第13章
加入书架 A- A+
点击下载App,搜索"A Vanished Arcadia",免费读到尾

  Inadditiontothemeansdescribed,theJesuitshadrecoursetofrequentreligiousfeasts,forwhichthecalendargavethemfullscope,sothatthelifeinaJesuitmissionwasmuchdiversifiedandrenderedpleasanttotheIndians,whohavearootedloveofshow。Eachmissionhad,ofcourse,itspatronsaint,1andonhisdaynobodyworked,whilstallwasjoyfulnessandsimplemirth。Atbreakofdayadischargeofrocketsandoffirearmsandpealsuponthebellsannouncedthejoyfulmorn。Thenthewholepopulationflockedtochurchtolistentoanearlymass。Thosewhocouldfindnoroominsidethechurchstoodinlonglinesoutsidethedoor,whichremainedopenduringtheceremony。

  Massover,eachonerantopreparehimselfforhispartinthefunction,theJesuitshavingtakencare,bymultiplyingofficesandemployments,toleavenomanwithoutadirectshareinalltheothersdid。2

  Thehumblestandthehighesthadtheirpart,andtheheaviestburden,nodoubt,felluponthetwoJesuits,3whowereanswerableforall。

  Theforemostdutywastogettheprocessionreadyforthemarch,andsaddle`loscaballosdelsanto\'4toserveasescort,mountedbyIndiansinrichdresses,keptspeciallyforfeasts。

  1Inthe`RelaciondeMisiones\'oftheBrigadierDonDiegodeAlvear,writtenbetween1788and1801,andpreservedinthe`ColecciondeAngelis\',occursthefollowingcuriousdescriptionofthefeast

  dayofapatronsaintofaJesuitreduction:`Theymakealongalleyofinterwovencanes,whichendsinatriumphalarch,whichtheyadornwithbranchesofpalmsandothertreeswithconsiderablegraceandtaste`conbastantegraciaysimetria\'。

  Underthearchtheyhangtheirimagesofsaints,theirclothes,theirfirst

  fruits

  ascornandsugar

  cane,andcalabashesfullofmaize

  beer`chicha\'

  theirmeatandbread,togetherwithanimalsbothaliveanddead,suchastheycanprocure`comolospuedenhaberconsudiligencia\'。Then,forminginaring,theydanceandshout,`Vivaelrey!Vivaelsantotutelar!\'

  2Manyandcuriousarethenamesbywhichtheoffice

  bearerswent。

  Thus,intheMissionofelSantoCorazon,intheChiquitos,Ifindthefollowing:Corregidor,theMayor;Teniente,Lieutenant;

  Alferez,Sub

  Lieutenant;AlcaldePrimero,HeadAlcalde;

  AlcaldeSegundo,SecondAlcalde;Commandante,CaptainoftheMilitia;

  JusticiaMayor,ChiefJustice;SargentoMayor,Sergeant

  Major。

  Thencamefiscales,fiscals;sacristanmayor,head

  beadle;

  capitandeestancia,chiefofthecattlefarm;capitandepinturas,carpinteria,herreros,etc。

  captainofpainters,carpenters,smiths,etc。Alltheofficeswerecompetedforardently,andthoseofCorregidorandAlcaldeinespecialwereprizedsohighlythatIndianswhoweredegradedfromthemforbadconductorcarelessnessnotinfrequentlydiedofgrief。

  3Ineachreductionthereweretwopriests。InallParaguay,attheexpulsionoftheOrderin1767,therewereonlyseventy

  eightJesuitsDeanFunes,`EnsayodelaHistoriadelParaguay\',etc。,cap。i。,vol。ii。。

  4InthemissionofLosApostolestherewere599ofthese`horsesofthesaint\',accordingtoaninventorypreservedbyBrabo。

  TheinventoryofthetownofLosApostoles1enablesustoreconstruct,withsomeattemptataccuracy,howtheprocessionwasformedandhowittookitsway。Allthemilitiaofthetownwereinattendance,mountedontheirbesthorses,andarmedwithlances`chuzos\',lazo,bolas,andafewwithguns。TheofficersoftheIndiansrodeattheirhead,dressedoutingorgeousclothes,andtroopsofdancers,atstatedintervals,performedasortofPyrrhicdancebetweenthesquadronsofthecavalry。2

  InthefrontofallrodeonawhitehorsetheAlferezReal,3

  dressedinadoubletofbluevelvetrichlylacedwithgold,awaistcoatofbrocade,andwithshortvelvetbreechesgarteredwithsilverlace;uponhisfeetshoesdeckedwithsilverbuckles,andthewholeschemecompletedbyagold

  lacedhat。Inhisrighthandheheldtheroyalstandardfastenedtoalongcanewhichendedinasilverknob。

  Aswordwasbyhisside,which,asheonlycouldhavewornitonsuchoccasions,andasthe`horsesofthesaint\'werenotunlikelyasticklishasmosthorsesoftheprairiesofEntreRiosandCorrientesarewonttobe,musthaveembarrassedhimconsiderably。

  BehindhimcametheCorregidor,arrayedinyellowsatin,withasilkwaistcoatandgoldbuttons,breechesofyellowvelvet,andahatequalinmagnificencetothatwornbyhisboldcompeer。

  ThetwoAlcaldes,lessviolentlydressed,worestraw

  colouredsilksuits,withsatinwaistcoatsofthesamecolour,andhatsturnedupwithgold。

  Otherofficials,astheCommissario,MaestredeCampo,andtheSargentoMayor,werequiteasgailydressedinscarletcoats,withcrimsondamaskwaistcoatstrimmedwithsilverlace,4redbreeches,andblackhatsadornedwithheavylace。InthebrightParaguayansunshine,withtheprimevalforestforabackground,orinsomemissioninthemidstofavastplainbesidetheParana,theymusthavelookedasgorgeousasaflightofparrotsfromtheneighbouringwoods,andhavemadeaTurneresqueeffect,amblingalong,ablazeofcolours,quiteasself

  satisfiedintheirfineryasif`therainbowhadbeenentailsettledonthemandtheirheirsmale。\'Quiteprobablytheirbroad,flatnoses,andtheirlong,lankhair,theirfacesfixedimmovably,asiftheywerecarvedinnandubay,contrastedstrangelywiththeirfinery。

  Buttherewerenonetojudge

  noonetomakeremarks;mostlikelyallwasconscienceandtenderheart,andnottheirbitterestenemyhaslaidthechargeofhumourtotheJesuits\'account。

  1FurnishedtoBucareli,ViceroyofBuenosAyresattheexpulsion,andfirstprintedbyBrabo`Inventariosdelosbieneshalladosa/laexpulsiondelosJesuitas\'。

  2TheJesuitsexercisedtheIndiansagreatdealindancing,takingadvantageoftheirloveofdancingintheirsavagestate。

  D\'OrbignyandDemersay`Fragmentd\'unVoyageauCentredel\'Ame/riqueMe/ridianale\',and`HistoirePhysique,etc。,duParaguay\'foundbetweentheyears1830and1855

  thattheIndiansoftheMoxosandChiquitosstilldancedastheyhaddoneinthetimeoftheJesuits。

  Ihaveseentheminthethen1873almostdesertedmissionofJesus,buriedinthegreatwoodsontheshoreoftheParana,danceastrange,half

  savagedanceoutsidetheruinedchurch。

  3Cardiel,inhis`DeclaraciondelaVerdad\',p。239,says:

  `TodoslospueblosponensucastilloenlaplazayenelmediodeelcolocanelretratrodelRey,yelIndioAlferezReal……vaalcastilloconelEstandarteRealyallihacesuhomenageconotrosrendimientosanteelRetratroReal,\'sayinginGuarani,`Toicohengatu/n~andeMbarubichaguazu/!Toicohengatu/n~andeReymarangatu/!Toicohengatu/n~andeReyFernandoSesto!\'

  `LongliveourKing,thegreatchief!LongliveourgoodKing!

  LongliveourKingFerdinandVI。\'。

  4`Chupasdedamascocarmesiconencajesdeplata。\'

  AsintheinventoriesofthethirtytownsIfindnomentioneitherofstockingsorofshoesforIndians,withtheexceptionofthelowshoesandbuckleswornbytheAlferezReal,itseemsthegorgeouscostumesendedattheknee,andthatthesepopinjaysrodebarefoot,with,perhaps,largeironGauchospursfastenedbystripsofmare

  hideroundtheirankles,andhangingdownbelowtheirnakedfeet。But,notcontentwiththeprocessionoftheeldersinparrotguise,therewasaparodyofparodiesinthe`cabildoinfantil\',thebandcomposedofchildren,who,withtheself

  sametitlesastheirelders,andintheself

  sameclothesadjustedtotheirsize,rodecloseupontheirheels。Lastly,asCharlevoixtellsus,came`deslionsetdestigres,maisbienenchaine/safinqu\'ilsnetroublerentpointlafe^te,\'

  andsothewholeprocessiontookitswaytowardsthechurch。

  Thechurch,allhungwithvelvetandbrocade,wasallablazewithlights,andfumesofincensenodoubtnecessaryalmostobscuredthenave。

  Upontherightandlefthandofthechoirwhich,asisusualinSpain,wasinthemiddleofthechurchtheyoungerIndianswereseatedallinrows,theboysandgirlsbeingseparated,aswasthecustominallthemissionsoftheJesuits,who,nodoubt,wereconvincedoftheadvisabilityofthesayingthat`entresantaysanto,pareddecalycanto。\'1TheIndianswhohadsomeoffice,andwhoworetheclothes2Ihavedescribed,wereseatedorkneltinrows,andattheoutsidestoodthepeopleofthetowndressedinwhitecotton,theirsimpleclothes,nodoubt,forminganeffectivebackgroundtotheirmoreparti

  colouredbrethrenkneelinginthefront。

  Throughoutthechurchthemenandwomenwereseparated,andifarumourofanincursionofPaulistaswasintheair,theIndianscarriedarmseveninthesacredbuildingsandatthesolemnfeasts。

  Masswascelebratedwithafullband,theoboe,fagot,lute,harp,cornet,clarinet,violin,viola,andallotherkindsofmusic,figuringintheinventoriesofthethirtytowns。Indeed,intwooftheinventories3anoperacalled`Santiago\'ismentioned,whichhadspecialcostumesandpropertiestoputitonthestage。

  Massover,theprocessionwasreconstitutedoutsidethechurch,andafterparadingoncemorethroughthetownbrokeup,andtheIndiansdevotedthenighttofeasting,andnotinfrequentlydancedtillbreakofday。

  1Itmayberoughlytranslated,`agoodstonewallbetweenamaleandfemalesaint。\'

  2Theseclotheswerethepropertyofthecommunity,andnotoftheindividualIndians。

  3Brabo,xxxv。,Introductionto`Losinventariosdelosbienes。\'

  SuchweretheoutwardartswithwhichtheJesuitssoughttoattachthesimplepeople,towhomtheystoodinthepositionnotonlyofpastorsandmastersbothinone,butalsoasprotectorsfromthePaulistasononeside,andontheotherfromtheSpaniardsofthesettlements,who,withtheir`encomiendas\'

  andtheirEuropeansystemoffreecompetitionbetweenmanandman,wereperhapsunknowinglythedirestenemiesofthewholeIndianrace。

  Thereis,asitwouldseem,implantedinthemindsofalmostallprimitivepeoples,suchastheGuaranis,asolidarity,aclingingkinship,whichifoncebrokendownbycompetition,unrestrainedafterourmodernfashion,inevitablyleadstotheirdecay。

  HencethekeenhatredtotheChineseinCaliforniaandinAustralia。

  Naturally,thosewhomwehate,andinameasurefear,wealsovilify,andthishasgivenrisetoallthoseaccusationsofOrientalviceasiftheviceofanyOriental,howevermuchdepraved,wascomparabletothatofcitizensofParisorofLondon,ofbarbarism,andthelike,sofreelylevelledagainsttheunfortunateChinese。

  InParaguaynothingismoreremarkableinamarketinthecountrythanthewayinwhichthepeoplewillnotunderselleachother,evenrefusingtopartwithgoodsafractionlowerthanthepricewhichtheyconsiderfair。ItmaybethattheJesuitswouldhavedonebettertoendeavourtoequiptheirneophytesmorefully,soastotaketheirplaceinthebattleoftheworld。Itmaybethatthesimple,happylivestheyledweretooopposedtothegeneralschemeofoutsidehumanlifetofindacceptanceoraplaceinourcosmogony。ButonethingIamsureof

  thattheinnocentdelightofthepoorIndianAlferezReal,mounteduponhishorse,dressedinhismotley,barefooted,andovershadowedbyhisgold

  lacedhat,wasasentireasifhehadeatenofallthefruitsofallthetreesofknowledgeofhistime,andsoperhapstheJesuitswerewise。

  Arecentwriterinthelittlejournalpublishedonyellowpacking

  paperintheSocialistcolonyofCosme,inParaguay`CosmeMonthly\',November,1898,hasacuriouspassagecorroboratingwhatIhavesooftenobservedmyself。Undertheheadingof`AParaguayanMarket\',hesays:`TheGuaraniclingsstubbornlytotheGuaranicustoms。

  ThisisirritatingtotheEuropean,butwhoshallsaythattheGuaraniisnotright?……EuropeansettlementcannotbutbefataltotheGuarani,howeverprofitableitmaybetoland

  owningandmercantileclasses……TheParaguayanmarketisawoman\'sclub……theywillcomethirtyorfortymileswithaclothfulofthewhitecurd

  cheeseofthecountry,contentedlyjourneyingonfootalongthenarrowpaths。

  Theywillcutacabbageintosixteenthsandeattheircheesethemselvesratherthansellitundermarketprice。\'Longmaytheydoso,forsolongwilltheybefree,andperhapspoor;but,then,incountriessuchasParaguayfreedomandpovertyareidentical。

  Strangelyenough

  but,then,howstrangelyallextremesmeetinhumanity!

  theJesuitsaloneatleast,inParaguayseemtohaveapprehended,astheArabscertainlyhavedonefromimmemorialtime,thatthefirstdutyofamanistoenjoyhislife。Art,science,literature,ambition

  allthefrivolitieswithwhichmenoccupythemselves

  havetheirdueplace;butlifeisfirst,andinsomestrange,mysteriouswaytheJesuitsfeltit,though,nodoubt,theywouldhavebeenthefirsttodenyitwithathousandoaths。

  ButinaJesuitmissionallwasnotfeastingorprocessioning,forwithsuchneighboursastheMamelucostheyhadtokeepthemselvesprepared。1Asfortheirbettergovernmentinhomeaffairseachmissionhaditspolice,withofficers2chosenbytheJesuitsamongsttheIndians,soforexteriordefencetheyhadmilitia,andinitthe`caciques\'3ofthedifferenttribesheldprincipalcommand。

  Mostlikelyoverthem,orattheirelbows,weresetpriestswhobeforeenteringtheCompanyofJesushadbeensoldiers:

  forthereweremanysuchamongsttheJesuits。Astheirownfounderoncehadbeenasoldier,sotheCompanywaspopularamongstthosesoldierswhofromsomecauseorotherhadchangedtheirswordstocrucifixes,andtakenserviceintheranksofChrist。4Asitwasmostimportant,bothfordefenceandpolicy,tokeepthe`caciques\'content,theyweredistinguishedbybettertreatmentthantheothersinmanydifferentways。Theirfoodwasmoreabundant,andaguardofIndianswasonperpetualdutyroundthehouseswheretheylived;thesetheyemployedasservantsandasmessengerstosummondistantcompaniesofIndianstothefield。TheirmethodoforganizationmusthavebeenlikethatoftheBoersoroftheArabs;foreveryIndianbelongedtoacompany,whichnowandthenwasbroughttogetherforevolutionsinthefieldorforaperiodoftraining,afterthefashionofourmilitiaortheGermanLandwehr。

  Perhapsthissystemofanarmedmilitia,alwaysreadyforthefield,waswhat,aboveallotherreasons,enabledtheirdetractorstorepresenttheJesuitsasfearedandunpopular。Why,itwasasked,doesthiscommunityofpriestsmaintainanarmyinitsterritories?

  NoonerememberedthatifsuchwerenotthecasethemissionscouldnothaveexistedforayearwithoutaforcetodefendtheirbordersfromthePaulistas。EveryoneforgotthatFathersMontoyaandDelTanohadobtainedspecialpermissionfromtheKingfortheIndiansofthemissionstobeararms;and,asnohumanbeingisgratefulforanythingbutcontumelioustreatment,theSpanishsettlersconvenientlyforgothowmanytimesaJesuitarmyhadsavedtheirterritories。

  ThebodyofthreethousandGuaranissentattheexpenseoftheCompanytoassisttheSpaniardsagainstthePortugueseattheattackupontheColoniadelSacramento5ontheriverPlate,in1678,wasquiteforgotten,togetherwiththeinnumerablecontingentssentbytheJesuitsatthedemandofSpanishgovernorsagainsttheChacoIndians,thePayaguas,andevenagainstthedistantCalchaquis,inwhatisnowtheprovinceofJujuy。EvenwhenanEnglishpirate,calledintheSpanishhistoriesRoqueBarloqueexplainedbysometobeplainRichardBarlow,appearedoffBuenosAyres,theundauntedneophytesshranknotamomentfromgoingtotheassistanceoftheirco

  religionistsagainstthe`Lutherandog\'。6Lastly,allSpanishgovernorsandwriters,bothcontemporaneousandattheendoftheeighteenthcentury,seemtoforgetthatiftheJesuitshadanarmyofneophyteswithintheirterritorythefactwasknownandapprovedofatthecourtofSpain。7ButitappearsthatCalvinhadmanycoadjutorsinhispolicyof`Jesuitasautnecandiautcalumniisopponendisunt。\'8WhenaJesuitarmytookthefield,drivingbeforeitsufficientcattletosubsistupon,andwithits`caballada\'ofsparehorsesuponitsflank,itmusthaveresembledmanyaGauchoarmyIhaveseeninEntreRiosfive

  and

  twentyyearsago。

  TheonlydifferenceseemstohavebeenthattheGauchosofyesterdaydidnotusebowsandarrows,althoughtheymighthavedonesowithasmuchbenefittothemselves,andnomoredangertotheirenemies,thanwasoccasionedbytherusty,ill

  conditionedgunstheyusedtobear。

  TheIndianswerearmedwithbows,andintheirexpeditionseachIndiancarriedonehundredandfiftyarrowstippedwithiron。

  Othershadfirearms,butallborebolasontheirsaddles,andcarriedlazosandlonglances,9which,likethePampaIndians,theyusedinmountingtheirhorses,placingonehanduponthemane,andvaultingintothesaddleswiththeotherleaningonthelance。

  Theinfantrywerearmedwithlancesandafewguns;theyalsocarriedbolas,buttheytrustedmosttoslings,forwhichtheycarriedbagsofhide,withaprovisionofsmoothroundstones,andusedthemdexterously。

  Onseveraloccasionstheirrudemilitiagaveproofsofstubbornvalour,and,astheyfoughtundertheJesuits\'eyes,nodoubtacquittedthemselvesasmenwouldwholookedupontheirpriestsalmostinthelightofgods。

  Butagricultureandcattle

  breedingwerenotalltheresourcesofthemissions;fortheJesuitsengagedincommercelargely,bothwiththeouterworldandbytheintricateandcuriousbartersystemwhichtheyhadsetonfootforthemutualconvenienceofthedifferentmissiontowns。InmanyoftheinventoriesprintedbyBrabo,onecomesacrosstheentry`Deudas\',showingasortofaccountcurrentbetweenthetownsforvariousarticles。Thus,theyexchangedcattleforcotton,sugarforrice,wheatforpig

  ironortoolsfromEurope;

  asnoaccountofinteresteverappearsinanyinventoryasbetweentownandtown,itseemstheJesuitsanticipatedSocialism

  atleast,sofarasthattheyboughtandsoldforuse,andnotforgain。

  Althoughbetweenthetownsoftheirownterritoryallwasarrangedformutualconvenience,yetintheirdealingswiththeoutsideworldtheJesuitsadheredtowhatareknownas`businessprinciples\'。

  Theseprinciples,ifImistakenot,havebeendeifiedbypoliticianswiththeir`Buyinthecheapest,sellinthedearest\'tag,andthereforeeventhesternestProtestantorJansenistifsuchtherestillexist

  canhavenostonetothrowattheCompanyofJesusforitsparticipationinthatsystemwhichhasmadethewholeworldglad。

  1AstheGauchoproverbsays,`Lasarmassonnecesariaspero\"naide\"sabecuando。\'

  2Corregidores,alcaldes,regidores,alguaciles,etc。

  3Hereditaryorsometimeselectedchiefs。

  4IrememberseeingonthetombstoneofaSpanishsailorhishopeofsalvationthroughtheintercessionoftheLordHighAdmiralChrist。AftertheSpanishcustom,officerswereoftengeneralsbothbyseaandland,sothatsoldierswerenotexcludedfromtheLordHighAdmiral\'sintercession。

  5DeanFunes`EnsayodelaHistoriadeParaguay\',etc。says:

  `TheseIndianswentunderthecommandofDonAntoniodeVeraMoxica;

  theirsergeantswereGuaranisandtheircaptainsSpaniards。

  Their`cacique\'wasIgnacioAmandaa,whocommandedinchiefunderVeraMoxica。\'Theyfoughtbravely,andreturnedagainandagaintotheassaultofthetownafterseveralrepulses,manifestingthesamedoggedcourageandindifferencetodeathwhichtheirdescendantsshowedinthewaragainstBrazilin1866

  70。

  InthatwarbodiesofParaguayansfrequentlyattackedstrongpositionsdefendedbyartillery,andallowedthemselvestobeshotdowntothelastmanratherthanretire。Atothertimes,concealedbehindmassesoffloatingherbage,fromtheircanoestheysprangonboardBrazilianironclads,andwereallkilledinthevainendeavourtocapturethevessels。Iknewalittlepettifogginglawyer,oneIzquierdo,who,withtencompanions,attemptedinacanoetotaketheBrazilianflagshipanironclad;leftaloneonherdeck,afterthedeathofhiscompanions,hesprangintothewaterunderashowerofbullets,and,badlywounded,swamovertotheChaco,thedesertsideoftheriver。Thereforthreedaysheremained,subsistingonwildoranges,andthenswamacrossagainonaraftofsticks,inspiteofthealligatorsandmanyfiercefishwhichaboundinParaguay。Hegotwell,and,thoughlame,was,whenIknewhim,asarrantalittlescriveningknaveasyoucouldhopetomeetineitherhemisphere。

  OnmanyotheroccasionsthemissionIndiansperformednotableservicesfortheSpanishGovernment。In1681,whentheFrenchattackedBuenosAyres,adetachmentoftwothousandIndianswassenttoitsassistance。

  PhilipV。himselfwrotetotheProvincialofParaguayonthisoccasionaskinghimtosendtroopstothedefenceofthecity。

  In1785fourthousandGuaranis,commandedbyDonBaltazarGarcia,wereatthesecondsiegeoftheColoniadelSacramento。

  Funessaysofthem:`Ajuiciodeuntestigoocular,noesmenosadmirablelasangrefriadesuscapellanes。\'

  6`PerroLuterano\'。ItisastonishinghowinSpainthecomparativelyinnocuousLutherhasfallenheirtotheheritageofhatredthatshouldmoreproperlyhavebelongedtotheinhumanandtreacherousCalvin。

  7PhilipV。in1745,afteranexaminationwhichlastedsixyears,approvedofalltheactionsoftheJesuitsinParaguayCretineauJoly,`HistoiredelaCompagniedeJe/sus\',vol。v。,p。103。

  SothatacuriousletterofaJeronimitefriaronePadreCevallos,writtenin1774,iswellwithinduelimitswhenitsaysthatalltheJesuitsdidinParaguaywas`todoprobadoporrealescedulaso/procediadeordenesexpresas。\'

  8Oneisobligedtoallow,incommonfairness,thatCalvincarriedoutinhisownpracticewhatheadvocated

  aswitnesshisconductwithServetus,whomhefirstcalumniated,thenentrapped,andlastlymurderedincoldblood。

  9DonFranciscoCorrsentthefollowinglistofarmstotheViceroyZabala,ofBuenosAyresFunes,`Ensayo\',etc。:`Armasbuenas,850;

  lanzasdehierro,3,850;pedrerasculverins,10。Lasflechasnosecuentan。\'Hesays:`TodoslosIndiosquandohandesaliracompan~allevan150flechasdehierro,menoslosquellevanarmosdefuego。Asimismocargan\"bolas\"quesondospiedrasenunacuerda。Losdeapiequenollevanescopetastienenlanza,flecha,yhondaconsuprovisiondepiedrasenunbolsoncomodegranaderos。

  Seprestancaballosentrelospueblos。\'

  Cottonandlinencloth,tobacco,hides,woodsofthevarioushard

  woodforestsofthecountry,and,aboveall,`yerba

  mate\',weretheirchiefarticlesofexporttotheoutsideworld。

  TheirnearestmarketwasinBuenosAyres,andtothatporttheysenttheir`yerba\'inboatsmadeattheirownyards,ofwhichtheyhadseveral,butnotablyatYapeyuupontheUruguay。

  ThemoneythatwasmadewassenttotheSuperiorofthemissions,whohadthedispositionofthewayinwhichitwasdispensed,eitherforuseathomeortobesenttoEuropefornecessarygoods。

  Aswellas`yerba

  mate\',theysentgreatquantitiesofhides。

  Theinventoriesofthetownstakenattheexpulsionstatethatthenumberofgreenhides1exportedannuallywasfiftythousand,togetherwithsixthousandcured;inadditiontheysoldfromthreetofourarrobas2ofhorse

  hair,andwoodtothevalueoftwenty

  fivetothirtythousanddollarseveryyear。Thetotalexportoftheir`yerba\'rangedbetweeneightyandonehundredthousandarrobas,whichatthelowestpricecouldnothavebeensoldataprofitundersevendollarsanarroba,3

  sothattheincome4ofthethirtytownsmusthavebeenrelativelylarge。5

  Twoorthreehundredbarrelsofhoney6andsomethreeorfourthousandarrobasoftobaccomadeupthesumtotaloftheirexports,though,hadtheyneededmoney,itmighthavebeenincreasedinsuchacountry,andwithsomanywillinglabourers,almostindefinitely。

  1Ibanez`HistoireduParaguaysouslesJe/suites\'statesthehidessoldataboutthreedollarsapiece。

  2Thearrobawastwenty

  fivepounds。

  3ThesefiguresarefromBrabo\'sinventories。

  4Ibanezstatesthatonlyeighty

  fourdollarsayearweresetapartforthemaintenanceofeachpriest。

  5DeanFunes`EnsayodeleHistoriaCivildelParaguay\',etc。

  putsitatamillionreales,whichalmostequals20,800Pounds。

  Ibanez`LaRepublicaJesuitica\',withthenobledisregardofconsequencessonoticeableinmostpolemicalwriters,boldlyaltersthistoamilliondollars,hisobjectbeingtoprovethattheJesuitsexactedexorbitanttaxationfromtheneophytes。

  6Thehoneyofthemissionswascelebrated,andthewaxmadebythesmallbeecalled`Opemus\',accordingtoCharlevoixlivrev。,p。285,`e/taitd\'uneblancheurquin\'avaitriendepareil,etcesneophytesontconsacre/toutqu\'ilsenpeuventavoira\\brulerdevantlesimagesdelaSte。Vierge。\'

  Thusitwillbeseenthatthemissionswereorganizedbothagriculturallyandcommerciallysoastobealmostself

  supporting,andthatofthemerenecessariesoflifetheyhadsufficientforexportation,nosmallachievementwhenweconsiderhowaversefromlabourweretheIndianswithwhomtheyhadtodeal。Butthatnothingshouldbewantingthatacivilizedcommunitycouldpossiblydesire,theyhadtheirprisons,withgoodstoreofchains,fetters,whips,andalltheotherinstrumentswithwhichthemoralcodeisgenerallyenforced。Themostusualpunishmentwaswhipping;andthecrimesmostfrequentweredrunkenness,neglectofwork,andbigamy,whichlatterlapsefromvirtuetheJesuitschastisedseverely,notthinking,beingcelibatesthemselves,thatnotunlikelyitwasapttoturnintoitsownpunishmentwithouttheaidofstripes。

  IntheinventoryofthemissionofSanJoseIfind:

  `Item,doceparesdegrillos\';butIamboundtosaythatinthisinstancetheywerefortheuseof`losGuaicurusinfielesprisionerosqueestanendichamision。\'

  ChapterVII

  CausesoftheJesuits\'unpopularity

  Descriptionofthelivesandhabitsofthepriests

  Testimonyinfavourofthemissions

  Theiroppositiontoslavery

  TheirsystemofadministrationMuchhasbeenwrittenoftheinteriorgovernmentofthemissionsbytheJesuits,butchieflybystrongpartisans,forandagainst,oneitherside,whoseonlyobjectwastomakeoutacasetofittheprejudicesofthoseforwhomtheywrote。UpontheJesuitsidetheAbbeMuratoridescribesaparadise。AveryCarloDolceamongstwriters,withhimallinthemissionsissocloyingsweetthatone\'ssoulsickens,andonelongsinhis`HappyChristianity\'

  tofindadropofgall。Butforfivehundredpagesnothingisamiss;

  themenofBelialpersecutetheJesuitsaints,whoalwaysafterthefashionoftheirOrderandmankindturnbothcheekstothesmiter,and,iftheirpurseistaken,hastentogiveuptheircloaks。

  TheIndiansareallloveandgratitude。NoneedintheAbbe\'spagesforthetwelvepairoffetters,whichBrabomostunkindlyhassetdownamongsthisinventories。Neverasingle`lapsus\'fromthemoralruletheJesuitsimposed

  nodrunkenness,andbigamysoseldommetwiththatitwouldseemthatJosephAndrewshadbeenaswaggererjudgedbythestandardofthesemoralGuaranis。ThencomesIbanez,

  theex

  Jesuit,ontheotherside。Inatwinklingofaneyethesceneischanged。For,quiteinHogarth\'svein,hepaintsthemissionsasaperpetualmarchtoFinchley,andtellsusthattheIndiansweresavages,andquiteunchangedinalltheirprimitivepropensitiesundertheJesuitrule。

  AndfortheJesuitsthemselveshehasafewhome

  truthsadministeredwithvinegar,afterthefashionoftherenegadethewholeworldover,whoseesnothinggoodinthesocietythathasturnedhimout。HeroundlysaystheJesuitswereloafers,accusesthemofkeepingtheIndiansignorantfortheirownpurposes,andpaintsthemquiteasblackastheAbbeMuratoripaintedthemrosecolour,andwithaslittleart。Sothat,asusuallyhappensinthewritingsofallpolemists,nomatteruponwhichsidetheymaywrite,butlittleinformation,andthatdistortedtoanincredibledegree,isallthattheyafford。

  `IlCristianesimoFelicenelleMissionedeiPadridellaCompagniadiJesunelParaguay\'。

  `L\'HistoireduParaguaysouslesJe/suites\',Amsterdam,1700,lxxv。

  Ingeneral,curiousasitmayappear,thebitterestopponentsoftheJesuitswereCatholics,andProtestantshaveoftenwrittenasapologists。

  Buffon,Raynal,andMontesquieu,withVoltaire,Robertson,andSouthey,havewrittenfavourablyoftheinternalgovernmentofthemissionsandtheeffectwhichitproduced。Noothernamesofequalauthoritycanbequotedontheotherside;butyetthefactremainsthattheJesuitsinParaguaywereexposedtoconstantcalumnyfromthefirstdaytheywenttheretillthelastmemberoftheOrderlefttheland。

  Itismyobjectfirsttotrytoshowwhattheconditionsoftheirgovernmentreallywere,andthentotryandclearupwhatwasthecauseofunpopularity,andwhysomanyandsuchpersistentcalumnieswerelaidtotheiraccount。

  StretchingrightupanddownthebanksofboththeParanaandUruguay,themissionsextendedfromNuestraSenoradeFeorSantaMaria,inParaguay,toSanMiguel,inwhatisnowtheBrazilianprovinceofRioGrandedoSul;andfromthemissionofCorpus,ontheeastbankoftheParana,toYapeyu,upontheUruguay。

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