422 APPENDIX. 



women on old horses, and such as were not able to travel otherwise were 

 carried in the arms of the Indians. It is unnecessary to attempt a descrip- 

 tion of the cries and agonies of these wretched creatures in the power of their 

 savage masters, — it is easily conceived. Carrera claimed many of the most 

 respectable amongst them as his relations ; and some of them, who were in 

 possession of the caciques, were quietly delivered ; but such as had the mis- 

 fortune of falling into the hands of the Indians were retained, as the authority 

 of their chiefs did not extend so far as to command them to relinquish what 

 they considered honourably gained in war. However, we employed every 

 means of extricating several young women from the power of their cruel 

 masters. We got some in exchange for our scarlet cloaks, caps, jackets, &c. ; 

 others we stole, and disguised in the uniform of soldiers ; whilst we seized on 

 others by force, alleging that they were our sisters, wives, or relations. 



The Indians were so irritated at our contempt of their sacred rights and 

 customs respecting prisoners and war, that they prepared twice to sacrifice 

 us as the victims of our insolence; but the interposition of Guelmo and their 

 caciques, our prompt dispositions to resist them, the high idea they had 

 formed of our prowess from the example of those who accompanied them in 

 Salta, and a respect or timidity (which they had not yet lost) for fire-arms, 

 all concurred in inducing them to desist, and become our friends again. 



That night thirty women, whom we had rescued or ransomed, were sent 

 back to Salta under the care of a guard, and unknown to the Indians. The 

 greater part of the remainder were afterwards ransomed; many of whom chose 

 to remain in the division, and accompanied to the last. The number of 

 women taken in Salta was about 250, and a great number of children. 



The very unfortunate catastrophe of Salta furnished our enemy's com- 

 mentators with ample grounds for a liberal display of their encomiums on 

 Carrera, and those who accompanied him. That the affair in itself was 

 undoubtedly barbarous, and will admit of little apology, is but too evi- 

 dent ; but any person curious enough to investigate the causes which led to 

 the desolation of that town, will be convinced that it was not caused by 

 Carrera, was not abetted by him, nor was it in his power to have prevented 

 it. Seven thousand Indians had been called by Martin Rodriguez in order 

 to extirpate us ; and he also showed the inhuman example of Indian warfare 

 by sending 200 of his soldiers with the cacique Nicolas, who surprised Me- 

 lingue (a town on the frontiers of Santa Fe, then our ally), carrying away all 

 its inhabitants captives. This, Rodriguez observed to the cacique, was but 



