FATE OF BENAVIDEiB. 365 



vived the execution in the most extraordinary 

 manner, he presented himself to the General of 

 the army, offering his services to dissuade the In- 

 dians and the other inhabitants on the southern 

 bank of the river Biobio from lending themselves 

 to the desperate and illegal war in which the 

 Spaniards wished to engage them. His offer was 

 accepted : passports were given him, and other 

 documents relative to his commission. He went 

 to the town of Los Angeles, and from thence to 

 Nacimiento, where he persuaded Don J uan Fran- 

 cisco Sanchez, Commander of the Spanish troops, 

 that he possessed ability to maintain the desolat- 

 ing war, which was about to cease on the south- 

 em frontier of Chili. The commander accord- 

 ingly retired to Valdivia, leaving Benavides as 

 Commander-in-chief of the whole frontier. He 

 commenced his authority by a most scandalous 

 action, decidedly against the laws of war. He 

 attacked an officer of the name of Riveros, who 

 commanded a party in the fort of Santo Juana, 

 and took him prisoner, with fourteen soldiers who 

 were saved from the bloody attack. It was deem- 

 ed proper to propose to exchange for this officer 



