THE COLONIAL PERIOD 97 were not alone to administer justice, but also to aid the governor in the direction of governmental affairs and in the conduct of war.* The veteran, Ramon, enjoyed his gubernatorial honors less than a year. On the loth of August, 1610, he died at Concepcion ; not, however, until after he had obtained a victory over Toqui Huenecura in the marshes of Lumaco. He had marched an army of . two thousand men against the enemy, and the battle- which ensued was characterized by all the old time fury upon both sides. The governor placed himself in the front rank when his lines were about to give way, and so animated his men that what had been near!)' a rout was converted into a victory. Perhaps no captain-general of Chile was more endeared to the people, or more esteemed lay the Indians, than Garcia Ramon. For that age he was a humane man. He was succeeded by Don Luis Merlo de la Fuente, the oldest member of the Royal Audience. Toqui Huene- cura about this same time died of a wound he had re- ceived in battle and was succeeded by Aillavilu the Second, who proved to be one of the best of the Araucanian generals, though his achievements are not to be counted with those of Paillamachu. Luis de Valdivia was a Jesuit missionary. He de- sired to convert the Araucanians to the Christian faith, but found it no such easy task as Father Val- verde had in converting the Incas or Father Olmeda the Aztecs. It was impossible to preach while battles were constantly being fought. Animated by religious zeal, he proceeded to Spain and had an audience with Philip III., who was a zealous catholic. The king
- The governor was president of the Royal Audience. For this reason he is of-
ten referred to by Chilean historians as/r^J2^^«^^. The three names, governor, captain-general and president, are given indiscriminately by different writers. Id this book the three titles are used. 7
