217 



The Araucanians, not aware of the trick, ran 

 into the snare, and being surrounded on every 

 side, were almost all cut in pieces, together with 

 their commander, after having sold their lives 

 verj dearly. - The remainder took refuge in the 

 marshes, where they secured themselves from the 

 fury of the victors. 



These repeated victories, the cause of such 

 exultation to the Spaniards, were but the pre- 

 ludes of the severest disasters that they had 

 ever experienced in Chili. It will, nevertheless, 

 scarcely admit of a doubt that they must have 

 cost much blood, since the governor, contrary to 

 his custom, withdrew to Santiago after the last 

 action, with the intention of awaiting there the 

 reinforcements which he expected from Peru, 

 and to raise as many recruits as possible in the 

 northern provinces of the country. The rein- 

 forcements were not long in arriving, but as they 

 appeared to him insufficient to continue the war 

 with advantage, he determined to go to Peru in 

 person to solicit more considerable succours, 

 committing in the meantime the command of the 

 army to the quarter-master, and the civil go- 

 vernment to the licentiate Pedro Yiscarra. On 

 his arrival at Lima he met with his successor in 

 the government, who had been appointed by the 

 court of Spain. This was Don Martin Loyola, 

 pepliew of St. Ignatius,* an officer of merit, who 



* The celebrated founder of the order of the Jesuits. 

 U 4 



