Page:A history of Chile.djvu/114

 I02 A HISTORY OF CHILE he died. The office was then filled for six months by his brother-in-law, Francisco de Alva y Noruena. During all this time the war was continued with Lientur, but that chief was aged and much broken in strength by his constant exertions, and, therefore, re- signed the command, September nth 1624, and ap- pointed for the position Putapichion, a young warrior of abilit5' and courage whose youth had been spent as a slave among the Spaniards. The Spaniards also received a new commander, Don Luis Fernandez de Cordova y Area, Senor del Carpio, a relative of the viceroy of Peru, who received from the latter an army and a large quantity of military stores, with orders to carry on an offensive warfare against the Araucanians. He introduced reforms in the Chilean army, paid the soldiers the arrears due them, and assigned various offices to Creoles who had been hitherto neglected and slighted. It was during his administration, that the boundaries between Chile and Peru were definitely fixed at El Paposo. Having arranged affairs in a satisfactory manner, the governor directed Alonzo Cordova, his cousin, to make an expedition against the provinces of Tucapel and Arauco, with a force of six hundred men. In this incursion, one hundred and fifty prisoners, both men and women, and a number of cattle, were taken. One of the strongest places held by the Spaniards on the Biobio, was the fort of Nativity. This post, situated on the top of a mountain, was thought to be impregnable. Putapichion determined to win for him- self undying military fame by the capture of this im- portant stronghold. He came unexpectedly upon the garrison, scaled the difficult ascent and set fire to some of the works; he also captured the ditch. The garrison rallied to the defence and poured such a con-