Page:Vol 4 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/671

Rh honorable capitulation; but like him, he was never forgiven by the nation, partly because the taunts of late comrades drove him to join the royalist ranks.

These successes were greatly promoted by the efficient coöperation of Brigadier Negrete, commander of the Spanish forces in Nueva Galicia, under the supervision of Cruz, who otherwise maintained himself as independent of the new viceroy, as he had of Calleja. He not only made the southern frontier uncomfortable for the revolutionists from Michoacan, but he concluded the five years' struggle with the islanders of Chapala Lake by such radical measures as ravaging the lake shores in every direction in order to cut off supplies. Epidemics came to his aid; and on November 25, 1816, the heroic band yielded to the inevitable by surrendering the Mescala Islands on fair terms. They were now set aside for a convict presidio. After this the submission of chieftains grew general, and included Vargas, who claimed to