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care of defending the northern frontier. The young 

 Vice Toqui fortified himself upon the lofty moun- 

 tain of Marigucnu, situated on the road Avhich leads 

 to the province of Arauco, supposing, as it happen- 

 ed, that the Spaniards, desirous of revenging the 

 death of their general, would take that road in search 

 of Caupolican. This mountain, which on several 

 occasions has proved fatal to the Spaniards, has on 

 its summit a large plain interspersed with shady 

 trees. Its sides are full of clefts and precipices, on, 

 the part towards the west the sea beats with great 

 violence, and the east is secured by impenetrable 

 thickets. A winding bye-path on the north was the 

 only road that led to the summit of the mountain. 



In the mean time, the two Promaucians who had 

 alone escaped the destruction of the Spanish army, 

 having reached Conception, filled that city with the 

 utmost consternation. As soon as the general ter- 

 ror had a little subsided, the magistrates proceeded 

 to open the instructions of Valdivia, which he had 

 left with them at his departure. In these he had 

 named as his successors in the government, in the 

 CA'ent of his death, Alderete, Aguirre, and Francis 

 Villagran. But the first being absent in Europe, 

 and the second in Cujo, the supreme command de- 

 volved upon Villagran. This general, who pos- 

 sessed more prudence than Valdivia, after making 

 the necessary preparations, began his march for 

 Arauco, with a considerable number of Spanish and 

 auxiliary forces. 



He crossed the Bio- bio without opposition, but at 

 a little distance from thence, in a narrow pass, he en- 



