on the principle of retaliation, has dishonoured all the laurels of Putapichion. The torture of an innocent prisoner, upon whatever motive, or under whatever pretext it is inflicted, is a crime of the deepest dye against humanity. This cruel amusement was not however pleasing to all the nation. Many of the spectators, as Don Fran, cisco Bascugnan, an eye witness, asserts, compassionated the fate of the unfortunate soldier, and Maulican, to whom the office of dispatching him was assigned as a mark of honour, declared that he had consented to it with the utmost reluctance, and only to avoid quarrelling with his commander.

The governor having left to the quarter-. master, Fernando Sea, the charge of guarding the Bio-bio, with thirteen hundred Spaniards and six hundred auxiliaries, withdrew to Santiago, where he raised two companies of infantry and one of cavalry. At the same time he received from Peru five hundred veteran soldiers, With these troops, and those whom he found upon the frontier, having formed a sufficient army, he proceeded immediately to the fort of Arauco, which he knew was menaced by Putapichion. That indefatigable general had indeed commenced his march for that place with seven thousand chosen troops whose valour he thought nothing was able to resist. But intimidated by some superstitious auguries of the Ex-Toqui

Lientur, who had resolved to share with him the glory of the enterprise, the greater part of them forsook him on the road. Not discouraged by this desertion, and observing that in war there could be no better omen than an eager desire to conquer, he continued his march with thirty-two hundred of the most determined who were resolved to follow him, and encamped at a short distance from the fort. Some of his officers advised him to attack it that same night, but he declined it, as well for the purpose of resting his troops, as not to give the enemy occasion to reproach him with always taking advantage, like a robber, of darkness to favour his operations.

Having resolved to offer him battle the next day, the governor made his men prepare themselves for it in the best manner possible, and that night had a skirmish with an advanced party of the enemy, who had approached very near the wall, and burned the houses of the auxiliaries. At day-break he took possession with his army of the important post of Alvarrada, which was flanked by two deep torrents, placing the cavalry, commanded by the quarter-master Sea, on the right, and the infantry, under the orders of sergeant-major Rebolledo, on the left.

Putapichion having observed the movements. of the Spaniards, presented himself with his army in such excellent order, that the governor could not avoid openly expressing his admiration.

The soldiers, whose heads were adorned with beautiful feathers, appeared as much elated as if going to a banquet. The two armies remained some time observing each other, till at length Quepuantu, the Vice Toqui, by order of the general, gave the signal of attack. The governor then ordered the cavalry to charge, but it was so severely handled by the enemy's horse, that it took to flight, and sheltered itself in the rear of the army. At the same time the Araucanian infantry broke the Spanish lines in such a manner, that the governor gave up all for lost. Fortunately for him, at this critical moment Putapichion was slain. Availing himself of the confusion produced among the Araucanians by this circumstance, he rallied his troops, and charged the enemy anew, who were wholly intent on carrying off the body of their general. This they succeeded in effecting, but were completely routed; Quepuantu in vain endeavouring to stop, and bring them back to the charge, killing severaj of them with his own hand. Great was the slaughter of the fugitives who were pursued to the distance of six miles; of the Spaniards many also were killed; but from different accounts given by writers, the number cannot be ascertained.

CHAP. IX.

COMPRISING A PERIOD OF EIGHTY-SEVEN YEARS, FROM 1633 to 1720.

Continuation of the War; New Expedition of the Dutch against Chili; Peace concluded with the Araucanians; Its short Duration; Exploits of the Toqui Clentaru; Series of Spanish Govornors to the Year 1720.

FROM the death of Putapichion to the termination of the government of Don Francisco Laso, the Toquis elected by the Araucanians continued the war with more rashness than good conduct. None of them, like Antiguenu or Paillamachu, possessed that coolness requisite to repair their losses, and counterbalance the power of the Spaniards. Quepuantu, who from the rank of a subaltern had been raised to the chief command, after the battle of Alvarrada, retired to a valley covered with thick woods, where he erected a house with four opposite doors, in order to escape in case of being attacked. The governor, having discovered the place of his re

treat, sent the quarter-master Sea to surprise hint with four hundred light armed troops. These arriving unexpectedly, Quepuantu took refuge, as he had planned, in the wood, but ashamed of his flight, he returned with about fifty men, who had come to his assistance, and furiously attacked the assailants. He continued fighting desperately for half an hour, but having lost almost all his men, accepted a challenge from Loncomallu, chief of the auxiliaries, by whom, after a long combat, he was slain.

A similar fate, in 1634, befel his successor and relation Loncomilla, in fighting with a small number of troops against a strong division of the Spanish army. Guenucalquin, who succeeded him, after having made some fortunate incursions into the Spanish provinces, lost his life in an engagement with six hundred Spaniards, in the province of Ilicura. Curanteo, who was created Toqui in the heat of the action, had the glory of terminating it by the rout of the enemy, but was shortly after killed in another conflict. Curimilla, more daring than his predecessors, repeatedly ravaged the provinces to the north of the Bio-bio, and undertook the siege of Arauco, and of the other fortifications on the frontier, but was finally killed by Sea in Calcoimo.

During the government of this Toqui, the Dutch attempted a second time to form an alliance with the Araucanians, in order to obtain