A Vanished Arcadia

第7章

Theytoldhowthroughthewoodstangledwithundergrowth,mattedtogetherwithlianas,theyhadhewedapath。Monkeysandparrotschatteredatthem,andawhitemiasmaticvapourhungovertreesandlakes,buryingtheclearingsinitswreaths,andliftingonlyatmid

day,tocloseagainuponthewoodsatnight。Theytalkedofalligators,jaguars,thegiantant

eater,andthemysteriousbirdknowntothemasthe`ipetata\',whichinitstailcarriesaburningfire。Intherecessesofthethicketsdemonslurked,andwildCaaguas,whowithablowpipeandapoisonedarrowslewyouandyourhorse,themselvesunseen。PoolscoveredwithVictoriaregia;massesofredandyellowflowersuponthetrees,thetreesthemselvesgigantic,andthemosswhichfloatedfromtheirbrancheslongasaspear;thevoyageincanoes,whirledlikeacorkupontherapids;

lastlythefallsthemselves,andhowthey,awestrickenatthesight,fellprostrateandpromisedmanycandlestotheVirginandthesaintsontheirreturn,theytalkedofintothewatchesofthenight。

Somehow,Ilikethosecountrieswhich,astheprovinceofGuayraandParaguay,appeartohavenofuture,andofwhichthecharmisinthepast。

Itpleasesmetothinkthatthesharpbusinessmenoftimesgoneby,pattingtheirstomachs(theprisonoftheirbrain),predictedgreatadvancement,andwerealldeceived。Forthenitseemsasiftheprognosticationsofto

day\'sschemesmayalsofail,andcountrieswhichtheyhavedoomedtoprogressstillremainasisGuayra,theirtownsdeserted,withbutthebrokenspireofsomeoldchurchemergingfromtheverdureofthetropics,astheSt。Paul\'sRocksrisesheeroutofthesea。Ifthereischarmintheunknown,thereisatleastasgreatacharmintheforgotten,andtheSaltodeGuayraisoneofthemostforgottencornersoftheearth。

TothiswildplaceFatherMendozaproposedtoleadtheIndiansfromtheReductionsofSanJoseandSanFranciscoXavier,andthenunitewiththemanyofthefugitiveshecouldassemblefromthosereductionswhichhadbeendestroyed。ButeventhedoglikepatienceoftheIndianswasatanend,andtheypreferredtodieorbeledcaptivesratherthanrunthechancesofescapeinsuchasolitaryplace。Intheirdespair,andplacedbetweenthePaulistasandthefearofemigration,theneophytesturned,asevenmorecivilizedpeoplethanthemselveswillturn,ontheirbestfriends,andheldtheJesuitsresponsibleforalltheirwoes。

TwoIndianwomen,wivesof`caciques\',havingbeentakenbythePaulistas,theIndiansbrokeintothechurchwhereaJesuit(PadreSalazar)

wasofficiating,andinterruptedhimduringtheMasswiththemostbitterinsults。OneoftheIndiansmenacedhimwithalance,anotherwithanarrow,whilstathirdtriedtosnatchthechalicefromhishands。Heescaped,andran,holdingthechalice,outintothewoods,followedbytwolittleIndianboys。Wanderingabout,hefellinwiththeotherJesuits,alllikehimselfoutcasts,withoutachurch,andalmostdesertedbytheIndians。

PadreRuizMontoyaalonepossessedashadowofauthority,andheadvisedtheoutcastswiththeremnantoftheirflockstoretireintothewoods,andsowacropofmaizeforfood,whilstheendeavouredtogethelpfromParaguay。Hardlywasthisdone,whennewswasbroughthimwhichmadehimalterallhisplans。

TwomessengerscametoinformhimthatanarmyofPaulistaswasmarchingonVillaRica,andthatastrongdetachmentofthemwasadvancingfromthesouth。ThenPadreMontoyatookasupremeresolve,andorderedtheevacuationofthetwoprincipalreductions(SanIgnacioandLoreto)whichyetremainedintact。TheywerethefirstwhichhadbeenfoundedinGuayra,andwereasimportantasanyoftheSpanishtownsinParaguay。Thechurches,alltheJesuitwriters,asMontoya,Charlevoix,Mastrilli,andLozano,areagreed,werefinerthananyintheland。TheIndianswere,accordingtoMontoya,farbetterChristiansthantheinhabitantsoftheSpanishsettlements,andtheirfaithandinnocencewereaboveallpraise。

Theycultivatedcottonandhadlargeherdsofcattle,sothatthemostbitterenemiesoftheJesuitsmustallowthatmuchhadbeenaccomplishedintheshortspaceoftwo

and

twentyyears。

In1609theJesuitscametoGuayra,andfounditabsolutelyuntouched;

andwhenin1631theyleftit,itwasupontheroadtobecomeoneofthemostflourishingAmericanprovincesoftheSpanishthrone。

TheothermissionariesimaginedthatnothingwouldpersuadetheIndianstodepartfromtheirhomes,whereforsomanyyearstheyhadbeenhappy;

butafterMontoyaexplainedtothemhisplans,theyallassentedtothemaswithasinglevoice。

TheplanbymeansofwhichtheJesuitMosesledhissheepoutofthewildernessofGuayrawasmostremarkable。

TheriverParanaformsagreatarterybetweenBrazilandParaguay;

uponeachsideofitanetworkofriversdisembogue。TheParanapane,onwhichmostofthemissionsofGuayraweresituated,flowsfromtheeast,andfallsintotheParana,notmuchmorethanfiftymilesabovethecataract。Afterthelastoftheonce

flourishingsixJesuitreductionshadbeenevacuatedattheordersofMontoya,hecollectedalltheboats,rafts,andcanoes,andaftermuchpersuasiongotalltheIndianspersuadedtofollowhimtoseekforsaferhabitationslowerdowntheParana。Thepopulationofthesixreductionshasbeenestimatedataboutonehundredthousandsouls;butofthese,duringtheyearsof1629and1630,thousandshadbeenledcaptivetoSanPaulo,andthousandshaddispersedintothewoods。

Still,assembledonthebanksoftheParanapane,therewasamultitudeofIndiansofeverysexandage。Fortunatelyorunfortunately,norecordbyaneye

witnessexists,exceptthatwrittenbyMontoya,andheismodesttoafaultaboutalldetails,andabsolutelysilentastothepartheplayedhimself。Hetellsusthatatthestarting

pointweregatheredtwothousandfivehundredfamilies,andthisinspiteofthedispersionsandtheeffortsmadebytheSpanishsettlersinthetownofCiudadReal,whofeared,withcause,tobeexposedtothefullfuryofthePaulistaswithoutallies。ItappearstheIndianswereinastateofspiritualexaltation,forsomeyoungmenhavingremarkedtheJesuitswerepackingupaChristandanimageoftheBlessedVirgin,whichinhappiertimeshadbeenmiraculous,theydeclaredthattoaffrontexile,andevendeath,insuchgoodcompanywasaforetasteofheaven。

Atleast,Ihavebeenunabletodiscoveranyotheraccountbyaneye

witness。

ThiscitywassituatednearthegreatfallsofGuayra,andwasdestroyedbythePaulistas,aswellasthecityofVillaRica,aftertheJesuitsandtheirIndianslefttheprovince。

Montoya,inoppositiontothemodernstyle,triestoshifttheburdenofthepraiseontotheshouldersoftheProvincial,PadreFranciscoLopezTruxillo,1butwithindifferentsuccess。

Thismatterofbearingyourownpraisewillrequireregulationinthefuture,whenanadvanceofcivilizationhasopenedpeople\'seyestotheperceptionthatpraiseisjustasdisagreeabletothesuffererasisblame。

Thesentinelwhomtheyhadplacedtowarnthemoftheenemy\'sapproachgavethealarm。MontoyasentatoncetoCiudadRealforhelp,buttheSpanishsettlersweretoohardpressedthemselvestogiveassistance。

Nothingremainedbuttomakeaportageofalltheirrafts,boats,andcanoes,andthentore

embarkandsaildowntheParanaoutofthereachofthePaulistas。Montoyapassedinreviewhisboats,andfoundhehadsevenhundred,andthattwelvethousandpeoplehadembarkedwithhimonleavingtheParanapane。WhenthePaulistasfoundtheJesuitshadevacuatedalltheirtowns,theyburntthechurches,ontheprinciple,perhaps,that,thenestsoncepulleddown,therookswouldnotreturn。TheyturnedtheJesuitcellsintobarracksforthemselves,taking,asMontoyasayswithhorror,`infamouswomen\'

intothosechasteabodes,whereneverwomanhadpassedthroughthedoors。

ThePaulistasthenenteredintoarigorousexamination2oftheJesuits\'

privatelives,hopingtofindsomescandaltobringagainstthem。

EspeciallytheyquestionedtheIndianwomen,givingthempresentstodiscovereverythingtheyknew。Allwasinvain,thedisciplineoftheOrder,orthestrictconscientiousnessoftheindividualmembersofit,nothavinggivenscandalanyhold。3Themostdifficultpartofthegreatexoduswasnowtocome。TherapidsandthecataractsoftheParanaextendtonearlyninetymiles,andthewholecountryisamazeoftangledforestinterspersedwithrocks。Nopathsexist,theplaceisdesert,andoverthedankmassofvegetationthemoisturefromthecloudsofvapourthrownupbythefallingwaterdescendsinnever

endingrain。4

Inordertoendeavourtosavethetroubleofreconstructingnewraftsandcanoesatthebottomofthecataract,Montoyalaunchedthreehundredemptyboats(sendinganIndianinadvance)toseeifanyofthemwouldarrivesafelyatthebottomofthefalls。Notoneescaped;

andsothepilgrimagebegan,almostwithoutprovisionsandwithoutarms,inthemiddleofacountryquiteuncultivated,andwheregamewasscarce。5

Tomakethingsworse,intelligencewasbroughtthat,afewmilesbelowthebeginningofthefalls,theSpaniardsofGuayrahadbuiltawoodenfort,surroundedwithastrongstockade,hopingtointercepttheretreatingIndians,andmakeslavesofanywhomightfallintotheirhands。Montoyahimself,dressedasanIndian,wentouttoobservetheenemy,andonhisreturnthewholeimmenseassemblagesilentlyplungedintothewoods,leavingsolittletracesofitspassagethattheSpaniardsinthefortwerestillexpectingthemwhentheywerefarbeyondtheirreach。

1`ConquistaEspiritual\',p。48。

2`Rigorosoexamen\'(`ConquistaEspiritual\')。

3InallthebooksandpamphletsIhavesearchedabouttheJesuitsinParaguay,bothfriendlyandunfriendlytotheOrder,IhaveneverfoundachargeofpersonalunchastityadvancedagainstaJesuit。InregardtotheotherreligiousOrdersitisfarotherwise。

4Azara,`DescripcioneHistoriadelParaguay\',tomoi。,p。40:

`EnlasinmediacionesdelSaltohayproporcionparatomarlasmedidasgeometricasquesequieraymetiendoseporelbosquesepuedereconocerloinferiordelSalto,bienqueparaesteesmenesterdesnudaretotalmenteporquelluevemucho。\'

5Azararecords(booki。)theIndianfablethatnolivingthingcouldexistnearthecataract。Thoughthisisofcourseuntrue,yetinmostParaguayanforestsnearwater,gameisbothscarceandhardtofind。

EachIndianhadtotakehisbundleonhisback;eventhechildrencarriedbundlesinproportiontotheirstrength。Themissionariescarriedwhatwasheldmostsacred,asaltar

plateandimagesofsaints。

Infrontabandofmenarmedwithmachetes(cane

knives)

openedthewaythroughthedensewoodsandpathlessjungleofthebank;

andastheymarchedalong,MontoyasaystheysanghymnswhichtheJesuitshadtaughtthem,andatthesoundofthemfugitiveswhohadbeenhidinginthewoodscameoutandjoinedtheirmarch。Especiallythosefromtheout

stationofTayaobajoinedthem;theirpriest,PedrodeEspinosa,hadmethisdeath`withagoodchanceofhiseternalwelfare,\'asMontoyasays。

Butaftertheseconddaythehymnsnolongersoundedthroughthewoods,nordidtheyplayupontheharpsandotherinstruments,whosestringsbeingallbrokenandthewoodunglued,`theyleftthemontherocks,beingtoosadtolookatthem。\'

AllthroughthewearyjourneyMontoyaseemsneveroncetohavedespaired,andsetsdowninhisbooktheadventuresofeachseparateday,neverforgettingtochronicleanythingstrangeorpatheticasitoccurredtohim。OnthefourthdayhesentoffFathersDiego,NicolasHennerio,andMansillaintotheprovinceofItatinestofoundamissionthere,actinguponorderswhichhadjustreachedhimfromtheProvincialoftheOrdershortlybeforehehadstartedfromGuayra。

Theytookwiththem`bells,images,andeverythingsuitableforthefoundationofamission\';butthefirsttwoweremartyredbythewildIndians,andthethirdjustfledintimetosavehislife。

IttookthefugitiveIndianseightwearydaysofmarchingtoreachthelowerendofthecataract,whereonceagaintheParanawasnavigable。Ontheirarrivaltheyhopedtofindprovisionsandmoreboats;butnonewerethere,theirownstoreswerealmostdone,andthepeopletooexhaustedtomarchon。

Feverbrokeout,andmanyofthemdied;andothers,lostintheforests,withoutaguide,wanderedabouttilldeathreleasedthemfromtheirmarch。

AweakermanthanPadreMontoyamighthavedespairedofeverissuingfromthewoods。However,hesettheIndianstoworktomakecanoes,andotherstocultivatepatchesofmaizeforfood,workinghimselfalternatelywithaxeandhoetogiveexampletotheneophytes。

Others,again,cutdowntheenormouscanes,whichinthatregiongrewtofiftyfeetinheight,tomakethemintorafts。

`Conbuenasprendasdesusaludeterna\'(`ConquistaEspiritual\')。

FathersSuarez,Contreras,andEspinosawereMontoya\'slieutenantsinthismemorableretreat。Itisdifficulttogivethepalmtotheenergyandcourageofthefourpriests,ortotheresignationandfaithoftheimmensemultitudeofIndianswhoweresavedbythem。

So,afteraconsiderabletime,allwasinreadinessforanewstart,andluckilyprovisionsfromthereductionsontheParanaarrived。

Sotheyembarkedagain,andonthejourneyaraftinwhichawomanandtwochildrenweresittingupset,toMontoya\'sagony,asheknewthat`inthatrivertherearefishthatthepeoplecallculebras,

whichhavebeenseentoswallowmenentire,andthrowthemoutagainwithalltheirbonesbrokenasifithadbeendonewithstones。\'

Hesays:`IconfessIsufferedinfinitely,and,turningmyeyestoheaven,Iblamedmysinsashavingbeenthecauseofsomuchmisery,andsaid,"OLord,isitpossiblethatforthisThouhastbroughtthesepeopleoutoftheircountry,thatmyeyesshouldendurethespectacleofsomuchmisery,andmyheartbreakatsomuchsuffering,andthentoletthemdiedevouredbysavagefish!"\'Asthegoodmanwaspraying,theIndianwoman\'sheadappearedabovethewater,andMontoyahimself,aidedbyIndians,drewherandthechildreninsafetytotheland。Buthistrialswerenotatanend,formanyofthehastilyconstructedraftsandcanoessankbeforehiseyes,andthemortalityofIndianswasgreat。EventuallytheyfoundatemporaryrefugeintheReductionoftheNativityupontheAcaray,andatSantaMarialaMayorupontheIguazu。Thenfamineraged,andthearrivalofsomanypeopleincreasedthescarcity,sothatsixhundredofthenewarrivalsdiedinonereduction,andfivehundredinthenext。AtlastthescarcitybecamesogreatthatthepoorIndianshadtoroamabouttheforeststogatherfruit,andmanyofthemdiedintherecessesofthewoods。

`Culebra\'istheSpanishforaserpent。Thesefishmayhavebeenwaterboas,or,again,asseemsprobablebytheirdigestivepowers,somekindofhypotheticalfishnotyetcatalogued。

Seeingnohopesofsavingtheremainder,MontoyaledthemfurtherontothebanksofalittlerivercalledtheJubaburrus,

andthereheonceagainfoundedtworeductions,whichhenamedLoretoandSanIgnacio,afterthetwotheMamelucoshaddestroyed。

HeboughttenthousandheadofcattleoutofthemoneytheKingallowedtotheJesuitsofGuayra,andfromthesaleofsomefewobjectssavedfromthegeneraldestructionofthetowns,andsettleddownhisIndians,whoinGuayrahadbeenallagriculturists,toapastorallife。

Thusdidhebringsuccessfullynearlytwelvethousandpeopleadistanceofaboutfivehundredmilesthroughdesertcountry,anddownariverbrokeninallitscoursebyrapids,landingthemfarfromtheirenemiesinasafehavenatthelast。

Mostcommonlytheworldforgetsorneverknowsitsgreatestmen,whileitslard

headedfools,whointheirlivesperhapshavebeenthetoysoffortune,sleepintheirhonouredgraves,theirmemorylivinginthepageofhistory,preservedlikegrapesinaspicbywriterssuet

headedasthemselves。ButthoughthisHegirawasthemoststirringepisodeofMontoya\'slife,heyethadworktodo,andintheprovinceofdiplomacyrenderedasgreat,orevengreater,servicestotheIndians,whomhelovedbetterthanhimself,asinthememorablejourneywhenheledthemdowntheParana。

Thenameofthisriverseemstohavepassedthroughthemachineofsomemedievaltypewriter,foritislikenonameinanylanguage,andMontoyaknewGuaraniwell,havingwrittenmuchinthatlanguage。

ChapterIII

SpainandPortugalinSouthAmerica

EnmitybetweenBraziliansandArgentines

ExpulsionofJesuitsfromParaguay

Struggleswiththenatives

FatherMendozakilled

DeathofFatherMontoyaIntheprovinceofGuayratheSpaniardswhohadlookedwithdisfavourontheJesuits,andhadenslavedtheIndianswhentheywereable,wereinsorestraits。TheMamelucos,findingnomoreIndianstoenslave,fellonthetwotownsofVillaRicaandCiudadReal,destroyedthemutterly,andforcedtheinhabitantstofleeforrefugeintoParaguay。

ThusGuayrawentthewayofMattoGrossoandseveralotherprovincesofSpain,andbecamePortuguese。Strangelyenough,mostoftheselosseshappenedwhenSpainandPortugalwerejoinedunderonecrown。AthometheSpaniardsandthePortuguese,howevermuchtheydetestedoneanother,wereforcedtokeepthepeace。

InAmericatheywerealwaysatwar,whichendedinvariablytothedetrimentofSpain。ThestrifebegunbythePapalBullof1493,inwhichPopeAlexanderVI。dividedtheterritoriesdiscoveredandtobediscoveredbetweenPortugalandSpain,wenton,tillbitbybitSpainwasstrippedoftheprovincesofMattoGrosso,RioGrande,andGuayra,andfoundherselfdrawnintothenumerousdisputesabouttheColoniadelSacramento,whichcostsomuchbloodtobothcontendingPowers。PerhapsthemostcuriousandinterestingincidentofthelongstrugglewastheThreeYears\'War,whichbeganin1750,afterthemarriageofFerdinandVI。ofSpainwithDonaBarbaraofPortugal。Bythetreatyenteredintoatthismarriage,sevenofthemostflourishingofthemissionssituatedontheleftbankoftheUruguaywerecededtoPortugalinexchangeforLaColoniadelSacramentoontheriverPlate。

Thetownsresistedchangeofsovereignty,asPortugaltothemwastypifiedbythePaulistas,theirmostinveterateenemies。

TheMarquisdeValdeliriosinhiscuriousdespatchestouchesmuchuponthiswar,butperhapsthebestaccountistobefoundinthecuriousmemoiroftheIrishJesuitFather,TadeoHennis,

whowasthebackboneoftheresistingGuaranis。

Evensolateastheyear1777,inwhichthelasttreatyofboundarieswassignedatSanIldefonso,Portugalwasthegainer,thoughnotsogreatlyasbytheformertreatiesof1681and1750。

`EfemeridesoDiariodelaGuerradelosGuaranies\',porP。TadeoHennis。

Thisjournalhas,Ithink,neverbeenpublishedinitsentirety,butportionsofitaretobefoundinthecollectionofdocuments,Bulls,despatches,etc。,publishedatMadridin1768

underthetitleof`CausaJesuiticadePortugal\'。TheauthorofthisbookcallsHennisaGerman,buthisname,ThadeusEnnis(asitisoftenspelt),andhisloveoffightinglookun

Germanic。PortionsofthediaryarealsotobefoundintheworkofBernardoIbanezdeEchegarray,entitled`HistoireduParaguaysouslesJe/suites\'(Amsterdam,1780)。

EithertheoriginaloranoldmanuscriptcopyexistsinthearchivesofSimancas,whereIhaveseen,butunfortunatelydidnotexamine,it。Aportionoftheworkisalsoincludedinthe`ColecciondeAngelis\'(BuenosAyres,1836)。

Theancientenmityofthetwonationshasbeencontinuedintheirdescendants,theBraziliansandtheArgentinesandUruguayans,andlittlebylittleBrazilisabsorbingallthenorthernportionoftheRepublicofUruguay。

AftertheretreatunderMontoyadowntheParana,theJesuitmissions,especiallyinParaguayandwhatisnowtheprovinceofCorrientes,forsometimeenjoyedaperiodofpeaceandofrepose,andthestrangepolicyoftheJesuitswasdeveloped,andtownshipaftertownshiparoseamongsttheGuaranis(1630

31)。ButtherewasstillnorestforRuizMontoya,whowasofthosewhorestbutinthegrave。In1632,attheinstanceoftheGovernorandmagistratesofthetownshipofJerez,MontoyasentFathersJeanRanconierandMansillatothenorthofParaguaytofoundamissionamongsttheItatines,aforest

dwellingtribe。

Theirterritorywasmarshyandtheclimatebad,andwoodsofindiarubber

treescoveredalltheland。FathersdelTechoandCharlevoixbothspeakofthe`reboundingballs\'withwhichtheyplayed,which,thrownupontheground,startupagainasiftheywerefilledwithair。

Thisis,perhaps,oneofthefirsttimesthatindiarubberismentioned,thoughinsomeplacesJeandeLeryseemstoindicatehewasacquaintedwithitsuse。

`Histoired\'unVoyagefaictenlaTerreduBre/sil\'。

TheJesuitsfoundthattomakeprogresswasnoteasywiththeseIndians,whowillinglyenoughlistenedtotheirpreaching,butrefusedtoaltertheirsocialhabits,towhichtheJesuitsascribethefactthateventhentheirnumberswerediminishing。LikemostoftheIndiansofAmerica,theywerepolygamists,whichcustomintheirraceoperatesdifferentlytopolygamyamongstthenegroes:forwhereastheyseemtoincreaseandthrive,theIndiansevenattheconquestoftentendedtobecomeextinct。

WhenaheadmanamongsttheItatinesdied,anumberofhisfollowersjumpeddownprecipicestoaccompanyhimuponhisjourneytoabetterworld。

ThiscustomandpolygamygavemuchtroubletotheJesuits,buttheirmostadmirablepatienceandknowledgeofmankindhelpedthemtoovercomethembydegrees。Allwasabouttoflourishinthemission,whenoneAcosta,aBrazilianpriest,appeared。PerhapshewasinleaguewiththePaulistas,orperhapswasjealousoftheJesuits,forhetriedhardtoleadanumberoftheIndianstoSanPaulotoshowthem(ashesaid)

howtheyshouldfollowthetruelawofGod。

Thewayoftheneophyteevento

dayishard,somanypriestsofdifferentjarringsectsdisputingforhissoulashotlyasifitwereapreferencestockwhichtheyhadprivateintimationwasjustabouttorise。

TheItatines,eithersuspectingthatAcosta\'struelawwasfalse,ortiredofhispreaching,roseandkilledhim;buttheeffectwasbad,andtheregrewupamongstthoseinfidelsacoldnesseventowardstheJesuitsthemselves。Haditnotbeenfortwomiraculouseventswhichhappenedopportunely,assuchthingsshouldhappeniftheyaretobeturnedtogoodaccount,muchharmmighthavebeendone。

Achief,havingcursedapriest,wasseizedatoncewithamalignantulcerinthethroat,whichshortlykilledhim。TheItatinesdidnotapparentlythinkanythingoftheinfluenceoftheunhealthyclimateinwhichtheylived,andsettheoccurrencedowntotheactofGod。

Butmorewasstilltocome。Anotherchiefhavingsofarforgottenhimselfastojeeratapriest,athunderboltfellsoclosetohimthathewasknockedsenseless,andlayasdead。ThesetwoeventsconfirmedtheJesuits\'power,andthingsbegantoflourishintheirfournewmissions。

ButtheGreatPower,socarefuloftheindividualeffortofHispriests,seemstohavebeenmostunaccountablyremissoftheirsuccessconsideredasawhole。Inthesameyear(1632)theMamelucosappearedandruinedallthefourmissions,sothattheeffortsoftheJesuitsandthemiracleswerelost。

In1633thefirstskirmishtookplacebetweentheBishopofParaguayandtheJesuits。Thisskirmishlittlebylittlegrewintoawar,keptupformorethanahundredyears,andendedfinallyintheexpulsionoftheJesuitsfromParaguay。TheGovernor,DonLuisdeCespedes,havingcalledupontheIndiansoftheJesuitmissionsforpersonalservice,aproceedingquiteagainstboththeKing\'sordersandthePapalBulls,theBishopthoughtthemomentopportunetopressfortithes。This,too,wasequallyforbiddenbothbyaBullandbyanorderoftheCounciloftheIndies。PadreRomerowenttoAsuncionanddisplayedhisBullsandhisordersoftheCouncil,andtheGovernorwithdrewhisclaims。TheBishop,aftersomeopposition,withdrewlikewise,andtheProvincialoftheOrderarrivedatAsuncion,bringingwithhimanorderfromtheKingsignifyingthattheIndiansofthereductionsweretobeleftentirelytotheJesuits。

SoforthepresenttheJesuitsscoredavictory,thoughinthefutureitwastocostthemdear。ButtheGovernorofParaguayhavingreturnedapparentlytohisdesignofexactingpersonalservicefromtheIndiansofthemissions,theProvincialcheckmatedhimwitharoyalorderfromPhilipIV。TheorderwasaddressedtotheViceroyofPeru,thefourthCountofChinchon。Themissive,datedatMadridin1633,condemnedinthestrongesttermsallpersonalservice(thatis,forcedlabour)amongsttheIndians,notonlyoftheJesuitmissions,butofPeruandMexico。

Withatouchingconfidenceinhisownpowers,andabsoluterightDivine,thewell

meaningKingaddedtohisordersaparagraphcommandingalltobedoneashehadorderedwithinsixmonths。StrangetofindPhilipIV。,whomVelasquezhasimmortalizedandshownusashesatuponhishorseineffable,sofarawayfromtheMuseodelPrado,wherealoneheeverseemsreallytohavelived。ButfoolishGovernorsandBishopswerenottheJesuits\'worstenemiesinParaguay。In1634theProvincial,FatherBoroa,wasshipwreckedinavoyageuptheUruguay,andonlysavedbythedevotionofhisneophytes。

SometimesthecrueltreatmentofthenativesbytheSpanishsettlerswasavengedupontheJesuits。ThiswasthecasewithabandofGuapalaches,who,comingonFatherEspinosainawood,attackedandmassacredhimandallhisIndians,and,havingcuthisbodyintopieces,leftitforthewildbeaststoeat。UponanotheroccasionFatherMendozafellintoanambuscade,fromwhichhemighthaveescapedhadnothishorsesunkinamirystream。LonghedefendedhimselfwithanIndianshield,butatlengthwasstretcheduponthegroundandleftfordead。

Duringthenightherevived,anddraggedhimselfuptosomerocks;

buttheIndiansinthemorning,followinguphistrail,cameonhimprayinginaloudvoice。TheytoldhimthatheservedablindGod,oratbestapowerlessGod,asHedidnothingtodefendHisservant;

then,aftertorturinghimcruelly,theydespatchedhim,and,takingouthisheart,said:`Letusseeifhissoulwilltaketheroadtoheaven。\'Thesesavagesdonotseemtohavebeengenuinelyinterestedinfindingoutwhatbecameofthesoulafterthedissolutionofthebody,fortheysatdownandmadeaheartymealoftwoyoungIndianswhoaccompaniedtheunluckypriest。

Buttheyhadheardtheirvictimsaythatwhenhebaptizedthemitpurifiedtheirsouls,andthelastwordsofFatherMendozahadbeentorecommendhissoultoGod。IoftenwonderiftheChristiansofto

day,theircreedsofirmlyfixedbythemartyrdomsofsimplefolk,whoheldtheirfaithwithoutperhapsmuchreasoningonit,knowwhattheyowetomenlikeFatherChristopherMendoza,slainbytheIndiansintheParaguayanwoods。Yourancientmartyr,fallenoutoffashionandforgottenbytheChristiansofto

day,shouldhavehishomagedonetohim,ifonlybythechancewriter,whoinhisstudiesforsomesubjectofnointeresttothegeneralworldcomesonhistrailofblood;formartyrdom,nomatterhowobscure,forgottenbythepeopleofthefaithforwhichthemartyrsuffered,isaslurnotonlyonthefaithful,butonthefaithitself。In1636occurredthesecondinvasionofthePaulistas,whichinducedFatherMontoya,accompaniedbyFatherDiazTano,togotoEuropetoseekprotectionfortheIndiansbothfromtheKingofSpainandfromthePope。

TheMamelucosburstintotheprovinceofTape,and,asthemissionofJesus

Maria(oneofthefewleftundestroyedattheformerinvasion)wasmostexposed,FatherRomeroaskedpermissionoftheGovernoroftheRiverPlatetomakesometrenchestodefendtheplace。TheGovernorconsented,butthestormburstonthemissionbeforethedefenceswereinafitstatetodefend。

ThemissionpriestsAntonioBernalandJuanCardenaswereinthefrontranksencouragingtheIndians,andbothwerebadlywounded。FathersMolaandRomerowentaboutministeringtothewounded,butescapedthemselves。Atlast,theMamelucoshavingsetfiretothechurch,capitulationbecameinevitable,andthechiefpartoftheIndianswereledawayinchains。

ThesamefatewouldhaveovertakenthemissionofSanCristobal,wherefatherRomerohadretreatedwithsomefugitivesfromJesus

Maria,hadnotthepeopleandtheirpriestretreatedhastilyuponthemissionofSantaAna。Buteventheretheywerenotlonginsafety,andhadtoundertakeanotherperilousjourneydowntheriverIguai。

HereapartyofpassingMamelucosfellintoanambuscade,andwerehewninpieces,presumablybeforetheLord。TheMamelucospushedtheiradvancesofarthatFatherMontoyahadgivenordersthatallthemissionsofthatprovinceshouldbeburned。Theinhabitants,whotrustedhimquiteblindly,werejustabouttobegintoburntheirhouses,whenanorderfromtheProvincialstoppedthemfromdoingsotillhehimselfappeareduponthescene。Hearrived,and,gatheringupthescatteredIndiansasfarashewasable,leftthemforsafetyinsomeofthemissionswhichhadnotbeendestroyed,andsetoffhimselftoaskforhelpfromtheGovernorofParaguay。

ThisprovincewassometimescalledGuayra,andsometimesLaProvinciadeVera,VerabeingthefamilynameofAlvarNunezCabezadeVaca。

Itsposition,etc。,maybedeterminedbyreferencetothecuriousvolumeofmapspublishedatMadridbyDonFranciscoJavierBraboin1872。

Thatamissioncouldbesoundefendedastoneedtrenches,thataJesuitshouldaskleavetomakesuchelementarydefences,eveninthefaceofimminentdanger,seemstoprovethattheJesuitsatleastin1636hadnointentionofdefyingthesovereignpower,aswassooftenallegedagainstthem。

FindingnohelpeitherfromhimorfromtheGovernoroftheRiverPlate,hewenttoCorrientes,andwasreceivedalmostwithcontumely。

Then,desperate,heequippedanarmyofthemissionIndians,andadvancedtofighttheMamelucos;buttheyhadretreatedintoBrazil,andwerebeyondhisreach。SeeingthatnothingwastobehopedfromtheSpanishGovernors,hesentaboxofpapersinashipgoingtoPortugal,andlaidhiscasebeforetheCounciloftheIndies。

MontoyaandCharlevoixrelatethattheboxwasthrownintotheseanearLisbonbysomeenemyoftheJesuits,butprovidentiallywaswashedupbythetide,and,beingfoundmiraculously,wastakentotheKingofSpain。

Whetherthishappenedasitiswritten,whoshallsay?But,indistress,whenhavegoodmen(beforethetimeoftheencyclopaedists)

beenwithoutamiracletosustaintheircause?Inthenextyear(1637)

FatherMontoyaandTanostartedupontheirmissiontoEurope,andanewfieldwasopenedtoMontoyainwhichtoshowhistalentsontheIndians\'behalf。

WhilstFatherMontoyawasinSpain,theProvincialappointedFatherAlfarototakehisplace。Hefellontroubloustimes,fortheMamelucoswerepreparingtoattackthethreeremainingmissionsintheprovinceofGuayra。Astheywerenotdefensible,itwasagreedtoevacuatethem,andtoretreatintotheprovincesupontheUruguay。WhentheywerejustabouttostartfromSantaTeresa,wheretheinhabitantsoftheothermissionshadbeencollected,theMamelucosappearedjustbeforeChristmas。TheIndiansweredrivenoffasslaves,andtheMamelucos,withtheirusualsenseofhumour,attendedMassaspenitentsonChristmasDay,withcandlesintheirhands,andlistenedtothesermoninanedifyingway。Thepriestreproachedthemfortheircruelty,andthey,afterlisteningdevoutly,gavehimthelibertyoftwochoirboys,andquietlyleftthechurch。

SanJoaquin,SantaTeresa,SantaAna。

AtlengththeJesuits,rendereddesperatebytheperilstowhichthemissionIndianswereexposed,armedseveralbandsofIndiansandattackedtheMamelucos。But,aswastobeexpected,thehalf

armedIndianswerealwaysworstedbythewell

armedanddisciplinedPaulistabands,andthentheJesuitstookthesupremeresolvetoevacuateGuayraentirely,andplacetheIndiansinsafetybetweentheriversParanaandUruguay。

Formedintothreegreatcompanies,theIndiansstartedontheirsecondexodus。

AlthoughthedifficultieswerelessthaninthevoyagedowntheParana,still,tomarchseveralthousandIndiansjustemergedfromsavagery,accompaniedbytheirwomenandchildren,andchargedwithalltheirpossessions,throughawildcountry,wheretheywereexposedtotheattackofawell

armedenemyupontheway,wasnotaneasytask。

FatherChristobalArenasformedthemintothreedivisions,leadingthefirsthimself;buttheProvincialseemstohavedonemostoftheorganizing,forCharlevoixsaysthat`tohiscourage,prudence,andinalterablekindness,\'thesuccesswasdue。

`HistoireduParaguay\',liv。ix。,p。446。

Courageandprudenceandinalterablekindnessarethethreevirtueswhichhavemostmovedtheworld;perhapsthelasthasbeenmostefficacious,andonewouldhopethatinthefutureitwouldbetheonlyoneofthewholethreerequired。

TwelvethousandIndians,notcountingwomenandchildren,werethusledintoaterritorybetweentheriversUruguayandParana,rich,fertile,and,asthedistancebetweentheriversisnotabovesomefive

and

twentymiles,defendedinsomemeasure,andeasilyrenderedalmostimpregnable。

ThisterritoryisnowtheArgentineprovinceofMisiones。

Noonecanseetheheartofman,and,evenifGodseesit,Henevertellsuswhatisthere,sothatweareobligedtojudgeofactionsaswefindthem,andleavethesearchformotivestoomniscients。

Onthefaceofit,theJesuits,boththosewholedtheIndiansdowntheParanaandthosewhoheadedtheminthismigrationtotheMesopotamiabetweentheUruguayandParana,werenotimpelledbythoughtofgain;andifaJesuitmustofnecessityhavesomedarkschemebehindthesmallestactionofhislife,thesemenconcealeditsodeepdownwithintheirsoulsthatalltheresearchesoftheirkeenestenemieshavenotbeenabletothrowlightonit。But,evensettledintheirnewhomes,theIndiansweredefencelessagainsttheMamelucos,asitwasastatemaximoftheSpanishcourtthattheIndiansshouldneverbeallowedtheuseofguns。Thiswasawiseenoughprecaution,withoutdoubt,fortheIndiansoftheEncomiendas,wholivedamongsttheSpaniardsandowedthempersonalservices;

butarmsfortheIndiansofthemissionswereanecessityoflife。

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