vian adventurers, who afterward proved a menace to his colonies.
Villagran had taken it upon himself during Valdivia's absence to rid his superior of the unwelcome presence of De Hoz, who, as will be remembered, had been deprived of his royally -commissioned rights by Pizarro at the time of Valdivia's appointment for the Chilean campaign. Whether or not De Hoz was now plotting to usurp the government as charged, may be questionable, but he had, at least, acted foolishly in keeping himself in the way of his rival. Villagran had him publicly beheaded, thus pleasing his master no doubt, even if he had not been secretly instructed to essay this dastardly piece of diplomacy.
The Copiapins, having been successful in killing a party of Spaniards in revenge for Monroy's and Miranda's cruelty practised while ostensibly teaching their young prince horsemanship, were emulated by the Coquimbanes, who at this time rose up and razed La Serena to the ground, massacring all the inhabitants there. Francisco Aguirre was ordered thither, punished the revolting natives, and became the founder of the new town, which he built in a more advantageous location.
Valdivia had now been nine years in Chile. Having effectually conquered and settled the country, he now apportioned the land among his followers, in a manner somewhat like the feudal tenures of Europe. Each assignment carried with it the Indians who might be living upon it at the time. Thus each soldier became a sort of baron, and the rights of the natives were but little taken into account.
Having received a large body of recruits, Valdivia again undertook his southern campaign. He journeyed 240 miles southward from Santiago and halted on the
