26Ù 



tance for beginning the work . Having pointed out the 

 situations which appeared the most eligible for the 

 erection of the new cities, a great quantity of wrought 

 iron was sent them by the governor, together with 

 provisions and cattle for the transportation of the 

 timber. The work, nevertheless, made no progress. 

 In consequence of this, the quarter-master Cabrito 

 repaired thither with several companies of soldiers, 

 in order to stimulate the operations, and placed su^ 

 perintendants in every quarter. The sergeant-major 

 Rivera was charged with the building of Nininco, 

 and captain Burgoa with that of the other city, which 

 Avas to be erected on the shore of the Bio-bio ; while 

 the quarter-master directed the operations from his 

 head- quarters at Angol. 



The Araucanians, however, instead qf pickaxes 

 seized their lances, slew the superintendants, and 

 having united to the number of five hundred wnder 

 the standard of their Toqui, proceeded to beseige 

 Cabrito in his camp. Burgoa, after having been very 

 roughly treated, was set at liberty, in consequence 

 of his being said to be an enemy of the quarter-mas- 

 ter. The sergeant-major, escorted by a missionary, 

 crossed the Bio-bio in sight of the enemy, who were 

 in search of him to kill him, and afterwards returned 

 at the head of four hundred men to relieve Cabrito. 

 Another missionary, Don Pedro Sanchez, requested 

 tlie Araucanian officer sent to escort him to forgive 

 a Spaniard by whom he had been grievously offend- 

 ed a short time before ; the Araucanian replied, 

 that he had nothing to fear while in his company ; 

 besides, that the present was no time to think of re- 



