 His expedition left the port of San Lúcar de Barrameda in October 1572 but reached the mouth of the Plata more than a year later, disembarking at the location of present-day Colonia, Uruguay.Zárate attempted to subdue the Charrúa, who had destroyed several previous settlements in what is now Uruguay, but he was attacked and forced to seek shelter on Martín García Island.Juan de Garay, who had just founded the city of Santa Fe, was sent for and promptly came to the rescue; the combined forces defeated the Charrúas.