Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-08-13

or and shot with arrows. with ell hi. party. In
1857 the new S2anish Governor, Mendoza, in
vaded TIC territory of tue AIancanians a tie
head OF a powerful a my, and conquered IN m IN
the bloody batilc-. Ceupolicta yCn.u. in 10
a tack him a. a ceriain place where Mendoza had
founded Tie siiy Of Cane o, his forces were an
nj lilaied, him-elf taken prisoner and tut 10
deah BY imPailing and shooting him with az
lows.
After these disasters, the Araucanians with
drew TO the mountains, when the Spaniards, IN
exploring the country, came 10 the Chloe, o
large island on the southwest Of Chill. 100 miles
long and thi1y-six wide. The celebrated poet,
Ercilla Y Zuniga accompanied the expedition,
and was the iEst to put his foot upon the island.
The only Epic Of the South Ameiiean continent
j. the 'Arau ana" some of which he wrote on
the ba.k Of tees, and ia which he described the
country the Araucanians, and the Eats Of the
Military expedition. Readers of Don Quixote
n member Cervantess allu-ion 10 this poem
The death of eau )olicon, first in the memory Of
hi eountrymln n, aious,d them 10 seek new ven
geance on tn, ir invaders. Flying to q. ms, and
led by the oldest son of their former chief ain.
they were finally routed whtn their q me- al took
his own life 10 esca, the fate of III, ialler. One
: ianish Governor succeeded 20 another for half
a century or more, all OF whom made war u on
the AraucaniIns, but we've unable TO sublue
raised up of equal heToism viii Caupolicon, who
defeated the Spaniards, and taking possession of
tl,ir n w cites, and driving back their invaders,
established thtir boundary far 10 The north. IN
l644 The Spanish Governor, the Marquis de Val
des, after hundred years war made a treaty
with the Arau, anian chieftain Lincopiclin, which
secured peace till 1865, when war broke out
again, which ragged at intervals till 1922, when
treaty was concluded which established the boun-
n a II
cd the independence of the nation A more war
like race never existed; even at this day they
mainlain their independence, and within three
years past have been at war with the Chilans,
and fOu hit several successful ba. ties. The Chi
lians of the present day, we'll "a the old Sran-
ish cavaliers, ere ready TO do them honor. Tie
Government paper published at Santiago is cali
cd III 1Idacaso, the ATaucanian, as though the
Chilians were only continuation of the old ma
tive race and The Republic only old 'Arauco,"
under a new name. The Gillian writer. whose
pages we have consulted, pays this tribute TO
their heroism and loyalty of country:
The Araucanians, SEEING the danger TO which
their country and liberty were exposed, flew to
arms. and swore they would die before they
would be slaves. History does not present Us
with the exam pie of another oh tinaic
and clul as that which these valiant AIaucani-
ans fought out with so much glory and under so
many disadvantages, conqu ring ia, Ir invaders
in regular fought battles, killing III il Generals,
destroying their fortiications and never LAYING
down their arms except by truces and treaties,
by which the Spaniard contIivCd to advance in
securing to himself the possessions which he had
gained in the Araucanian territory, although at
the cost of more blood and trca ure than had
been expended in the conquest of all America,
without, after all, subccting the Araucanians TO
the s ani- h domination"
In character the Araucanians are courageous
and heroic lovers of their country, and prodigal
of life when their liberty is in peril, which is
considered by them rs essential TO existence.
They arc discreet, generous and faithful in their
conduct, but at the same time supersti ious. and
grow up in ali the vices incident to the savage
life thew lead. Civil government, properly so
Called does not exist among them, all heing di-
vided into great number of independent tribes.
They believe in the Immortality of the soul, and
recognize the existence of Supreme Omni 20
tent Being, and various inferior divinitics, but
render TO no one any external worship.
No census has ever been taken of the Arauca-
mans, hut they arc not supposed to exceed fifty
thousand Though handful a. they are, they
succeeded in maintaining bloody and destruc-
tive war with one of tho greatest powers of mod
em times for the period of one hundred and
eighfy-two years.