280 



mitf ed war that he made upon the enemy, in con- 

 sequence of the rejection of his proposals. 



Laso was not, however, in the commencement 

 of his military operations highly favoured by 

 fortune. The quarter-master, Cordova, who 

 was preparing by his orders to invade the mari- 

 time provinces at the head of thirteen hundred 

 men, was completely routed in Piculgue, a 

 small district not far from the fort of Arauco. 

 Putapichion, having placed a part of his army 

 in ambuscade, contrived, with much skill, to 

 induce him to come to battle in an unfavourable 

 position. The Spanish horse which formed the 

 advanced guard, not able to sustain the shock of 

 the Auracanian cavalry, w hicli had at this time 

 become very expert, gave way. The infantry* 

 being in consequence left exposed and surrounded 

 upon all sides, were wholly destroyed after a 

 combat of more than five hours, during which 

 they performed prodigies of valour in resisting 

 the furious assaults of the enemy. In this action 

 the commander himself was slain, with five cap- 

 tains, and several other officers of merit. 



As soon as the governor was informed of this 

 defeat, he set out in person with a considerable 

 body of troops in search of Putapichion. In 

 the meantime, the latter, mocking the vigilance 

 of Rebolledo the sergeant-major, who had pro- 

 mised to prevent his crossing the Bio-bio, passed 

 that river with two hundred mon, and taking ad- 



