37 / 



/ 



hours in order to secure themselves from the im^ 

 pending danger. j 



The Mapochinians, taking advantage of the de- 

 parture of the general, fell upon the colony with in- 

 conceivable fury, burned the half-built houses, and 

 assailed the citadel, wherein the inhabitants had ta- 

 ken refuge, upon all sides. While they defended 

 themselves valiantly, a woman, named Inez Suarez, 

 animated with a spirit more cruel than courageous, 

 seized an axe, and beat out the brains of the captive 

 chiefs, who had attempted to break their fetters and 

 regain their liberty. 



The battle began at day break, and was continued 

 till night, while fresh assailants, with a firmness/ 

 worthy of a better fate, constantly occupied th^ 

 places of those thit were slain. In the mean timej 

 the commander oÇ the fort, Alonzo Monroy, founâ 

 means during the confusion to dispatch a messeri- 

 ger to Valdivia, who returned immediately, and 

 found the ditch filled with dead bodies, and the en- 

 emy, notwithstanding the loss they had sustained, 

 preparing to recommence the combat ; but^ joining 

 the beseiged, he advanqed in order of battle against 

 their forces, which were posted on the shore of the 

 Mapocho. There the battle was ag-ain reiievv-ed, and 

 contested with equal valour, but with great disad- 

 vantage on the part of the natives, whc) were far in- 

 ferior to their enemies in arms and discjipline. The 

 musketry and the horse made a dreaqfui slaughter 

 among men, who were armed only with bows and 

 slings ; but, obstinately contending with even their 

 o\yn impotence, they furiously rushed cii to destruc- 



