219 



de Viscarra, they assembled in council, and obli- 

 ged him to take upon himself the government, till 

 the court, on being made acquainted with the death 

 of Loyola, should appoint some other. This offi- 

 cer, who was more than seventy years old, began 

 his march for the frontiers in 1599, with all the 

 troops that he could raise, and had the courage to 

 cross the Bio-bio, and in the face of the besieging 

 enemy, withdraw the inhabitants from An gol and 

 Coya, with whom he repeopled the cities of Con- 

 ception and Chilian. But his government con- 

 tinued only six months ; for the viceroy of Pe- 

 ru, on being informed of the perilous situation of 

 Chili, sent Don Francisco Quiñones thither as gov- 

 ernor, with a numerous reinforcement, of soldiers 

 and a large supply of military stores. This com- 

 mander had several actions with Paillamachu on 

 the northern shore of the Bio-bio, whither the Arau • 

 canians had gone with an intention of laying under 

 contribution, or of ravaging the Spanish provinces ; 

 but none of them were decisive. The most cele- 

 brated was that of the plains of YumbeL The en- 

 terprising Toqui being on his return, at the head of 

 two thousand men, with a great number of animals 

 which he had taken from the district of Chilian, 

 Quiñones attempted to cut oft' his retreat with an 

 equal number, the most of whom were Europeans. 

 The two armies advanced with equal resolution. 

 The Spaniards in vain attempted to keep the ene- 

 my at a distance by a constant fire from eight field 

 pieces and all their musketry. They very soon 

 came to close quarters, and the battle was continu- 



