Chap. X. INSURKECTION OF PUMACAGUA. 173 



poet of Arcquipa, joined the national army, and became 

 secretary to Vicente Angulo. 



On tlie approach of Eamirez, Pumacagua evacuated Are- 

 quipa, and manosuvred for some days on the lofty plains 

 between Apo and the post-house of Pati. Ramirez steadily 

 advanced, and came in sight of the Indian army at a little 

 hut called Chillilma, near the head of the " alto de los 

 huesos ;" but Pumacagua, avoiding a battle, retreated hastily 

 into the interior, and Ramirez entered Arequipa witliout 

 opposition on December 9th. His fu'st act was to shoot Don 

 Jose Astete, and other patriots who had compromised them- 

 selves during the time that Pumacagua was in the city. 



The enthusiasm of the Indians was so great that, notwith- 

 standing the affau* at Chillihua, which one authority describes 

 as a retreat,^ and another as a disastrous defeat,' they again 

 flocked to the standard of the old cacique at Pucara, where 

 he soon had another undisciplined haK-armed force around 

 him, numbering 40,000 men. Ramirez organized a force at 

 Arequipa of 1200 men armed with muskets, and fifty dra- 

 goons; and, commencing his march on February 11th, 1815, 

 he encamped round the town of Lampa on March 1st. On 

 that day he received a letter from Vicente Angulo, protesting 

 against the war being carried on in a savage and relentless 

 spirit, representing that, when a whole people rises in arms, 

 the insurgents ought to be granted belligerent rights ; and 

 urging the duty of concluding the war by negotiation, and 

 not by bloodshed. " It is not fear," Angulo continues, " that 

 induces me to write thus, but a feeling of humanity."^ Ra- 

 mirez answered that he would accept notliing but uncondi- 

 tional surrender. On March 4th he advanced to Ayaviri, on 

 the Vilcaiiota range, which separates the Collao from the 

 valley of the Vilcamayu. Here he received a letter from 



^ Colonel Alcon. •* Gen. San Eoman. 



* Documents, i. Ofido de Vicente Angulo a Bamirez. Feb. 28, 1815. 



