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were decisive. The most celebrated was that of 

 the plains of Yumbel. The enterprising Toqui 

 being on his return, at the head of two thousand 

 men, with a great number of animals which he 

 had taken from the district of Chilian, Quinones 

 attempted to cut off his retreat with an equal 

 number, the most of whom were Europeans. 

 The two armies advanced with equal resolution. 

 The Spaniards in vain attempted to keep the 

 enemy at a distance by a constant fire from eight 

 field pieces and all their musketry. They very 

 soon came to close quarters, and the battle was 

 continued with incredible fury for more than two 

 hours, till night parted the combatants, and 

 Paillamachui availing himself of the obscurity, 

 repassed the Bio-bio. The accounts from whence 

 our information is derived merely state in general 

 terms, that a great number of the Araucanians 

 were slain, and not a few of the Spaniards. The 

 governor upon this occasion made a useless dis- 

 play of severity, by ordering the prisoners to be 

 quartered and hung upon the trees ; a proceeding 

 highly disapproved by the most prudent of his 

 officers, who, from motives of humanity or self- 

 interest, advised him not to furnish the enemy 

 with a pretext for retaliation. But his adhe- 

 rence to the old maxim, of conquering by means 

 of terror, rendered him deaf to their remon- 

 strances. The consequence of this engagement 

 was the evacuation of the fort of Arauco and 



