Page:A history of Chile.djvu/48

 CHAPTER II THE ARAUCANIANS—VALDIVIA'S EXPEDITION—THE FOUNDING OF SANTIAGO

A marble statue of Valdivia on the hill of Santa Lucia, at Santiago, tells us that the "valeroso capitati" was "primer gobernador de Chile," and founded Santiago on the 12th of February, 1541. History further tells us that the valiant conquistador was Pizarro's quartermaster, a prudent officer, (a statement which his career in Chile does not altogether justify), an active officer, (as he certainly was), who had gained experience in the Italian wars. He unquestionably possessed a superior mind, great political ability and a high order of military talents, and there is not imputed to him many of those acts of cruelty which stain the escutcheons of so many of the early Spanish conquerors. True, some of the old records hint at cruelties which he exercised toward the natives; but considering the character of the Araucanians and their allies with whom he had to deal, this is not surprising, as that was not an age for delicate sensibilities and the Spanish conquistadores were not wont to resort often to mere mild words of persuasion in their conquests. But we read of no needless shedding of blood by Pedro de Valdivia, as we do in the case of 36