Battling The Natives Along The Rio De La Plata
At the River Plate, the Spaniards encountered a group of roughly three thousand natives dispersed throughout the surrounding area known as the Querandíes, who shared with them their food, however scarce. In spite of this, the Spaniards soon took the natives and their generosity for granted and as a result, the Querandíes ended relations with the white men and relocated further away from the Spanish settlement. Angered by the sudden hostility, Mendoza sent his brother to lead a force against the natives.
Even though hundreds of natives were killed, Mendoza's brother was slain as well, along with thirty of his men and several horses at the Battle of the Luján River. The natives were driven off after that bloody battle and their provisions were taken, but the fight was very costly to the Spaniards.
Read more about this topic: Pedro De Mendoza
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