226 
SCENES IN TIIE PACIFIC. 
open road to La Paz; and the ostensible object is peaceful 
enough, being simply to drive in a mule laden with maize. 
Yet they are suspicious that some more important business 
lies under this affair. In short, they believe the Guaycuros are 
coming to massacre the whole nation. The Padre has much 
difficulty in removing this suspicion from their minds. At 
length, however, he so far recovers their confidence that a 
large number return to the tent. Others, still apprehensive, 
light large fires and keep strict watch, that the supposed ene¬ 
my may not fall on them unawares. The night, however, 
operates unfavorably on their feelings. They are all missing 
again for two days. They look upon Padre Bravo, who 
speaks the Guaycuri tongue, as the head and front of their 
foes. His presence keeps their fears and suspicions continu¬ 
ally inflamed. And though, when the mule and the Guaycu¬ 
ros return from La Paz, they see that Padre Napoli has told 
them truth, still they cannot so far quiet their fears as to re¬ 
turn to their dwellings. Thus they continue between hope 
and fear for several days. Meantime the Padre continues his 
labors at the mission; and by and by the Indians, finding 
their fears unfounded, begin to come in. The women bring 
their children for baptism, and the men offer perpetual friend¬ 
ship. Peace is also concluded between the Guaycuros and 
Coras and celebrated with the usual festivities. 
On the fourth of November Padre Napoli baptizes twenty- 
nine of their children, and everything seems to promise well 
for their intercourse with the Indians. But as almost every¬ 
thing which was brought from La Paz, even to the furniture 
of the altar, has been distributed among them, and as the 
supply of provisions is growing short, Padre Napoli finds it 
necessary to evacuate his post. He accordingly leaves the 
little furniture and the few remaining utensils in the care of 
some of the oldest and most faithful of the savages, and pro¬ 
mising a speedy return, goes with Padre Bravo and his men 
to La Paz. 
In January he returns to his mission, and finds that during 
