s with a lover,
and stated that if he would go to a certain spot not far from the house
that evening he would himself see that her assertion was true. The
mother invented some plea to send the wife to the trysting-place, and
then, dressing herself in male clothing, prepared to come suddenly on
the scene as the lover, trusting to be able to make her escape before
she was recognized. The three met almost simultaneously. Conselheiro,
deeming his worst suspicions confirmed, shot and killed his wife and his
mother before explanations could be offered. He was tried and allowed to
go at liberty after some detention in prison. From that time Conselheiro
was a victim of remorse, and to expiate his sin became a missionary in
the _sertao_ or interior of Brazil among the wild Jagunco people. He
built places of worship in many different districts, and at length
became the recognized chief of the people among whom he had thus
strangely cast his lot. Eventually he formed a settlement near Canudos,
situated about 400 m. inland from Bahia. Difficulty arose between the
governor of Bahia and this fanatical missionary, with the result that
Conselheiro was ordered to leave the settlement and take away his
people. This order was met with a sturdy refusal to move. Early in 1897
a police force was sent to eject the settlers, but encountered strong
resistance, and suffered heavy loss without being able to effect the
purpose intended. In March 1897 a body of 1500 troops, with four guns,
was despatched to bring the Jaguncoes to reason, but was totally
defeated. An army comprising some 5000 officers and men was then sent to
crush Conselheiro and his people at all costs. Little progress was made,
the country being difficult of access and the Jaguncoes laying
ambuscades at every available place. Finally strong reinforcements were
sent forward, the minister of war himself proceeding to take command of
the army, now numbering nearly 13,000 men. Canudos was besieged and
captured in September 1897, Conselheiro being killed in the final
assault. The expense of these expeditions was very heavy, and prevented
President Moraes from carrying out many of the retrenchments he had
planned.

Soon after the Canudos affair a conspiracy was hatched to assassinate
the president. He was watching the disembarkation of some troops when a
shot was fired which narrowly missed him, and killed General Bitencourt,
the minister of war. The actual perpetrator of the deed, a s