136 



the shore of the great lake Lauquen, to which he 

 gave the name of Villarica, from the great 

 quantity of gold that he found in its environs. 



In the meantime, having received fresh rein- 

 forcements, he commenced his march towards the 

 south, ^ill kept in view by Lincoyan, who sought 

 a favourable opportunity of attacking him, which 

 his timid caution constantly prevented him from 

 finding. In this manner the Spanish commander 

 traversed with little loss the whole of Araucania 

 from north to south, but on his arrival at the 

 river Caliacalla^ which separates the Araucanians 

 from the CuncheSj he found the latter in arms, 

 determined to oppose his passage. While he 

 was deliberating what measures to pursue, a 

 woman of the country, called Recloma, either 

 from interested motives or a real desire to pre- 

 vent the effusion of blood, came to him and pro- 

 mised to persuade her countrymen to withdraw. 

 In consequence, having passed the river, she ad- 

 dressed the Cunchese general with such elo- 

 quence in favour of the strangers, that, without 

 foreseeing the consequences, he permitted them 

 to pass unmole.<ited. The Cunches are one of the 

 most valiant nations of Chili. They inhabit that 

 tract of country which lies upon the sea, be-, 

 tween the river Calacalla, at present called Val- 

 divia, and the Archipelago of Chiloe. They are 

 the allies of the Araucanians, and mortal enemies 

 to the Spaniards, and are divided into several 



