Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-08-21
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A War of Two Centuries.

A War of Two Centuries.
The longest war recorded in history, if not
the most destructive and important. was that
waged for hundred and eighty-two years
against their Spanish invaders, by an In
dian tribe, or rather nation, called the Ar
aucanlans, occupying the southeastern part of
South America. In a recent Gillian work,
now before us, we find sketch of this obsti-
nate struggle, from which we gather the fol-
lowing facts =
In the year 1910 the celebrated Pizarro,
having made himself master of Peru sent Pc
dro de Valdiva, one of his most able civil and
military followers, to make conquest of Chill,
who, at the head of $50 Spaniards and body
Of Peruvian auXiliaries, penetrated into the
heart of the country, conquering the brave Ar
aucanians in numerous battles, and finally, in
great plain, in which he found the huts of
10000 Indians, laying in 1541 the foundation
OF Santiago, the present capital of the repub-
lie. He also founded another important city,
to which he gave his own name. After nine
years fighting he made himself master of all
the northern part of Chill which he divided
among his soldiers. In the midst of his bril-
liant tnumphs, as hi thought them, grand
reverse and death itself awaited him; for in
1908 Caupollcon, tho great Araucanian chief
tar, won signal victory over him, taking him
p 5oncr, and putting him to DEATH heroic
AraucalIan youth, named Lantaro COM
manded the native forces in this battle |
and atterward led them from victory to vic
tory till being surprised in his camp, he was
taken prisoner ard shot with arrows, with all |
his party. IN 1851, the new Spanish COVER
nor, Mendoza, invaded the territory of the |
Aii1canians at the head of powerful army. |
and conquered in three bloody battles. eau
policon venturing to attack him at q certain
place where Mendoza had founded the city of
Canete, his forces were annihilated himself
taken prisoner, and put to death by impaling
and shooting him with arrows.
After these disasters, the Araucanians with
drew to the mountains, when the Spaniards in
exploring the country, came to Chiios, a large
isIandj on the southwest Of Chill, 100 miles
long and sc wide. Y he celebrated poet, Err
cillary Zuniga, accompanied the expedition,
and was the first TO put his foot upon the ISL
and. The only epic Of the South American
continent is the ''AraucIna," some Of which
he wrote on the bark of trees, and in which
he described the country, the Araucanians,
and the teats of the military expedition.
Readers of Don QuiXote remember Cervan-
tes' allusion to this poem. The death of eau
porlcon, first in the memory Of his country
men, aroused them to seek new vengeance on
their invaders. Flying to arms, and led on
by the Oldest son of their former chieftain
they were finally routed, when their general
took his own life to escape the fate of his
father.
One Spanish governor succeeded to anoth- |
CT for half a century or more, all of whom
made war upon the Araucanians, but were
unable to subdue them, while native chiefs |
and commanders were raised up of equal he
roism with Caupolicon, who defeated the
Spaniards, and taking possession Of their new
cities, and driving back their invaders, es-
tablished their boundary far to the north. In
1914 the Spanish governor, the Marquis de
Valdes, after a hundred years war, made a
treaty with the Araucanan chieftan Lincopi-
chin, which secured peace till 1866, when war
broke out again, which ragged at intervals till
1922, when treaty was concluded which es-
tablished the boundaries of Arauco, and at
the same time recognized the independence of
the nation. A more warlike race never ex-
listed; even at this day they maintain their in
dependence, and within three years past have
been at war with the Chilians, and fought sew
eral successful battles.
The Chilians Of the present day, as we'll as
the old Spanish cavaliers, are ready to do
them honor. The government paper publish
ed at Santiago is called eel Araucano," ''the
Araucanian," as though the Chilians were
only continuation of the old native race, and
the republic only old 'Arauco" under new
name. The CHILEAN writer, whose pages we
have consulted, pays this tribute to their he
roism and love of country 1.-THE Araucan-
ians, seeing the danger to which their coun-
try 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 cf war so obstinate and cruel
as that which these valiant Araucanians
fought out with so much glory and under so
many disadvantages, conquering their invad-
ers in regular fought battles, killing their
generals, destroying their Notifications and
never laying down their arms except by truces
anu treaties by which the Spanard contrived
totadvance in securing to himself the pos ses-
sions which he had gained in the Araucanian
territory, although at the cost of more blood
and Il assure than had heen expended in the
co@q lest of all America, without after all sub
'ectng the Araucanans to Spanish domina-
tic %
n character The Araucanians are courage
Gus and i.roic, 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
supecstidOus. and grow up in all the vices in
cio.n to the savage life they lead. Civil
government, properly so called, does not ex-
ist @.nong them. all being divided into a great
number Of independent tribes. They believe
IN the immortality Of the soul, and recognize
the existence of Supreme Omnipotent Being
and various inferior divinitios. but render to
no one any external worship.
No census has ever been taken Of the rau-
canians, but they are not supposed to exceed
100000. Though handful as they are, they
succeeded in maintaininga bloody des!ruc-
tive war with one of the greatest powers of
modern times, for period of ore hundred
and eighty-two years.