commence building, to require from the Spaniards tools and other necessary aid. Thirdly. To have recourse to arms whenever they found themselves obliged to begin the work, but to conduct in such a manner that only the provinces that were compelled to build should declare war, the others remaining neutral in order to be able to mediate a peace. Fourthly. To come to a general rupture whenever they found that the mediation of the latter would not be accepted. Fifthly. To allow the missionaries to depart without injury, as they had nothing to accuse them with but of being Spaniards, Sixthly. To make choice immediately of a Toqui, who should have in charge to attend to the execution of the above mentioned regulations, and to have every thing in readiness to take the field as soon as circumstances should require it..

In compliance with this last article they proceed. ed to the election that very day. The suffrages were unanimous in favour of Antivilu, Arch-Ulmen of the province of Maquegua, who possessed great influ, ence in the assembly; but he having declined, on account of the neutrality which it had been agreed his province should maintain, the choice fell upon Curignancu, brother to the Ulmen of Encol, who combined all the qualities necessary at such a crisis.

At the first conference the governor proposed his plan under every aspect that could render it agreeable. The Araucanians, agreeably to their previous agreement, objected, appeared to consent, equivo, cated, and ended by requesting the necessary assis

tance for beginning the work. Having pointed out the situations which appeared the most eligible for the erection of the new cities, a great quantity of wrought iron was sent them by the governor, together with provisions and cattle for the transportation of the timber. The work, nevertheless, made no progress. In consequence of this, the quarter-master Cabrito repaired thither with several companies of soldiers, in order to stimulate the operations, and placed superintendants in every quarter. The sergeant-major Rivera was charged with the building of Nininco, and captain Burgoa with that of the other city, which was to be erected on the shore of the Bio-bio; while the quarter-master directed the operations from his head-quarters at Angol.

ter.

The Araucanians, however, instead of pickaxes seized their lances, slew the superintendants, and having united to the number of five hundred under the standard of their Toqui, proceeded to beseige Cabrito in his camp. Burgoa, after having been very roughly treated, was set at liberty, in consequence of his being said to be an enemy of the quarter-mas-, The sergeant-major, escorted by a missionary, crossed the Bio-bio in sight of the enemy, who were in search of him to kill him, and afterwards returned at the head of four hundred men to relieve Cabrito. Another missionary, Don Pedro Sanchez, requested the Araucanian officer sent to escort him to forgive a Spaniard by whom he had been grievously offended a short time before; the Araucanian replied, that he had nothing to fear while in his company; besides, that the present was no time to think of re

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venging private injuries. Such was the attention paid to the security of these characters that not a Spaniard was slain who was able to avail himself of their protection.

In the mean time the governor entered into an alliance with the Pehuenches, in order to attack the Araucanians in several places at the same time. Curignancu, being informed of their approach, fell upon them unexpectedly on their leaving the Andes, took prisoners their general, Coligura, with his son, whom he put to death, and completely routed them. This disgrace, which appeared calculated to embitter, that nation forever towards the Araucanians, on the contrary reconciled them so completely, that they have ever since aided them in their expeditions, and have become the most implacable enemies of the Spaniards. Curignancu availed himself of the assistance of these mountaineers during the war to harass the provinces in the vicinity of the capital Since that time they have made a practice of frequently attacking the Spanish caravans from Buenos Ayres to Chili, and every year furnishes some melancholy information of that kind.

Gonzaga, whose sanguine expectations had led him to be too hasty in giving information to the court of the success of his grand project, could not endure the mortification of seeing it wholly destroyed. A chronic complaint to which he was subject, was so much increased by this disappointment that it deprived him of life in the second year of the war, to the great regret of the inhabitants to whom he was much endeared by his estimable qualities. Don Francisco Xavier de Morales, succeeded

him by the appointment of the viceroy of Peru. The neutral provinces, as had been concerted, had now declared in favour of the others, and the war was prosecuted with vigour. Curignancu on the one side, and his brave Vice Toqui Leviantu on the other, kept the Spanish troops which had been reinforced by several divisions from Spain, constantly in motion. It is not in our power to notice particularly the different actions; among others a bloody battle was fought in the beginning of the year 1773, mention of which was made in the European, gazettes of that period, at which time the war had cost the royal treasury and individuals one million seven hundred thousand dollars.

The same year an accommodation was agreed on. Curignancu, who was invested by his nation with full powers to settle the articles, required as a preliminary, that the conferences should be held in the city of St. Jago. Although this requisition was contrary to the established custom, it was nevertheless granted by the Spaniards without much difficulty. When they afterwards came to treat of the terms of peace, the Araucanian plenipotentiary made another proposition, which appeared more extraordinary than the first. He required that his nation should be allowed to keep a minister resident in the city of St. Jago. The Spanish officers who were present strongly opposed this demand, but the governor thought it advisable to grant it, as by this means he would have it in his power more readily to adjust any disputes that might arise. These two proposals, however, considering the disposition and

mode of living of the Araucanians, may furnish a copious field for conjecture. The other articles of the peace were not attended with the least difficulty; the treaties of Quillin and Negrete being by mutual consent revived.

On the death of Gonzaga, the court of Spain sent Don Augustin Jauregui to govern Chili, who has since filled with universal approbation the important office of viceroy of Peru. His successor, Don Ambrosio Benavides at present renders the country happy by his wise and beneficent administration.

CHAPTER XI.

Present State of Chili.

FROM the brief relation that we have given of the occurrences in Chili since its discovery, it will be seen that its possession has cost Spain more. blood and treasure than all the rest of her settlements in America. The Araucanians, occupying but a small extent of territory, have with far inferior arms, not only been able to counterbalance her pow. er till then reputed irresistible, but to endanger the loss of her best established possessions. Though