第4章

Where，heasks，aretheIndiantribeswithwhomthecelebratedQuakertreated?

InParaguay，ontheotherhand，atleastinthetimewhenWashburnewasMinisterfromtheUnitedStatestoLopez(from1861to1868)，thefewremainingParaguayansoftheupperclasswerealmostalldescendedfromtheintermarriagesofthefollowersofIralawiththenatives。

ThetyrannyofLopez，andtheeffectsofthedisastrouswarwithBrazilandtheArgentineRepublic，havealmostextirpatedeveryParaguayan(oftheoldstock)withtheleastpretensionstowhitedescent。

RuizDiazdeGuzman，speakingofthemixedraceinParaguayandBuenosAyres，says:

`Theyaregenerallygoodsoldiers，ofgreatspiritandvalour，expertintheuseofarms，especiallyinthatofthemusquet，somuchsothat，whentheygoonlongjourneys，theyareaccustomedtoliveonthegamewhichtheykillwithit。Itiscommonforthemtokillbirdsonthewing，andheisaccountedunfitforasoldierwhocannotbringdownapigeon。Theyaresuchexcellenthorsementhatthereisnoonewhoisnotabletotameandrideanunbrokencolt。

`Thewomengenerallyarevirtuous，beautiful，andofagentledisposition。"

IftheinhabitantsofParaguayandtheriverPlateofthosedaysweregoodmarksmen，itismorethancanbesaidoftheGauchosoftheArgentineprovincesandtheParaguayansoftwentyyearsago。

Withoutmilitarytraining，sofarfrombeingabletobringdownapigeononthewing，fewcouldhitthetrunkofatreeatfiftypaces。

Theusualmethodofshootingusedtobetocramasmuchammunitionintothegunasthehandwouldcontain，andthen，lookingcarefullyawayfromtheobjectaimedat，toclosebotheyesandpullthetrigger。

Accuracyofaimwasnotsomuchconsideredasloudnessofreport。

Asregardstheirpowersofriding，theyarestillunchanged；

andastothevirtueoftheirwomen，virtueissolargelyamatterofconventionthatitisgenerallywisesttoleavesuchmattersuncommentedon，asitissoeasynottounderstandtheconventionsofthepeopleofwhomonewrites。

WhilstIralawasconciliatingtheGuaranisinParaguay，CharlesV。hadnotforgottenthatthenewsettlementofBuenosAyreshadbeenabandoned。

Aftermuchsearch，heselectedAlvarNunezCabezadeVacatobethenewGovernor；and，asAlvarNunezwasperhapsthemostremarkableofalltheSpanish`conquistadores"oftheNewWorld，itmaynotbeoutofplacetogivesomefactsofhiscareer，ashispolicyinregardtotheIndianswasalmostthatoftheJesuitsinafter

times。

AshehimselfinformsusinhisCommentaries，his`fatherwasthatPedrodeVerawhowonCanaria，"andhismother`DonaTeresaCabezadeVaca，anobleladyofJerezdelaFrontera。"AftertheSpanishfashionofthetime，heusedthenamesofbothhisparents。

`ComentariosdeAlvarNunezCabezadeVaca"。PublishedbyDonAndresGonzalezBarciainhiscollectionof`EarlyHistoriansoftheIndies"(Madrid，1749)。

In1529hesailedwiththeill

fatedexpeditionofPanfilodeNarvaeztoApalacheinFlorida，wasshipwrecked，triedtoregaintheSpanishsettlementsinboats，andthencastbyastormabsolutelynaked，andwithonlythreecompanions，uponanunknownland。TakenbytheIndians，hewasmadeaslave，thenrosetobeapedlar，thenadoctor，andfinallyachief，heldsacredforhismysteriouspowers。

AtlasthemadehiswayonfootintotheterritoryofNewSpain，notasacaptive，butastheleaderofseveralhundredIndians，whofollowedhimanddidhisbiddingasifhehadbeenborntheirchief。

Ramblingaboutformonths，butalwaysfollowedbyhisIndians，heatlengthencounteredaSpanishhorse

soldier，and，accostinghim，foundhehadalmostforgottenSpanishduringhistenyears"sojournwiththeIndians。Hisfirstentreaty，whenhefoundSpanishgraduallyreturningtohim，wastotheSpaniardsnottoharasshisIndianfollowing。ThenhebesoughttheIndiansthemselvestoceasetheirnomadlifeandcultivatethesoil。Inneithercasewashesuccessful，astheSpaniards，likeallotherEuropeans，heldIndianslittleremovedfromdogs。AndfortheIndians，thefewremainingareasmuchattachedtotheiroldwanderinglifeasinthedaysofthediscoveryoftheNewWorld。InallthatAlvarNunezwrites，heshowsagrandeurofsoulandspiritfardifferentfromthewritings，notonlyoftheconquerorsoftheNewWorld，butoftheconquerorsofAfricaofto

day。Forhimnobraggingofhisexploits。1Allthathesayshesetsdownmodestlyandwithexcuses(aseverynowandthen，`Mepesahablardemistrabajos")，andasbefitsagentleman。

Lastly，heleavesthereader(whendescribinghiscaptivityinFlorida)，bytellinghimquitequietlyandwithoutcommentthatGodwaspleasedtosavefromalltheseperilshimself，AlonsodelCastilloMaldonado，AndresDorantes，andthatthefourthwasanegrocalledEstevanico，anativeofAzimur。

But，notcontentedwithhistenyears"captivity，afterthreeyearsathomeheenteredintoacertain`asiento"2and`capitulacion"3withtheKingtosailathisownchargeswithanexpeditiontosuccourDonPedrodeMendoza，whowashardpressedbyfamineandtheIndiansatBuenosAyres。Heagreedtofurnisheightthousandducats，horses，arms，men，andprovisionsathisownexpense，uponconditionthathewasmadeGovernorandAdelantadooftheRiodelaPlata，andGeneralbothofitsarmiesanditsfleets。

1Itmustbeallowed，however，thatintheirwritingsfewoftheSpanish`conquistadores"ofAmericabraggedmuch。

TheymostlygavethecreditofalltheirdoingstotheGodofBattles。

TheboastinghasbeenreservedfortheconquerorsofAfricainourowntime。

2`Asiento"isacontract。ThecontractwhichCharlesV。，atthewell

meantbutunfortunateinstigationofLasCasas，madewiththeGenoesetosupplynegroesforAmericaisknownas`ElAsientodelosNegros"。

3Inthe`capitulacion"madebyAlvarNunezwiththeKingoccursthecelebratedclause，`QuenopasasenprocuradoresniabogadosalasIndias"，i。e。，thatneithersolicitorsnorbarristersshouldgototheIndies。Itisunfortunateitwasnotheldtostringently，asinParaguay，atleast，theReptiliawerealreadywellrepresented。

UponNovember2，1537，heembarkedatCadizwithhisfleet，consistingofacaravelandtwofull

riggedships。AllwentwelluptotheCapedeVerdes。Onnearingtheequator，itoccurredtothe`MaestrodelAgua"toexaminehisstockofwater，and，outofonehundredpipeswhichhadbeenputaboard，hefoundbutthreeremaining，andfromthesethethirtyhorsesandfourhundredmenwhowereonboardallhadtodrink。Seeingthegreatnessofthenecessity，theGovernor

forAlvarNunezalmostalwaysspeaksofhimselfinthethirdperson

gaveordersthatthefleetshouldmakeforland。

`Threedays，"hesaysinhisCommentaries，`wesailedinsearchofit"；

andonthefourth，justbeforesunrise，occurredaverynotableaffair，and，asitisnotaltogether`fueradeproposito"，Isetitdown，anditisthis

`that，goingtowardstheland，theshipshadalmosttouchedonsomesharprockswehadnotseen。"Then，asnow，Itakeit，vigilancewasnotanoticeablequalityinSpanishsailors。

Justasthevesselswerealmostontherocks，`acricketcommencedtosing，whichcricketasicksoldierhadputintotheshipatCadiz，beinganxioustohearitsmusic，andforthetwomonthswhichournavigationhadendurednoonehadheardit，whereatthesoldierwasmuchenraged；

andasonthatmorningitfelttheland[`sintiolatierra"]，itcommencedtosing，anditsmusicwakenedallthepeopleoftheship，whosawthecliffs，whichweredistantalmostacrossbow

shotfromwherewewere，sowecastoutanchorsandsavedtheship，anditiscertainthatifthecrickethadnotsungallofus，fourhundredsoldiersandthirtyhorses，hadbeenlost。"SomeofthecrewacceptedtheoccurrenceasamiraclefromGod；butNunezhimselfissilentonthathead，beingabetterobserverofnaturalhistorythanatheologian。But`fromthere，andsailingmorethanahundredleaguesalongthecoast，thecricketeveryeveninggaveushismusic，andthuswithitwearrivedatalittleportbeyondCapeFrio，wheretheAdelantadolandedandunfurledhisflag，andtookpossessionforHisMajesty。"TheexpeditiondisembarkedatSantaCatalinainBrazil。

`TheretheGovernorlandedhismenandtwenty

sixofthehorseswhichhadescapedthesea，allthatremainedofforty

sixembarkedinSpain。"

The`odiumtheologicum"gavetheGovernorsomeworkatonce。

Twofriars

FrayBernardodeArmentaandFrayAlonsoLebron，Franciscans

hadburntthehousesofsomeIndians，whohadretaliatedintheheathenfashionbyslaughteringtwoChristians。

The`peoplebeingscandalized"，theGovernorsentforthefriars，admonishedthem，andtoldthemtorestraintheirzeal。

Thiswasthefirstfalsestephemade，andsetallfriarsandprieststhroughoutAmericaagainsthim。HearingatSantaCatalinathatBuenosAyreswasalmostabandoned，andthattheinhabitantshadfoundedthetownofAsunciondelParaguay，Alvardeterminedtomarchthitherbyland，andsendhisshipintotheriverPlateanduptheParaguay。

ThetwoFranciscanfriarshetoldtoremainand`indoctrinate"theIndians。

Thistheyrefusedtodo，sayingtheywishedtoresideamongsttheSpaniardsinAsuncion。HadtheybeenJesuits，itistentoonetheyhadremainedandspenttheirlives`indoctrinating"，fortheJesuitsaloneofallthereligiousOrderswereeverreadytotakeeveryrisk。

UponhismarchtheGovernor，contrarytoallgoodpolicyandprecedent，orderedthatnothingshouldbetakenfromtheIndianswithoutduepaymentbeingmade。Toinsurethisbeingdone，hepaidforallprovisionshimself，andservedthemouttothesoldiery。ThismadehimasunpopularwithhissoldiersashisdealingswiththetwoFranciscanshadmadehimamongstthefriars。SurelyhemighthaveknownthatPizarro，Cortes，Almagro，andtherest，weremenwhoneverpaidforanything。

Still，hepersistedinhisconducttotheend，andsobroughtruinonhimself。

TheIndiansseemedtoappreciatehismethod，forhesaysthat`whenthenewswasspreadabroadofthegoodtreatmenttheGovernorgavetoall，theycametomeetthearmydeckedwithflowersandbringingprovisionsingreatabundance。"Itwas，healsosays，`athingtoseehowfrightenedtheIndianswereofthehorses，andhowtheybroughtthemfood，chickensandhoneytokeepthemquietandingoodhumour，andtheyaskedtheGovernortotellthehorsesnottohurtthem。"

AfterpassingtheriverIguazu，hesentthetwofriarsaheadtocollectprovisions，and`whentheGovernorarrivedtheIndianshadnomoretogive。"

ThisisperhapsthefirstaccountofthelevyingofthetitheintheNewWorld。

SohavingstartedfromthecoastuponNovember2，1541，hearrivedatAsunciononMarch2，1542，havingaccomplishedamarchofmorethantwothousandmileswithbutthelossofasinglemanandwithouttheslaughterofasingleIndian。HardlyhadhearrivedatAsuncionbeforehefoundhimselfembroiledoneveryside。TheIndianswereinfullrebellion，thesettlementofBuenosAyresalmostinruins，andtheofficersappointedbytheKingtocollecttheroyalduesallhostiletohimtoaman。

AfterhavingconsultedwiththeclergytofindiftheythoughtitlawfultoattacktheGuaycuruswhohadassailedthenewly

foundedtown，hereceivedtheopinion`thatitwasnotonlylawful，butexpedient。"

Thereforehesentoffanexpeditionagainstthem，towhichwasjoinedapriesttorequiretheGuaycurustobecomeChristiansandtoacknowledgetheKingofSpain。Thepropositions，notunnaturally，didnotseemreasonabletotheIndians，whomostlikelywereunawareofthebenefitswhichChristianityconfers，andprobablyheardforthefirsttimeoftheKingofSpain。

TheGovernor，whoseemstohavedoubtedofthehumanityoftheclergy，calledanothercouncil，whichconfirmedthepreviousopinion。

Strangelyenough，thisseemstohavesurprisedhim，forheprobablydidnotreflectthattheclergywouldnothavetofightthemselves，andthatthefirstbloodeverspiltonearthwasonaccountofareligiousdifference。

JustbeforetheexpeditionstarteditwasfoundthatthetwoFranciscanfriarswhohadcomewithhimfromSantaCatalinacouldnotbefound。

ItthenappearedtheyhadstartedbacktothecoastaccompaniedbyabevyofIndiandamsels，thirty

fiveinall。

Theywerefollowedandbroughtback，andthenexplainedthattheywereontheirwaytoSpaintocomplainagainsttheGovernor。

Thefive

and

thirtyduskycatechumensremainedwithoutanexplanation，andthepeoplewereoncemore`scandalized"。TheGovernorthenstartedoutagainsttheGuaycurus。OnlythosewhoknowtheChaco，orwesternbankoftheriverParaguay，canformtheleastideaofwhatsuchanexpeditionmusthavebeen。Evento

dayintheChacothechangesincethebeginningoftheworldcanbebutslight。

Asasteamerslipsalongthebank，nothingformilesandmilesisseenbutswamp，intersectedwithbackwaters，1inwhichliealligators，electriceels，andstingingrays。Farastheeyecanreachareswamps，swamps，andmoreswamps，aseaofwavingpampa

grass。

Aftertheswampsthicketsoftacuaras(canes)，forestsofthornytrees，chanares，nandubay，jacarandas，urundey，talas，andquebrachos，eachonehardenoughtosplitanaxe，some，liketheblackcanela，almostlikeiron；theinhabitantsferociousandintractableaswhentheGovernorhimselffirstsawthem；theclimateheavyandhumid，theairdankwithvinchucas2andmosquitoesandthelittleblackinfernalmidgetcalledthejejen；noroads，nopaths，nolandmarks，buthereandthereatintervalsofmanyleaguesaclearingintheforestwheresomestragglingsettlementexists，morerarelystillthewallsofadesertedJesuitmission

houseorchurch。Ostrichesanddeer，tigers，3capibarasandtapirs，andnowandthenaherdofcattleaswildasbuffaloes，areseen。SometimesanIndianwithhislancesitsmotionlessuponhishorsetowatchthevesselpass

asentineltoguardthewildernessfromencroachmentsfromwithout。

SoAlvarNunez，ashetellsusinhisCommentaries，startedwithfourhundredmenandwithonethousandfriendlyIndians，allwellarmedandpainted，andwithplatesofmetalontheirheadstoreflectthesun，andsostriketerrortotheirenemies。

Tosavethehorsestheywereputonboard，4whilsttheIndiansmarchedalongthebank，keepingupwiththeships。HorsesatthattimeinParaguayandinPeruoftenwereworthonethousandcrownsofgold，thoughAzaratellsusthatinthelastcenturyinBuenosAyresyoucouldoftenbuyagoodhorsefortwoneedles，socheaphadtheybecome。

Then，asatpresent，timewasofnoaccountinParaguay，soalmosteverydaytheylandedthehorsestokeeptheminconditionandtochasetheostrichesanddeer。

1ThesebackwatersareknowninGuaranibythenameof`aguapey"。

2ThevinchucaisakindofflyingbugcommoninParaguay。

Itsshapeistriangular，itscolourgray，anditsodournoxious。

ItisoneoftheHemiptera，anditsso

calledscientificappellationis`Conorhinusgigas"。

3R。B。CunninghameGrahamwriteselsewhere:"AlloverSouthAmericathejaguariscalledatiger(tigre)。"

A。L。，1998。

4Azara，inhis`HistoriadelParaguay"，etc。，tellsusthatin1551

DomingodeIralaatAsuncionboughtafineblackhorseforfivethousandgoldcrowns。Heboundhimselftopayforhimoutoftheproceedsofhisfirstconquest。

Justthekindofarmythatathinkingmanwouldliketomarchwith；

nottoomuchtoeat，but，still，apleasantfeelingofmarchingtospreadreligionandtomakeone"sfortune，withbutthesolitaryunpleasantfeaturetothesoldier

thesystemofpaymentforprovisionswhichtheGovernorprescribed。Allwasnewandstrange；theworldwasrelativelyyoung。EachnighttheGovernorreligiouslywroteuphisdiary，nowchroniclingthedeathofsomegoodhorse，orofanIndian，orcommentinguponthefruits，thefish，theanimals，thetrees，and`alltheotherthingsofGodwhichdifferfromthoseintheCastiles。"

OccasionallyafighttookplacewithGuasaraposorwithPagayuas，butnothingofmuchaccount(`demuchamonta")；alwaysthetalesofgold

minestobemetwithfurtheron。EventuallytheexpeditioncametoapointnotfarfromwhereisnowthetownofCorumba。ThereAlvarNunezfoundedatowntowhichhegavethenameofReyes，whichhaslongfallenintodecay。

Healsosenttwocaptainstoexploreandsearchforgold，waitingtwoorthreemonthsfortheirreturn，andsufferingfromaquartanaguewhichconfinedhimtohisbed；then，havingfailedtofindthetalked

ofgold

mines，hesethisfaceagaintowardsAsuncion。

Justbeforestartinghegavethefinalblowtohiswaningpopularity。

Someofhisfollowers，havingtakenIndiangirls，hadhiddenthemonboardtheships；this，whenheknewit，Nunezatonceforbade，and，sendingforthefathersofthegirls，restoredtheirchildrentothem。

`Withthis，"hesays，`thenativesweremuchpleased，buttheSpaniardsrenderedangryanddesperate，andforthiscausetheyhatedme。"

Nothingmorenatural，andforthesamecausetheSpanishParaguayanshatedtheJesuitswhocarriedoutthepolicywhichthewiseGovernorbegan。

OnApril8，1543，theGovernorreturnedtoAsuncion，wornoutandillwithague。Therehefoundallconfusion。DomingodeIrala，aclever，ambitiousBiscayansoldierwhohadbeeninterimGovernorbeforeNunezhadarrived，hadworkeduponthepeople，sayingthatNunezwishedtotakeawaytheirproperty。

AstheirchiefpropertywasinIndianswhomtheyhadenslaved，thisrenderedNunezmostunpopular，andthesamekindofallegationswerelaidagainsthimaswerelaidagainsttheJesuitswhenintheirturntheydenouncedslaveryinParaguay。

Allthecomplaintswereinthenameofliberty，asgenerallyisthecasewhentyrannyorvillainyofanysortistobedone。

SoAlvarNunez1tellsusinhisCommentariesthatatthehouroftheAveMariatenortwelveofthe`factious"enteredhishousewherehelayillinbed，allshouting`Liberty!"andtoprovetheywereallgoodpatriotsoneJaimeResquinputabentcrossbowtohisside，andforcedhimtogetoutofbed，andtookhimofftoprisonamidacrowdallshouting`Liberty!"Thefriendsofliberty(upontheotherside)attemptedarescue，butthepatriots2weretoostrong。

SotheunpatrioticGovernorwasthrown，heavilyironed，intoacell，outofwhichtomakeroomtheyletamurdererwhowasawaitingdeath。

`He"(AlvarNunezgrimlyremarks)`madehastetotakemycloak，andthensetoffdownthestreetatonce，callingout"Liberty!""

Thateverythingshouldbeinorder，thepatriotsconfiscatedalltheGovernor"sgoodsandtookhispapers，publishingaproclamationthattheydidsobecausehewasatyrant。Unluckily，theIndianshavenotleftusanycommentaries，oritwouldbecurioustolearnwhattheythoughtastothetyrannyofAlvarNunez。MostprobablytheythoughtastheIndiansoftheJesuitmissionsthoughtattheexpulsionoftheJesuitsfromParaguay，asissetforthinthecuriousmemorialaddressedin1768bythepeopleoftheMissionofSanLuistotheGovernorofBuenosAyres，prayingthattheJesuitsmightbesufferedtoremaininsteadofthefriars，whohadbeensenttoreplacethemagainstthepeople"swill。3

HavinggottheGovernorintoprison，thepatriotshadtoelectanotherchief，andthechoicenaturally`fell"uponDomingodeIrala，who，havingbeeninterimGovernor，hadneverceasedintriguingfromthefirst。

Hepromptlyputhisfriendsinoffice，afterthefashionofallGovernors，whethertheyenterofficetothecryof`Liberty"ornot。

ThefriendsofAlvarNunez，intheusualSpanishfashion(longsanctifiedbyuseandwont)，declaredthemselvesinopposition

thatis，theyroamedabouttheland，provingbytheftandmurderthattheirloveoflibertywasjustasstrongasthatofthoseinpower。

Thingsshortlycametosuchapassthatnoonecouldleavehishousebynight。

ThemaraudingGuaycurusburntallthesuburbs，andthreatenedtoattackthetown。Nunezhimselfwasguardeddayandnightbyfourmenarmedwithdaggersinacloseprison。Ashesayshimself，hisprisonwasnot`fittingforhishealth，"fordayandnighthehadtokeepacandleburningtoseetoread，andthegrassgrewunderneathhisbed，whilstforthesakeof`health"hehadapairoffirst

ratefettersonhisfeet。ForhischiefgaolertheyprocuredoneHernandodeSosa，whomNunezhadputingaolforstrikinganIndianchief。Aguardwatchedconstantlyattheprisongate，but，still，inspiteofthishemanagedtocommunicatealmostuninterruptedlywithhisfriendsoutside。Hismethodwascertainlyingenious。

HisfoodwasbroughttohimbyanIndiangirl，whom，sogreatwasthefearofthepatriotsthatheshouldwritetotheKing，theymadewalknakedintotheprison，carryingthedishes，andwithherheadshaved。Notwithstandingthis，shemanagedtobringapieceofpaperhiddenbetweenhertoes。ThepartyofLiberty，suspectingthatNunezwascommunicatingwithhisfriends，procuredanIndianyouthtomakelovetothegirlandlearnthesecret。

Thishefailedtodo，owing，perhaps，tohislove

makingbeingwantinginconvictiononaccountofhershavedhead。

AtlastIralaandhisfriendsdeterminedtosendtheGovernoraprisonertoSpain，takingcare，ofcourse，todespatchamessengerbeforehandtodistortthefactsandprejudicetheKing。ThefriendsofNunez，however，managedtosecreteaboxofpapers，statingthetruefacts，onboardtheship。

Atdeadofnightabandofharquebusiersdraggedhimfromhisbed(afteracaptivityofelevenmonths)，ashesays，`almostwiththecandleinhishand"

i。e。，inadyingstate。Ashelefttheprison，hefelluponhiskneesandthankedGodforhavinglethimoncemorefeeltheairofheaven，andtheninaloudvoiceexclaimed:

`InameasmysuccessorCaptainJuandeSalazardeEspinosa。"

AtthisoneGarciVargasrushedathimwithaknife，andtoldhimtorecallhiswordsorhewouldkillhiminstantly。Thishewasstoppedfromdoing，andNunezwashurriedtotheshipandchainedsecurelytoabeam。Onboardthevessel，hesays，theytriedtopoisonhim；

butthisseemsdoubtful，astherewasnothingonearthtopreventtheirdoingsohadtheybeensoinclined。

Still，asaprudentmanhetooktheprecautiontoprovidesomeoilandapieceofunicorn(`pedazodeunicornio")，withwhichhetriedthefood。UnicornshecouldnothaveseeninParaguay，noryetinFlorida，andhedoesnotexplainhowhebecamesoluckilyequipped。

1`ComentariosdeAlvarNunezCabezadeVaca"，containedinBarcia"s`HistoriadoresPrimitivosdelasIndiasOccidentales"。

2The`patriots"arealwaysthoseoftheprevailingpartyinaState。

3`(I。H。S。)

`GodpreserveyourExcellency，saywe，theCabildo，andalltheCaciquesandIndians，men，womenandchildrenofSanLuis，asyourExcellencyisourfather。TheCorregidor，SantiagoPindoandDonPantaleonCaynari，intheirloveforus，havewrittentousofcertainbirdswhichtheydesirewewillsendthemfortheKing……Wearesorrynottohavethemtosend，inasmuchastheylivewhereGodmadethem，intheforests，andflyfarawayfromus，sothatwecannotcatchthem。

WithalwearethevassalsofGodandoftheKing，andalwaysdesiroustofulfilthewishesofhisMinister……sowepraytoGodthatthatbestofbirds，theHolyGhost，maydescendupontheKing……

Furthermore，wedesiretosaythattheSpanishcustomisnottoourliking

foreveryonetotakecareofhimself，insteadofhelpingoneanotherintheirdailytoil。"

ThisquaintandtouchingletterwaswrittenoriginallyinGuarani，andispreservedatBuenosAyres。`Thatbestofbirds，theHolyGhost，"showsfaithgrounded，atleast，onornithology，andthewholespiritofthesimpledocumentisaspatheticasitsunconsciousphilosophyistrue。

Nonetheless，ofallthediscoverersofAmericaheisthemanofleastimaginativepower

thatis，inmattersappertainingtonaturalhistory

soonemustconcludehehadhispieceofunicornfromSpain，wherehemostprobablyhadboughtitfromsomedealerinnecessariesfortravellerstotheNewWorld。

AfterastormyvoyagehearrivedinSpaintofindhisaccusersjustbeforehim。WithtrulyEasternjustice，bothaccusersandaccusedwereputingaol，acustomworthyofadoptioninotherlands。

Nunezwassoonreleasedonbail，and，hisaccusershavingalldied，ineightyears"timehewastriumphantlyacquittedofallthechargesbroughtagainsthim。Toprove，however，thatJusticeisandalwayshasbeenblind，theKingneverrestoredhimtohisgovernmentinParaguay，and，asNunezsays，forgottorepayhimwhathehadexpendedinhisservice。

WithAlvarNunezwaslosttheonlychanceofliberaltreatmenttotheIndians，forfromhistimethegovernors，insteadofbeingmenoftheworldabovethepettyspiteofpartydifferences，werechoseneitherfromofficerswho，havingservedinthefrontierwars，quitenaturallylookedontheIndiansasenemies，orwereappointedbyintriguingMinistersatCourt。FromthedeathofAlvarNuneztotheinaugurationofthemissionsbytheJesuits，noonearosetotaketheIndians"side，anditmaybethathadhispolicyprevailedtherewouldhavebeenanIndianpopulationleftinthemissionterritoryofParaguay；forhadthecivilgovernorsco

operatedwiththeJesuits，thedispersionoftheIndians，whichtookplaceattheexpulsionoftheJesuits，hadnotoccurred。

Guevara，`HistoriadelParaguay"(printedin`LaColecciondeAngelis"，BuenosAires，1836)，bookvi。，p。108，saysofAlvarNunez:

`Mereciaestatuaporsurectitud，justiciayChristiandad。"AndinanotherplaceGuevarasays:`LaFloridalocautivo/coninhumanidad；

LaAsuncionloaprisiono/coninfamia；peroenunayotropartefueejemplardemoderacion……recto，prudenteydesanocorazon。"

AlvarNunezdiedholdingtheofficeof`OidordelaAudienciadeSevilla"，accordingtoP。delTecho(`HistoriadelParaguay")；

orasamemberoftheConsejodeIndias，accordingtoCharlevoix。