284r 



The soldiers, v?hose heads were adorned with 

 beautiful feathers, appeared as much elated as if 

 going to a banquet. The two armies remained 

 some time observing each other, till at length 

 Quepuantu, the Vice Toqui, by order of the 

 general, gave the signal of attack. The governor 

 then ordered the cavalry to charge, but it was so 

 severely handled by the enemy's horse, that it 

 took to flight, and sheltered itself in the rear of 

 the army. At the same time the Araucanian in- 

 fantry broke the Spanish lines in such a manner, 

 that the governor gave up all for lost. Fortu- 

 nately for him, at this critical moment Putapi- 

 chion was slain. Availing himself of the con- 

 fusion pioduced among the Araucanians by this 

 circumstance, he rallied his troops, and charged 

 the enemy anew, who were wholly intent on 

 carrying off the body of their general. This 

 they succeeded in effecting, but were comp'etclj 

 routed; Quepuantu in vain endeavouring to stop, 

 and bring them back to the charge, killing severaj 

 of them with his own hand. Great was the 

 slaughter of the fugitives who were pursued to 

 the distance of six miles ; of the Spaniards many 

 also were killed ; but from different accounts 

 given by writers, the number cannot be ascec* 

 tained. 



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