PROVINCE OF URUGUAY. 



147 



degree of rank, replied that he was the lowest soldier in the Portuguese army. 

 At this time the Indians of the place had already united with the Portuguese, 

 and the adjustment of the treaty was indispensable. 



The Spaniards on retiring experienced the misfortune of falling into the hands 

 of a similar party, who took them prisoners, and all that was conceded to them, 

 against which the commandant protested, and demanded the fulfilment of the 

 capitulation. The Spanish officer called upon Canto for an adjustment, who 

 replied, that he could not interfere, inasmuch as the party were not subor- 

 dinate to him, but that he would report the affair to the governor of Rio Grande, 

 and all that he ordered should be executed ; the party in the mean time remain- 

 ing prisoners. 



The governor, on receiving the account, ordered Canto to fulfil the capitula- 

 tion, excepting the article that gave up the artillery ; which, he said, ought to 

 belong to his Royal Highness, and to whom he had given a detail of Canto s 

 valorous deeds, in order that he might be rewarded. In the mean time he 

 made him captain of a new company of militia ; and the person who brought the 

 standard a lieutenant, giving him too the liberty of naming for ensign one of 

 his brave companions. 



As soon as the people of the other missions had witnessed the comportment 

 of Canto towards the first that had submitted to him, almost all hastened to 

 acknowledge the Faithful Crown. The happy conqueror released them from 

 some public contributions, which were the most heavy upon them, and, freely 

 giving up to them the fruits of their labour, received the name of Liberator. 



Shortly after the governor sent Major Joaquim Felis to govern the con- 

 quest, with orders to confer with Canto, upon the state of affairs. Having 

 delivered the new province to the commandant, and received a good rein- 

 forcement of regular troops, with some militia and volunteers from the serra 

 above, he obtained permission of the governor to pass to the other side of the 

 Uruguay ; for which purpose some barks of skins were made according to the 

 fashion of the country. 



In the night of the 1st of November, eighty men, chosen from the army, 

 passed the river, amongst whom figured some grenadiers of the regiment of 

 Estremoz ; and whose chief was a brave ensign, Avell known by his surname of 

 Padilha. Part of them took up a position in a wood ; others proceeded a little 

 way up the river, keeping near its banks, in order to give more prompt succour 

 to the first on the signal of attack, which began in the morning, against those 



u 2 



