ovalle's historical relation of chile. 207 



enraged them the more ; for Gualbarino himfelf being returned to his countrymen, 

 went up and down, begging them to revenge the injury done to him, which they 

 all looked upon as their own. Caupolican their general fent to challenge the governor 

 Don Garcia with all his flrength, telling him, that he would ftay for him in his camp, 

 which he moved near the Spanifh camp, which was at Millarapue. He came over 

 night ; and the next day prefented them battle ; which was as well difputed as the 

 refl, both fides fighting with extreme valour. The Indians prefled the Spaniards fo 

 hard, that victory had declared for them, had not a Spanifh battalion, in which alone 

 remained all the Spaniards' hopes, charged fo defperately among the Indians, that they 

 were forced to retire, and leave the field to the Spaniards ; but their retreat was with 

 great honour and reputation. It is related, that in this engagement fome of the neigh- 

 bouring Indians were made prifoners : and that though they were put to a mofl 

 exquifite torture, to force them to reveal fomething that the Spaniards wanted to 

 know, yet they remained conflant and true to their country, as if they had been infen- 

 lible of pain. The Spaniards had here a confiderable advantage ; for, befides many 

 dead enemies whom they left upon the fpot, they took twelve prifoners of the chief 

 among the Indians, whom they hanged upon fo many trees for an example to the reft ; 

 and among them that fame Gualbarino ; who not only fhewed in dying an intrepid 

 mind, but encouraged the others : and among the reft a Cacique, who began to fear 

 and beg his life ; to whom Gualbarino fpoke before all with fo much haughtinefs, 

 taxing his bafe cowardice as if- he had been the conqueror, and not the conquered, 

 which ftruck the Spaniards with fuch admiration, that they were befide themfelves. 



From this place our camp marched to the valley where Valdivia was loft. Here 

 the Spaniards raifed a good fort ; from whence they made their excurfions upon the 

 enemy, endeavouring to advance their conquefts, but not without danger of being 

 often cut off ; particularly the hazard they ran at a narrow pafs, caufed by the moun- 

 tains on the way to Puren, where they were attacked by the Indians, and very hard 

 fet by them, whom they might have deftroyed if they had not fallen to plunder the 

 baggage ; for a company of Spaniards obferving this mifcarriage, feized on a fpot on 

 the top of a hill, from whence with their fmall fhot they fo galled the Indians below, 

 that they fled in confufion, to avoid fuch a tempeft, leaving the Spaniards mafters of 

 the field, but much weakened : having been forely handled in this rencounter, they 

 retired to their camp, where they were received with great demonftration of joy. 

 After this, leaving a good garrifon in the fort, well provided for two months, the 

 governor went to vifit the other cities, to ftrengthen them, and provide them with 

 neceffaries againft all attacks, which they had reafon to fear ; for Caupolican, enraged 

 that in three months he had loft three victories, had called a general affembly ; where 

 it was refolved never to give over, but either die or conquer, that they might drive 

 out the Spaniards, and reftore their country to its liberty. 



CHAP. XXIII. — More Events of War, — The Death and Converfion of Caupolican, 



CAUPOLICAN followed his defigns, but fortune feemed to be weary of affifting 

 him ; for in moft rencounters he came off either worfted, or entirely defeated, and the 

 viftory fnatched out of his hands when he thought himfelf fure of it : this made his 

 people begin to grow weary of his command ; and the vulgar began to cenfure his 

 conduft as too remifs, and that the defire of preferving his power, and being general, 

 made him negled opportunities of putting an end to the war. 



Cau- 



