177 



Spaniards the Rochela, where he caused high scaf- 

 iblds to be erected to secure his men from the ex- 

 treme moisture of this gloomy retreat. The youth 

 who were from time to time cnHsted went thitherto be 

 instructed in the science of arms, and the Araucanians 

 still considered themselves free since they had a 

 Toqui. 



As soon as Antiguenu saw himself in a situation 

 to make himself feared, he quitted his retreat, and 

 began to make incursions into the Spanish territory, 

 in order to practice his troops, and subsist them 

 at the expense of the enemy. When this unex- 

 pected information reached St. Jago, it caused great 

 inquietude to Villagran, who, from his long expe- 

 rience of the daring spirit of the Araucanians, 

 foresaw all the fatal consequences that might result 

 from this war. But in order, if possible, to stifle 

 the bursting flame at its commencement, he sent 

 forward immediately his son Pedro with as many 

 troops as could be raised in so short a time, and 

 soon after set out upon the march himself with a 

 much greater force. 



The first skirmishes between the armies were by 

 no means favourable to Antiguenu, and his siege of 

 Cañete was attended with no better success. As 

 he, however, attributed his failure to the inexpe- 

 rience of his men, he sought on every occasion 

 to accustom them to the use of arms. At length, 

 upon the hills of Millapoa, he had the satisfac- 

 tion of showing them that they could conquer, by 

 defeating a body of Spaniards commanded by Arias 



Pardo. 

 Vol. il Z 



