56 



A DIARY OF THE 



kind of mouse : our provisions, stores, clothes, 

 tents, all suffered from their constant attacks, 

 and the freedom with which they visited the 

 sleepers almost exceeded belief ^ 



At 5 30^ P.M. the British consul, Henry Wil- 

 liam Rouse, Esq. from Conception, arrived at 

 our barricade, accompanied by Colonel Don G. 

 J. Valenzuela, the governor and military com- 

 mandant of Arauco, with Mr. Jagoe. They had 

 had a severe journey, from the effects of the 

 heavy rain that had fallen in a country where the 

 existence of a road is unknown. Their arrival 

 was hailed with joy as the dawn of our deliver- 

 ance, and gave us fresh stimulus to exertion. 

 They were fatigued, and gladly partook of what 

 we had to offer them, which included some good 

 wine we had got out of the wreck ; and sought 

 some early rest, deciding on the morrow to con- 

 cert measures for our moving towards the Rio 

 Leubu. The governor expressed himself highly 

 pleased at the manner in which we had barricaded 

 ourselves. We were indebted, for the governor 

 of Arauco's presence, to the high esteem in 

 which Mr. Rouse is held, amongst the authori- 

 ties, throughout the country which surrounds 

 Conception, where he is much beloved. On 



