第6章

Inseason(andwhatincasesofthekindistentimesmoreimportant)，outofseason，theybesought，pleaded，andpreached，andfindingaslittlegracefromthePaulistachiefsasatransgressoragainstsomefierydogmawouldfindfromasour

facedNorthBritishdogmatist，theystartedforRiodeJaneirotoseetheCouncil

GeneralofBrazil。

TheretheyweretoldthattherightpersontoaddresswastheCaptain

Generalofthecolony，whohadhisresidenceinBahia，fiveorsixhundredmilesaway。Nottheleastdaunted，theysetout，andfoundDonDiegoLuisOliveiramoreorlessfriendly，butasusualfearfulofgivingoffencetothosewhohadavestedinterestinthetrade。

ThenthetwoJesuits，hearingthatanotherinvasionofthePaulistaswasexpectedinGuayra，startedbackontheirlongjourneythroughthewoods，overtheplains，acrossthemountainranges，andthroughthedank`esteros"whichlaybetweenthemandtheirmissionsontheParana。TheCaptain

Generalseemstohavebeenrousedtoasenseofthepositionbytheirwords，foronhisannualvisitationatSanPaulohespokeinpublictothecolonistsagainsttheirslaveraids，whenashotfiredfromthemeetingendedhisspeech。3Theinhabitantsthensignifiedtohimthat，soonerthangiveupwhatseemedtothemajustifiableandhonestmeansoflife，theywouldbedebaptized。

Howtheyproposedtodebaptizethemselvesisnotrelated，butperhapsafterthefashionoftheGuaranis

bysand，hotwater，andscrapingwithashell；thoughwhythetongueshouldbethusscarifiedseemsdoubtful，fornosectofChristiansthatisknownexactsthatpeopleatthatsacramentshouldputouttheirtongues，andevenbaptismdoeslittleornothingtoincreasethepowerofscandalinherentbothinthosewhohavebeenandthosewhoneverwerebaptized。

1An`estero"isatractofcountrycoveredbywatertothedepthoftwoorthreefeet。Thebottomisusuallyhard，butitisfullofholesandhummocks。Highpampagrassandreedsnotinfrequentlyobscuretheview，andcloudsofinsectsmakelifemiserable。Ifthetractextendstomorethanaday"sjourney，thenightpassedonadryhummock，holdingone"shorseandlisteningwithoutafiretothewildbeasts，islikelytoremainpresenttooneinafter

life，especiallyifalone；theonlythingsthatseemtolinkonetohumanityareone"shorseandthefamiliarstars。

PerhapsthatiswhyCapellahasalwaysseemedtomeinsomesortmyownproperty。

2Thiscuriousberry，aboutthesizeofalargedamson，growsonalittleshrubinsandyandrockysoils。

Ithasathickyellowrindandseverallargeseeds，andthepropertyofbeingicycoldinthehottestweather

atruetraveller"sjoy。Dr。deBourgadedelaDardye，inhisexcellentbookonParaguay(theEnglisheditionpublishedinLondonin1892)，thinksitiseitheraeugeniaoramyrtus。

3Charlevoix，vol。i。，liv。vii。，p。384。

Aboutthistime(1630)thepoorJesuitsweremuchtormentedbythereturntopaganismoftheirIndians，andmostespeciallybyahideousdwarfwhosethimselfupasagod，andfoundahostofworshippers。GoodFatherCharlevoixthinksthat`cepetit

monstre"，despairingofbeingthoughtaman，hadnoresourcebuttogiveouthewasagod，andremarksthat，asevenmorehideousgodshavebeenadored，itisnotsurprisingthattheIndianstookhimathisword。

WhenstrippedofthesomewhatstrangephraseologyofthesimpleJesuit，thereisnothingreallyshockingintheincident。Peopleingeneral，inmakinggods，enduethemwiththeirownleastadmirableattributes，andlogicallythesepoorIndiansbutfollowedoutthegeneralscheme。

Ibid。，liv。vii。，p。359。

Butinthemidstofheresiesanddwarf

gods，withthePaulistasalmostalwaysinthefield，amanarosewhowastoleadtheJesuitsandtheirneophytesoutofGuayraandsettlethemsecurelybelowthecataractintheMisionesofParaguay。

BornprobablylateinthesixteenthcenturyinSpain，AntonioRuizdeMontoyawasamongstthefirstoftheJesuitFatherswhocametoParaguay。In1612wefindhimrecentlyarrivedfromSpain；1

sentuptotheprovinceofGuayratotheassistanceofFathersMacetaandCataldino。Forthirtyyears，2ashehimselfinformsusinhisbook，heremainedinParaguay，andinhisownpatheticwordshetellsushowmostofhislifewasspent。`Ihavelived，"hesays，`allthroughtheperiodofthirtyyearsinParaguay，asinthedesertsearchingforwildbeasts

thatis，forsavageIndians

crossingwildcountries，traversingmountainchains，inordertofindIndiansandbringthemtothetruesheepfoldoftheHolyChurchandtotheserviceofHisMajesty。3WithmycompanionsIestablishedthirteenreductionsortownshipsinthewilds，andthisIdidwithgreatanxiety，inhunger，nakedness，andfrequentperilofmylife。

AndalltheseyearsIpassedfarfrommybrotherSpaniardshavemademealmostarusticandignorantofthepolishedlanguageoftheCourt。"

Travellingashedidcontinually，fewknewthecountryfromGuayratoYapeyu4sowellashe；hetellsusthatfor`alltravellingequipment"hetookahammock，andalittlemandiocaflour，thatheusuallytravelledonfootwitheithersandalsorbarefeet，andthatforeightornineyearsheneveroncetastedbread。

1Charlevoix，`HistoireduParaguay"，vol。lvi。，p。285。

2`ConquistaEspiritualdelParaguay"，RuizdeMontoya，introductorychapter。

3ThismayeithermeantotheserviceofGodortotheserviceoftheKing(PhilipIII。)，forinthetimeofMontoya`Majesty"wasusedinaddressingboththeKingofSpainandtheKingofHeaven。

4Yapeyu，orReyes，wasthesouthernmostoftheJesuitreductions。

ItwassituatedupontheUruguayinwhatisnowtheArgentineprovinceofEntreRios。

Abouttheyear1611

12wefindhimchargedwithamissiontotheProvincialatAsunciontodisabusehimofareportwhichhadbeencarriedtherethattheJesuitsofGuayraweregarneringinnofruitfromalltheirlaboursinthewilds。

TherumourhadbeensomuchrepeatedthatthesuperiorsinAsuncionwereonthepointofcallingbackthemissionariesandgivingupallhope。

Montoya，accompaniedbysixIndians，setoutuponthejourney，whichbylandto

dayisenoughtoappaltheboldesttraveller。

Walkingalong，hefoundhimselfaboutthemiddleofhiswayalone，hisIndianshavingloiteredintherear。Nightcaughthimintheforests，andastormcameon。Hepassedthenightatthefootofalargetree，hungryandwet，and，wakinginthemorning，foundhimselfsocrippledwitharthriticpainsastobeobligedtocontinuehisjourneyonhishandsandknees。Aloneandhelpless，hedraggedhimselftoaplacecalledMaracayu，and，failingtoobtainacanoe，wentonanotherleague，andtherelaydowntodie，hislegbeingswelledenormouslywiththerheumaticpains。Then，ashesayshimself，heprayedtoSanIgnacio，tellinghimthatfromasentimentofobediencehehadsetoutuponthejourneythroughthewaste。Nothingcouldhavebeenbetter，forthesaint(whomusthaveseenhimallthetime)，flattered，perhaps，thathisownchiefvirtuehadbeenthecauseofsomuchpain，promptlyhealedhimandrestoredhislegtoitsusualsize，andMontoyawentonhiswayrejoicingtoAsuncion。TheProvincialheardandwasdisabused，butwasunabletosendasinglemantohelp，andpoorMontoyasetoffagainbacktoGuayraalone，havinggainednothingbuthissufferingsontheroad。

Again，in1614，wefindhiminAsuncioncombatingcalumniesspreadbytheSpanishsettlersagainsttheJesuits。

Inthesameyear(asheinformsus)hewaswitnessintheReductionofLoretoofastrangecircumstance。

`AnIndian，"hesays，`ofintelligenceandpiousconductcalledmetoadministerthelastSacraments，andtoconfesshimbeforehedied，andthisIdid。Asthereseemedlittlehopeofhisrecovery，andpressingbusinesscalledmeaway，Iquittedhimafterhavinggivenordersforhisburial。Hediedinashorttime

atleast，allthosewhowerewithhimhadnodoubtofthis；onmyreturnIfoundthemanwhomIhadchargedtostaybesidetheIndiantillhisdeathpreparingforhisfuneral。Towardmid

daytheycametotellmethatthedeadmanhadcometolife，andwishedtospeaktome。Iranthere，andfoundhimwithacheerfulfaceinthemiddleofacrowdofIndians。

IaskedhimwhathadhappenedsinceIlastsawhim，andheansweredmethattheinstantthatIquittedhimhissoulhadtakenitsdeparturefromhisbody；then，atapointwhichhethoughtneartohishammock，adevilhadappeared，whosaidtohim，"Youaremyprey，"

andthatheanswereditcouldnotbe，forhehadconfessedhimselftothebestofhisability，andhadreceivedtheholyViaticumbeforehisdeath；thatthedevilhadsustainedthathisconfessionhadbeenincomplete，andthathehadforgottentoconfessthattwicehehadbeendrunk，towhichheansweredthatitwasanoversight，andhehopedthatGodwouldnotrememberit。Then，onthedevilsustainingthathehadcommittedasacrilege，St。Peterhadappeared，followedbyangels，anddrivenoffthefiend。IaskedhimhowhehadknownSt。Peter，andherepliedbydescribinghim，thoughhehadneverseenanimageofthesaint。"Thesaint，"hesaid，"coveredmewithhismantle，andIfeltmyselfinstantlycarriedthroughtheair。FirstIperceivedalovelylandscape，andfurtheronagreatcity，fromwhichashininglightappeared。ThentheApostleandtheangelsstopped，andthefirstsaidtome，`ThisisthecityoftheLord；

weliveherewithHim，butthetimeofyourentryisnotyet。

Itiswrittenthatyoursoulshalloncemorejoinyourbody，andinthreedaysyoumustappearinchurch。"Thenallwasdark，andinaninstantIwokeupaliveandwell。"

`ConquistaEspiritual"，p。22。

`I，"saysMontoya，`understoodbythelastwordsofSt。Peterthatthemanhadtodieinthreedays，andIaskedwhathethoughthimself。

"Ithink，"saidhe，"thatnextSundaytheywillcarrymybodytothechurch，andIamcertainthatIonlyreturnedtolifeinordertoexhortmyrelativesandmyfriendstolistentoyourinstructions。"……

WhenSundaycamehemadehisgeneralconfession，admittedthetwosinsthedevilhadreproachedhimwith，exhortedalltoliveaChristianlife，andafewmomentsafterwardsquietlygaveuptheghost。"

Thistime，itistobehoped，withoutomissions。

ThisisthesoleoccasiononwhichPadreRuizMontoyaevenremotelytouchesthefieldofmiracles，asheingeneralreliesuponhimself，hisknowledgeoftheworld，andonhispatience，whichmusthavebeenalmostNorthBritishinitsquality，ifheacteduptohisownfavouritemaximof`byreturningthanksforinjuriesishowwisemenconducttheirbusiness。"

`Dandograciasporagraviosnegocianloshombressabios。"

In1623wefindhimprayingFatherCataldinotolethimaccompanytheexpeditiontoItiranbaru，amountainwoodedtothesummit，inwhichlivedseveralwildtribes。TherehesoworkedupontheIndiansastoestablishtheminareductionunderthetitleofSt。FrancisXavier，

andleftthemountain，whichhadbeenahauntofsavages，asPadredelTechosaysinhiscuriousworkonParaguay，`allattheserviceoftheLord。"

SoonafterwardsruinedbythePaulistas。

In1623，whilstpreaching，hewassuddenlyassailedbyhostileIndians，andsevenofhisIndianspiercedwitharrowsathisfeet。

Undoubtedly，hemusthavebeenkilledhadnotanIndiantakenhishatandcloak，andrunintothemiddleoftheenemytodistractthefire。IntheconfusionboththeheroicIndianandMontoyamanagedtoescape，thelattergettingintoacanoewhich，fortunately，wasreadyattheriver

side。Butinthemidstofallhisoccupationshehadtimetostudynaturalhistoryinthespiritofthetime，asthefollowingdescriptionclearlyshows:`Amongsttheotherraritiesofthelandisanamphibiousanimal……Itislikeasheep，withbutthedifferencethatitsteethandnailsarelikeatiger"s，whichanimalitequalsinferocity。TheIndiansneverlookonitwithoutterror，andwhenitsalliesfromthemarsheswhereitlives(whichitdoesordinarilyintroops)，theyhavenootherchanceofescapebuttoclimbupatree，andeventhensometimesarenotinsafety，forthisterriblecreaturesometimesuprootsthetree，orsometimesstaysonguarduntiltheIndianfallsintoitsjaws。"ThusfarMontoya；

butCharlevoixinformsusthat，`enlangueGuaranie"，itisknownasthe`ao"，andrathertamelyadds，`Whenoneoftheseanimalsisslain，thepeoplemakeajacketofitsskin。"

Again，MontoyatellsusofthehorseonwhichthevenerablePadreRoqueusedtoride，which，whenhedied，refusedallfood，andweptperpetually，twostreamsofwaterrunningfromitseyes。ItneverallowedanIndiantomountitafteritsmaster"sdeath，andfinallyexpired，closetohisgrave，ofgrief。Akindly，scholarly，intrepidpriest，wellskilledinknowledgeoftheworld，andnotwithoutsometinctureofstudiesinscience，astheabove

relatedanecdotesrevealtous。NodoubttheIndianslovedhimfarandwide，andhissuperiorsstoodinsomelittleaweofhim，asthoseinofficeoftendooftheirsubordinateswhentheyshowthatcapacityforactionwhichisasurebartoadvancementeitherinChurchorState。

In1627MontoyawasmadeheadofthemissionsinGuayra，whichopeneduptohimtheopportunityofshowingwhatkindofmanhewas。

InthisyeartheSpaniardsofVillaRica，thenearesttowninParaguaytothereductionsinGuayra，sentoutanexpeditiontochastizesomeIndianswhohadinsultedachiefcalledTayaoba，whomMontoyahadbaptized。

Thiswasthepretextfortheexpedition，butMontoyaknewwellthattherealobjectwastohuntforslaves。HebroughtbeforetheGovernortheedictoftheKingofSpainforbiddinganywartobemadeupontheIndianswithoutsufficientcause。Allwasinvain，andtheexpeditionleftVillaRicaandplungedintothewilds。Montoya，soreagainsttheGovernor"sdesire，wentwiththeexpedition，takingwithhimPadreSalazarandsomewell

armedIndians。ItwasluckyfortheSpaniardsthathewasthere，forontheseconddayaflightofarrowsburstfromawoodandwoundedmanyofthem。Thecaptainoftheexpeditionorderedaretreat，which，situatedastheywere，exposedonallsidestothefireofanenemywhomtheycouldnotsee，musthaveprovedfatal。

MontoyacounselledthrowingupearthworksbeforesomehutswhichstoodupontheedgeofthewoodsinwhichtheIndianswere；

thisdone，hesentamessengertoVillaRicaforreinforcements。

EvenbehindtheearthworkstheSpaniardswerehardpressed；

noonecouldshowhimselfwithoutbeingpiercedbyanarrow。

ThenumberoftheIndiansdailyincreased，tillonthethirddaytheynumberedaboutfourthousand，andseemedlikelytoadvanceuponthehuts。

TheSpanishcaptainorderedarally，andtheneophyteswishedtodecamp，takingMontoyawiththem，andthengaintheshelterofthewoods。

Thishewouldnotallow，and，chargingwiththesoldiers，puttheIndianstoflight。TheSpaniards，farfrombeinggratefulfortheirlives，seeingtheirhopesofmakingprisonershadvanished，wishedtolayhandsupontheIndianswhomMontoyahadbrought，andwhohadfoughtbesidethemintherecentfray。HearingthatinthemorningtheSpanishsoldierswouldattackhisneophytes，Montoyasentthemoffbynight，andinthemorning，whentheSpanishcaptainfoundhimandtheotherpriestalone，hesaid，`ThinkingyouhadnootherusefortheIndians，Iadvisedthemtoreturn。"Thecaptainhadthegracetosaynothingbut，`Then，yougavethemgoodadvice，myfather。"

Thetwopriestswaitedpatientlytillthesoldiershadretired，andthensentfortheirIndiansandquietlywenthome。ThusitappearsthatatnecessityPadreMontoyawasatruesonofSanIgnacio。

In1628MontoyaseemstohavemetforthefirsttimePadreDiazTano，whoafterwardswashiscompanionbothintheretreatfromGuayradowntheParanaandinhismissiontotheKing。NomatterwhetheramanmakehiscareerwithIndiansinthewildsofParaguayoramongsttheso

calledreasoningpeopleinmoresophisticatedlands，ifheonceshowhimselfsuperiortotheordinaryrunofmen，thereissomethingofaninvidiouscharactercertaintobeattributedtohimbythosewhothinkthatgeniusistheworstattributethatmancanhave。

This，MontoyadidnotescapefromamongsttheSpaniards，buttheIndians，atleast，werelessenvious，beingperhapslesseducated，fortheybelievedthatthesoulofoneoftheir`caciques"，knowninhislifeasQuaratici，hadenteredintohim。TherumourreachedatlastachiefcalledGuiravera，knowntotheSpaniardsasthe`Exterminator"fromhiscruelty，who，hearingthatthesoulofhislaterivalhadenteredintoMontoya，cametoseehimattheheadofalargeretinueofpeopleofhistribe。

MontoyaandMacetawereatVillaRica，andonthechief"sapproachtheyhappenedtobeseatedintheplazaofthetown。Asheapproachedthem，followedbyhismen，andwithathreateningair，theyremainedseated，merelymotioninghimtotakeaseatuponabench。Thishedid，aftermakingoneofhismencovertheseatwithatiger

skinandstandbehindonguard。

Whatpassedbetweenthem，mostunluckily，Montoyahasnotsetdown。

Whathehastoldusonlymakesuswishformore，foritappearsthataftertheusualsalutationsGuiraverarefusedtospeak，andgettingupwalkedaboutthetown，silentlylookingateverything。

But，asiteverhappens，evenMontoyawasnoexceptiontothegeneralrunofhistory

writers，whousuallyareoccupiedalonewithfactswhichseemtothemimportantatthetime，forgettingthatposterity(forwhomtheywrite)canjudgeoftheresultaswellastheythemselves，butthirstfordetailstocompletethechainbetwixtthemandtheirpredecessors。Onethingissetdown`inextenso"

notbyMontoya，butbyanotherJesuit

thatis，thesermonwhichMontoyapreachedtobringthechiefintothefold。

Consideredasasermonitdoesnotseemoutofthecommonway，andjudgedbyitsresultswasfutileatthetime，forthechiefansweredcoldlythathewouldthinkthematterover，andthenretiredintothewoods。ButtheseedthussowninVillaRicawastobearfruit，forinayearthechief，eithertiredofhisancestralgodsorhavingponderedonthesermon，cameintothefoldandwasbaptizedasPaul。

`Cacique"=chief。

Anirruption1oftheMamelucoscalledFatherMontoyafrombaptizingIndiansandrecoveringtheirsoulstothemoreprosaic，ifasuseful，taskofsavingtheirbodies，whichhedidattheimmediateperilofhisown。TheMamelucoshadappeared(1628)

beforetheReductionofEncarnacion，andmanyoftheIndianshadalreadytakenrefugeinthewoods。Thosewhoremainedwerelikeaflockofsheepwithoutashepherd，andknewnotwhattodo。PadreMontoyahastenedtothespot，andcalledoneveryChristiantotakeuparms。

Underthecircumstancesheundoubtedlywasright；still，inreadinghistoryoneispuzzledtoobservehowoftenandinhowmanydifferentcountriesChristianshavetoresorttoarms。Butbeforeproceedingtoextremities，MontoyasentoutFathersMendozaandDomenecchiwithsomeoftheprincipalinhabitantsofthereductiontoparleywiththeMamelucos，who，undertheircelebratedleaderAntonioRaposo，wereencampedoutsidetheplace。UponarrivingwithinrangeofthePaulistacamptheyweregreetedwithashowerofballsandarrows，whichkilledseveraloftheIndiansandwoundedFatherMendozainthefoot。Butwhen，inspiteofhiswound，theJesuitadvancedtowardsthecampandinsistedonspeakingwiththeleader，theMamelucosweresostruckwithhiscouragethattheygaveuptohimseveraloftheIndianswhomtheyhadtakenprisonersuponthepreviousday。NextdayFatherMontoya，encouragedbytheunhoped

forsuccessofFatherMendoza，wentouthimself，and，facingthePaulistas，somewhatimprudentlythreatenedthemwiththewrathofHeavenandtheKingiftheydidnotretire。

ThewrathofHeavenisoftensomewhatcapriciousinitsaction，andtheKingofSpain，althoughaswrathfulashehadbeenanEmperor，wastoofarawaytoinspiremuchterrorinhissubjectsontheParana。

SothatthePaulistatreatedthewrathofboththeirMajestiesasqualitieswhichhecouldwellneglect，andforsoleanswerorderedhismentomarchuponthetown。But，whetherowingtotheirhardheartshavingbeentouchedbythegoodFather"seloquence，orthefactthattheneophyteswereunderarms，whenthePaulistasarrivedclosetothetowntheyalteredtheirintentionsandfiledoffintothewoods。Profitingbytherespitefromhostilities，Montoya，inconjunctionwithPadreDiazTanoandaFatherbearingthesomewhatcuriousnameofPadreJustoVansurkMansilla，2

devotedallhisattentionforthetimetotheMissionofSantaMarialaMayor，whichwasthemostflourishingofallthemissionsofthetime，andwhichto

daystillshowsthegreatestremnantsoftheJesuits"work，bothinregardtoarchitectureandtheremainsofIndianpopulationstillsettledontheoldmissionlands。ButeventheretheJesuitsdidnotescapewithouttheirtrials，foritappears3

thataquantityofnewproselytesarrivedwithwomen，whomthegoodFathersstigmatizedas`concubines"，andwhomtheignorantIndiansintheinnocenceoftheirheartslookedonaswives。Theorderbeinggiventodismisstheseconcubines(orwives)，afewsubmitted；buttherest，leavingthemission，startedcultivatingatractoflandinthevicinity。

1Theseraidswereknownas`malocas"。

2InParaguayitwasnotunusualforforeignJesuitstohispaniolizetheirnames；thus，SmithbecameEsmid。

ButitwasmoreusualtoaddaSpanishname，asappearstohavebeenthecasewithP。VansurkMansilla。FatherManuelQuerini，inhisreporttotheKingofSpainin1750，mentionsthenamesofBoxer，Keiner，andLimp，withmanyotherFrench，English，andGermannames，amongstthoseofpriestsatthevariousmissions。

3Montoya，`ConquistaEspiritual"。AlsoCharlevoix。

ThenthegoodFathers，withMontoyaattheirhead，hitonastrokeofgenius。

TakingtheopportunitywhenthesecedingIndianswereawaygatheringtheircrops，theysetfiretotheirhousesandcarriedoffthechildrenandthewomen，backtothemission。TherecalcitrantsappearednextdayatSantaMarialaMayor，andwerereceivedagainintothebosomoftheChurch。Heresy，also，nowandthenmadeitsappearance，fortworascals，havingbuilttwotemplesupontwohills，transportedtothemtheskeletonsoftwomagicianslongsincedead，andtheficklepeopleleftthechurchesempty，andwenttoworshipatthemagicians"shrines。Butinthisseasonofsorrowandofcare，andwhilstthechurchesintheMissionofEncarnacionwereleftdeserted，Montoyaonceagainshowedhisdetermination，andputthingsright。

Notbeingabletocopealonewiththeheathen，FatherDiazTanowenttoGuayra，andinducedMontoya(stillthesuperiorofthereductionsinthatprovince)togivehisaid。Hecame，and，havingarmedsomeofthefaithful，atdeadofnightattackedthetemplesandrazedthemtotheground。

ItiscertainthattheGuaranis，likemanyotherIndians，werepolygamists，andXarque，inhis`VidaApostolicadelP。JosephCataldino"，thusexplainsthematter:

`Eltenertantonumerodeconcubinas，nosolamenteloocasionasunaturallascivo，sinotambien，elviciodelaembriaguez，puesteniendotantascriadastenianconmasabundanciasucervezayvino。"

ThusXarqueseemstoagreewiththelateMissMaryKingsley，whoinoneofherbooks(thoughshesaysnothingaboutthe`naturallascivo"ofthenegroesoftheWestCoastofAfrica)

seemstoattributethepolygamyofthenegroestothedifficultyamanexperiences，inthecountriesinwhichshetravelled，ingettinghisfoodpreparedbyonewife。

In1631MontoyaandotherscameintheforestsofGuayrauponthewildCaaguas。Thesetheystrovehardtocivilize，but，afterlabouringlong，withalltheireloquencewereabletoinduceonlyeighteentoreturnwiththemtotheEncarnacion。

Itwas`withdifficultythattheywereabletogivethemasufficientknowledgeofthemysteriesofourfaithtobeabletobestowtheriteofbaptism。"ItmaybethattheCaaguas，nothavingmuchtooccupytheirminds，approachedthemysteriesofourfaithinmorereceptiveattitudesthanisattainedbythosewhosemindsarefull。

But，anyhow，Montoya，withtrueprudence，deferredtheirbaptismtilljustbeforetheirdeath，forafewmonthsoflifeoutsidetheforestsprovedfataltothemall。Faithisawondrousthing，andabletomovemostthings，evencommon

sense。Onewonders，though，why，whentheJesuitslearnedfromexperiencethatthepoorIndiansinvariablydiedwhenexposedtotheburningsunupontheplains，theycontinuedintheirfataleffortstoinflictbaptismontheunoffendingpeopleofthewoods。Ifitwerenecessary，itsurelymighthavetakenplaceintheirownhomes，andthepatientsthenmighthavebeenlefttochance，toseehowthereceptionoftheholyriteactedupontheirlives。

In1631theMamelucosbrokeintotheprovinceofGuayra。

Allwasconfusion，andMontoyasentFatherDiazTanotoAsunciontobegtheGovernor，DonLuisdeCespedes，tosendthemhelp。

Heansweredthathecoulddonothing，andthusbyleavingthewholeterritoryofGuayrawithoutdefencelostarichprovincetotheCrownofSpain。Thoughatthetime(1631)PortugalandSpainwereunited，yetintheIndiestheirsubjectswereatwar，andthoughinEuropeSpainwasthestrongerofthetwo，inAmericathePortugueseconqueredaboutthattimerichprovinces，whichto

dayformpartofthequondamEmpireofBrazil。

UponthefailureofDonLuisdeCespedestorenderhelp，PadreDiazTanowasdespatchedtoCharcas1tolaythematterbeforetheAudienciaReal(theHighCourtoftheIndies)。

ThefrequentjourneysanddiplomaticnegotiationsinwhichtheJesuitsofParaguaywereengagedrenderedthemfarmoreapttomanagebusinessthanmembersoftheotherOrdersinAmerica。

WhilstinGuayraallwasconfusion，andthePaulistassweptthroughthelandruiningeverything，upontheUruguaythingsprospered，andPadreRomerofoundedtwonewreductions(1631)，knownasSanCarlosandApostoles；

healsolaidthefoundationofthatterritoryinwhichthepersecutedneophytesofGuayraweresoontofindasaferetreat。

FatherDiazTanobythistimehadreturnedfromCharcaswithadecreeoftheHighCourt，declaringtheactionofDonLuisdeCespedesinfailingtoprotectGuayraagainsttheMamelucosprejudicialtotheinterestsoftheKing；butasneitherhenortheHighCourtofCharcaspossessedanypowerbymeansofwhichtostimulatetheGovernortogreaterzeal，thedecreewasuseless，andTanoandRuizMontoyafoundthemselvessummonedhastilytomeetanewattack。Butbeforetheyarrivedthemissions，bothofSanFranciscoXavierandofSanJose，hadbeendestroyed。Astherewerestillthreereductionsundestroyed，Montoya，asProvincialofGuayra，calledalltheJesuitsoftheprovincetodeliberateastotheirchanceofmakingadefence。Thedebateranhigh；

someofthepriestswishedthattheneophytesshouldfighttotheend；

others，moresensible，pointedoutthattheill

armedandquiteuntrainedmilitiaofthemissionscoulddonothingwiththeirbowsandarrowsagainstthewell

ledandwell

disciplinedPaulistasallarmedwithguns。2

PadreTruxillogaveitashisopinionthatitwouldbemoreprudenttotransporttheIndianstoaplaceofsafety，andpointedoutthatnearthecataractofGuayratheywouldbeabletocrosstheriverandplaceitbetweenthemselvesandthePaulistasincaseofanattack。Thisadviceseemedprudenttotherest，andFatherTruxillosetouttomakehispreparationforthemarch。

FewEuropeantravellersevento

dayhavevisitedthegreatcataractknownasElSaltodeGuayra，orinPortugueseAsseteQuedas。

BourgadelaDardye3hasdescribeditinhisbookonParaguay。

Situatedasitisinthemidstofalmostimpenetrableforests，ithasnotevennowbeenproperlyplaceduponthemap。BourgadelaDardyeinclinestothinkhewasthefirsttovisititsincetheexpeditionsentbytheelderLopez，PresidentofParaguay，underLieutenantPatinoin1861。

Beforethattimeithadbeenleftunvisitedsince1788，whentheBoundaryCommissionerssenttodeterminethedividinglinebetweentheSpanishandPortuguesepossessionscampednearitforaweek。

FelixdeAzarawritesaboutitinhis`HistoriadelParaguay"，4

buthedoeslittlemorethanreproducetheaccountgivenbytheBoundaryCommissioners。Heplacesitin24d4"27"lat。，andreferstoitas`atremendousprecipiceofwater5

worthyofHomerorofVirgil"spen。"Hesaysthewatersdonotfallverticallyasfromabalconyorwindow(`comoporunbalcono/ventana")，butbyaninclinedplaneataninclinationofaboutfiftydegrees。

TheriverclosetothetopofthefallsisaboutfourthousandninehundredCastilianyardsinbreadth，andsuddenlynarrowstoaboutseventyyards，andrushesoverthefallwithsuchterrificviolenceasifitwishedto`displacethecentreoftheearth，andcausethusthenutationwhichastronomershaveobservedintheearth"saxis。"Thedeworvapourwhichrisesfromthefallisseenintheshapeofacolumnfrommanymilesaway，andonithangsaperpetualrainbow，whichtremblesastheearthseemstotrembleunderone"sfeet。

`Thenoise，"hesays，`isheardfullsixleaguesoff，andintheneighbourhoodneitherbirdnorbeastisfound。"InAzara"stimethejourneywasnottoopleasant，forhesays:`HewhowishestoseethisfallmustcrossthedesertforthirtyleaguesfromthetownofCuruguatytotheriverGuatimi。Therehemustchoosetreestoconstructcanoes。

Inthesehemustembarkallthosewhogowithhim，armsandprovisions，andbesides，whereheembarks，leaveanarmedescorttosecurehisbaseofsuppliesfromthewildIndians"attack。

InthecanoeshethenmustnavigatetheGuatimiforthirtyleaguesuntilitjoinstheParana，andalwayswithmuchcare，forinthewoodsuponitsbanksareIndianswhogivenoquarter。6……

ThenthereremainthreeleaguestosailupontheParana，thenonecanreachthefallseitherinthecanoesorstrugglingalongthewoodswhichfringetheriver"sbank。"

1CharcasissituatedinwhatisnowBolivia，andwasextremelyinconvenientforalldwellersontheeasternsideoftheAndestoreach。

Whetherthiswasamasterpieceofpolicycalculatedtodiscouragelawsuits，orwhetheritwasmerelyduetoSpanishincuriousnessandmaladministration，isamootpoint。

2TheIndiansofthemissionswerenotallowedtopossessfirearmsatthisperiod。

3`Paraguay"，Dr。E。deBourgadelaDardye；EnglisheditionbyGeorgePhilipsjunior(London，1892)。TheIndianscallitSaltodeCanandiyu，which，accordingtoAzara，wasthenameofa`cacique"whomthefirstSpaniardsmetthere。

4`DescripcionyHistoriadelParaguay"，Madrid，1847。

5`Yesunespantosodespen~aderodeagua"，etc。

(`DescripciondelParaguay"，tomoi。，p。39)。

6`Nodancuartel"。

Azarawas，perhaps，ofallthetravellersofthelastcentury，themanwhoaboveallthingsshinesinaccuracy，andinpointoffacthisdescriptionofthecataractisthebestwehaveuptothepresenttime。

BourgadelaDardyetellsusthatnotfarabovethecataracttheParanaexpandsintoalakealmostfivemilesinbreadth，andfromthelaketheriverissuesintwogreatarms，whichhaveforcedtheirwaythroughthemountainsknownastheSierradeMbaracyu。

Dr。BourgadelaDardyeseemstothinkthecirculareddiesfoundinthewhirlsarethemostcuriousfeaturesofthefalls。Hedescribesthemthus:

`Theyflowinfallsvaryingfromfiftytosixtyfeetindepth；

thesecirculareddies，whicharequiteindependentofoneanother，rangealonganarcofabouttwomilesinitsstretch。

Theyaredetachedlikegiantcaldronsyawningunexpectedlyatone"sfeet，inwhichthefloodseetheswithincrediblefury；everyoneofthesehasopenedforitselfanarroworificeintherock，throughwhichlikeastonefromaslingthewaterishurledintothecentralwhirlpool。

Thewidthoftheseoutletsrarelyexceedsfifteenyards，buttheirdepthcannotbeestimated。Theyallemptythemselvesintooneimmensecentralchamberabouttwohundredfeetwide，rushingintoitwithastoundingvelocity……Amoreimposingspectaclecanscarcelybeconceived，andIdoubtwhetherabyssessuchastheseexistelsewhereintheworld。"Heplacesthefallsinlatitude24d2"59"，butcorrectsthelongitudegivenbyAzaraas56d55"westofParisto58d18"8"

thatis，53d57"53"westfromGreenwich，whichcertainlyhassomeimportanceinfixingthebreadthoftheterritoryofParaguay。

ButneitherAzaranortheFrenchtraveller，withtheiryardsandfeet，theirlongitudeandlatitude，andtherest，giveanideaofthegrandeuroftheplace。Buriedintheprimevalforests，forgottenbytheworld，knowntothewanderingIndianswhogivenoquarter(anymoreto

daythaninAzara"stime)，thegiantcataractisalostwonderoftheworld。IntheruinedmissionsontheParana，twohundredmilesaway，IhaveheardtheIndianstalkofitwithawe。