30 



him by private letters to return, in order to take pos- 

 session of Cuzco, which they assured him was within 

 the hmits of liis jurisdiction. Notwithstanding this, 

 inflated with liis new conquest, he pursued his 

 inarch, passed the fatal Cachapoal, and, regardless 

 of the remonstrances of the Peruvians, advanced 

 into the country of the Promaucians. 



At the first sight of the Spaniards, their horses 

 and the thundering arms of Europe, these valiant 

 people were almost petrified with astonishment, 

 but soon recovering from the effects of surprize, 

 they opposed with intrepidity their new enemies 

 upon the shore of the Rio-claro. Almagro, despis- 

 ing their force, placed in the first line his Peruvian 

 auxiliaries, increased by a number whom Paullu 

 had drawn from the garrisons; but these, being soon 

 routed, fell back in confusion upon the rear. The 

 Spaniards, who expected to have been merely spec- 

 tators of the battle, saw themselves compelled to 

 sustain the A'igorous attack of the enemy, and ad- 

 ^ancing with their horse, began a furious battle, 

 which continued with great loss upon either side, 

 till night separated the combatants. 



Although the Promaucians had been very roughly 

 handled, they lost not their courage, but encamped 

 in sight of their enemy, determined to renew the 

 attack the next morning. The Spaniards, howe- 

 ver, though by the custom of Europe they consid- 

 ered themselves as victors, having kept possession 

 of the field, were very differently inclined. Having 

 been accustomed to subdue immense provinces with 

 little or no resistance, they became disgusted with 



