206 . 0VALLE*S HISTORICAL RELATION OF CHILE. 



children, who, upon occafion of this war, remained widows and orphans : that upon 

 fair terms they would own the King of Spain, upon condition that he did not concern 

 himfelf any ways with their liberty or rights ; that if they had any thought of ading by 

 violence, and making them flaves, they would fooner eat their own children, and kill 

 themfelves, than fufter it. " 



The governor anfwered him with all aflurance of as good treatment as they expeded ; 

 and having made him fome prefents, difpatched him back to give an account of his 

 embafly : but this was not fufEcient fecurity for either fide ; fo they remained upon 

 their guard. The Indians obferving the caution of the Spaniards, to give them more 

 fecurity, feigned to difmifs their forces, but fecretly gave them orders to fland upon 

 their guard, and not lay down their arms, but be ready upon any occafion that might 

 happen ; yet the Spaniards for all this did not think fit to land upon the continent, 

 but flayed two months upon the ifland where they firfl landed, till the winter was 

 entirely over. About the fpring, they fet on fhore about one hundred and thirty men 

 of the bravefl among them, to raife a fort, as they did, upon the top of an hill which 

 overlooks the city of Penco (otherwife called the city of the Conception). Under the 

 protection of this fortrefs, the reft of the Spaniards went out of the ifland, hoping 

 that in a little time, their horfes, which were coming by land, would arrive, having 

 fome news of them ; in the niean time they cut wood and fafcines to fortify their camp, 

 the governor and the commanders fhewing an example to the reft in the labour of 

 intrenching themfelves, and cutting of wood, as if they had never done any thing elfe 

 all their life-time. They brought it to perfeftion in a little time, and planted upon it 

 eight field-pieces, with all other neceffary provifions for their defence. 



The Araucanos, who were watching their motions, no fooner faw them bufy in 

 their fort, but, without expedling any further proof of their intentions, which they 

 took to be for war, called immediately an aflembly, and with all their ftrength came 

 like lions, with a refolution to demolifh the new fort. They took up their polt at Tal- 

 caguano, about two miles from the Spaniards' fort, and about break of day they gave 

 an alarm, and having firft challenged out many Spaniards to fingle combat, they at 

 laft fell on in a body, with no more fear of the cannon-bullets than if they had been of 

 cotton or wool, knowing, that though they received at firft fome damage, it could laft 

 no longer than till the battalions were engaged. With this refolution they fell on like 

 lions, and fome of them got over the fortifications ; amongft whom was Tucapel, who 

 did wonderful adions. Neither were the Spaniards unprepared for them, doing extra- 

 ordinary things, which it were too long to defcribe in particular, though the adions 

 were fuch as very well deferve it. 



The Spaniards who were in the ifland and aboard the fhips, hearing of the danger 

 of their companions, came to their affiftance, and by the help of God, who aided them, 

 joined their friends : and then thus united they began to prevail over the Araucanos, 

 who, finding themfelves inferior, and having loft many of their braveft men, began 

 to retreat, all but Tucapel, who having ftayed laft, and being forely wounded, yet 

 made his efcape from the Spaniards, whom he left full of admiration of his valour and 

 refolution. 



About this time the horfes which came from St. Jago arrived, and with them a 

 troop of good horfemen from the Imperial. The enemies muftered all their forces, 

 and the Spaniards went to feek them in the valley of Arauco, where they had another 

 very bloody engagement : the Araucanos fled, or rather retired ; and the Spaniards 

 having taken one prifoner called Cualbarino, they, in order to terrify the reft, cut off" 

 both his hands j but the Araucanos were fo far from being terrified by it, that this 



enraged 



