PACIFIC AND BEERING'S STRAIT. 27 



from revenging the death of their relations upon those 

 who were hrought to the mission, glutted their brutal 

 passion on all the wounded who fell into their hands. 

 The despatch which the alferez wrote to his com- 

 manding officer on the occasion of this successful ter- 

 mination of his expedition, will convey the best idea 

 of what was executed, and their manner of conducting 

 such an assault. 



Translation — " Journal kept by citizen Jose Anto- 

 nio Sanchez, ensign of cavalry of the presidio of San 

 Francisco, during the enterprise against the Gen- 

 tiles, called Cosemenes, for having put to death the 

 neophytes of the mission of San Jose." — Written with 

 gunpowder on the field of battle ! 



" On the morning of the 20th the troop commenced 

 its march, and, after stopping to dine at Las Positas, 

 reached the river San Joachin at eleven o'clock at 

 night, when it halted. This day's march was per- 

 formed without any accident, except that neighbour 

 Jos6 Ancha was nearly losing his saddle. The next 

 day the alferez determined to send forward the ' auxi- 

 liary neophytes' to construct balsas* for the troop to 

 pass a river that was in advance of them. The troop 

 followed, and all crossed in safety ; but among the 

 last of the horses that forded the river was one be- 

 longing to soldier Leandro Flores, who lost his bridle, 

 threw his rider, and kicked him in the face and fore- 

 head ; and as poor Flores could not swim, he was in 

 a fair way of losing his life before he came within 

 sight of the field of battle : assistance was speedily 

 rendered, and he was saved. As Sanchez wished to 

 surprise the enemy, he encamped until dusk, to avoid 



* These are rafts made of rushes, and are the Indian substitute 

 for canoes. 



