_How the natives of those provinces concealed the provisions,
and of the want that, it was believed, would be the consequence;
also how Diego de Rojas sent messengers to Felipe Gutiérrez._
When the natives saw that the Christians were settling in the land
without any intention of leaving it, but on the contrary had sent
for those who remained in Chiquana, they unanimously determined to
conceal the provisions in order that, forced by necessity owing to
the hunger they would suffer, they might quit the province. So, all
at once and with great promptitude, they worked with such good will
that, in a few days, nothing was found but the maize in leaf; for this
they could not carry off. The Christians, feeling the want of food,
searched for it in all directions, and when Diego de Rojas saw that
there was none he took whom he thought necessary with him and, leaving
the camp with a sufficient guard, resolved to go out and look for
anything they could eat wherever they might find it. First, however,
he ordered Pablo de Montemayor to return to Felipe Gutiérrez with all
speed, and tell him what straits they were in for food; and that,
while he himself was seeking out where the Indians had concealed the
supplies, he thought it would be prudent for Gutiérrez to halt until
further messengers could be sent him. In order that Montemayor might
go in safety, so that the Indians could not do him any harm, they
sent to obtain some horsemen from border settlements near the Andes.
Diego de Rojas endeavoured with great diligence to find the maize and
other eatables hidden by the Indians, but failed to meet with anything
whatever. The Spaniards who accompanied Felipe Gutiérrez talked freely
against the captains, regretting that Diego de Rojas should have
come on by that route, knowing it was the intention of all of them
to go towards Chile and the river Arauco. They murmured in such a
way that Felipe Gutiérrez feared there would be a mutiny. Montemayor
having made good speed on the way they met each other in a village
called _Irequire_, at the end of the valley of Chiquana, and there he
delivered the message from Diego de Rojas. Having seen the letter,
Gutiérrez regretted the want of provisions, and reflecting that hunger
was a lesser evil than that the soldiers should mutiny or kill him,
and, moreover, that they were near the high road leading to Chile, he
determined not to make all the news public, but to push on with all
speed to where Diego de Rojas was, and so they set out at once.
When the captain Diego de Rojas could not find any provisions in all
those parts, thickly peopled as they were from one end to the other,
he received news of another very great province called _Concho_, and
his necessity being so great, he resolved to adventure his person
and those of his followers in an effort to find something to eat.
Having decided to go there, they succeeded in reaching it in a few
days. The fame of the horses had so cowed the Indians that they were
stricken with terror and were able to offer but little resistance to
the Spaniards, who found plenty of maize and other supplies. Farther
on they discovered another settlement where there were many ewes
and fowls and ducks. Diego de Rojas had come upon such abundance
of provisions that he now regretted having sent to detain Felipe
Gutiérrez who, notwithstanding that he encountered some difficulty
in the march through the forests, was already very near at hand, on
learning which Diego de Rojas was exceedingly glad. It was not long
before Diego Gutiérrez and the Camp-master Nicolás de Heredia arrived,
and they were received by all with great joy, thanks being given to
God that they should thus be united without the loss of a man.