243 



Having resolved to offer him battle the next day, 

 the governor made his men prepare themselves i'oi' 

 it in the best manner possible, and that nûght had a 

 skirmish with an advanced party of the enemy, wiio 

 had approaehed very near the wall, and l)urned the 

 houses of the auxiliaries. At day break he took 

 possession with his army of the important post of 

 Alvarrada, which viv.s flanked by two deep torrents, 

 placing the cavalry, commanded by the quarter-mas- 

 ter Sea, on the riglit, and the infantry, under the or- 

 ders of the sergeant-major Rebolledo, on the left. 



Putapichion having observed the movements of 

 the Spaniards, presented himself with his arm}' in 

 such excellent order, that the governor could not 

 avoid openly expressing his admiration. The sol- 

 diers, whose heads were adorned with beautiful fea- 

 thers, appeared as much elated as if goingtoa banquet. 

 The tv/o armies remained some time observing 

 each other, till at length Quepuantu, the Vice Toqui, 

 by order of the general, gave the signal of attack. 

 The governor then ordered the cavalry to charge, 

 but it was so severely handled by the enemy's horse, 

 that it took to flight, and sheltered it-elf in the rear 

 of the army. At the same time the Araucanian in- 

 fantry broke the Spanish lines in such a miumer, 

 that the governor gave up all for lost. Fortunately 

 for him, at this critical moment Putapichion was 

 slain. Availing himself of the confusion produced 

 among the Araucanians by this circumstance, he 

 rallied his troops, and charged the enemy anew, who 

 were wholly intent on carrying off the body of their 

 general. This they succeeded in effecting, but were 



