S59 



A VOYAGE TO 



was probably a fortunate circumstance; it gave em- 

 ployment to Artigas and his guerillas, and enabled 

 the government of Buenos Ayres, to pursue, without 

 vexation and interruption, those more extensive plans, 

 which have resulted in events of so much importance. 

 It was enabled to strengthen the army in Peru, and 

 gradually to recover itself in that quarter, after having 

 been brought almost to the brink of ruin, by the defeat 

 at Sipe-sipe. It had been enabled to carry its arms 

 across the mountains into Chili, and to convert a coun- 

 try, from whence La Plata was continually harrass- 

 ed by enemies, into an ally, furnishing additional 

 strength and security, and holding out new hopes to 

 the philanthropist, of the ultimate success of the 

 great cause of South American emancipation. La 

 Plata, perhaps too much elated by good fortune, 

 thought of regaining the provinces which Artigas had 

 invaded, and placed under his protection. The En- 

 tre Hios is, itself, of but little moment, containing 

 hardly any population but Indians, excepting on the 

 borders of the Parana; but the town of Santa Fee, ou 

 the south side of the river, is a point of importance, 

 as by holding possession of it, Artigas might be pre- 

 vented from crossing over, disturbing the back country! 

 of Buenos Ayres, and spreading the contagion of mis- 

 chief and licentiousness among the gauchos of the„ 

 pampas; or of intercepting, by means of his roving^ 

 bands, the trade carried on by the city of Buenos 

 Ayres with the interior. Two expeditions, one under 

 Montes de Oca, and the other under Balcarce, proved 

 equally unfortunate; they, in both instances, fell into 

 ambuscades, composed of Indians and gauchos. The 

 further prosecution of this design is, for the present at 

 least, abandoned. 



