NOTE.--“They are much deceived that so little esteeme the Indians, and iudge that (by the advantage the Spaniards have over them in their persons, horses, and armies, both offensive and deffensive) they might easily conquer any land or nation of the Indies. Chile stands yet, or, to say better, Arauco and Tucapel, which are two cities, where our Spaniards could not yet winne one foote of ground, although they have made warre there about five-and-twenty yeares, without sparing of any cost. For this barbarous nation, having once lost the apprehention of horse and shotte, and knowing that the Spaniards fall as well as other men with the blow of a stone or of a dart, they hazard themselves desperately, entring the pikes vppon any enterprise.”--_Father Joseph de Acosta. Translated by Edward Grimston, 1604; printed for the Hakluyt Society, 1880._ CHAPTER XIV. _THE ARAUCANIANS._ 1560-1603. [Sidenote: 1560.] _Don_ Francisco Villagran returned to _Chili_ under the flattering belief that the Araucanians would give him no more trouble; and he accordingly turned his attention to the reacquisition of the province of _Tucuman_, which, after having been subjected by him to _Chili_, had been since attached to _Peru_. Thus was a fresh struggle set on foot between the conquerors of the New World. The Chilian commander defeated the chief of the Peruvian forces, and accordingly _Tucuman_ was for a short period restored to the government of _Chili_. But this matter sank into insignificance in the face of the attitude of the Araucanians. The few _Ulmenes_ who had escaped from the late defeats, having assembled after the rout of _Quipeo_, unanimously elected as _Toqui_ an officer who had distinguished himself, named Antiguenu. On accepting the command, he represented, that as almost all the youth of the country had perished, he thought it expedient to retire to some secure situation until such time as a sufficient army could be collected. In accordance with this prudent policy, he sought shelter in the marshes of _Lumaco_, where he erected scaffolds to protect his men from the miasma of this gloomy retreat. The youth of the nation went thither to be instructed in arms, and the Araucanians considered themselves free since they could still boast a national commander.