to the mission of San Cristobel .....

Messrs. Randell and Hopkerk are on their way to the mission of San Cristobel to meet with the monks to learn about the region from them. They have a small military escort of provincials plus an officer and NCO from the regular garrison troops.

---oXo---

At the mission, the monks go about there normal routine ...

 the expedition column finds a small clearing in the jungle, after a short break they decide on the direction to go in .....

 they are on the last leg of their journey and have to pass through a low lying area to get to the mission which is on higher ground ....

 the column sets off ...

 the lead soldier gets stuck and starts to sink in quicksand, he throws off his coat as he struggles ....

but before the others can get to him he has been sucked under. The column avoids the area and crosses a nearby stream ....

 as they skirt a marshy area, they see some of the local natives who are watching them intently ....

 as they continue they are shadowed by the natives (who think they might attack their village)...

 the natives getting nervous fire their bows, killing two of the provincials.  The provincials return fire, killing two of the natives ....

 the natives melt away into the undergrowth .... the column continues on through the jungle ...

a couple of large feral pigs disturbed by the presence of the column rush at the nearest soldiers, one pig is shot the other runs straight into another soldier

 who goes down badly winded but OK, the surviving pig runs away.. a couple of natives are still watching them ....

 The column arrives at the bridge near the mission where they are greeted by one of the monks ....

 who leads them into the safety of the mission ....