APPENDIX. 



419 



manner as practised amongst them, and not in any other way customary 

 among Christian armies. All their formalities being agreed to, one of the 

 deputies was sent to announce to the Indians that we had acquiesced in their 

 desire, and that they might advance ; whilst the rest remained with us, to 

 assist us in going through the manoeuvres. 



Our men were formed in one rank, officers to the front, with an equal 

 distance between them. On our left flank were about sixty Indians, formed 

 in the same manner. Our Indian allies were about 900 in number, not 

 including those which accompanied us from Rosario. They were formed in 

 line, with an interval of about three yards between each troop ; the captain of 

 each troop in front of its centre, and the caciques, at equal distances, in front 

 of the whole. The Indians were naked, with exception of the waist, to 

 which was suspended a small triangular piece of tanned sheep-skin, orna- 

 mented on the border by a silver fringe ; their long black hair (which they 

 wore all alike), after coming down over the ears and forehead, was again 

 turned upwards, wound round the head, and tied at the extremity by a 

 riband used amongst them for that purpose ; their lances were about 14 

 feet long, and were held perpendicular in their right hands ; their horses 

 (which were covered with many fantastic trappings) were excellent; and 

 their line was actually the best formed I ever saw. 



All being ready, the ceremony began by each line advancing at a trot; and 

 on approaching each other at a full gallop, as in a charge, the Indians 

 brought their lances to the position of attack, and whilst they advanced with 

 the greatest fury raised a hideous yell, which (as we were little acquainted 

 with our new allies) made us doubt very much whether this were a real or 

 mock charge. However, on coming within forty yards of us, the Indians 

 halted on a sudden, their formation not having suffered the smallest alteration 

 or confusion in their rapid advance. We wheeled to our left, and continued 

 to gallop round them (according to our instructions) till we had encircled 

 them three times, keeping up a fire during the whole, which very much 

 gratified them. We then halted, and they returned us the same compliment 

 by galloping round us three times in the same manner. 



The honours being over, they halted in front of our line ; and the prin- 

 cipal cacique, with his subaltern caciques and captains, marched out in 

 front of theirs, where they were joined by Carrera and his officers. After a 

 long, but (I may say) unintelligible conversation, they offered us their hands, 

 which we accepted, in token of our mutual attachment and promise to defend 



SH 2 



