The Governor, Joseph Martinez Fontez, being laid up with a fit of the apoplexy, appointed Fulgentio de Yegros, an illiterate, but brave and intelligent man, to the government of the province, during the period of his indisposition. Congratulating himself upon this opportunity of conducting a successful enterprize, Fulgentio flew to our colony, accompanied by four hundred horse, in the design of undertaking a joint expedition with the Abipones against the Tobas, long so hostile to the whole province. After some days' journey, as no signs appeared of any hostile settlements, the Spaniards began to think of a return, alleging the difficulties of the road, the scarcity of provisions, and the weariness of their horses; but this unseasonable and inglorious design was openly condemned by the Abipones, who were possessed with a greater thirst for battle and revenge. Their scouts, by means of the print of horses' feet, at length discovered a populous horde of Tobas, to which there was no access but by a narrow path through a surrounding wood. Every thing was put in readiness for the assault, and, as the event of momentous affairs is often, as Livy says, determined in a moment, the Governor resolved, with the approbation of the Abipones, to attack the savages next day about dawn, whilst they were sleeping, or half asleep, that they might be circumvented before they were aware of the enemy's approach. But as some Abipones, who had been sent forward to take a nearer view of the enemy's station, were so much retarded by the ruggedness of the way, that they did not return to the Spaniards till midnight; and as the great forest which intervened could only be crossed by the horsemen at a leisurely pace; the assault was not made till the middle of the day, and then with less than the anticipated success: for, most of the inhabitants being engaged in the chase at a distance from home, and there being consequently few to oppose the assailants, and none but a helpless crowd of women, children, and old men to be vanquished and taken captive, the fight was attended with some advantage, but with very little difficulty or glory. Terrified at the sudden attack of the Spaniards, their eyes and ears assaulted by the blaze and thundering sound of the muskets, these wretches preferred flight to resistance. Many were intercepted and slain in their disorderly retreat by the pursuing foe; the rest endeavoured to preserve their lives in the forest; but as the Abipones examined all the recesses of the woods like hounds, very few of the Tobas escaped their eyes and hands, some being deprived of life, others of liberty.