200 



gave the command of them to three valiant officers, 

 Lonconobal, Antulevu, and Tarochina. 



These divisions proceeded by three roads that ied 

 to the camp, and cut in pieces the auxiharies, who 

 wtre the first to oppose their progress. Fortuhately 

 for the Spaniards, the moon, at the moment of the 

 assauh, enabled them after a short period of confu- 

 sion, in which they lost several of their men, to form 

 themselves and make head against their assailants, 

 who, galled upon all sides by the musketry, began 

 at length to give way. The governor at the same 

 time, charging them with his band of veterans, suc- 

 ceeded in repulsing them, though not without great 

 loss on both sides. 



Cayancura, who had halted at the entrance of the 

 Spanish camp, in order to support tl>e attack, find- 

 hig his troops retiring exhausted and fatigued, per- 

 mitted them to rest the remainder of the night, and 

 at day break returned to the attack. The Spaniards 

 came out to meet them in the open field, and most 

 obstinate and bloody was the battle that ensued. 

 But, overpowered by the horse and artillery, the 

 Araucanians were finally compelled to quit the field. 

 The authors whom I have consulted satisfy them- 

 selves with observing that the victory cost the Spa- 

 niards dear, without specifying the number of the 

 slain. The governor himself calls it a bloody one in 

 his patent to Nugno Hernandez. The greatest proof 

 of his loss is diat immediately after the action, he 

 raised his camp, and retired to the frontiers, where \ 

 he built two forts, that of Trinidad upon the southern, 

 and Spii:ito Santo \ipoa the northern shore of the 



