Page:A history of Chile.djvu/95

THE COLONIAL PERIOD 83 which the Indians were again repulsed, though the combat resulted in heavy loss to the Spaniards. Quitting the Indian country, Sotomayor built two forts upon the frontier, one on each side of the Bio- bio, Trinidad and Espiritu Santo, and then set about raising recruits. Two thousand cavalry and a consid- erable reinforcement of infantry were soon added to the troops already under his standard. Cayancaru, as soon as Sotomayor had removed to the '^iobio, determined to attack the fort of Arauco. To create a diversion, Guepotan, at the head of the Puelches, was ordered to ravage the country in the neighborhood of Villarica, from his strong position at Fort Liben, where he had defied the Spanish arms for a period of more than two years. Cadeguala, who was to be Cayancaru's successor in the tpquiship, was directed against Angol ; Tarochina was instructed to guard the Biobio, Melilanca and Catipillan were sent toward Imperial. These projects met with varying successes.' Guepo- tan lost his fort of Liben, Tarochina captured a num- ber of boats on the Biobio. It was not, however, until the following year that Cayancaru began the siege of Arauco. The place was strongly invested, but the besieged made so desperate an onslaught against their enemies that they forced their ranks and compelled them to fly, whereupon Cayancaru, feeling much cha- grined, resigned the leadership to his son Nongoniel, and retired to his own district. Nongoniel again invaded Arauco, and with such success that the garri- son was obliged to evacuate. Then the successful young commander proceeded against Trinidad, but was attacked on the way by a strong force of Span- iards under Francisco Hernandez. Nongoniel lost an arm in the engagement and was forced to retire to a