THE COLONIAL PERIOD 8i he laid waste, arid, taking many prisoners^ ordered them to be mutilated and turned loose, thinking by these abominable measures to intimidate the Indians. The hunted tribes fled from some of the provinces, destroying their houses and crops behind them. Despite all these vigorous measures, the Araucan- ians received reinforcements from their allies and from the mestizos, and were even joined by some Span- iards, so that Paynenancu, with the eight hundred men he was thus enabled to get together, soon gave battle to the whole Spanish army. The contest was stubborn, and not until the Araucanian army was slain almost to a man and Paynenancu taken prisoner, was the battle won. The heroic chief was executed, and the governor rebuilt the oft destroyed fort of Arauco — the battle haviug been fought in that vicinity — which he placed in charge of Garcia Ramon, the quarter- master.
