_June 19._—While the captain and M. Hollydorf were engaged with the calculation of their meridian observations, just as the steamer was closing a long reach, Waantha hobbled aft in great excitement, pointing with energetic gesticulation to a headland we were approaching, and then to our guns on the forecastle deck. Interpreting some new emprise on the part of our savage foes, the boat was kept in the centre of the current, until the view opened beyond the headland, when in melée encounter were seen parties on horseback. On nearer approach women and children were discovered huddled together within a barrier of mules and horses. Parry, the engineer, always prompt with his weapon, sounded a parley, which caused a momentary cessation of hostilities, allowing the boat to gain a position commanding a full view of the parties engaged. A glance, aided by the imploring gestures of the women, whose garments and other indications bespoke an approach to civilized origin, at once enlisted the inclination of our sympathy. The novelty of a scene so unexpected, rendered us for a moment undecided how to act, but the sound of Antonio’s Chinese weapon restored our presence of mind. The Indians quickly recovering from the momentary panic, caused by the shriek of the whistle and clangor of the gong, engaged in a renewed charge upon the unfortunates, who were defending their families with the desperation of despair, and in numbers seemed scarcely one to ten of their foes. The charge of the Indians was accompanied with a derisive whoop, this was almost simultaneously echoed back by the bray of the mules opposed in forlorn hope, which revived Mr. Dow’s with a realizing perception of the ways and means for the achievement of his ambitious project. His rifle had reported the death of four Indians before a general volley put the survivors to flight. The rescued, when they saw the Indians fall and themselves spared, hastened down the bank that they might not interpose their bodies as shields to the savages. The panic of the Indians who were in flight over the pampa was increased by a shell, the report of the gun startling from the western shore a party lying in wait for the issue of the battle on the eastern, with the probable hopes of a chance advantage to themselves. Acting upon the hint that there were among them those who had witnessed the effect of shot and shell on a former occasion, the opportunity was embraced for reviving the impression. When satisfied that all able to molest had carried their bodies out of range, preparations were made for landing to succor the rescued with food and raiment, for they appeared to be in a deplorable condition.