第7章
加入书架 A- A+
点击下载App,搜索"A Vanished Arcadia",免费读到尾

  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,pattingtheirstomachstheprisonoftheirbrain,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,theIndiansbrokeintothechurchwhereaJesuitPadreSalazar

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

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

  TwomessengerscametoinformhimthatanarmyofPaulistaswasmarchingonVillaRica,andthatastrongdetachmentofthemwasadvancingfromthesouth。ThenPadreMontoyatookasupremeresolve,andorderedtheevacuationofthetwoprincipalreductionsSanIgnacioandLoretowhichyetremainedintact。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,MontoyalaunchedthreehundredemptyboatssendinganIndianinadvancetoseeifanyofthemwouldarrivesafelyatthebottomofthefalls。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。\'

  5Azararecordsbooki。theIndianfablethatnolivingthingcouldexistnearthecataract。Thoughthisisofcourseuntrue,yetinmostParaguayanforestsnearwater,gameisbothscarceandhardtofind。

  EachIndianhadtotakehisbundleonhisback;eventhechildrencarriedbundlesinproportiontotheirstrength。Themissionariescarriedwhatwasheldmostsacred,asaltar

  plateandimagesofsaints。

  Infrontabandofmenarmedwithmachetescane

  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,ThadeusEnnisasitisoftenspelt,andhisloveoffightinglookun

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

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

  Theancientenmityofthetwonationshasbeencontinuedintheirdescendants,theBraziliansandtheArgentinesandUruguayans,andlittlebylittleBrazilisabsorbingallthenorthernportionoftheRepublicofUruguay。

  AftertheretreatunderMontoyadowntheParana,theJesuitmissions,especiallyinParaguayandwhatisnowtheprovinceofCorrientes,forsometimeenjoyedaperiodofpeaceandofrepose,andthestrangepolicyoftheJesuitswasdeveloped,andtownshipaftertownshiparoseamongsttheGuaranis1630

  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,forhetriedhardtoleadanumberoftheIndianstoSanPaulotoshowthemashesaid

  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。Inthesameyear1632theMamelucosappearedandruinedallthefourmissions,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,condemnedinthestrongesttermsallpersonalservicethatis,forcedlabouramongsttheIndians,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

  Mariaoneofthefewleftundestroyedattheformerinvasionwasmostexposed,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,whenhavegoodmenbeforethetimeoftheencyclopaedists

  beenwithoutamiracletosustaintheircause?Inthenextyear1637

  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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