176 



had the charge of this enterprise, defeated the Pe- 

 ruvian commander, Juan Zurita, the author of the 

 dismemberment, and restored the country to the 

 obedience of the captains general of Chili ; it was, 

 however, retained under their government but a 

 sliort time, as they were obliged by the court of 

 Spain, before the close of the century, to cede it 

 again to the government of Peru. 



But neither Don Garcia nor Quiroga, notwith- 

 standing the long time they had fought in Chili, had 

 formed a correct opinion of the temper of the peo- 

 ple whom they pretended they had conquered. The 

 invincible Araucanian cannot be made to submit to 

 the bitterest reverses of fortune. His losses them- 

 selves, so far from dejecting or dismaying him, ap- 

 pear to inspire him with more strength and va- 

 lour. This constancy, or obstinacy as some may 

 term it, is certainly wonderful if not heroic. The 

 few Ulmenes who had cseaped from the late defeats, 

 more than ever determined to continue the war, as- 

 sembled immediately after the rout of Quipeo in a 

 wood, where they unanimously elected as Toqui an 

 officer of inferior rank, called Antiguenu, who had 

 signalized himself in the last battle. He readily ac- 

 cepted the command, but represented to the electors, 

 that as almost all the youth of the country had perish- 

 ed, he thought it expedient for them to retire to 

 some secure situation, until an army could be col- 

 lected of sufficient strength to keep the field. This 

 prudent advice was approved by all. Antiguenu re- 

 tired with the few soldiers that he had with him to 

 the inaccessible marshes of Lu maco, called by. the 



