174 
SCENES IN THE PACIFIC. 
companion is wounded, but brings to Loretto information of 
this misfortune. 
The Padres of San Xavier return to Loretto, and prepare to 
march in pursuit of the murderers. The Indians, learning 
this movement, gather all their forces and destroy the corn 
fields of San Xavier, and a few goats, on whose milk the Pa¬ 
dres are subsisting, during this calamitous famine. The sol¬ 
diers arrive in time to prevent the destruction of the buildings. 
At length the parties begin to skirmish, and four of the 
Indians are killed. But their numbers and violence increase 
daily. The troops suffer incredible hardship among the preci¬ 
pices, and breaks of the mountains. Distress and consterna¬ 
tion are beginning to seize them. Death is looked for as 
inevitable. But they rejoice again; they breathe freely 
again; a bark comes over the tranquil and heated sea, with 
provisions and a recruit of soldiers ; and runners are sent from 
Loretto to San Xavier, to give all a speedy share of the joy¬ 
ful news ; they eat and drink again in the Californian missions 1 
The Indians are intimidated by the arrival of fresh troops, 
and submit; and the grateful Padres give thanks to God in a 
solemn Te Deum for this unexpected deliverance. 
Great anxiety is felt in California for the fate of Padre 
Piccolo. No tidings of him have been received since he left 
the port of Loretto. He has, however, arrived safely at 
Cinaloa, about the first of February, 1702, and sent them 
supplies ; has hastened thence to Guadalaxara and Mexico ; 
by indefatigable exertions has obtained six thousand dollars 
from the Government for the payment of soldiers; and 
having collected charities from a few individuals, has pur¬ 
chased goods for the relief of the most urgent necessities of 
the missions; has obtained a guarantee of Don Josef de La 
Puente Marquis de Villa Puente, for the support of three new 
missions; and from Nicolas de Arteaga, an offer to support 
another; and from the Government, six hundred dollars per 
annum thereafter; has secured the appointment of two Padres, 
Juan Manuel de Bassaldua and Geronimo Minutili, as mis- 
