visioning armies; but the European sc'diery^ ac- 

 customed to a different mode of living, were not 

 willing to return to that state of primitive sim- 

 plicity. 



The Araucauian troops are extremely vigilant; 

 they adopt at night the most prudent measures, 

 by encamping in secure and advantageous po- 

 sitions. On these occasions sentinels are placed 

 upon all sides, and in presence of the enemy they 

 redouble their precautions, and strengthen the 

 posts they occupy with strong entrenchments. 

 -Every soldier during night is obliged, in order 

 to prove his vigilance, to keep up a fire before 

 his tent : the great number of these fires serve to 

 deceive the enemy, and have at a distance a very 

 singular appearance. 



They are besides well acquainted with the art 

 of constructing military works, and of protecting 

 themselves with deep ditches, which they guard 

 with branches of thorn, and strew caltrops in the 

 environs to repress the incursions of the enemy's 

 horse. In short, there are few military strata- 

 gems that they do not employ at a proper time 

 and place. The celebrated Spanish poet, who 

 fought against them under Don Garcia, ex- 

 presses his admiration at meeting with troops so 

 well disciplined, and possessing such perfection 

 in tactics, which, to use his expres'sions, the most 

 celebrated nations in the world have not been 



