 Because Alvarado and his allies could not understand the Xinca language, Alvarado took extra precautions on the march eastward by strengthening his vanguard and rearguard with ten cavalry apiece.In spite of these precautions the baggage train was ambushed by a Xinca army soon after leaving Taxisco.Many indigenous allies were killed and most of the baggage was lost, including all the crossbows and ironwork for the horses.