Page:Vol 4 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/670

654 1816, but another formed by Vargas, Yarza, Rosales, Torres, and other leading spirits of Michoacan and adjoining northern provinces, and known by the name of Jaujilla, from the fortress island in Zacapo Lake, where it took refuge. Ignacio Rayon took advantage of the change to present his old claims as Hidalgo's minister and late president, and even sent his brother Ramon to enforce them. His efforts failed, however, and he himself narrowly escaped capture at the hands of the treacherous Vargas. This strife among the insurgents added to the misfortunes of the province, so long the scene of bloody wars. Iturbide, who included it under his command daring the early part of the year, was too occupied with his own speculations to accord energetic protection, and so low fell its condition that the intendente and his staff had to be replaced by a mere collector, while the insurgents grew so daring as to attempt in April to make a raid on Valladolid. Under Linares the royalists gave fresh impulse to the campaign; and among other successes was the capture in September of the island fortress Janicho, in Pátzcuaro Lake. A number of chieftains accepted pardon after suffering a series of reverses, and Ramon Rayon found his adherents melting away, Enseña being killed and Epitacio Sanchez joining the royalists to clear the region north-west of Mexico. He had long been closely besieged at the famed stronghold of Cóporo by Aguirre, and famine and desertion were beginning to invade his ranks with no prospect of relief. Under such circumstances, he seemed more justified than Teran in accepting about the same time as he an