1828.] Facundo Quiroga, Governor of La Riga. 601 
congress were obeyed by the Mendocinos ; and a desperate battle took 
place in the environs of the town of San Juan, in which the fanatics, 
headed by a furious priest named Astorga, after fighting with all the fury 
which bigotry could inspire, were defeated and taken prisoners ; after 
which they were banished across the Andes to Chile. 
Some time after this, Colonel Araoz de la Madrid, a gallant officer in 
the service of Buenos Ayres, was sent to recruit for the Brazilian war in 
his native province (Tucuman), which bordered on that of La Rioja. 
Having delivered to the governor (Lopez) a large sum in dollars for 
bounty-money, the latter misapplied it; and La Madrid, in revenge, 
fomented a revolution amongst the indignant soldiery ; and, after a 
pitched battle with Lopez—who, being defeated and severely wounded, 
took refuge in Salta—he was elected governor in his room. The con- 
gress would gladly have punished La Madrid for this act ; but, as it was 
a time of public difficulty, and he was moreover a zealous advocate for 
Buenos Ayres, his offence was overlooked, and his new dignity con- 
firmed. 
Soon after this, the provinces of San Luis, La Rioja, Catamarca, San- 
tiago del Estero, and Cordova, entered into a sort of treaty of alliance, 
professedly in defence of their religion ; but, in reality, it was an agree- 
ment between their despotic governors to assist each other in maintaining 
their authority, in case congress should shew any disposition to put them 
down. Of Buenos Ayres, they entertained little dread, on account 
of the distance between them ; but the provinces of Tucuman and Salta 
were as thorns in their sides, on account of their vicinity, and the known 
liberal principles of their respective governors. A very short time 
elapsed before a quarrel took place between La Madrid and Quiroga ; 
_and, with all the bravery and confidence of a veteran warrior, the former 
“entered the territories of his enemy at the head of 200 men, and ap- 
-proached the Llanos, or plains of La Rioja, without any opposition, when 
he was suddenly met by Quiroga, at the head of 400 of his well-armed 
gauchos. The conflict was long and bloody, and, notwithstanding the 
disparity of numbers, La Madrid made frequent charges with such suc- 
cess that victory had well nigh declared for him; when a chance carbine-~ 
shot struck him in the sword-arm, and thus rendered defenceless, he 
was instantly sabred by several of his surrounding opponents ; on which 
his followers, struck with a sudden panic at seeing their hitherto invin- 
cible chief fallen, turned their bridles and fled. Upwards of sixty of 
Quiroga’s men perished in the battle, and darkness put an end to the 
pursuit. Quiroga bivouacked for the night round a large fire, surrounded 
by his people on the open plain ; and, in the morning, news was brought 
him that La Madrid, though dreadfully mangled, still breathed. Several 
of the gauchos started from their recumbent postures, and their half- 
unsheathed sabres announced their savage resolves. “ Stay!” cried 
Quiroga ; “by the Virgin of the Holy Rosary, I will cleave to the girdle 
the first man who moves. Ja Madrid is a gallant foeman; and, by 
Heaven, I am prouder of having conquered him than if I had been 
elected president of the congress. Let none harm him, and let him be 
treated with every mark of respect. Call all the surgeons of the province 
to his assistance, and, if they save his life, I will not forget their 
reward.” 
Thus did this barbarous chief exhibit a trait of magnanimity which 
could not have been exceeded in civilized life, and that towards the foe 
M.M. New Series —Vou. VI. No. 36. 4H 
