130 GATHERING OP THE RABBLE. 



the 



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tliey liad 



been ruled chiefly by native governors. 

 Yet while the new form of government was 

 a novelty and did not affect the pecuniary 

 interests of the people, it was acquiesced in ; 

 but it was now found necessary for the sup- 

 port of the new organization, to introduce a 

 system of direct taxation, with which the peo- 

 ple were wholly unacquainted; and they 

 would sooner have paid a doblon through a 

 tariif than a real in this way. Yet, although 

 the conspiracy had been brewing for some 

 time, no indications of violence were demon- 

 strated until, on account of some misde- 

 meanor, an akalde was imprisoned by tlie 

 Frefecto of the northern district. His honor 

 of the staff was immediately hberated by a 

 mob; an occun-ence which seemed as a 

 watchword for a general insurrection. 



These new movements took place about the 

 begmning of Aucrust, 1837, and an immense 



rabble was soon gathered at La Cafiada (a 

 town some twenty-five miles to the north of 

 Santa Fe), amon^ whom were to be found 

 the prhicipal warriors of all the Northern Pue- 

 blos. Governor Perez issued orders to the 

 alcaldes for the assembhng of the miUtia ; but 

 all that could be collected together was about 

 a hundred and fifty men, including the Avar- 

 riors of tlie Pueblo of Santo Domingo. With 

 this inadequate force, the Governor made an 

 attempt to march from the capital, but was 

 soon surprised by the insurgents who lay in 

 ambush near La Canada: when his o^vn 



