APPENDIX, 417 
himself useful to his general, by engaging the Indians in his favour. Sur- 
rounded by enemies, and, what was worse, by false friends, the ray of hope 
which this unexpected intelligence communicated to each breast was far 
from disagreeable. Carrera knew the plot of the deputies in San Nicolas, 
and was aware that such an opportunity of extricating himself from their net 
was not to be rejected. He despatched five of the Indian deputies to the 
caciques, returning them thanks for the offer of their disinterested friendship, 
of which he accepted, and offered to become their protector against the 
Portefios ; at the same time requesting them to send six or seven hundred 
men into the Pampas, which were there to wait his orders, without showing 
themselves on the frontier. The other nine deputies were provided for in 
our encampment, where they remained to act as guides to us, in case of being 
obliged to escape precipitately ; and forty Indians, the guard of these deputies, 
were encamped in a village in the frontier, where we provided for them 
provisions, tobacco, &c. 
Carrera wrote to the deputies in San Nicolas, informing them that he was 
perfectly acquainted with the nature of their dishonourable and perfidious plot; 
that he even comprehended its most abstruse conditions and ramifications, as 
they respected the provinces of Santa Fé, Buenos Ayres, and Cordova. He 
demanded them immediately to desist from the measures in contemplation, 
and to allow him an uninterrupted march to Chile; to which, if they did not 
accede, they should consider themselves responsible to their provinces for 
the consequences which would follow. . 
This letter of Carrera appeared to the deputies as an enigma which they 
could by no means solve. It was indeed very extraordinary how he could 
be acquainted with their private proceedings ; but it was still more so, that, 
not having more than 150 men at his disposal, he would dare to demand of 
the representatives of these powerful provinces a suspension of their designs, 
point out a line of conduct which they should pursue, and throw out such 
menacing insinuations in case they did not allow him to march to Chile. 
His union with his friend Ramirez appeared impossible; and they could not 
conceive any other resource which was left him, or by which he could escape 
from their hands. 
The abilities of Carrera were acknowledged by all parties, and his enter- 
prising spirit was feared, as it was always known to be capable of some 
resource when danger threatened: they therefore resolved to put immedi- 
ately in execution their plans, lest he should counteract their scheme. 
3H 
