This expedition proved the origin of a twenty years' war between the Riikahés and Nakaiketergehes. I shall confine myself to a brief narration of the most important events: for were I to describe all the successive vicissitudes of this war, I should consume more ink, than there was blood spilt in the whole course of it. Let me now give you the portraits of Ychoalay and Oaherkaikin, the authors of the war. CHAPTER XIV. SOME THINGS WORTHY OF NOTE RESPECTING YCHOALAY AND OAHERKAIKIN. Oaherkaikin, a Nakaiketergehe, and a tribesman of Debayakaikin, was of middling stature, lean, strong-boned, with a pale face, a stern countenance, small sunken eyes, and short hair shaven at intervals, like that of a monk; his limbs were all covered with large scars; his ears were bored to admit the knots of cows horn which he wore by way of ear-rings; he seemed always either in the act of threatening, or absorbed in contemplation. He was a great lover of drinking-parties, a man of few words, though very affable to his followers; an implacable foe to the Spaniards; ever formidable, even when threatening nothing; wonderfully well-skilled in the use of the spear and other weapons, and in the arts of riding and swimming; extremely attached to the superstitions of the savages; a despiser of elegant clothing; and endowed with an intrepid and daring mind; but careless of his promises; given to falsehood and knavery; and well worthy of his name Oaherkaikin, which signifies a liar. He was as crafty in eluding and repelling the enemy, as he was bold in attacking them. Having learnt, by means of his spies, that Nicolas Patron, Vice-Governor of the Corrientines, was approaching his horde with hostile intentions, accompanied by fifty horsemen, he would not await the arrival of the Spaniards, but went in person to meet them with a company of soldiers. Armed with a spear, arrows, and a military breastplate, and having his face blackened to make his appearance the more terrible, he stationed himself on foot, in a place where he had a wood at his back, and an unfordable river in front. On the approach of the Vice-Governor, he informed him, by means of a captive interpreter, that if he were inclined to fight, a corresponding desire was felt on his own part, and that the threats of the Spaniards excited laughter in him, instead of fear. The Vice-Governor, astonished at sight of the savage, and provoked at his insolent challenge, looked at his soldiers, and exclaimed, "Come, get ropes and catch this wild beast for me!" an order which struck consternation into the minds of the soldiers. "My Lord," replied a lieutenant of the name of Añasco, "if you are so desirous of taking this savage, do you try your own fortune, we have no objection to that; but, for our own parts, none of us have either leisure or inclination to throw away our lives upon a joke." As great danger was to be apprehended