in their piragues to the continent. The governor having taken some of the hindmost, sent two or three to the Araucanians, with directions to inform them of his arrival, and the desire he had of settling a lasting peace with them.

The Ulmenes, being convened to consider of this embassy, were generally of opinion that no propositions ought to be listened to from an enemy who had returned in greater force, it being impossible that they should be other than treacherous or unfair. But the old Colocolo, who was the soul of the union, observed that no injury could arise from their hearing the proposals of the Spanish general; that this was a favourable opportunity for discovering his designs, and of obtaining a knowledge of his forces; that for this purpose he thought it advisable to send a discerning and intelligent man, who, under the pretence of congratulating the new governor upon his arrival, and to thank him for the wish that he expressed of coming to an amicable accommodation, would gain information of whatever he should think of importance to regulate their future conduct.

Caupolican, with the greater part of the old officers, adopted this wise counsel, and confided this important commission to Millalauco, who possessed all the qualities requisite for such an envoy. This ambassador passed the narrow strait that separates the island of Quriquina from the continent, and, with all the pride peculiar to his nation, presented himself to the Spaniards. They in return, to give him a great idea of their power, received him arranged in order of battle, and conducted him amidst the

discharge of their artillery to the tent of the general. Millalauco, not in the least disconcerted by all this military parade, complimented the governor in the name of Caupolican, and in a few words declared to him the pleasure that he and all his people would feel in the establishment of an honourable and advanta geous peace to both nations, adding, that he was induced to this, not from any dread of his power, but from motives of humanity.

Don Garcia was by no means satisfied with these vague offers, so little correspondent to his views ; he replied, however, with the same general professions respecting peace, and after having regaled the ambassador in a magnificent manner, he ordered his officers to conduct him over the whole encampment, in order to intimidate him by the appearance of the immense military preparations that he had brought with him. Nothing could better suit the wishes of Millalauco; he observed every thing with attention, though with apparent indifference, and taking leave of the Spaniards, returned home. The Araucanians, on receiving such particular information, placed sentinels along the coast to observe the movements of their enemies, and began to prepare for war, which they believed to be near and inevitable.

Don Garcia, however, continued almost the whole winter in the island, waiting for the cavalry from Peru, and the reinforcements he had required from the cities of his jurisdiction. At length, on the night of the 6th of August, he privately landed one hundred and thirty men with several engineers upon the plain of Conception, and immediately took pos

session of Mount Pinto, which commands the harbour, where he constructed a fort furnished with a large number of cannon and a deep ditch.

The Auraucanian spies failed not to give immediate information to Caupolican of what had taken place. That general, hastily collecting his troops, passed the Bio-bio on the 9th of the same month, and on the next morning at day break, a period remarkable in Europe for the defeat of the French at St. Quintin, he attacked the fortress upon three sides, having sent forward a body of pioneers to fill up the ditch with fascines and trunks of trees. The attack was continued with all the fury and obstinacy so natural to that people. Numbers mounted on the parapet, and some even leapt within the walls, destroying all that they met with. But the cannon and the musketry directed by skilful hands, made so dreadful a slaughter that the ditch was filled with dead bodies, which served for bridges to the new combatants who fearlessly replaced their slain companions. Tucapel, hurried on by his unparalleled rashness, threw himself into the fort, and, killing four of his enemies with his formidable mace, escaped by leaping over a precipice amidst a shower of balls.

Whilst the combat raged with such fury around the fortress, the Spaniards who were in the island, perceiving the danger of the besieged, came over to their aid, and formed themselves in order of battle. Caupolican observing the disembarkation, sent immediately a part of his troops against them. These, after a severe conflict of several hours, were

driven back to the mountain, so that the assailants were placed between two fires. They nevertheless lost not their courage, and continued fighting till mid day. At length, extremely fatigued with the length of the combat, they withdrew to the Bio-bio with a determination to raise new forces and return to the attack.

Caupolican having in a short time reinforced his army, began his march towards Conception, but learning on the road that the Spaniards had received a numerous reinforcement, he halted on the shore of the Bio-bio, deeply chagrined at not being able to effect what Lautaro had twice performed with the universal applause of the nation. In fact, the day preceding two thousand auxiliaries had arrived at Conception, with the cavalry, from Peru, consisting of a thousand men well armed, and likewise another squadron of Spanish horse from Imperial.

After his army had sufficiently recovered from their fatigues, Don Garcia resolved to go in quest of the Araucanians in their own territory. For this purpose he crossed the Bio-bio in boats well equipped, at six miles from its mouth, where that river is fifteen hundred paces broad. Caupolican made no attempt to obstruct his passage, as the cannon, placed upon the boats, commanded the whole of the opposite shore; but he had occupied a position not far stant, flanked with thick woods, which, if defeated, would facilitate his retreat.

The battle began with a skirmish that was favourable to the Araucanians. The Spanish advanced

parties falling in with those of Caupolican were repulsed with loss, notwithstanding the assistance sent them by Ramon the quarter-master-general. Alonzo Reynoso, who was likewise dispatched to their aid with fifty horse, experienced a similar fate, leaving several of his men dead upon the field. The two armies at length met. The Araucanians, encouraged by the advantage they had gained, endeavoured to come to close combat with their enemies, notwithstanding the heavy fire they had to sustain from eight pieces of artillery in front of the Spanish army. But when they came within reach of the musketry, they were not able to advance further, or resist the fire which was well kept up by the veteran troops of Peru. After many ineffectual attempts, they began to give way and fall into confusion from the vacancies caused in their ranks, by the loss of their most determined soldiers. The cavalry at length completely routed them, making a great slaughter of them in their flight to

the woods.

Don Garcia, either from disposition or policy, was strongly inclined to pursue rigorous measures. He was the first in this war who introduced, contrary to the opinion of a majority of his officers, the barbarous practice of mutilating or of putting to death the prisoners; a system that may serve to awe and restrain a base people, or one accustomed to servitude, but a generous nation detests cruelty, and it only serves to exasperate and render them irreconcilable. Among the prisoners taken upon this ⚫ccasion was one more daring than any of the others, VOL. II.

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