26} 



great numbers of the citizens perished in the 

 defence of their walls, the prisoners of all ranks 

 and sexes were so numerous, that there was 

 scarcely an Araucanian family who had not one 

 to its share. The women were taken into the 

 seraglios of their conquerors. Husbands were, 

 however, permitted for the most part to retain 

 their wives, and the unmarried to espouse the 

 women of the country ; and it is not a little 

 remarkable that the mustees, or offspring of 

 -these singular marriages, became in the subse- 

 quent wars the most terrible enemies of the 

 Spanish name. 



The ransom and exchange of prisoners was 

 also permitted. By this means many escaped 

 from captivity. Some, however, induced |)y 

 love of their children, preferred to remain with 

 their captors during their lives ; others, who ac- 

 quired their affection by their pleasing manners, 

 or their skill in the arts, established themselves ad- 

 vantageously in the country. Among the latter 

 were Don Basilio Roxas and Don Antonio Bas- 

 cugnan, both of noble birth, who acquired high 

 reputation among the natives, and have left in- 

 teresting memoirs of the transactions of their own 

 times. But those who fell into brutal hands had 

 much to suffer. Paillamachu did not long enjoy 

 the applause of his countrymen ; he died at the 

 end of the year 1603, and was succeeded by Hy- 

 necura, his pupil in the school of Lumaco. 



s 3 



