Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-08-15
- 10 nIoodr 80.

a long and bloody WAR.
From the New York Journal Of Commerce
The longest war recorded in history, if not
the most destructive and important, was that
wsged for q bundled and eighty-two years
against their Spanish invaders BY an Indian
tribe, or rather nation, called the Araucanians
occupying the southeastern part OF South Amer
lea. In a recent Gillian work now before US,
we find a sketch of this obstinate struggle, from
which we gather the following facts;
Ia the year 1910, the celebrated PizarTo having
made himself master of Peru, sent Pedro De
Valdivia, one Of bis most able civil and military
followers, to make the conquest of Chill, who.
at the head OF $50 Spsniards and a body Of Pc
TuviAn auxiliaries, penetrated into the heart Of
the country, conquering tho brave Araueanians
in numerous battlea, and finally in a great plain
in which he found the huts Of q, COO Indians,
laying in 1911 the foundation Of Santiago, the
present capital Of the republic. lie also foun-
ded another important city, to which he gave
his own name. Alter nine years fighting be
made himself master of all the northern part of
Chill, which be divided among his soldiers. In
the midst Of his Brilliant triumphs as he thought
them, q grand reverse, and death itself awaited
him for IN 1852 Caupolicon, the great Arauca-
nian chief, won a signal victory over him, taking
him prisoner and putting him to death. A he
role Araucsnian youth named LautarO com
manded the native forces in this battle, and after
ward conducted them from victory to victory,
till. being surprise in his camp, he was taken
prisoner aud shot with arrows, with all his party.
Ia 1857 the new Spanish governor, Mendoza,
invaded the territory of AraUeanians at the head
of a powerful array, and conquered them ia
three bloody battles. Caupolicon venturing TO
attack him at 4 certain place whore Mendoza
had founded the city Of Canete, his forces were
snnihilated, himself taken prisoner aud put to
death by impali1g and shooting him with az
rows.
After these disasters, the AraucaniaDs with
drew to the mountains, when the Spania. Is, in
exploring the country, came to Chloe, a large
island on the southwest Of Chill, l2J miles long
aud SO wide. The celebrated poet, Ereillany
Zuniga accompanied the expedition, and was
the first to put 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 Arlueanisns, ard the feats Of the
military expedition. Readers Of Don Quixote
remember CerYantes' allusion to this poem.
The death Of Csupolicou, first IN the memory Of
his eOuntrymen, aroused them to seek new ven
geance on their Invaders. Flying to arms, and
led on by the Oldest son Of their former chief
tain, they were finally routed, when tdeir gen
eral took his own life to escape the fate Of his
father. One Spanish sgoyeTnor succeeded to
Y nal q G0-ltuly " AAt4Gg Gil u MAJlU |
made war upon the Araucanians, but were una-
bic to subdue them, while naive chiefs and
commanders were raised up Of equal heroism
with Ceupoiicon, who defeated the SDaniards,
and taking possession of their new cities, and
back their invaders, established their
boundary far to the North. Ia 1914 the Span
ISL governor, the Marquis de Valdes, after :
hundred years war, made a treaty with the
chieftain LincOpichin, which secured
peace till 1855, when war broke out again, which
raged 81 intervals till 1922, when a treaty was
which established the boundaries Of
Arauco, and at the same time recognized the in
dependence of the nation.
A more WaIlke race never existed even at
day they maintain their independence, and
within three years past have been at war with
he Chilisns, and fought several successful bat
The Chiians OF the present day, as wei
IS the old Spanish cavaliers, are ready te DO
hem honor. The government paper published
It Santiago is called Ell Araucseo," .sthe
Araucanian, as though the Chilians were only
/. continuation Of the old native race, and the
only old d" Arauco % under q new name.
The Gillian writer, whose pages we have con
ulted, pays this tribute to their heroism
nd love OF country ." The A-raucanisns, see
ng the danger to which their country and lib
Tty were exposed, few to arms, and sYFore they
you'd die before they would be slaves. History
not present US with the example Of another
so obstinate and cruel as that which these
Talant Araucanians fought out with so much
Tory and under so many disadvantages, con- :
.uering their invaders in regular fought battles, +,
filing their generals, destroying their foglica- (,
ions, and never laying down their arms except
truces and tre ties, by which the Spaniard
ontriyed to advance IN securing to himself the Z
oSsessiOns which be had gained in the Arauca- :
ian territory, although at The cost of more :
loOd and treasure than had been expended in :
le conquest Of all America, without, after all, .
Injecting the Araueanians to the Spanish dom +
ration" :
Ia character the AIaUeanians are courageous +
nd heroic lovers Of their country, and prodigal
T life when their liberty is in peril, which IS
)nsidered by them as essential to existence.
hey are discreet, generous and faithful IN their
bus at the same time sUperstitiOus, and L
up in all the vices incident TO the savage q
te they lead. Civil government, properly 50 /
illed, does not exist among them, all being d.
.ded into a greatnumber Of independent tribes. !.
hey believe in the Immortality Of the soul, and :
cognize the existence Of a Supreme Omnipo- :
mt Being, and various inferior dIyinities, but q
to no one any external worship. L
No census has ever been taken of the AIauca- =
ans, but they are not supposed to exceed So,
70. Though a handful as they are, they sue y
eded in maintaining a bloody and destructive y
ar with one of the greatest powers of modern q
mes for q period Of one hundred and eighty :
70 years. =