TRAVELS IN THE CALIFORNIAS. 
157 
For the savages, dissatisfied with the amount of food which 
the Padre gives them, fall upon the animals of the post, 
destroy them, and steal corn from the sacks. Nor are they 
satisfied with this. They meditate a general attack on the 
garrison, in order to destroy or drive .the people from the 
country. The good Padre knows their designs, but continues 
his kindness. Their insolence increases. On the thirteenth 
of November, the tribes meet to strike a decisive blow. 
Four savages come to the camp about noon, while the garri¬ 
son are eating. The sentinel tries to prevent their entering 
the trenches, and one of the boldest of them deprives him of 
the staff used as a halberd. The soldier cries out, and Tor- 
tolero running up, wrests it from the Indian with such force 
and boldness, that the invaders are frightened and retire. At 
this moment the Indian Alonzo de Tepahui, who keeps the 
swine and sheep in a valley overgrown with rushes and flags, 
is assaulted by another party. But aid being immediately 
rendered, himself and animals are saved. And now falls a 
shower of arrows and stones from five hundred Indians, ad¬ 
vancing to attack the camp. 
Ten men and one Californian Indian compose the garrison. 
And how shall they be so detailed as to meet this numerous 
force 1 Tortolero, the acting commander, stations himself and 
Bartolerae de Robles on the entrenchment facing the lower 
part of the valley, the post of greatest danger; on the oppo¬ 
site side are Juan de Peru and the Indian Alonzo de Tepahui; 
on the side looking towards the river, stands the bold and 
active Indian Marcos Guazavas; on the remaining side is 
Estevan Rodrigues; the Maltese Juan Caravana has the care 
of the paderero, or cannon, placed at the gate of the camp; 
and near to him is Nicolas Marques, the Sicilian, as assistant 
gunner; Salva Tierra and Sebastien, his Indian, occupy the 
centre, in order to give aid where there should be the most 
need. The forces have barely time to make this disposition of 
themselves, when the savages begin to advance on all sides, 
with dreadful shouting and outcries. They are repulsed with as 
