第15章
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  Aftersomesuccessheisdefeatedandcondemnedtobeexecuted

  Heisshotonhiswaytothescaffold

  RenewedhatredagainsttheJesuits

  TheirlaboursamongtheIndiansoftheChacoFromthedepartureofCardenasin1650,toabout1720,wasthehalcyonperiodoftheJesuitmissionsinParaguay。

  DuringthattimethingswentoninthemissionsafterthefashionIhaveattemptedtodescribe。Thepeoplepassedtheirtimeintheirsemi

  communisticlabour,sweetenedbyconstantprayer;

  theirpastorsmayormaynothavedoneallthatwaspossibletoinstructtheminthescienceofthetime;but,still,theIndianpopulationdidnotdecrease,asitwasobservedtodofromyeartoyearinothercountriesofAmericaandintheSpanishsettlementsinParaguay。

  DuringthisperiodtheJesuitshadmaderepeatedefforts,butwithoutmuchrealsuccess,toestablishmissionsamongstthewildequestriantribesintheGranChacouponthewesternbankoftheriverParaguay。

  Nothing,apparently,pointedtotheeventswhich,beginningintheyear1721,finallyledtotheirexpulsion,or,atleast,furnishedadditionalreasonstoKingCharlesIII。toincludetheJesuitsinParaguayinthegeneralexpulsionoftheirorderfromthedominionsoftheSpanishcrown。

  P。Cardiel`DeclaraciondelaVerdad\',p。449,quotingfromXarque`LaVidaApostolicadelPadreJosephCataidino\',ZaragocaporJuandeYpa,1664,says,rethediminutionoftheIndiansundertheSpanishrule:`ParaqueseveacuantarazontieneelJuezreparesequesegunlospadronesdelsiglopasadovg。1600

  1700

  enlaciudadyjurisdiciondeSantiagodelEsterohabia80,000Indiosyahora,apenashayochenta。EnlajurisdiciondeCordobadeTucuman,habia40,000;hoynohay40。

  EnlajurisdicionycercaniasdelaciudaddeBuenosAyres,habia30,000;hoyapenashay30。\'

  Inthatyear1721DonJosedeAntequerawasappointedtosucceedtheGovernorofParaguay,DonDiegodelosReyesBalmaceda,whenhistermofofficehadexpired。Thesituationwas,asoftenhappenedintheSpanishcolonies,complicatedbyaninquiryintotheconductoftheGovernorBalmaceda,inprogressattheHighCourtofCharcas,whichcourt,asinthecaseofCardenas,actedmostcautiously,bothonaccountofitsposition,sofarfromParaguay,andonaccountoftheinordinateprocrastinationofeverythingconnectedwiththeSpanishlaw。IfBalmacedawerecondemned,thenAntequerawouldstepintohisshoesatonce。If,ontheotherhand,hewereacquitted,Antequerawouldhavetowaituntilthelegaltimeofofficehadrunitscourse。Sofarallwasinorder,buttheHighCourt,eitherindoubtofitsownwisdomorofitspowertopronouncejudgmentdefinitely,hadissuedadecreesuspendingBalmacedafromhisfunctions,butwithouteithercondemningoracquittinghim。

  This,too,theydidafterhavingtakenmorethanthreeyearstosifttheevidenceandsummonwitnesses,whoeitherhadtocrossthecountryonamuleattheimminentriskofdeathbyfamineorbyIndians,or,havingdescendedtheriverPlatetoBuenosAyreswhichjourneyoftentookamonth,waitforashiptotakethemroundCapeHorntoLima,andfromthencetraveltoCharcasonmuleback,followingoneoftheIncas\'roads。

  DonJosedeAntequerayCastrowasbornatLima,andbeing,asFatherCharlevoixsays,anable,eloquent,butvainandmostambitiousman,endowedwithplentyofimagination,sometalent,andbutlittleballast,wasnotcontenttowaittilltimeshouldplacehiminhisgovernorship。So,hearingthatajudgeinquisitorwastobesenttoParaguaytoinquireintothecase,andhavinggraduatedhimselfandheldthepositionofprocuratorfiscalintheCharcas,hesolicitedthepost,andbysomeerrorwasappointed。

  Charlevoix,vol。ii。,livrexvii。

  NosoonerwastheappointmentsignedthanstraighthepostedofftoParaguay。

  AshehadstudiedinthecollegeoftheJesuitsatLaPlata,hisfirstvisitwastothereductionsoftheJesuits。

  Themissionariesreceivedhimwell,andsentatroopofIndianstoescorthimtotheboundaryoftheirterritories,neversuspectingwhatAntequerawasabouttodo。HavingheardthattheGovernor,Balmaceda,wasatadistantportupontheParana,AntequerahastenedtoAsuncion。

  Arrivedthere,thesamemadnessofauthorityseemstohavecomeonhimwhichcamefiftyorsixtyyearsbeforehistimeonCardenas。

  FindingnospecialseatreservedforhimintheCathedral,hepubliclyreprovedthedean,tothegreatscandaloftheworshippers。ThisseemsnottohavelosthimtherespectofthecitizensofAsuncion,whowereaccustomedtoallkindsofvagaries,bothoftheirrulersandtheirspiritualguides。

  Nosortofviolencetolawsandcustomsseemsevertoaffectapeopleunlesstheviolenceisdonetobenefitthem,wheninstantlytheyriseagainstthebreakerofthelaw,howeverheavilyitmaybearuponthemselves。

  ButthedevotedcitizensofAsuncionweresoaccustomedtoperpetualturmoilthat,asDeanFunessays,`theyonlystoppedwhenitwasabsolutelynecessaryforthemtobreathe。\'

  EventheoverpraisedcitizensofAthensatthetimeofPericles,whomusthavebeeninalltheirwayssoliketheAtheniansofto

  day,werenotmoreinstantintheAgoraordiligentinwritingpatriots\'namesonoyster

  shellsthanthenoisymobofhalf

  breedpatriotswhointhesandystreetsofAsuncionwereeveragitating,alwaysassembling,anddoingeverythingwithintheirpowertoshowtheworldtheperfectpictureofademocraticState。

  StrangethatsuchturbulentandpatrioticpeopleshouldhavebeenancestorsofthosewhomI,aftertheterminationofthewarwithBuenosAyresandBrazilin1870,knewaslethargicanddowntrodden,asifthegreatdictator,Dr。Francia,whomthecountrypeople,speakinginbatedbreath,called`ElDifunto\',hadstilloppressedtheland。

  IntotheturbulenthotbedofAsuncionfellAntequera,oneofthoseCreolesofPeruwho,bornwithtalentandwelleducated,seemed,eitherfromthecircumstancesoftheirbirthorthesurroundingsamongstwhichtheypassedtheiryouth,todifferasentirelyfromtheSpaniardsasiftheyhadbeenIndiansandnotCreolesofwhiteblood。

  LikeCardenas,Antequerawasendowedwitheloquence;but,unlikeCardenas,hesetnostoreoneloquenceuponitsownaccount,butonlyuseditforhisownadvancementintheworld。FindingtheGovernorabsentfromAsuncionandlyingunderadecreesuspendinghimfromallhisfunctions,itseemsatoncetohaveoccurredtoAntequeratoseizehisplace。Onthisaccount,havingingratiatedhimselfwithsomeofthoseopposedtoBalmaceda,heraisedanarmy,andsenttoseizehim;

  buttheGovernor,havingnoticeoftheplot,escapedtoCorrientes,andAntequerainstantlyassumedhispost。ThiswastoomuchfortheViceroyofPeru,who,thoughhehadbefriendedAntequerainthepast,hadsomerespectforlaw。ImmediatelyheissuedadecreereplacingBalmacedainthegovernorship,andorderingAntequeratogivehimbackthepowerhehadusurped。ThisAntequerahadnothoughtofdoing,andheembarkedonacareerofviolencewhichinducedsometobelieveheintendedtoproclaimhimselfanindependentking。

  Whetherthiswasorwasnotthecase,astateofthingsaroseinParaguaymorepandemoniceventhaninthegoodoldtimesofCardenas。

  TheJesuits,nothavingseentheirwaytosustainthecauseoftheirex

  pupil,wereexpelledoncemore1725,andasbeforetookshipforCorrientesamongstthetearsofthepeople,theirhistorianssay,

  andasIbanezandthosewhohavewrittenagainstthemaffirmasstrongly,amongstuniversaljoy。CertainitisthatinAsunciontheyplayedadifferentpartfromthatplayedbytheminthemissionterritory,andnodoubtmixed,asdidtheotherOrdersofreligion,intheintrigueswhichneverseemedtoceaseintherestlesscapitalofParaguay。

  Funes,`EnsayodelaHistoriaCivildelParaguay\',etc。,vol。ii。,cap。v。,p。231。

  DelTecho,Lozano,Guevara,Charlevoix,etc。,etc。

  NotbeingcontentwiththeexpulsionoftheJesuits,AntequeradefeatedseveralgeneralssentagainsthimbytheViceroyofPeru,andbya`coupdemain\'tookprisonertheex

  GovernorBalmaceda,havingsurprisedhiminhishouseinCorrientes,andcarriedhimbacktoAsuncionunderacloseguard。Theusualreignofterrorthenbegan,andeverythingfellintoconfusion,tillatlasttheKingPhilipV。

  in1726commandedthattheJesuitsshouldbereinstatedintheircollegeinAsuncion,andthatthemissionsshouldbetakenfromthejurisdictionoftheGovernorsofParaguayandplacedunderthecontroloftheGovernoroftheRiverPlate,ashadbeenpreviouslydoneinthecaseoftheotherJesuitmissionsbeyondtheUruguay。

  ButSpainwasfaraway,andononepretextoranothersomuchdelayoccurredthatitwasnottillMarch18,1728,thattheJesuitswerereinstatedinthecollegeinAsuncion,whichtheywerenowfatedtoholdbutforalittlespace。AtlasttheViceroyofPeru,theMarquessofCastelFuerte,sentDonBrunodeZavalawithasufficientarmyandsixthousandIndiansfromthemissionsagainsttheusurperAntequera,whofledforrefugetotheFranciscanconventinCordoba,whereheremained,till,findinghispositionquiteuntenable,hefledtoCharcas,wherehewasarrested,andsenttoLimatoawaithistrial。Fouryearshewaitedinperfectliberty,goingandcomingaboutthetownasitbestpleasedhim,whilsttheHighCourtheardevidence,wrotetoMadrid,receivedinstructionsfromtheKing,andgenerallydisplayedtheincapacitywhichinallageshasbeenthechiefdistinctivefeaturesofeverycourtoflaw。

  In1731anordercamefromMadridtoexecutehim,andwithoutlossoftimehewasplacedonahorsedrapedallinblack,and,precededbyaheraldandguardedbyatroopofguards,takenouttothepublicsquaretobebeheaded。Butthegoodpeopleofthecapital,who,inthefashionoftheworld,wouldnotmostprobablyhavestirredasteptosaveasaint,weremightilyconcernedtoseearoguereceivehisduedeserts。Thestreetswerefilledwiththousandscryingout`Pardon!\'stonesflew,andtheaffairlookedsothreateningthattheViceroyhadtogetonhorsebackandrideamongstthecrowdtocalmthetumult。Thepeoplemethimwithashowerofstones,andhe,fearingtheprisonerwouldescape,calledonhisguardstofireuponhim。FourballspiercedAntequera,whofelldyingfromhishorseintothearmsoftwoaccompanyingpriests。

  ThusthemostturbulentofalltheGovernorsofParaguayceasedtroubling,andtheexecutioner,afterhavingcutoffhishead,exhibitedittothepeoplefromthescaffold,withtheusualmoralaphorismastothetraitor\'sfate。

  ThetriumphoftheJesuitsinAsuncionwasbutmomentary,followingthegeneralruleoftriumphs,whichtaketheirwayalongthestreetwithtrumpetsandwithdrumsamidtheacclamationsofthecrowd,andthen,thepageantover,thechiefactorsfallbackagainintothestrugglesandthecommonplaceofordinarylife。

  Betweentheyears1728and1730thepeopleofAsuncionhadbeenmoreeagerinpursuitoflibertythanwastheirusualwont。

  Thecitizensweredividedintocamps,anddailyfoughtamongstthesandystreetsandshadyorange

  borderedlaneswhichradiatefromalmosteveryquarterofthetown。Therivalbandsofmadmenwerestyledrespectivelythe`Communeros\'andthe`Contrabandos\',andtothefirstAntequerathroughouthisresidenceinLimagavealltheassistanceinhispower。Neitherofthetwoseemstohavehadthemostelementaryideaofrealpatriotism,oranywishforanythingbeyondthemomentarytriumphofthemiserablepartytowhicheachbelonged。

  Onedoctrinetheyheldincommon

  ahatredoftheJesuits,andoftheinfluencetheyexercisedagainsttheenslavingoftheIndians,whichwastheaimof`Contrabandos\'andof`Communeros\'alike。

  Oneoftherivalchieftainsofthefactionshavingfledforrefugetothemissions,thepeopleofAsuncionassembledtroopstotakehimfromhissanctuarybyforce。ArriveduponthefrontieroftheJesuitterritory,theyfoundthemselvesopposedbyanarmyoftheIndians,wholookedsoformidablethatthetroopsretiredtoAsuncion,andtheleaders,foiledinthefield,andnothavingforcetoattacktheJesuitsintheirownterritory,setvigorouslytoinflamethemindsofthepeopleagainstthem。

  Libertyiscommonlyonlyattainedbyblood。Itis,Ithink,quitelegitimateinplayingthelibertygametokillallwhodisagreewithyourparty,ortobanishthem。

  Inthesedegeneratetimes,loversoflibertyhavetostopshortatcalumny,justasiftheyweremeretyrants。

  Theyworkedwithsuchsuccessthatwhen,in1732,thenewsofAntequera\'sdeathreachedParaguay,thepeople,inflamedwiththeideathathewassacrificedtothehatredoftheJesuits,roseandexpelledthemonceagain。TheconstantexpulsionsoftheJesuitsfromAsuncion,theturmoilsintheState,andthefactthateverynowandthentheIndianshadtotakearmstodefendtheirterritory,actedmostmischievouslyonthereductions,bothinParaguayandinthosebetweentheParanaandUruguay。WholetribesofIndians,recentlyconverted,wentbacktothewoods;landwasleftquiteuntilled,andontheoutskirtsofthemissionterritorythewarliketribesofIndians,stillunsubdued,raidedthecattle,killedtheneophytes,andcarriedofftheirwivesasslaves。Butstill,inspiteofall,theIndiansclungtotheirpriests

  astheysaid,fromaffectionforthereligiouscaretheyhadbestowed,butquiteaspossiblyfromtheinstinctiveknowledgethat,betweentheraidingPortugueseandthemaddeningpatriotsinAsuncion,theironlysafeguardagainstslaverylayintheJesuits。

  MostfortunatelyforParaguayatthetime1734,DonBrunodeZavala,perhapsthemostenergeticoftheSpaniardsintheKing\'sserviceinAmerica,wasViceroyintheRiverPlate。HavingreceivedorderstoquietthedissensionsinAsuncion,inspiteofbeingnearlyseventyyearsofage,andhavinglostanarmintheItalianwars,hemarchedatonce,takingbutfortysoldiersinhistrain,as,warbeingimminentwithPortugal,itwasnotsafetodepletetheslenderforcesintheRiverPlate。ArrivedinParaguay,heenteredtheJesuitmissionsattheReductionofSanIgnacioGuazu,and,havingappealedtotheprovincialoftheOrderforhisaid,speedilyfoundhimselfattheheadofalargearmyoftheIndians。AftersomeskirmisheshewasinapositiontoenterAsuncionandforcethepeopletoreceivehimastheirGovernor。Byoneofthoserevulsionssofrequentinacrowdofreasonablemen,thepeoplebeggedhimtoinvitetheJesuitstoreturn。Theydidso1735,andwerereceivedinstate,theGovernor,theBishop,andthechiefclergyandofficialsoftheplaceattendingMassintheCathedralwithlightedcandlesintheirhands。

  Hisdutyover,DonBrunodeZavalasetoffforChile,wherehehadbeenappointedGovernor,andonhisjourney,atthetownofSantaFe,diedsuddenly,exhaustedwiththebattles,marchingsandcountermarchings,rebellions,Indianincursions,theturbulenceofthepeopleinthetowns,andtheothercareswhichformedthedailydutiesofaSpanishofficerinSouthAmericaatthemiddleoftheeighteenthcentury。

  ThenexttenyearswereonthewholepeacefulandprofitablefortheIndiansofthemissionsandfortheJesuits。

  TheIndiansfollowedquietlytheirArcadianlives,exceptwhennowandthenacontingentofthemwasrequiredtoassistinanyofthewars,whichatthattimewereceaselessthroughouttheeasternpartofSouthAmerica。TheJesuitspushedouttheirspiritualfrontiers,advancingonthenorthamongsttheTobatinesofthewoods,andonthewestendeavouringtospreadtheircoloniesamongsttheChiriguanasandotheroftheChacotribes。

  `Guazu\'=`great\'inGuarani。Itisfrequentinplace

  namesbothinParaguayandCorrientes。

  DeanFunes,vol。ii。,cap。xii。,p。372,saysofZavala:

  `Porcaractereramanso,perouso/algunasvecesdeseveridad,porquesabiaqueparaservirbienaloshombresesprecisodecuandoencuandotenervalordedesagradarlos……

  Lapobrezaenquemuriodespuesdetantosan~osdemando,esunapruebaclasicadequenoestabacontagiadoconesacommunflaquezadelosquegobieranenAmerica。\'

  FromtheconquestofPeru,whenthoseIndianswhohadbeenbutrecentlybroughtundertheempireoftheIncasretreatedintotheChaco,ithadbeentherefugeofthefiercestandmostindomitabletribes。

  TheSpanishcolonists,theardourofthefirstconquestspent,hadsettleddownmainlytoagriculturalpursuits。Fewhadefficientfirearms,andonthewhole,thoughturbulentamongstthemselves,theyhadbecomeunwarlike。TheverynameofthewildIndiansLosIndiosBravos

  spreadterrorupanddownthefrontiers。Thisterror,whichIrememberstillprevalentbothinMexicoandonthepampasoftheArgentineRepublic,notmorethanfive

  and

  twentyyearsago,waskeenerupontheconfinesoftheChacothananywhereinSouthAmerica,except,perhaps,inChile,uponthefrontiersofAraucania。

  InthelongandinterestingletterofJaimeAguilar,theprovincialoftheJesuitsinParaguay,totheKingofSpainPhilipV。,1737,occursthefollowingpassage:

  `Ysialgunavez,quenosonmuchas,seanimanlosEspan~olesaperseguirycastigarlosIndios,muchoshuyendelatierra,oseesconden,pornoiralaentrada……Otrasvezes

  quandolleganalla/,elEnemigolesquitanlaCavallada,dexandolosapieysevuelvenacasacomopueden。\'

  ThisIhaveseenmyself,notthirtyyearsago,onthefrontiersoftheArgentineRepublic。ThepopularArgentinepoem,`LaVueltadeMartinFierro\',byJoseHernandezBuenosAyres,1880,hasanillustrationshowinganexpeditionagainsttheIndiansreturning。

  Someofthemenareonfoot;othersareridingtwoonthesamehorse,andofficersareanimatingtheirmenwiththeflatoftheirswords。

  TheTobas,Mataguayos,Lules,Aguilotas,Abipones,andtherest,togetherwiththewarlikenationsoftheVilelasandtheGuaycurus,hadfromthefirstrejectedChristianity。Attemptshadseveraltimesbeenmadetoestablishsettlementsamongstthem,buttheferocityofallthetribes,theirnomadhabits

  formanyofthempassedtheirlivesonhorseback

  andthepeculiarnatureoftheircountry,avastdomainofswamp,piercedbygreatriversquiteunknowntotheSpanishsettlers,hadhithertocombinedtorendereveryeffortvain。

  But,notwithstandingthis,theJesuitslabouredincessantly,andnotwithoutsuccess,amongstthewildestoftheChacotribes。

  ThegentleandeccentricFatherMartinDobrizhofferpassedmanyyearsamongsttheAbipones,ofwhomhewrotehischarmingbook。Heenumeratesmanytribes,ofwhomhesays`theseareforthemostconvertedbyus,andsettledintowns。\'

  `AccountoftheAbipones\',p。125。

  Nothing,perhaps,displaystheJesuitsattheirbest,morethantheireffortsintheChaco。Theenormousterritorywassparselypeopledbyaboutseventytribes,1whereoftherewerefifteenorsixteenofconsiderablesize。Hardlytwotribesspokedialectsbywhichtheycouldcommunicatewithoneanother,andalmosteveryoneofthemlivedinastateofwarfare,notonlywiththeSpaniards,butwiththeneighbouringtribes。TheinventoriespreservedbyBrabo2

  showusthetownofPaisanesintheChaco,withitsroughwoodenhouses,andtheJesuits\'habitationinthemiddleoftheplace,stockaded,andwithoutdoors,andwithbutnarrowopeningsinthewall,throughwhichthemissionariescrept。Theinsideofthehousecontainedfiveorsixroughrooms,almostunfurnished,butforafewreligiousbooksandaplentifulsupplyofguns。3

  Theirbedswereofunvarnishedwood,withcurtainsofroughcottonspunbytheIndians。Sometimestheyhadasofaofleatherslungbetweenfourstakes,arackformedicinebottles,andforthewineforMass。

  Lastly,onepriest,inthesettlementamongsttheToquitistines,hadamonghisbookscopiesofCervantesandQuevedo;onehopeshereadthemhalfsmiling,halfwithatearinhiseye,foryourtruehumourisakintotears。Perhaps,reading`DonQuixote\'or`ElGranTacano\',thepoorpriestforgothistroubles,and,wanderingwithSanchoinLaManchanoak

  woodsorthroughCastilianuplands,thoughthewasinSpain。4

  1Brabo,`Inventarios\',p。ix。

  2FranciscoXavierBrabo,`Inventariosdelosbieneshalladosa/laexpulsiondelosJesuitas\'Madrid,1872。

  3Thelistsofcannons,guns,andarmsofallkindsintheinventoriesoftheChacotowns,preservedbyBrabo,servetoshownotonlythedangerstowhichtheJesuitswereexposed,butalsohowthoroughlytheJesuitsunderstoodtheficklenatureofthosewithwhomtheylived。

  4Anotherpriest,thelistofwhoseeffectsBrabohaspreservedinhis`Inventarios\',hadabookcalled`ElAliviodeTristes\'。

  EvenaProtestantmaybeexcusedforhopingthatitmeriteditstitle。

  ThroughouttheterritoryoftheGranChacotherewerebutsevenreductionsestablishedbytheJesuits。ThesewereSanJosedeBilelas,withitslittletownPetacas;SanJuanBautistadelosIristines,withitstownletofthesamename;SanEstebandelosLules,withthetownofMiraflores;NuestraSenoradelBuenConsejodelosOmarapas,capitalOrtega;NuestraSenoradePilardelosPaisanes,withMacapilloasitscentre;NuestraSenoradelRosariodelosTobas,withitschiefplacecalledSanLucas;and,lastly,theestablishmentamongsttheAbipones,knownasLaConcepcion。InallthesemissionstheJesuitslivedinconstantperiloftheirlives。Inreadingtheiroldchroniclesonefindstherecordsoftheirobscureandhalf

  forgottenmartyrdoms,theirsufferings,andthebriefrecordoftheirdeathsbyanarroworaclub。In1711FatherCavallero,withallhisfollowing,wasslainbythesavagePinzocas。In1717FatherRomero,having,asaJesuitwritersays,`nothingbutmoralforcebehindhim,\'

  wasslainwithtwelvecompanionsoftheGuaranisofParaguay。

  In1718FathersArcoandBlende,SylvaandMaceo,receivedtheirdusted

  overmartyrs\'crowns。

  CretineauJoly,tomev。,chap。ii。,p。95。Yourmoralforceisexcellentinacivilizedcountry;butyourmodernmissionaryusuallypreferssomethingmoreinaccordancewiththespiritofthetimes。

  RightupthewesternbankoftheriverParaguay,intheoldmaps,thecrossesmarkthesiteswhereJesuitswereslain。Thattheyalldiedtofurthercraftyschemes,orforsomehiddenpurposeofaMachiaveliannature,evenaDominicanwillscarcelyurge。Thattheydidgood

  moreorlessgoodthanProtestantfanaticsofthesamekidneymighthaveachieved

  itwereinvidioustoinquire。Thatwhichiscertainisthattheyweresingle

  heartedmen,faithfuluntotheendtowhattheythoughtwasright,faithfuleventothesheddingoftheirownblood,whichis,onemaybelieve,thewayinwhichthescripturalinjunctionshouldberightlyread。

  Inthedimfuture,whensomeshadowofcommon

  sensedawnsontheworld,andwhenmenrecognisethatitisbettertoletothersfollowtheirdestinyasitbestpleasesthem,withouttheofficiousinterferenceoftheirfellows,itmaybethattheywillsayallmissionariesofwhatsoeversectorcongregationshouldhavestayedathome,andnotgonegaddingtothedesertplacesoftheearthseekingtoremedytheerrorsoftheirGodbytheirexertions;butwhilsttheidealstillremainsofsacrificewhichmay,forallIknow,beuselessinitself,orevenharmful,theymustperforceallowtheJesuitsinParaguayhighrank,orelsebestultified。

  ButintheChacotheJesuitsfoundconditionsmostdifferentfromthoseprevailingintheirmissionsbetweentheUruguayandParana。

  Insteadofopenplains,vastswamps;insteadofdocilesemi

  ArcadiansliketheGuaranis,whoalmostworshippedthem,fiercenomadhorsemen,brokenintoahundredlittletribes,alwaysatwar,andcaringlittleforreligionofanysortorkind。Again,thereseemsintheChacotohavebeennomeansofamassinganykindofwealth,asalltheterritorywasquiteuncultivatedandinavirginstate;but,still,thesettlementshadexistedlongenoughforcattletoincrease。

  Lastly,theincursionsofthebarbaroustribeswereaconstantmenacebothtotheJesuitsandtheirneophytes。YetintheirindefatigablewaytheJesuitsmadeconsiderableprogressamongsttheChacotribes,asboththecurious`HistoryoftheAbipones\'byFatherDobrizhofferandtheinventoriespreservedbyBraboprove。

  Thetotalnumberofcattlewas78,171,asagainst698,353inthetownsoftheGuaranis。SeeBrabo,`Inventariosdelosbieneshalladosa/laexpulsiondelosJesuitas\',Appendix,p。668。

  `HistoryoftheAbipones\',fromtheLatinofMartinDobrizhoffer,London,1822。

  ItisacuriouscircumstancethatinthemissionsintheChacotherewerenegroslaves,thoughintheParaguayanmissionstheywereunknown。IntheinventoryofthetownofSanLucasappearthefollowingentries,undertheheadof`NegrosEsclavos\':

  `Justo,quesirvedecapatazenelcampo;sera/deedaddeveinteysietean~os,maso/menossegunsuaspecto。\'

  `Item,Pedro,sera/dediezyseisan~osyesmediofatuo。\'

  `Item,Jose/Felix,sera/deunmesymedio。\'

  BesidestheirsevenestablishmentsintheGranChaco,theyhadthreeestablishmentsinthenorthofParaguayinthegreatwoodswhichfringethecentralmountainrangeofthecountry,knownastheCordilleradeM\'baracayu。Thesemissions,calledSanJoaquindelTaruma,SanEstanislao,andBelen,werequiteapartfromalltheothermissionsoftheGuaranis,fardistantfromtheChaco,andremovedbyanenormousdistancefromthoseoftheOrderintheMoxosandamongsttheChiquitos,forming,asitwere,anoasisintherecessesoftheTarumensianwoods。

  Thesethreereductions,foundedrespectivelyin1747,1747,and1760,were,astheirdatesindicate,theswansongoftheJesuitsinParaguay。

  FoundedastheywerefarfromtheSpanishsettlements,theywerequiteremovedfromtheintriguesandinterferencesoftheSpanishsettlers,whichwerethecurseoftheothermissionsontheParana。

  TheTobatinesIndianswereofadifferentclasstotheGuaranis,thoughpossiblyofthesamestockoriginally。NothavingcomeincontactuntilrecentyearswiththeSpaniards,andhavinghadtwofierceandprolongedwarswiththenearestsettlements,theyhadremainedmoreintheirprimitiveconditionthananyoftheIndianswithwhomtheJesuitshadcomeincontactinParaguay。

  DuringtheshortperiodofJesuitruleamongstthem1746

  1767

  thingsseemtohavegoneoninahalf

  Arcadianway。InSanJoaquin,Dobrizhoffer,ashesayshimself,devotedeightyearsofunregrettedlabourtotheIndians。MostcertainlyhewasoneoftheJesuitswhounderstoodtheIndiansbest,andhisdescriptionsofthemandtheirlifeareamongthemostdelightfulwhichhavebeenpreserved。

  HetellsoftheromanticbutfruitlesssearchduringeighteenmonthsthroughouttheforestsoftheTarumabyFathersYegros,Escandon,Villagarcia,andRodriguez,fortheItatineswhohadleftthereductionofNuestraSenoradeSantaFe,andhadhiddeninthewoods。

  Though1747wasthedateofthefinalfoundingofthesereductions,asearlyas1697aboutfourhundredIndianswerediscoveredinthewoodsoftheTarumabyFathersRoblesandXimenes,andestablishedinthemissionofNuestraSenoradeFe;

  butintheyear1721theyallreturnedtothewoods,afamineandanoutbreakofthesmall

  poxhavingfrightenedthem。

  Afterbeingagainestablishedinamission,andagainhavingleftit,in1746,theywereestablisheddefinitelyatSanJoaquin。

  DobrizhoffercallstheTobatinesbythenameofItatines。

  CharlevoixandothersrefertothemasTobatines。

  Then,commentinguponthestrangenessofallaffairssublunary,herelatesthataccidentatlengtheffectedwhatlabourcouldnotdo。

  In1746FatherSebastiandeYegros,afterasearchoffortydays,cameontheIndians

  asitwere,directedbyProvidence,or,aswenowsay,accident。Hebuiltatownforthem,and,asDobrizhoffersays,`assembledtheminChristianpolity。\'

  Tothenew

  foundedvillagecattleofeverykindweresent,withclothes

  useful,ofcourse,tothosewhohadneverwornthem

  axes,andfurniture,andlastlyafewmusicmasters,withoutwhosehelpthosewhobuildcitiesspendtheirtoilinvain。

  `AccountoftheAbipones\',p。54。

  Tothenewtowninwhichthesimple

  heartedpriestremainedeightyears,in1753,cameDonCarlosMorphi,anIrishman,andGovernorofParaguay;

  and,havingstayedfivedayswithDobrizhoffer,departed,marvellingattheaccuracywithwhichthenew

  madeChristians`Cristianosnuevos\'managedtheirdouble

  basses,theirflageolets,theirviolins,and,ingeneral,alltheirinstruments,whetherofmusicorofwar。

  Modestly,butwithprolixity,asbefitsavirtuous,God

  fearingman,thesimpleJesuitrelatesaspecialinstanceofthewayinwhichhewasenabledtoworkbothforhisowngloryandfortheprofitoftheLord。

  NotfarfromSanEstanislaowassituatetheforestofM\'baevera,inwhichgrewquantitiesoftreesfromwhichthe`yerba

  mate\'

  Paraguayanteawasmade。Toreachitwasaworkofpainandtrouble,forthroughthewoodsatrackcalleda`picada\'hadtobecut;

  theriversweredeep,bridgeless,andhadtohavebranchesstrewedalongthetracktogiveafootingtothestrugglingmules。

  In1873,whenIvisitedtheoutskirtsofthisforest,theconditionsweresimilartothosewhichDobrizhofferdescribes,withtheadditionthatthedepopulationofthecountry,owingtotherecentlongwar,hadallowedthetigerstomultiplytoanextraordinarydegree,andmyguideandmyself,afterfeedingourhorses,hadtosleepalternately,thewakerholdingthetwohorseshobbledandbridled。

  AnexpeditionhavingbeensentunderacertainSpaniardcalledVillalbatocollect`yerba\',camesuddenlyuponadesertedIndianhut。

  Astheyhadstartedquiteunarmed,exceptwithknivesandaxestocutdowntheboughs,apanicseizedthem,and,insteadofcollectinganyleaves,theyhurriedbacktoSanEstanislao。NosoonerdidDobrizhofferhearthenewsthanhesetouttofindtheIndians,withafewneophytes,uponhisownaccount。Havingtravelledthe`mournfulsolitudes\'foreighteendays,theycameuponnosignofIndians,andreturnedfootsoreandhungry,`theimprovementofourpatiencebeingoursolerecompense。\'

  Thewholeoperationofcollectingandpreparingtheleavesofthe`IlexParaguayensis\',tomakethe`yerba

  mate\',wasmostcurious。

  Bandsofmenusedtosallyoutforasix

  months\'expedition,eitherbylandwithbullock

  waggons,oruponeoftheriversinflat

  bottomedboats,whichwerepoledalongagainsttherapidcurrentbycrewsofsixtotwelvemen。Arrivedatthe`yerbal\',astheforestwascalled,theybuiltshelters,afterthefashionofthoseinuseamongstthelargeroftheanthropoidapes。Someroamedthewoodsinsearchofthepropertrees,theboughsofwhichtheycutdownwithmachetes,whilstothersremainedandbuiltalargeshedofcanescalleda`barbacoa\'。Onthisshedwerelaidthebundlesofboughsbroughtfromthewoods,andalargefirewaslightedunderneath。

  Duringforty

  eighthoursifIrememberrightlythetoastingwenton;

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