South of Central Chile, in the Spanish exclave of Valdivia people of Spanish, Mapuche and Afro-Peruvian descendance lived together in colonial times. Once Spanish presence in Valdivia was reestablished in 1645, authorities had convicts from all-over the Viceroyalty of Peru construct the Valdivian Fort System. The convicts, many of whom were Afro-Peruvians, became soldier-settlers once they had served their term. Close contacts with indigenous Mapuche meant many soldiers were bilingual in Spanish and Mapuche. A 1749 census in Valdivia shows that Afro-descendants had a strong presence in the area.