362 
VOYAGE TO THE 
CHAP, death in every direction with their cannon and musketry, and were in- 
spired with confidence by the contempt in which they held the valour 
No'g- and tactics of their unconverted countrymen, they were overpowered 
by numbers, and obliged to seek their safety in flight, and to leave the 
gun in the woods. Some regained the launch and were saved, and 
others found their way over land to the mission ; but thirty-four of the 
party never returned to tell their tale. 
There were other accounts of this unfortunate affair, one of which 
accused the padre of authorising the attack ; and another stated that 
it was made in self defence ; but that which I have gi ven appeared to 
be the most probable. That the reverend father should have sanctioned 
such a proceeding is a supposition so totally at variance with his cha- 
racter, that it will not obtain credit ; and the other was in all probability 
the report of the alcalde to excuse his own conduct. They aU agreed, 
however, in the fatal termination of their excursion, and the neophytes 
became so enraged at the news of the slaughter of their companions, 
that it was almost impossible to prevent them from proceeding forth- 
with to revenge their deaths. The padre was also greatly displeased 
at the result of the excursion, as the loss of so many Indians to the 
mission was of the greatest consequence, and the confidence with which 
the victory would inspire the Indians was equally alarming. He, 
therefore, joined with the converted Indians in a determination to 
chastise and strike terror into the victorious tribe, and in concert with 
the governor planned an expedition against them. The mission furnished 
money, arms, Indians, and horses, and the presidio provided troops, 
headed by the alferez, Sanchez, a veteran who had been frequently 
engaged with the Indians, and was acquainted with every part of the 
country. The troops carried with them their armour and shields, as 
a defence against the arrows of the Indians : the armour consisted of a 
helmet and jerkin made of stout skins, quite impenetrable to an arrow', 
and the shields might almost vie with that of Ajax in the number of its 
folds. 
The expedition set out on the 19 th of November, and we heard 
nothing of it until the 27 th ; but tw'o days after the troops had taken 
the field, some immense columns of smoke rising above the mountains 
