124 



every eye was fixed, named, without hesitation, 

 Caupolican, the Uhiien of Pilmayquen, a district of 

 Tiicapel, who, widi that modesty that marks a great 

 character, had not oflered himself as one of the can- 

 didates. 



Ail the nation applauded the choice of Colocólo, 

 as the i^erson appointed was a serious, patient, sa- 

 gacious and valiant man, possessing, in short, all 

 the qualities of a great general. His lofty stature, 

 uncommon bodily strength, and the majesty of his 

 countenance, althou,;h deficient in an eye, gave an 

 additional lustre to the inestimable endowments of 

 his mind. Having assumed the axe, the badge of his 

 authority, he immediately appointed the officers who 

 vrere to command under him, among whom were 

 all his competitors, and even Lincoyan himself; but 

 the office of Vice Toqui he reserved for Mariantu, 

 in whom he had the utmost confidence. The violent 

 Tucapel, who aspired to the chief command, did not 

 disdain to serve under his vassal, manifesting by 

 this, that the sole motive of his ambition was his 

 wish to serve his country. 



The Araucanians, who considered themselves in- 

 vincible under their new Toqui, were desirous of 

 going immediately from the place of meeting to at- 

 tack the Spaniards ; but Caupolican, who was no 

 less politic than valiant, repressed this ardour with 

 prudent argum^ents, advising them to provide them- 

 selves with good arms, in order to be in readiness at 

 the first orders. He then reviewed his army, and re- 

 solved to commence his operations by a stratagem, 

 which on the day of his expedition was suggested to 



