436 



APPENDIX. 



them that he was well acquainted with their base plot, and prepared to punish 

 them as they deserved. The sergeants retired; and soon as the soldiers 

 were acquainted with the conference which had been held between them and 

 the General, they began to regret having lost the confidence of their General, 

 and laid all the blame to the chief of the conspirators, San Martin. They 

 requested that the General would visit them, that they might personally beg 

 his forgiveness. In consequence of which an order was read to the soldiers, 

 intimating that the General would speak with them that evening, on the sum- 

 mit of the hill which overlooked the encampment. 



On the evening parade the line was formed on the summit of the hill be- 

 fore mentioned. Soon as the General came in front they saluted, afterwards 

 carried arms, and wheeled to the right and left on their centre to form a 

 circle, in which the General stood, and from whence he harangued them 

 for about an hour. He painted in such colours the enormity of their medi- 

 tated crime, as caused several of the wretches to weep ; they prayed to be 

 forgiven and received into the General's favour, promising that the general 

 tenor of their future conduct would be only calculated to bury in oblivion the 

 remembrance of their past ingratitude and offences. 



Having promised unconditional obedience, the General told them that 

 (unless for some very flagrant offence) he would not permit the officers to 

 punish them till such time as he would have it in his power to pay and clothe 

 them regularly. He also told them to prepare immediately for marching to 

 Chile, where each would be rewarded according to his services, and retired. 



The soldiers, ashamed of their ingratitude, seemed now more than ever 

 determined to support their General, and cut their way through whatever ob- 

 stacles would oppose our march to Chile ; and to keep them in this mood of 

 mind, the General resolved not to allow them a moment's inactivity in future. 

 General orders were issued, specifying the conduct which the General ex- 

 pected from the soldiers towards their officers, and also intimating that the 

 latter should not wantonly or without good cause chastise or suppress the 

 former. The day of our march was named, and emissaries were despatched 

 to the surrounding caciques, to inform them that an imperious necessity 

 impelled us to march immediately ; and to return them our thanks for the 

 hospitality which we had received in their country. The General also made 

 known to them, that for the present he had no necessity of their aid, but 

 would accept it in the first case of contingency which would occur. How- 

 ever, he offered to admit of a captain of each tribe accompanying him, that 



