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4 revisions | josiembrum at Oct 08, 2018 10:14 AM | |
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431CHILE. 431 [had been deserted for more than 40 years, where 51. Dreadful earthquake.— lAa succeeded in ^ 52. Commerce zeilh the French.~T\\Q com- mencement of the present aera was marked in Chile 53. How the Pehuenches became inimical to Translation | 431CHILE. 431 [had been deserted for more than 40 years, where they intended to form an establishment in order to conquer the rest of the kingdom. With this view they immediately began building three strong forts at the entrance of the river, in order to secure its possession. The Araucanians were invited, with the most flattering promises, to join them ; this they not only declined, but strictly adhering to the sti- pulations of the treaty, refused to furnish them with provisions, of which tliey were greatly in want. The Cunchese, to whom the territory which they had occupied belonged, following the counsel of their allies, refused also to treat with them or sup- ply them. In consequence of this refusal, the Dutch, pressed with hunger, and hearing tliat a combined army of Spaniards and Araucanians were on their march against them, were compelled to abandon the ])lace in three months aftertheir land- ing. The Marquis de Mancura, son to the vice- roy of Pern, having soon after arrived there in search of them, with 10 ships of war, fortified the harbour, and particulary the island, which has since borne the titular name of his family. On the termination of the sixth year of his govern- ment, Baydes was recalled by the court, and Don Martin IVluxica appointed in his place. 51. Dreadful earthquake.— lAa succeeded in preserviiijr the kingdom in that state of tranquil- lity in which he found it, no other commotion oc- curring during his government, but that produced by a violent earthquake, which, on the 8th of May 1617, destroyed part of the city of St. Jago. The fortune of his successor, Don vVntonio Acugna, was very dift'erent. During his government the war was excited anew between the Spaniards and Araucanians ; but contemporary writers have left us no accounts of the causes that produced it, Clentaru, the hereditaiy toqui of Lauquemapu, being, in 1655, unanimously elected general, sig- nalized his first campaign bj’ the total defeat of the Spanish army. He, moreover, continued to persecute the Spaniards with great violence for a period of 10 years, under the governments of Don Pedro Portel Casanate, and Don Francisco Me- neses. The last, who was a Portuguese l)y birth, had the glory of terminating it, in 1665, by a peace more permanent than that made by Baydes. All the succeeding governors appear to have kept up a good understanding witli the Araucanians until the year 1686, when Garro was nearly breaking it, on occasion of removing tlie inhabitants of the island of Mocho to the ?z. shore of the Biobib, iti order to cut off all communication with foreign enemies. ^ 52. Commerce zeilh the French.~T\\Q com- mencement of the present aera was marked in Chile by the deposition of the Governor Doi^ Francisco Ibanez, the rebellion of the inhabitants of Chiloe, and the trade with the French. The islanders of Chiloe were soon restored to obedience, through the prudent conduct of the quarter-master-general of the kingdom, Don Pedro Molina, who succeeded in reducing them rather by mild measures than by useless victories. The French, in consequence of the war of the succession, possessed themselves for a time of all tlie external commerce of Chile. From 1707 to 1717, its ports were filled with their ships, and they carried from thence incredible sums in gold and silver. It w as at this period that the learned F'ather Feuille, whoremained there three years, made his botanical researches and meteorolo- gical observations upon the coast. His amiable quali- ties obtained him the esteem of the inhai)itants, who still cherish his memory with much affection. It w'as in 1722 that the Araucanians, impatient at the insolence of those who were designated by the title of captains of the friends ; and who having"' been introduced under pretence of guarding the missionaries, arrogated to themselves a species of authority over the natives, resolved to create a toqui, and have recourse to arms. A war in con- sequence ensued, but it soon became reduced to little skirmishes, which were finally terminated by tlie celebrated peace of Negrete, a place situated at the confluence of the rivers Biobio and Lara, where the treaty of Quillan was reconfirmed, and the odious title of captain of friends wholly abo- lished. 53. How the Pehuenches became inimical to the Spaniards. Governor Gonzaga was the next Avho excited the flames of war by endeavour- ing to effect more than his predecessors. He un- dertookto compel the Araucanians to live in cities. This chimerical scheme was ridiculed by those who knew the prejudices of tiiis people, and it was finally abandoned, not, however, till it had pro- cured another powerful, and for ever after impla- cable enemy to the Spaniards. Tiiis was no other than the Peliuenches, avIio being in the above war in alliance with (he Spaniards, and who sufiered a considerable defeat whilst fighting against the Araucanians, resolved all at once to'change sides, and have ever since been the firm allies of the lat- ter. They have a practice of attacking the Spa- nish caravans from Buenos Ayres to Chile, and every year furnishes some melancholy inforination of that kind. We shall not proceed particularly to notice several actions, and among others a bloody battle wdiich was fougiit in tlie beginning of the year 1773 ; mention of which was made in t1iel Translation |