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by their humane remonstrances, dissuaded him from 

 the commission of those cruelties that were at first 

 exercised towards the natives of the country ; but 

 this severity does not appear to have been so great 

 as to have obtained the notice of any historian. He 

 has been by some accused of avarice, and they pre- 

 tend that, in punishment of this vice, the Arauca- 

 nians put him to death by pouring melted gold into 

 his throat ; but this is a fiction copied from a similar 

 story of antiquity. 



This victory, which was gained in the evening, 

 was celebrated the day following with all kind of 

 games and diversions, in a meadow surrounded with 

 large trees, to which were suspended as trophies the 

 heads of their enemies. An immense crowd of peo- 

 ple from the neighbouring country flocked thither 

 to witness with their own eyes the destruction of an 

 army, which they had till then considered as invin- 

 cible, and to join in the diversions of the festival. 

 The officers, in token of victory, wore the clothes 

 of their slain enemies, and Caupolican himself put on 

 the armour and surcoat of Valdivia, which was em- 

 broidered with gold. 



