The insurgents from their mountain refuges spied out the land, pounced upon unprotected spots, burned crops and sugar mills, and were off before troops could arrive.

The portion of the population in revolt at any particular time was rarely large.

Many were insurgents one week and peaceful citizens the next.

The fact that the majority of the population sympathized with the insurgents enabled the latter to melt into the landscape without leaving a sign.

A provisional government hurried on mule-back from place to place.