496 APPENDIX. 
was the name they had given Carrera), naming a certain day for the assembly 
or junta of caciques to meet. 
The Portefios having used every method to alienate the confidence of the 
Indians from us, and finding them inflexible in their attachment to us, con- 
ceived the following scheme : — they circulated a report amongst the Indians 
that we were their friends, and that our object was to gain the rear of the 
Indians, and then attack them; whilst they would meet them, and by this 
combination of operations they expected to annihilate the whole race. This 
ingenious intelligence was industriously circulated by the cacique Nicolas 
(their ally) and his captains amongst the other tribes, and did not fail to rouse 
the distrust and jealousy of the Indians towards us. 
Carrera heard their complaints against us with much patience and atten- 
tion, and succeeded in appeasing them, by making it appear that it was but a 
stratagem of the enemy, to cause a dissension between him and the Indians, 
that they might come afterwards and drive them entirely out of their country; 
and to show them that he was not the friend of Buenos Ayres, he determined 
to march in a few days to attack them, desiring some Indians to be immedi- 
ately sent out to discover their position. The Indians sent out to explore 
the enemy’s camp advanced with an incredible rapidity, and reconnoitred 
their encampment; but in lieu of returning to report what they had seen, as 
had been ordered, they fell on the enemy by surprise, and again renewed 
their offence against the Virgin, by putting to death all the soldiers who were 
under her protection: the soldiers no doubt had ready passports to heaven ; 
but the crime against their Holy Lady was aggravated by this defeat of her 
avengers. La Madrid, with his usual good fortune, escaped with a few 
officers, to give an account to Rodriguez of the success of the expedition, and 
its negociation ; which account was so satisfactory, that he was induced to dis- 
continue any further efforts towards the accomplishment of his holy vow. 
The appointed time for the meeting of the caciques being come, they at- 
tended with punctuality ; each bringing with him a guard of Indians, to give 
an idea of strength and quality of his tribe. All being assembled, they sacri- 
ficed to their great patron and preserver the Sun, previous to opening their 
council. 
For this sacrifice a colt «without blemish” was chosen by the priests, and 
tied by their own hands. The principal priest then by an orifice in the side 
introduced his arm into the body of the victim, and tore out the heart, 
