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 
