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habitants of the city of the Frontiers and of 

 PureOj thinking themselves insecure within their 

 walls, retired to Imperial. The same was the 

 case with those of Villarica, who abandoned 

 their houses, and took refuge in Valdivia. Thus 

 had the Araucanians only these two places to at- 

 tack. Caupolican having determined to besiege 

 them, committed to Lautaro the care of defending 

 the northern frontier. The young Vice Toqui 

 fortified himself upon the lofty mountain of 

 Mariguenu, situated on the road which leads 

 to the province of Arauco, supposing, as it hap- 

 pened, that the Spaniards, desirous of revenging 

 the death of their general, would take that road 

 in search of Caupolican. This mountain, which 

 on several occasions has proved fatal to the Spa- 

 niards, has on its summit a large plain inter- 

 spersed with shady trees. Its sides are full of 

 ^lefts and precipices ; on the part towards the 

 west the sea beats with great violence, and at the 

 east it is secured by impenetrable thickets. A 

 winding bye-path on the north was the only road 

 that led to the summit of the mountain. 



In the meantime, the two Promaucians who 

 had alone escaped the destruction of the Spanish 

 army, having reached Conception, filled that 

 city with the utmost consternation. As soon as 

 the general terror had a little subsided, the ma- 

 gistrates proceeded to open the instructions of 



