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454, who, together with a lay brother, were slain in the above year (1742), by the insurgents of the mountain of salt, at the time when roads were making to facilitate the passage of the troops destined by the viceroy to surprize and obtain possession of the rebel chief. Friars Francisco Otasua, and Salvador Pando, notwithstanding this cruel massacre of their brethren, ventured to penetrate as far as Quimiri, where they remained during the space of three months, employing their most earnest endeavours to prevail on the rebel to surrender, but without effect. With a full persuasion of his obstinacy and perfidy, they retired, after an exposure to the most indignant treatment. Through a similar conviction, the other ecclesiastics yielded at length to the power of the rebel, and entirely abandoned their missions.

In the year 1779, at which time the present most venerable guardian of the Order of Franciscan Monks of Lima, father Joseph Sanchez, was prelate of Ocopa, an entrance was made into the mountainous territory, with a view to the restoration of the above-mentioned missions on the mountain of salt. The college undertook to defray the expences of opening a road, for the psssagepassage [sic] of cattle, from Palca to Chanchamayo; and the construction of a fort, to be provided with troops to repel the invasions of the enemy, was to be at the charge of the royal treasury. This was effected, and a settlement made of Indians residing on the frontiers; but on consideration of the risk of being intercepted by the barbarians, to which those who penetrated into the interior, by the new road over the broken ground of Palca, were constantly exposed, and for various other cogent reasons which presented themselves, the viceroy, in 1784, ordered the fort to be demolished, and the troops, settlers, and missionaries, to be withdrawn.

In the year 1787, it was resolved by the supreme authority, to open a new road, secure from the invasion of the barbarians, on the side of the valley of Vitoc. The direction and management of this enterprise were confided to Don Juan Maria Galves, governor and intendant of Tarma, who superintended the progress of the workmen with so much activity and zeal, that in the year 1788, travellers and beasts of burden were enabled to pass to the above-mentioned valley, where a fort was constructed, and provided with a respectable garrison. On this occasion I contributed a supply of provisions and working tools, in addition to which I caused a chapel and dwelling-house to be built for two missionaries, who still remain there in the enjoyment of the benefices afterwards conferred on them. All