Rosa of Viterbo. She still preserved a strong attachment to the christian religion, endeavouring to enforce the observance of its maxims as far as it was in her power. She lamented the tragical fate of the missionaries who had perished in the year 1767; and informed father Girbal, that the Chipeos had been the authors of these sacrilegious attempts, which, she assured him, had been avenged by the Indians belonging to her nation, who had, on that account, engaged them in a bloody conflict, which had terminated in their defeat. She likewise informed him that, on the entrance of friar Manuel Gil by the route of Pozuzu, her tribe went out to meet him, and delivered him from the hands of the barbarians, who had assumed a menacing aspect, and would not allow him to proceed on his way. She added, that friar Francisco de St Joseph[1] having been solicited by her nation to remain with them, and having promised them to return, they had, three successive summers, gone up to the confluence of the Pachitea and Ucayali, and had as often descended the Maranon, with the hope of being able to meet with him. The relations, deportment, and wishes of Anna Rosa, were a source of much consolation to father Girbal. To the end that he might take every advantage of so favourable a disposition, and considering that the descent from Lamas by the Huallaga and Maranon, and the ascent by the Ucayali, would lead him a considerable distance out of his direct route, he conceived the design of crossing the Plain of the Sacrament. He was more particularly urged to this attempt, because, according to the information given to him by the unconverted Indians in whose presence he was, and who made a voluntary offer to accompany him, he might find a passage out of the Huallaga in front of Cumbasa. This project, if carried into effect, presented a thousand advantages, not only by shortening the distance, but likewise because the Panes, on seeing the good government established at Tarapoto and Cumbasa, might conceive an affection for a civilized mode of life. With this intention he dismissed the Indians belonging to the Omaguas nation, solely retaining the little boy who acted as interpreter, and abandoned himself to the direction of the barbarians, confiding in the Divine Providence.
On the 11th, the above-mentioned enterprise of passing to Cumbasa, was commenced. Father Girbal was escorted by five canoes manned with Indians belonging to the tribes of Panos and Conivos, with whom he descended by the Sarayacu
- ↑ The above-mentioned friar escaped the Manoa massacres, in consequence of having set out a few days before they were committed, to render to his prelates an account of the progress of the missionaries. This providential escape enabled him afterwards to accompany father Gil on his expedition to the succour of Manoa.
