200 



gave die coiiiinand oí' them to three valiant ofíicers, 

 Lonçoncbal, Antulevu, and Tarochina. 



These divisions proceeded by three roads that led 

 to the camp, and cnt in pieces the auxiharies, who 

 were the first to oppose their progress. Fortunately 

 for tlic Spaniards, the moon, at the moment of the 

 assauk, enabled them after a short period of confu- 

 sion, in which they lost several of their men, to form j| 

 themselves and make head against their assailants, 

 who, galled upon all sides by the musketry, began 

 at length to give ^vay. The governor at the same 

 time, charging them with his band of veterans, suc- 

 ceeded in repulsing them, though not without great 

 loss on both sides. 



Cayancura, who had halted at the entrance of the 

 Spanish camp, in order to support the attack, find- 

 ing his troops retiring exhausted and fatigued, per- 

 mitted them to rest the remainder of the night, and 

 at day break returned to the attack. The Spaniards 

 came out to meet them in the open field, and most 

 obstinate and bloody was the battle that ensued. 

 But, overpowered by the horse and artillery, the 

 Araucanians.were finally compelled to quit the field. 

 The authors whom I have consulted satisfy them- 

 selves with observing that the victory cost the Spa- 

 niards dear, without specifying the number of the 

 slain. The governor himself calls it a bloody one in 

 his patent to Nugno Hernandez. The greatest proof 

 of his loss is that immediately after the action, he 

 raised his cam.p, and retired to the frontiers, where 

 he builttwo forts, that of Triaidad upon the southern, 

 and Spirito Santo upon the northern shore of tht 



