ovalle's historical relation of chile. 197 



rendezvous, for that never is omitted in thefe affemblies ; and having been unanimous 

 in the firft and chief point, which was to rife, there was fome difference about the choice 

 of a general, every one defiring to have that command, as it generally happens in fuch 

 eledions ; every one alledging their particular merits j the one his valour, another his 

 experience, another his good fortune, and none feemed to want a pretence for obtain- 

 ing their defire. They grew warm in this ambitious conteft, and would have come to 

 blows, if the old and wife Colocolo, by his prudence and authority, had not quieted 

 them, and reduced them to confent to choofe Caupolican, not only as the braved 

 foldier, but the ableft chief. This done they all fwore obedience to him, and promifed 

 to obey his orders, for the better carrying on of their common defign. 



The Spaniards had, as we have already mentioned, three caftles for their fecurity, 

 and one of them was near the poft where this aifembly was kept ; and the Indians, 

 proud and impatient, had a mind to attack it immediately ; but Caupolican, their ge- 

 neral, forbid it, in order to do it with more dexterity and fafety. He commanded Palta, 

 who performed the place of fergeant-general, to choofe him out four-fcore foldiers, of 

 the braved, and fuch as were lead known to the Spaniards, and the Indians their 

 friends: thefe he put under the condu<St of two very brave men, Cayaguano and Alca- 

 tipay, and ordered them to enter the cadle with their arms by this dratagem. The 

 Araucanos, though in peace, were not permitted to enter the cadle, except fuch as 

 ferved the Spaniards ; and thefe entered often with their loads of grafs, wood, and 

 other neceffaries for the garrifon. Caupolican ordered thefe four-fcore men to feign 

 themfelves to be fervants of the Spaniards, and having hid their arms in the grafs they 

 carried, to anfwer nothing, but pretend they did not hear if they were afked any ques- 

 tions : they acted their parts to the life, fome counterfeiting lamenefs, others weari- 

 nefs, fo that they were all let in without fufpicion ; then they took their arms out of 

 the grafs, and fell unanimoufly upon the Spaniards, who were much adonidied at fo 

 unforefeen a boldnefs. However, they gave the alarm, and all coming out of their 

 quarters, redded them, fo as to kill fome of the Indians : the others either out of fear 

 of the Spaniards, or on purpofe to draw them out of the cadle in their purfuit, retired, 

 on purpofe to gain time till their general Caupolican could come up with his army ; 

 which he did with a very numerous one, and forced the Spaniards to retire to their fort. 

 He befieged them in it, and after having killed many of them, thofe who remained 

 alive were glad to leave the pod, and get away, judging it better to retire to Puren, 

 led they fliould lofe all ; whereas being joined to the garrifon of Puren, they might 

 better redd the enemy, though he was very powerful, and much elevated. 



The news of this invafion foon reached the Conception, and the governor Pedro de 

 Valdivia, who was then there, began prefently to confider how to remedy fo great a 

 mifchief. Some blame him as tardy in doing of it ; for to fecure the treafure of the 

 mines, where (as Herrera fays) he had fifty thoufand vaffals at work to get gold for 

 him. Before he went to fuccour thofe in Puren, he went out of his way, and dayed 

 the ereding of a fort at the mines, which took him fo much time, that he came later 

 than was requifite to their relief. But, indeed, if any thing was ill done by him, it 

 was the making too much hade ; for without daying for the relief and fuccours he 

 might have received from the other cities, he fet out with a force not drong enough 

 to encounter that of Caupolican : his courage deceived him ; for being elevated with 

 his fuccelfes, and truding to his fortune, he ran into the precipice, as we diall diew 

 in the following chapter, 



^-- CHAP. 



