APPENDIX. 41 Y 



himself useful to his general, by engaging the Indians in his favour. Sur- 

 rounded by enemies, and, what was worse, by false friends, the ray of hope 

 which this unexpected intelligence communicated to each breast was far 

 from disagreeable. Carrera knew the plot of the deputies in San Nicolas, 

 and was aware that such an opportunity of extricating himself from their net 

 was not to be rejected. He despatched five of the Indian deputies to the 

 caciques, returning them thanks for the offer of their disinterested friendship, 

 of which he accepted, and offered to become their protector against the 

 Portenos ; at the same time requesting them to send six or seven hundred 

 men into the Pampas, which were there to wait his orders, without showing 

 themselves on the frontier. The other nine deputies were provided for in 

 our encampment, where they remained to act as guides to us, in case of being 

 obliged to escape precipitately ; and forty Indians, the guard of these deputies, 

 were encamped in a village in the frontier, where we provided for them 

 provisions, tobacco, &c. 



Carrera wrote to the deputies in San Nicolas, informing them that he was 

 perfectly acquainted with the nature of their dishonourable and perfidious plot; 

 that he even comprehended its most abstruse conditions and ramifications, as 

 they respected the provinces of Santa Fe, Buenos Ayres, and Cordova. He 

 demanded them immediately to desist from the measures in contemplation, 

 and to allow him an uninterrupted march to Chile; to which, if they did not 

 accede, they should consider themselves responsible to their provinces for 

 the consequences which would follow. 



This letter of Carrera appeared to the deputies as an enigma which they 

 could by no means solve. It was indeed very extraordinary how he could 

 be acquainted with their private proceedings ; but it was still more so, that, 

 not having more than 150 men at his disposal, he would dare to demand of 

 the representatives of these powerful provinces a suspension of their designs, 

 point out a line of conduct which they should pursue, and throw out such 

 menacing insinuations in case they did not allow him to march to Chile. 

 His union with his friend Ramirez appeared impossible ; and they could not 

 conceive any other resource which was left him, or by which he could escape 

 from their hands. 



The abilities of Carrera were acknowledged by all parties, and his enter- 

 prising spirit was feared, as it was always known to be capable of some 

 resource when danger threatened : they therefore resolved to put immedi- 

 ately in execution their plans, lest he should counteract their scheme. 



3h 



