OPITA ATTACK, 125 
east that five hundred Opita Indians, under their brave chief 
Tonera, were already within sight of the town. This tribe, 
accustomed to take an active part in politics, had long adopted 
the Spanish or Mexican mode of life, and when Maximilian 
was made emperor, they joined his party, and fought to — 
the last in defence of the Imperialists. Out rushed the 
Liberals from the cellars, the larders, the storehouses, and 
the mansions they had been rifling, weighed down with 
plunder, and half drunk with mescal spirit. They ran 
through the streets, and met their foe upon the rugged side 
of the mountains, in full view of the citizens, each party 
hoping to gain there a commanding position for attack or 
defence. The Indians came on fiercely, though steadily, 
divided into two columns, taking advantage of every rock, or 
_ tree, or undulation of the rugged ground, and pouring volley 
after volley of well-aimed arrows against the two thousand 
men, who, huddled together without organisation, could not 
- withstand the attack. The tide was soon turned, and back 
again rushed the Liberals, for a third time, through the 
_ Streets, throwing away their ill-gotten booty in their flight, 
and closely followed by the exultant Indians, who, with 
_ shouts and yellings, speared and drove them from every nook | 
_ and alley where they had taken temporary shelter. 
By sunset quiet again reigned over the town. The Opitas 
had been completely victorious. They did not kill the 
wounded, nor plunder the houses and shops ; they brought 
confidence to the inhabitants, and soon the town was thronged 
with men and women in holiday attire who came out from 
their hiding-places into the streets, feeling safe and secure 
under the protection of the Indians. e 
Dr. Duroin, the resident Amertcan physician, assured me 
that not an act of violence was perpetrated to his know- 
