Page:A history of Chile.djvu/92

 8o A HISTORY OF CHILE Quiroga died in 1580, naming Martin Ruiz de Gam- boa, his father-in-law, who had founded the city of Chilian, as his successor. Gamboa conducted the affairs of the government for a period of three years, during all of which time he was engaged in border warfare with the Araucanians, who were still led by the half-breed Paynenancu. At the same time the Pehuenches and Chiquillanians, were induced by the Araucaniaris to attack the Spaniards from their moun- tain fastnesses. These latter tribes inhabited the mountain regions north of the allied tribes of the Araucanians, and east of Santiago and the river Maule. They were wandering tribes more like the North American Indians, yet far different in disposition, as they were industrious and commercial in their habits, though fond of the chase and of moving from place to place. The court of Spain nominated Don Alonzo de Soto- mayor as governor of Chile in place of Quiroga, de- ceased. Sotomayor in 1583, landed at Buenos Ayres with six hundred regular troops and marched across the country to Chile. He elevated his brother, Don Luis, to the office of commanding colonel of the province — an office which he seems to have created for him — and the latter proceeded to the relief of Vil- larica and Valdivia, which Paynenancu was at the time besieging. The Araucanians stubbornly opposed the Spaniards in two contests, but were defeated. They were defeated also while proceeding against two de- tachments of their enemy that had been sent to rav- age their territory. The Pehuenches likewise were repulsed and driven back from Chilian. Then with an army of seven hun- dred Spaniards and a large following of auxiliaries, the governor entered the Araucanian territory, which