Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-08-18
From the New York Journal Of Commerce
A Long and RlOOdv War

a Long and BLOODY War.
The longest war recorded in history, ifnot the
most destructive and important, was that waged
for hundred and eighty-twO years against their
Spanish invaders by an Indian tribe. or rather
nation, called the Araucanians occupying the
southeastern part of South America. In re-
cent Chilian work now before US, we find a
sketch of this obstinate struggle, from which we
gather the following facts:
In the year l540, the celebrated Pizarro having
made himself master of Peru, sent Pedro de Val
diva, one of his most able civil and military fol-
lowers, to make the conquest of Chilli who, at
the head of $50 Spaniards and body of Peruv-
auxiiaries, penetrated into the heart of the
country, conquering the brave Araucanians in
numerous battles, and finally in great plain in
which the found the huts of 10000 Indians Law
ing in l541 the foundation of Santiago, the pres
ent capital of the republic. He also founded
another important city, 20 which he gave his own
name. After nine years fighting he made him
self master of all the northern part of Chill which
he divided among his soldiers. In the midst of
his brilliant triumphs, as he thought them a
grand reverse, and death itself awaited him; for
in 1852 Caupolicon, the great Araucanian chief
won signal victory over him, taking HIN priso-
ner and putting him to death A heroic Arau-
canian youth named Lautaro commanded the
native forces in this battle, and afterwards con-
Quoted them from victory to victory, till being
surprised in his own camp, he was taken prison.
er and shot with arrows, with all his psrty. In
1857 the new Spanish Governor, Mendoza, in
vaded the territory of the Araucanians at the
head of a powerful army, and conquered them in
three bloody battles. Caupolicoa venturing TO
attack him az a certain place where Mendoza had
founded the city of Caneto, his forces were an
initiated, himself taken prisoner and put TO
death by impailing and shooting him with ar
rows.
After these disasters, the Araucanians with
drew to the mountains, when the Spaniards, in
exploring the country, came TO the Chloe, a
large island on the southwest of Chill, l20 miles
long and thirty-six wide The celebrated poet
Ercilla Y Zuniga accompanied the expedition,
and was the first to pu. his foot upon the island.
The only Epic of the South American continent
is the "Araucana," some of which he wrote on
the bark of trees, and In which he described the
country, the Araucanians, and the feats of the
military expedition. Readers of Don Quixote
remember Cervantes's allusion to this poem.
The death of Caupolicon, first in the memory of
his cOuntrymen, aroused them to seek new ven-
geance on their invaders. Flying to arms, and
led on by the oldest of their former chieftain,
sthey were finally routed, when their General took
his life to escape the fate of his father. One
Spanish Governor succeeded TO another for half
a century or more, ali of whom made war upon
them, while native chiefs and commanders were
raised up of equal herOism with Caupolieon, who
defeated the Spaniards, and taking possession of
stheir new cities, and driving back their invaders
established their boundary far to the north. In
l644 the Spanish Governor, the Marquis de Val
des, after a hundred years war, made a treaty
with the Arau>anian chieftain Lincopichin, which
secured peace till 1865, when war broke out
again, which ragged at intervals till 1922, when
treaty was concluded which established the boun-
daries of Arauco, and at the same time reeogniz-
ed the independence of the nation. A more
like race never existed; even at this day they
maintain their independence, and within three
years past have been at war with the Chiians,
and fought several successful battles. The Chi
lians of the present day, as well as the old Span
ish cavaliers, are ready TO do them honor. The
Government paper published at Santiago is call
ed El ArdacaRO, the Araucanian, as though the
Chilians were only a continuation of the old ma
tive race, and the Republic only old "Arauco,"
under new name. The Chilian writer, whose
pages we have consulted, pays this tribute to
their heroism and loyalty of country:
'The Araucanians, seeing the dangerto 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 example of another war so obstinate
and cruel as that which these valiant Araueani-
many disadvantages, conquering their invaders
in regular fought battles, killing their Generals,
destroying their Notifications, and never laying
down their arms except by truces and treaties,
by which the Spaniard contrived TO advance in
securing to himself the possessions which he had
gained in the Araucanian territory, although at
the cost of more blood and treasure than had
been expended in the conquest of all America,
without, after all, subjecting the Araucanians to
the Spanish 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 as essential TO existence.
They are discreet generous and faithful in their
conduct, but at the same time superstitious, and
grow up in all the vices incident to the savage
life they lead. Civil government, properly so
called, does not exist among them, all being di-
vided into great number of independent tribes.
They believe in the Immortality of the soul, and
recognize the existence of Supreme Omnipo-
tent Being, and various inferior divinities, but
render to no one any external worship.
No census has ever been taken of the Arauca-
mans, but they are not supposed to exceed fifty
thousand. Though handful as they are, they
succeeded in maintaining a bloody and destruc-
tive war with one of the greatest powers of mod
ern times for the period of one hundred and
eighty-two years.
Tnrn aal