239 



so that the battle became more regular and the 

 slaughter was equal on both sides. Putapichion, 

 however, who had recovered the spoil and taken 

 some prisoners, during the confusion that the Spa- 

 niards were thrown into, thinking it not prudent to 

 risk them on the event of a battle, ordered a 

 retreat. 



On his return to Conception, the governor met 

 with the Serjeant- major and the quarter- master. 

 The first had not been able to effect any thing of 

 importance, as the enemy had taken refuge in the 

 mountains. The latter reported that having taken 

 two hundred prisoners, and a booty of seven thou- 

 sand horses and a thousand cattle, he had the mis- 

 fortune to lose almost all of them, in consequence of 

 a dreadful tempest that he met with on his return. 



In the mean time, there arrived in Chili a new 

 governor, appointed by the court in place of Cor- 

 dova. This was Don Francisco Laso, a native of 

 St. Andero, an officer who had gained much repu- 

 tation in the wars of Flanders, where he had passed 

 the principal part of his life. He at first sought to 

 come to an accommodation with the Araucanians, 

 and for that purpose sent home all the prisoners that 

 were in the garrisons, with particular instructions to 

 that effect. But their minds were not yet disposed 

 to peace, the glory of establishing it being reserved 

 for his successor ; he, however, prepared the way 

 for it by his victories, and by the ten years of un- 

 intermitted war that he made upon the enemy, in 

 consequence of the rejection of his proposals. 



