They were also +informed, that if they bent their course to the right hand, they would +come into a desert country; but that to the left, though a longer way, +they would travel through inhabited and plentiful countries[188]. +Considering what they had endured in their late march through the desert +intervening between Auche and the country of _Los Vaqueros_, they had +determined upon giving up their first plan of proceeding by land to +Mexico, thinking it better to return to the great river, and so proceed +to the sea pursuant to the plan originally proposed by their late +general. They accordingly took long marches to the _southwards_, taking +care not to offend the barbarians, yet they were teased by frequent +attacks while leaving the country of the cow-herds. On one of these +occasions a soldier was wounded by an arrow, which penetrated through +his greaves and thigh, and passing through the saddle lap, ran two +fingers breadth into the horses side, the arrow being made of reed with +no other head than the reed itself hardened in the fire and sloped to a +point. The wounded soldier was lifted from his horse, the arrow being +previously cut off between his thigh and the saddle, and he was left to +cure himself, as he had formerly performed many wonderful cures on his +comrades with only oil and wool, assisted by prayers. But since the +battle of Mavila, in which all the oil was lost, he had never attempted +to cure either others or himself, though twice wounded before, believing +that the cure could not be performed without oil and dirty wool. In this +distress, he swore that he would not submit to the surgeons, and would +rather die than allow them to dress his wound. Having no oil, he +substituted hogs lard, and procured some wool from an Indian mantle, as +the Spaniards had now no shirts or any other linen among them, and to +the astonishment of every one he was so sound in four days that he was +able to mount his horse on the fifth day. He now begged pardon of the +soldiers for having allowed so many of his comrades to perish, by +refusing to cure them, as he had believed the efficacy of his mode of +cure depended on the oil, but as he now found that it consisted in the +holy words he had pronounced over the dressings, he desired they might +again recur to him when wounded, and he would exert himself as formerly. +This soldier, named Sanjurgo Gallego, was very chaste, a good Christian, +ever ready to serve all men, and had many other virtues[189]. + +[Footnote 188: There is some ambiguity in the text, from which it is +difficult to ascertain whether the left and right hand of their general +line of march is now to be respectively considered as south and north, +or the contrary. But as coupled with their intended return towards the +great river, now to the east, the _left_ means probably the _north_, and +the _right_ the _south_.--E.] + +[Footnote 189: Though not mentioned in the text, it is not improbable +that Gallego had formerly placed considerable dependence on the use of +_holy_ oil, or chrysm. The whole secret of his surgery seems to have +consisted in the application of bland oils, and leaving nature to +operate, without the employment of the ancient barbarous methods of +cure, by tents, escharotics, cautery, and heating inflammatory +applications; which in modern times, abandoned by surgeons, have been +adopted by farriers.--E.] + +After leaving the territories of the cow-herds, the Spaniards marched +for twenty days through the lands of other tribes. Being of opinion that +they had declined too much from, the direction of Guachacoya, to which +place they now proposed returning, the Spaniards now directed their +course eastwards, still inclining somewhat towards the _north_, so that +in this way they crossed the direction they had formerly gone in their +march from Auche to the country of the cow-herds, yet without perceiving +it. When at length they reached the great river, it was the middle of +September, having travelled three months from leaving Guachacoya; and +though they had fought no pitched battle during all that time, they +were never free from alarm night or day, so that they had lost forty +soldiers during this last useless and circuitous march. The Indians on +every opportunity shot all who happened to stray from the main body, and +would often crawl on all fours at night into their quarters, shoot their +arrows, and make their escape, unseen by the centinels. To add to their +distresses, the winter now began to set in, with much rain, snow and +excessive cold weather. On coming to where they proposed quartering for +the night, though wet, cold, weary and hungry, they were obliged to send +parties in advance to secure them, generally, by force, and after all +were mostly under the necessity of procuring provisions by means of +their swords. Besides all this, they were often forced to construct +rafts or floats on which to pass rivers, which sometimes occupied them +five or six days. The horsemen were frequently obliged to pass the night +on horseback, and the infantry to stand up to their knees in mire and +water, with hardly any clothes to cover them, and such as they had +always wet. Owing to these accumulated hardships, many of the Spaniards +and their Indian attendants fell sick, and the distemper proceeded to +the horses, so that sometimes four or five men and horses died in a day, +and sometimes seven, whom they scarcely had leisure to bury for haste in +pursuing their march. + +In this miserable condition they came to the great river about the +latter end of November[190]. In their march on the west side of the +great river, from leaving the territory of Guachacoya to their arrival +at their new winter quarters, they had marched by estimation 350 +leagues, and lost 100 men and 80 horses by the way, without counting +their Indian servants, who were of vast use. This was the only fruit of +their long and painful march westwards in quest of New Spain, and of +refusing to follow the plan which had been devised by their late general +for descending the great river to the sea. At this period they were much +gratified by finding two contiguous towns on the great river of 200 +houses each, which were enclosed by a wet ditch drawn from the river. +They were now reduced to 320 foot and 70 horse, or 390 in all, who now +remained of 900 men and 330 horses which had landed in the bay of +Espiritu Santo at the end of May 1539, four years and a half before. Yet +inured to hardships and accustomed to conquer, they immediately attacked +and gained possession of these towns, from which the inhabitants fled, +having heard of the irresistible valour of the Spaniards from other +tribes. They had the good fortune to find plenty of provisions in these +towns, and to remain undisturbed by the Indians, so that they soon +recovered from their fatigues; yet several died in consequence of their +past sufferings, and among the rest Juan Ortiz, their chief interpreter +and an excellent soldier. + +[Footnote 190: They were already said to have reached it in the middle +of September. The discrepancy may either be an oversight of Herrera; or +they took from the middle of September to the end of November, in +descending the right bank of the great river to where they passed the +winter, having come to it much higher up than they intended.--E.] + +Having determined to take up their quarters at this place, they +fortified one of the towns to serve as quarters for the winter. This +province, called _Aminoya_, lay seventeen leagues farther up the river +than Guachacoya, to which they had endeavoured to direct their course on +returning from the province of _Los Vaqueros_. Being somewhat recovered +towards the end of January 1543, they set to work to cut down and +prepare timber for building their brigantines. At this place, an old +Indian, who had been unable to make his escape along with the rest, +objected to their staying in their present quarters for the winter, +saying that the river was in use to overflow every fourteen years, and +that this was the expected season of its doing so. They refused however +to profit by this information, of which they had sufficient reason to +repent in the sequel. The return of the Spaniards to the great river was +soon known in all the neighbouring districts. Upon which the cacique of +Anilco, to prevent them from favouring the Guachacoyans as formerly, +sent an embassy to Alvarado, offering his friendship and making mighty +promises. The ambassador sent upon this occasion by Anilco was his _Apu_ +or lieutenant-general, who brought great abundance of fruit and other +things to the Spaniards, and 200 Indian, servants to attend upon them +and supply their wants. Having delivered his message, the Apu sent back +the answer to the cacique, and remained with the Spaniards. The cacique +of Guachacoya came likewise to wait upon the Spanish general, with a +great present, to confirm the former friendship, and though he saw the +lieutenant of his enemy among the Spaniards, he took no notice of the +circumstance. On consultation about the brigantines, it was found that +it would require seven of them to accommodate all the people; and the +timber being all hewed and ready, the work was begun in earnest, and +occupied their utmost diligence all the months of February, March and +April 1543, during all which time they were amply supplied with all +necessaries by Anilco, who even furnished them with blankets and mantles +to defend themselves from the cold. These articles of clothing were +manufactured by the Indians from an herb resembling mallows, which has +fibres like those of flax; and the dresses which are made of this +substance are afterwards dyed according to their fancies. On the present +occasion, the Spaniards reserved the new blankets and mantles furnished +by Anilco for sails to their brigantines, and broke up those which were +old and useless to serve as oakum for caulking their vessels. Of the +same materials the Spaniards made all kinds of cordage for their +brigantines, from the smallest ropes up to cables; and in every thing +the cacique Anilco, to whom they had formerly done so much injury, +assisted the Spaniards to the utmost of his power, while Guachacoya was +exceedingly dissatisfied at seeing the intimacy between them. + +On the other side of the river there lay a large and fertile province +called _Quiqualtanqui_, the cacique of which was a haughty warlike +youth, who believed that although the Spaniards were now building +vessels to convey them out of the country, they might yet return in +greater numbers to enslave the natives. For this reason he determined to +destroy them, and assembled forces from all parts of the country, both +those of his, own tribe and from all the tribes around. Having concluded +an extensive confederacy and begun his preparations for war, he sent a +friendly message to Alvarado to lull him into security, advising all his +confederates to do the same. The general gave them all favourable +answers, yet kept himself carefully on his guard. _Quiqualtanqui_ +invited Anilco to join in the confederacy, instead of which he gave +notice of it to the Spaniards. It was not known how Guachacoya stood +affected on this occasion, but he was suspected of having hostile +intentions, as he made no communication of the conspiracy. The +confederates continued to send frequent messages and presents to the +Spaniards to discover what they were doing; and though repeatedly warned +not to come to their quarters under night they took no notice of it. One +night that Gonzalo Silvestre happened to stand centinel in the second +watch, the moon shining very bright, he observed two armed Indians in +their plumes of feathers, passing over the ditch on a tree that lay +across instead of a bridge. These men came to a postern which they +entered without asking leave, on which Silvestre gave one of them a cut +on the forehead, on which he immediately fled. The other Indian, without +waiting for his wounded companion, got into the canoe on the river and +gave the alarm to his party. The wounded man, missing the tree across +the ditch, swam over and cried out for assistance when he came to the +river, on which some of his friends came and carried him off. At +sunrise, Quiqualtanqui sent four messengers demanding that Alvarado +should punish the centinel for having been guilty of a breach of the +peace, more especially, as the wounded man was a chief. Four other +messengers arrived at mid-day on a similar errand, saying that the +wounded chief was at the point of death; and four more came in the +afternoon affirming that he was dead, and insisted that the centinel +should be publicly punished, since the action he had committed was an +affront to all the Indians of the confederacy. Alvarado boldly answered, +that they had been previously and repeatedly warned never to come to the +Spanish quarters under night, being always welcome and honourably +treated through the day. He added that though sincerely sorry for what +had happened, he could not possibly punish the centinel who had only +done his duty according to military discipline, neither would his +soldiers allow of any such thing being done. The confederates thought +fit to connive at this transaction, satisfied that Alvarado was a man of +invincible courage and wise conduct; yet resolved upon executing their +design against the Spaniards as soon as possible. + +Being eager to get away from the country, the Spaniards laboured +indefatigably in fitting out the vessels, even the best gentlemen among +them using the utmost diligence; while those who were not handy in the +several occupations about the brigantines employed themselves in hunting +and fishing to procure provisions for the rest. Among other fish taken +on the present occasion, one was taken by means of a hook of such +enormous dimensions, that the head alone weighed forty pounds. The +confederate Indians under Quiqualtanqui continued their warlike +preparations, being much encouraged by knowing that Ferdinand de Soto +was dead, that the number of the Spaniards was very much diminished, and +that very few horses were left. So confident were they of success, that +two of their spies desired some of the Indian women who served the +Spaniards to be patient, for they would soon be freed from their +bondage to these vagabond robbers, as they were all to be slain. But the +women disclosed this to their masters. When the night happened to be +very still, the noise of many people could be heard from the opposite +side of the river; and the Spaniards could distinctly see numerous fires +at regular distances, as of the quarters of a large army. But it pleased +God to confound the evil designs of these Indians, by an inundation of +the river, which began on the 10th of March 1543, and increased with +prodigious rapidity, so that on the 18th which was Palm Sunday, when the +Spaniards were in procession, for they observed all the religious +solemnities, the water broke in at the gates of the town, and there was +no going along the streets for long after but in canoes. This inundation +was forty days of rising to its greatest height, which was on the 20th +of April, at which time it extended above twenty leagues on each side of +the river, so that nothing could be seen in all the country around but +the tops of the trees, and the people had to go every where in canoes. + +During the time of this terrible inundation, Alvarado sent twenty +Spaniards to Anilco to request a supply of rosin, blankets, and cordage +for completing the equipment of the vessels, and these men were sent in +four canoes lashed two and two together, to prevent them from being +overset by the trees which were under water. On coming to the town of +Anilco, they found it destroyed, though twenty leagues from the Spanish +quarters, and the inundation had extended five leagues farther. Gonzado +Silvestre who commanded these Spaniards was greatly in favour of the +cacique Anilco, because he had restored to him a youth who had +accompanied the Spaniards on their march to the westwards, who perfectly +understood the Spanish language, and was so much attached to the +Spaniards as to be very averse from returning to his father. On this +occasion Anilco supplied Silvestre with every thing of which he was in +want. + +It pleased God that the water began to subside towards the latter end of +April; yet so slowly that on the 10th of May there was no going about +the streets of the town on account of the deep mire with which they were +filled. This was the more distressing to the Spaniards as they were +barefooted, all their shoes having been burnt at Mavila, and the shoes +they had since been able to make, being of untanned leather, were like +so much tripe as soon as wet. At the latter end of May, the great river +returned to its usual channel, and the confederated Indians again drew +their forces together to execute their original design against the +Spaniards, of which they received intelligence from Anilco; who likewise +informed Alvarado of the signals which had been concerted by the +confederates for the better prosecution of their enterprise, and even +offered to assist the Spaniards with 8000 well armed warriors, and that +if they chose to retire into his country the confederates would not dare +to attack them. Alvarado returned thanks for these friendly offers, but +declined accepting them; because as he intended to go down the river and +to quit the country, he did not deem it proper either to take refuge in +the territory of Anilco or to accept the assistance of his warriors, as +either of those might draw upon him the confederated hostility of his +neighbours: But he promised, if it should please God ever to put it in +his power, Anilco should not have cause to repent the service he had +been of to the king of Spain, or the kindness he had shewn to the +Spaniards. In conclusion, he recommended to Anilco to discontinue any +farther intercourse with him, lest he might give umbrage to the +confederated caciques. Many of the Spaniards were so puffed up by the +friendly offers of Anilco, that they endeavoured to persuade Alvarado to +accept the proferred aid, and prosecute an offensive war, thinking it +easy to subdue these people. But Alvarado was quite sensible of his +present weakness, and determined to leave the country as soon as +possible; besides which he did not deem it prudent to confide too much +on the fidelity of Anilco. + +Four days afterwards, exactly conformable to the information received +from Anilco, a numerous embassy arrived from the confederated caciques, +intended to spy out the posture of the Spaniards, to enable them to +concert measures for the intended attack. Having rigidly examined these +pretended messengers, it was debated among the leaders of the Spaniards +what ought to be done with these fraudulent envoys. Some were for giving +them fair words, as had been the practice hitherto; but it was finally +resolved to punish them in an exemplary manner, that the caciques might +know their treachery was discovered, which might perhaps prevent the +execution of their designs. Accordingly though the messengers on this +occasion were very numerous, thirty only were selected who had their +hands cut off, and were sent back in this guise to their employers, with +a message signifying that the Spaniards had all along been aware of +their villainy. This severe example proved successful, insomuch that the +confederacy was immediately dissolved, and the forces retired to their +respective countries. Yet as the Spaniards had only built seven great +boats, they thought they might possibly be more successful by water, and +they agreed to collect a great number of canoes to attack them while +going down the river. + +As the Spaniards believed that their only safety depended upon going +down the river as soon as possible, they hastened the completion of +their vessels; and as they had not enough of iron for the construction +of whole decks, they satisfied themselves with quarter-decks and +fore-castles to secure the provisions, laying planks only a midships. +Every thing relative to the brigantines being completed, they gathered +all the Indian corn, pulse, and dried fruit they could procure; made +bacon of all the swine that were left alive, except eighteen they +carried with them alive, and two boars and two sows which they gave to +each of the two caciques who were their friends. With the lard of the +slaughtered swine, they tempered rosin instead of pitch and tar for +paying their vessels. They likewise provided a number of canoes; part of +which were lashed two and two together to carry thirty horses which +still remained alive, and answered well for the purpose; the rest were +distributed among the brigantines, each having one at her stern to serve +as a boat. On midsummer day 1543 the brigantines were launched into the +great river, and on St Peters day, the 29th of that month, every thing +being in readiness, the brigantines and canoes having defences made of +boards and skins to fend off the arrows, they took leave of the friendly +caciques, Anilco and Guachacoya, and set sail down the great river. + +Two captains were appointed to each brigantine, that when one had +occasion to land the other might remain on board in charge of the +vessel. About 350 Spaniards embarked, all that remained of 900 who had +originally landed in Florida. Near thirty Indian men and women were on +board each vessel, all of their own free will, as they declared they +would rather die with their masters than remain behind. Accordingly on +St Peters day before mentioned, about sunset, after Alvarado had given +regular instructions to all his officers and encouraged his men, they +began their voyage, holding on their course down the river both with +sails and oars, all that night and the next day and night. But on the +following day they were opposed by a fleet of near 1000 canoes belonging +to the confederated caciques, some of which were so large as to have +twenty-five paddies on each side, and carrying many armed men besides +the rowers. These large canoes were called the _admirals_, as being +supposed to have the principal commanders on board. One was painted red, +another blue, and others of several colours; the men on board having +their bodies painted of the same colours as the canoes, as were their +bows. All this splendid shew, with the variegated plumes of feathers on +the heads of the warriors, made a grand display. While they rowed after +the Spaniards, they kept time to their songs, which were said by the +interpreters to signify, "That the vagabond strangers should all be +slain on the water, and become food for the fishes." + +After taking a close view of the Spanish brigantines, the Indians +divided their fleet of canoes into three equal squadrons, plying up +close to the bank on the starboard side; and when up with the +brigantines, the van forming a long and narrow line a-head, crossed the +river obliquely passing close by the brigantines, into which they all +successively threw in a shower of arrows, by which several Spaniards +were wounded notwithstanding their targets and baricades. The other +squadrons did the same in regular order, and as the brigantines +continued on their course, the squadrons of canoes continued +successively to repeat similar charges, both day and night, expecting in +this manner to destroy all the Spaniards by degrees. The Spaniards held +on their way for ten successive days and nights, continually assailed in +this manner by the Indians, and doing some execution in their turn by +means of their crossbows, all their musquets having been turned into +iron work for the brigantines, having become useless as all their powder +was expended. At the end of these ten days, the Indian fleet drew back +from the Spaniards to the distance of about half a league. The +Spaniards, still advancing came in sight of a small town, and supposed +from the Indians leaving them that they were now near the sea, having +run by estimation 200 leagues, as they used both sails and oars, and +went straight down the river without stopping in any place. Being +desirous of procuring provisions, Alvarado ordered 100 men to land, with +eight horses; and as the Indians immediately abandoned their town, they +procured plenty of provisions of all sorts. In this town likewise they +found leather made of goats skins, some white, and some of various +colours, and other skins of different kinds well dressed, and many +mantles. They found here a long slip of the finest sables, eight ells in +length and an ell broad, adorned at regular distances with strings of +pearls and small tufts of seed pearl, regularly placed. Gonzalo +Silvestre who commanded on this enterprise, got this rarity to his +share, which was supposed to be some ensign of war, or some ornament for +their dances. + +As many Indians appeared collecting in the fields, and the canoes were +returning to attack the brigantines, Alvarado ordered the trumpets to +sound a retreat to recall Silvestre and his men on board. On this +occasion the Spaniards were obliged to abandon their horses, which the +Indians immediately shot to death with their arrows. When the party was +all returned to the brigantines, the Spaniards resumed their voyage down +the river, followed by the canoes, which did not now retain their former +order, but followed in several separate squadrons. On the thirteenth day +of their voyage down the great river, one of the brigantines happening +to fall about an hundred paces behind the rest, the Indians immediately +attacked and even boarded it, and would in all probability have made +themselves master of it, had not the other brigantines come up to its +rescue. However the Indians carried off the canoe from the stern, in +which were five sows that had been reserved for a breed. + +On the sixteenth day of the voyage, one Estevanez, a desperate yet +clownish fellow, who was vain of the reputation he had acquired by his +intrepidity, took away the canoe from the stern of the brigantine in +which he was embarked, and persuaded five other soldiers to accompany +him, saying that he was going to perform an exploit to gain fame, and to +obtain leave of the captain of the vessel, he pretended that he was +going to speak with the general. When he had got clear of the +brigantine, he immediately made towards the enemy, crying out _fall on +them! they run!_ When Alvarado saw this mad action he endeavoured to +recall Estevanez by sound of trumpet, and sent about forty men after him +in several canoes under the command of Juan de Guzman, to bring back +Estevanez whom Alvarado intended to hang for his breach of discipline. +At the same time the brigantines furled their sails and rowed up against +the stream to support the canoes. The Indian canoes, which covered the +water for an extent of a quarter of a league, retreated a little way on +purpose to separate the Spanish canoes from the brigantines; on which, +quite frantic at seeing them give way, Estevanez pushed on, followed by +the other canoes which were sent to bring him back. The Indian canoes +then drew up in form of a crescent, and when the Spanish canoes were +well advanced among them, those Indian canoes which formed the horn or +point on the right, attacked them so furiously athwart ships that they +sunk them all, by which means all the Spaniards were drowned, and if any +happened to appear above water, they were either shot with arrows, or +had their brains dashed out by the paddles. Thus forty-eight Spaniards +perished, only four escaping of all that were in the canoes. The Indians +held on their pursuit of the brigantines all that day making continual +rejoicings for their victory. On the _seventeenth_ day at sun-rise, when +the Indians had paid their adorations to the sun with hideous cries, and +a prodigious noise of drums, horns, and trumpets, they ceased the +pursuit of the Spaniards and retired, having continued the chase about +four hundred leagues. + +The river was now estimated by the Spaniards to be _fifteen_ leagues +across, from which they concluded they were near the sea, yet did not +venture to quit the main stream for fear of hidden danger. Thus holding +on their course, on the nineteenth day of their voyage they came to the +sea, computing that they had run little short of 500 leagues[191], from +the place where they built their brigantines. Being ignorant whereabout +they were, they cast anchor at an island, where they rested three days +to recover from their long fatigues and continual watching, and to refit +their brigantines. They here computed how far they had been up the +country, and as already mentioned estimated the distance from where the +brigantines were built to the sea at near 500 leagues: And as the river +was there nineteen feet deep and a quarter of a league over, they +conjectured that the source of the river might be still 300 leagues +farther up the country, or 800 leagues in its whole course. When the +Spaniards had been three days in this island, they observed seven canoes +to issue from a place overgrown with tall reeds, and come towards them. +When within hearing, a gigantic man, as black as a negro, stood up in +the headmost canoe and addressed them in the following harangue: +"Wherefore do you vagabond robbers stroll about this coast, disturbing +its inhabitants? Get you gone speedily by one of the mouths of the great +river, and let me not find you here after this night, or I will kill you +all and burn your ships!" After this he withdrew among the reeds, and +Alvarado sent Gonzalo Silvestre with 100 men in the remaining canoes to +examine the inlet among the reeds. Of these men seventeen were armed +with cross-bows and three had long bows taken from the Indians, as the +want of musquets had induced the Spaniards to use the arms of their +enemies, at which they were become skilful. On getting into the creek or +inlet among the reeds, Silvestre found sixty small canoes drawn up in +readiness to receive him, which he immediately attacked, and overset +three of them at the first shock, wounding many of the Indians; and as +all the rest of the canoes immediately fled, Silvestre and his party +returned to the brigantines. + +[Footnote 191: Five hundred Spanish leagues at 17-1/2 to a degree, or +about four English miles, would amount to about 2000 miles of voyage +down the Missisippi; but we have no sufficient warrant in the text to +ascertain the league used by Herrera, neither is it probable that the +Spaniards on this occasion could make any computation nearly accurate. +The only reasonable conjecture on this subject is from the number of +days employed in descending the river, which the text informs us was +_nineteen_, three of which we may suppose were occupied in different +stoppages. We know likewise from Imlays Description of Kentucky, p. 126, +that the ordinary rate of descending the Missisippi is about 80 miles a +day. On these data, the Spaniards made a voyage down that river of about +1280 English miles, from which we may conclude that they had wintered +somewhere about the situation of New Madrid, in lat. 36 deg. 30' N. or +perhaps nearly opposite the junction of the Ohio with the great +river.--E.] + +Leaving the island, and going out into the open sea, the Spaniards now +bore away to the westwards to endeavour to find their way to New Spain, +always keeping the coast of Florida[192] on their starboard-side or +right hand. They knew not whereabout they were, and had neither chart +nor compass to guide their course, neither had they any instrument to +find the latitude; but they satisfied themselves in the hope of reaching +New Spain by following the coast. During all the first day and night, +they continued to sail among the fresh water of the great river. After +this they held on their course for fifteen days without any thing +remarkable taking place; only that they were under the necessity of +landing every day to procure water, as they had no vessels in which to +carry any store on board. At the end of that period they got among a +parcel of small islands, which were frequented by such multitudes of sea +fowl that the entire surface was covered by their nests, so that there +was scarcely room to tread. These furnished an ample supply of +provisions, though their flesh had somewhat of a fishy taste. Next day +they landed on a pleasant shore covered with trees, to procure water; +and while looking about in search of shell fish, some pieces of bitumen +were found resembling pitch, and upon farther search they were fortunate +enough to find the source whence it flowed. On finding this convenience, +they thought proper to repair or careen their brigantines, which had +become leaky, which they did by means of this bitumen melted along with +a proper quantity of hogs lard. This work occupied them for eight days, +during which time they only saw eight Indians, to whom they gave some +trinkets they had yet remaining, without asking any questions respecting +the country where they now were, as all their hopes and wishes centered +in arriving in New Spain. + +[Footnote 192: It has been already noticed that the term Florida is used +in the whole of this chapter in a very extended sense, being applied to +all of North America to the north of the Gulf of Mexico. Immediately on +leaving the great river or Missisippi, and sailing to the west, the +coast is new known under the name of Louisiana.--E.] + +They proceeded on their voyage keeping as close as possible to the +shore, for fear of being driven out to sea by the north wind, and +likewise for the convenience of fishing, as they had nothing else now to +eat, for which reason they always made some stay wherever they found +good fishing-grounds. They continued always in this manner, coasting the +land which lay to starboard, the wisest among them being quite ignorant +whereabout they were, yet always satisfied that by holding this course +they must at length get to New Spain if not swallowed up by the waves. +At the end of fifty-three days after leaving the great river, the north +wind of which they had been so long in dread began to blow with great +fury[193]. On this occasion five of the vessels which kept close under +the land sought shelter in a creek; but the other two, being somewhat +farther out at sea, were in great danger of perishing. They were all +stark naked, having only clouts hung before them, and were almost +drowned with wet and benumbed with cold, as part of them had continually +to bale out the water from their vessels while the rest handed the +sails. At length the gale somewhat moderating, they were able to shape a +course to the westwards, and having been twenty-six hours in great +distress without food or sleep, they discovered land about sunset. One +young man who had been twice before upon the coast said that he now +knew the land, though he could not say in what country it was: But he +said that part which seemed black was a high bluff impracticable shore, +while that which had a white appearance was a clean soft sandy beach, +and advised them to endeavour to make for that part before night, as if +the wind should drive them on the black coast there would be no +probability of saving their lives. The officers of the brigantine in +which this young man was endeavoured by signs to make known what was +intended to the other vessel, and then made direct for the white coast +followed by the other, and before sunset ran both vessels aground on the +sandy beach, after which they lightened both vessels by carrying every +thing on shore, and propped them up to keep them from oversetting. +Having thus landed, two men undertook to go in quest of the other +brigantines. + +[Footnote 193: By this time their course must have long been almost due +south along the coast of the new kingdom of Leon, and province of Nuevo +Santander.--E.] + +Next day three parties were sent out in different directions to discover +the country. The two parties which went along the coast to the right and +left soon returned with some broken pieces of earthen ware, of the kinds +which are made at Talavera and Malaga in Spain, which gave them much +satisfaction to think that they must now be in the neighbourhood of +their countrymen. Gonzalo Silvestre, who went up the country with the +third party, at the end of a quarter of a league saw some Indians +fishing on a lake[194], and two others gathering fruit from the trees. +The Spaniards endeavoured to lay hold of these two Indians, but one of +them escaped by swimming over the lake. Silvestre found likewise in a +cottage two small baskets of fruit, a turkey, a cock and two Spanish +hens, and some conserve of _maguey_. Still holding fast the Indian, +Silvestre went back to his comrades at the sea-side, and to all the +inquiries they made of the Indian as to where they were, his only answer +was _Brezos! Brezos!_ which, as they afterwards learnt, was meant to +signify that he belonged to a Spaniard named Christoval de Brezos. On +rejoining his companions, Silvestre found them rejoicing at the sight of +the broken earthen dishes; but they were still more gratified at seeing +the Spanish poultry, and the Indian being now reassured on finding he +was in the hands of Spaniards, told them they were in the province of +Panuco, and that the other brigantines had gone up the river Tampico to +that city, which was ten leagues off. He said likewise that he belonged +to one Christoval de Brezos; and that a cacique resided only at the +distance of a league and a half who could read and write. Accordingly +they gave the Indian some toys and sent him to the cacique; and in four +hours afterwards the cacique came to them attended by eight Indians, +loaded with fowls, fish, fruit, and Indian corn, and brought them paper, +pens, and ink, that they might write an account of their arrival and +situation to the governor of Panuco. + +[Footnote 194: Probably the lake of _Tamiagua_, a few miles south from +the river _Tampico_, into which, as will be found in the sequel, the +other five brigantines had got at the beginning of the storm. In this +case, the two brigantines had run upon a spit which separates that lake +or lagoon from the sea.--E.] + +The two men who had gone in search of the five brigantines, found them +in the river Tampico, so that the whole company met at the end of eight +days, all barefooted and almost entirely naked, having only some scanty +coverings of the skins of deer, bears, and other animals. The governor +of Panuco treated them with much attention, and sent advice of their +situation to the viceroy of Mexico, who ordered them to be sent without +delay to that city, and sent them four horse-loads of shirts, shoes, and +other necessaries, besides medicines and sweetmeats. After recovering +from their fatigues, the men were ready to destroy their officers for +not having settled in Florida, where there was such plenty of pearls and +rich furs. On their march to Mexico, which was made in several +detachments to avoid mischief, the people everywhere ran to see them +pass as so many monsters. At Mexico they were clothed and kindly treated +by the rich inhabitants; and as discord soon broke out again among them, +for having abandoned so fine a country as Florida, the viceroy appeased +them by promising to undertake the enterprise speedily in person along +with them, when they should all have good pay, and that he would provide +for them in the mean time. When clothed, some of the adventurers +returned into Spain, others remained in Mexico, and others went into +Peru, while some entered into monasteries; and thus all these brave +soldiers were dispersed. + +Those persons who had been sent by the late general, Ferdinand de Soto, +when he first advanced into the interior of Florida, to bring him +supplies from the Havannah, faithfully obeyed his orders, as they sailed +from thence four several years, and plied all along the coast to find +him, but could never hear any tidings of him or any of his men, till, in +the year 1543, arriving at Vera Cruz in October, they learnt that the +remains of the expedition had been conducted to Mexico.--_This relation +has been faithfully taken from that which was transmitted to the king, +immediately after the close of that unfortunate enterprise_. + +END OF THE FIFTH VOLUME. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A General History and Collection of +Voyages and Travels, Vol. 5, by Robert Kerr + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A GENERAL HISTORY, VOL. 5 *** + +***** This file should be named 14984.txt or 14984.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/4/9/8/14984/ + +Produced by Robert Connal, Graeme Mackreth and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team. 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