June.[VI-54] The leader of the mob on this occasion was Rafael Carrera, a mixed-breed, who now for the first time, at the age of twenty-one, possibly a few years older, appeared on the stage, to become afterward the bitterest foe of the liberal party, and eventually the dictator of the country. * * * * * [Sidenote: RAFAEL CARRERA.] Rafael Carrera was a native of Guatemala, of Indian descent, of a violent, irascible, and uncommunicative disposition, base-born, ignorant, though gifted with talents, bold, determined, and persevering. From common servant he became a pig-driver, and while such obtained much influence among the lower class of Indians—an influence which was due no less to his blood connections and the force of circumstances than to his bravery and capabilities.[VI-55] Carrera was at first a mere tool of the priests, and seemed to have been a believer of the lies they had circulated. After he became powerful, they and their allies, the so-called nobles, humored his idiosyncrasies, and often had to put up with his insults and abuse. He had upon them the heel of insane revolt.[VI-56] CHAPTER VII. DISSOLUTION OF THE REPUBLIC. 1837-1840. CAMPAIGN AGAINST CARRERA—SEVERAL DEPARTMENTS OF GUATEMALA IN REBELLION—JEFE GALVEZ DEPOSED—CARRERA TAKES GUATEMALA—MURDER OF SALAZAR—CARRERA ACCEPTS MONEY TO LEAVE THE CITY—DICTATORSHIP OFFERED MORAZAN BY THE ARISTOCRATS AND REFUSED—CARRERA'S SECOND REBELLION—THE REPUBLIC IN PERIL—MORAZAN'S EFFORTS TO SAVE IT—NICARAGUA AND HONDURAS FORCES INVADE SALVADOR—MORAZAN DEFEATS THEM—HIS RETREAT TO SAN SALVADOR—HE EMBARKS—IS REFUSED HOSPITALITY IN COSTA RICA—GOES TO SOUTH AMERICA—THE REPUBLIC IS DEAD—SALVADOR AT THE MERCY OF CARRERA. Only a week after the success of the insurgents on the field of Ambelis, a numerous armed force was sent against them by the government, which achieved victory near Mataquescuintla.[VII-1] The revolution might have ended here but for the excesses of the government troops, which roused the Indians, and rendered reconciliation impossible.[VII-2] Henceforth the war was one of races. Carrera, upheld as he was by the priests, found no difficulty, in his visits from village to village, to induce the native population to join the revolt, which, notwithstanding the triumphant language of the military officers in their reports—calling the rebels cowards and themselves intrepid and invincible—was fast spreading. Carefully avoiding encounters with the regular army, Carrera succeeded in getting together a large force, which, though raw and undisciplined, often surprised and defeated detachments of the regulars, seeking a refuge when pursued in the inaccessible mountain fastnesses.[VII-3]