The palisade of our house, which is necessary in every colony to defend it against the assaults of the savages, had been very negligently made by the soldiers, who were in such a hurry to get home that they left nothing finished. The Governor was equally desirous to return to the city: he could take no rest here: thick swarms of gnats tormented him with their stings; but a still worse grievance was the anxiety that preyed upon his mind lest they should be surprized by a sudden attack of the savages. Horsemen were therefore kept watching day and night, and at the door of his own hut he stationed a foot company of guards, besides four cannon; in the hut itself he kept forty large muskets, and some smaller ones, ready to be fired in a moment. So that he distrusted those very Abipones for whom he was founding the colony; and the feeling was mutual; for they, ever suspicious of the friendship of the Spaniards, thought themselves justified in their fears since the Governor had brought so many soldiers, and so few oxen to feed them on. "What need," said they, "of four hundred soldiers? Had no hostilities been intended against us, one hundred would have been more than sufficient. If he was resolved upon building a colony in this place, why did he not send more than three hundred oxen? The Spaniards will consume these, and what will they leave for us?" That they might not therefore be exposed to the treachery of the Spaniards, they pitched their tents three miles distant from us, in a place with a wood on one side, a river on the other, and a mound in front. It was in vain that I endeavoured to argue them out of these foolish fears, and I was equally unsuccessful in my attempts to tranquillize the suspicious mind of the Governor; who took every fly for an enemy, as what I am going to relate will sufficiently prove. Six Yaaukaniga youths came from St. Ferdinand to see the new colony. At my desire they immediately accompanied me unarmed to the Governor, and kissed his hands with great civility and respect. He, terrified at the appearance of these new guests, whom he mistook for enemies, or emissaries of the enemy, ordered all the guards to stand ready in arms, and after passing the night in the greatest anxiety, purified his soul by confessing to me early in the morning, and receiving the sacrament at my hands. On leaving the chapel, he informed me that he was going to depart immediately with all his people; and before noon, having hastily settled his affairs, he set off on what appeared more like a flight than a journey. The Abipones, receiving intelligence of this, flew from their tents, and hastened with all speed to the harbour to take leave of the Governor, whom they found already seated in the vessel, and who, interpreting this officious journey as a hostile pursuit, ordered the ship to be put from shore in such a hurry, that he left behind him a waggon which was to have been carried back to the city. A brave man in other respects, but a novice amongst the American savages, and well aware of the unsteadiness of their friendship, and the uncertainty of their faith, he may be deemed excusable in preferring fear and caution to risking his life.