APPENDIX. 



435 



race of Peru, they will certainly appear to be large men ; but are by no means 

 larger than the generality of English and Germans. They live in a con- 

 tinual state of war, or preparation for war, among their own tribes, and against 

 the Christians. Carrera succeeded in reconciling to each other all the rival 

 chiefs ; but such reconciliation cannot be of long duration. 



The Indians are imperious and resentful ; vehement in all their passions ; 

 jealous of their freedom and rights, and bold in maintaining them : they are 

 exceedingly brave, but extremely cruel and fond of revenge ; distrustful 

 of those whom they know not ; hospitable and faithful to those whom they 

 recognise as friends ; inveterate to their foes, neither forgiving an enemy or 

 forgetting an injury. 



During our residence in the country of the Indians various causes com- 

 bined to render our soldiers insubordinate and mutinous ; viz. their inactivity, 

 want of pay, &c. ; however we continued to punish them severely for every 

 fault or disrespect, not overlooking the most trivial. In consequence of 

 this, they projected a most villainous mutiny against the General and offi- 

 cers, and only waited the arrival of a party which was out on duty to effect 

 their designs. — A soldier named San Martin was appointed general by the 

 soldiers ; the other officers necessary for the squadron were all selected from 

 among themselves. Our division was formed of the prisoners taken in the 

 battle of Maypu ; and as they had all served under the Spanish government, 

 they still retained an occult allegiance to Fernando. Their plan was, that 

 after putting to death the General and officers, they would pass to the south 

 of Chile, conducted by an Indian, and there join Benevides, who was fighting 

 for the Spaniards. 



Fortunately our soldiers were not all unfaithful. There were some of 

 them who gave us exact information of the revolution, and swore to stand or 

 fall with their officers ; these were in the quickest time possible formed into 

 one troop, and amounted to 40. With this troop and the officers we did not 

 despair of suppressing the conspirators. The General affected to be ignorant 

 of the conspiracy. The ammunition was secured by us, and the principal 

 leaders of the conspirators were sent on duty to the toldos of different 

 caciques who lived distant, and who had orders not to permit the soldiers to 

 return without a second order from the General. 



Having secured the ammunition, separated the conspirators and their prin- 

 cipal leaders, and prepared ourselves to oppose whatever resistance might be 

 offered, the General called the sergeants to his quarters, and made known to 



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