Mendoza now ordered a furious attack upon the Araucanian encampment, which was first hotly cannonaded. The Araucanians rushed forth, committing great slaughter amongst the Spaniards. Their retreat was cut off by a skilful movement of the latter, and they found themselves surrounded. Caupolican and his intrepid band nevertheless maintained an equal combat during six hours, at the end of which time he found that his chief officers--amongst them Tucapel, Colocolo, and Lincoyan--were slain. He then at length attempted to retreat with the small remnant of his force; but on being overtaken by a detachment of Spanish cavalry, he slew himself to avoid the fate of his father. The battle of _Quipeo_--the Araucanians’ Flodden--seeming to Mendoza to be decisive, he now devoted his whole attention to repairing the losses of the war. He rebuilt the fortifications of _Arauco_ and of _Angol_, and restored the town of _Villa Rica_, causing its abandoned mines to be reopened anew. He likewise obtained the establishment of a bishopric of _St. Iago_, the first incumbent being a Franciscan monk, Fernando Barrionuevo. Of his veteran troops he disposed of a portion by sending them, under the command of Pedro Castillo, to complete the conquest of the trans-Andine province of _Cujo_. That able officer effected that object, founding on the eastern _Andes_ two cities, named respectively _San Juan_ and _Mendoza_, the latter being taken from the family name of the governor of _Chili_. _Mendoza_, now the capital of a province of the _Argentine Republic_, has been remarkable in our own day as being the scene of one of the greatest tragedies to which earthquakes have given rise. Whilst engaged in the prosecution of these objects, _Don_ Garcia received notice of the arrival at _Buenos Ayres_ of his predecessor, Francis Villagran, who, having gone to Europe after he had been deprived of the government, had procured his reinstatement from the court of Spain. In consequence of this information, _Don_ Garcia immediately quitted the territories of _Chili_, the government of which he confided to Quiroga until his successor should arrive. He himself, on his return to _Peru_, was rewarded for his services by being appointed to the viceroyalty of that country, which had till then been held by his father.