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Strict search was made throughout every house by the soldiers;

they easily detected in the gardens the earth which had been

newly dug; they penetrated the caverns in search of the opulent

inhabitants, who had taken refuge there, and dragging them to

their houses, forced them to declare where they had concealed

their treasures.

At last they departed; their drums and trumpets were heard

receding in the distance, and a temporary calm succeeded to these

hours of tumult and affright; but, alas! the sound of drums was

again heard, announcing the arrival of another detachment, the

soldiers of which, furious at not finding booty, destroyed what

the first work of desolation had spared; burned the furniture and

the houses, and manifested the most cruel and savage disposition

towards the inhabitants. This continued for a period of twenty

days, the army containing that number of divisions.