SOUTH AMERICA 



was done to drive them off; such is the sort of siege 

 carried on by what may almost be considered an in- 

 visible force. It is a kind of anomaly in military his- 

 tory. The whole number stationed here for the pur- 

 pose, does not it is supposed, amount to more thaa 

 three hundred men, under the command of a chief 

 named Otor^uese, appearing and disapearing like the 

 wolves of the plain, and accomplishing their purpose 

 as effectually as if their numbers amounted to five 

 thousand. Thinking ourselves sufficiently near this 

 scene of action, we thought it prudent to turn our 

 horses and ride towards the city. 



On our way we passed about a hundred troopers, 

 who were on their return from a foraging party out- 

 side of the lines, each one carrying a load of grass on 

 his horse. These parties have been frequently attack- 

 ed> and in some instances entirely cut off. The bound- 

 less plains of this province, with the dexterity of the 

 native horsemen, the woods on the borders of the 

 rivers, and the peculiarities of the country, render pur- 

 suit entirely out of the question. This is in fact the 

 reason why the Portuguese have made little or no pro- 

 gress in its subjugation. No kind of force can be 

 better adapted to defend this country against the pre- 

 sent invaders, though otherwise of no great impor- 

 tance, as it cannot be subjected to regular discipline, or 

 be kept any length of time imbodied. 



The Portuguese have been known to march a body 

 of one or two thousand men, to some inconsiderable 

 village in the interior, but their communication with 

 the main body, in the mean time entirely intercepted, 

 dreadfully harrassed, at every moment losing their 

 cattle and supplies, and on their return, scarcely any 



