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。