265 



nians^ whom he alwaj's treated, when prisoneri, 

 with particular attention, and a humanity that 

 did him honour in that age. 



According to the royal decree establishing the 

 Court of Audience^ the government now de- 

 volved upon the eldest of the auditors, Don 

 Louis Merlo de la Fuente. 



About the same time, either from disease or in 

 consequence of a wound that he received in the 

 last battle, died the Toqui Huenecura. His suc- 

 cessor was Aillavilu the Second, whom Don Ba- 

 silio de Roxas, a contemporary writer, represents 

 as one of the greatest of the Araucanian generals, 

 and as having fought many battles with Merlo, 

 and his successor Don Juan Xaraqueniada; 

 but he neither mentions the places where thejr 

 were fought, nor any particulars respecting 

 them. 



Among the missionaries at that time charged 

 with the conversion of the Chilians, there was a 

 Jesuit called Louis Valdivia, who, perceiving 

 that it was impossible to preach to the Arauca. 

 nians during the tumult of arms, went to Spain, 

 and represented in the strongest terms to Philip 

 the Third, who was then on the throne, the great 

 injury done to the cause of religion by the con- 

 tiimance of the war. That devout prince, who 

 had more at heart the advancement of religion 

 than the augmentation of his territories, sent 

 orders immediately to the government of Chili 

 to discontinue the war, and settle a permanent 



