207 



sent circumstances it would be unable to resist 

 him ; but Villagran, who was likewise convinced 

 of the impossibility of defending it, anticipated 

 him by withdrawing all the inhabitants, part of^ 

 whom retired to Imperial, and part to Concep- 

 tion. On their arrival, the Araucanians^ who ' 

 had experienced so many disasters in the vicinity 

 of this place, had no other trouble than that of 

 destroying the fortifications and setting it on fire, 

 and in a short time it was entirely consumed. 



In the meantime Villagran, more the victim of 

 grief and mental anxiety than of his disorder 

 died, universally regretted b}' the colonists, who 

 lost in him a wise, humane, and valiant com- 

 mander, to whose prudent conduct they were in- 

 debted for the preservation of their conquests. 

 Before his death he appointed as his successor, 

 by a special commission from the court, his eldest 

 son Pedro, whose mental endowments were no 

 way inferior to his father's. 



The death of the governor appeared to Anti- 

 guenu to present a favourable opportunity to 

 undertake some important enterprise. Having 

 formed his alrmy, which consisted of 4,000 men, 

 into two divisions, he ordered one, under the 

 command of his Vice Toqui Antunecul, to lay 

 siege to Conception, in order to attract thither 

 the attention of the Spaniards, while with the 

 other he marched against the fort of Arauco, 

 which was defended by a strong garrison, under 



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