Preface`Historicusnascitur，nonfit。'Iampainfullyawarethatneithermycallingnorelectioninthismatteraretheleastsure。Certainitisthatinyouth，whenalonethehistorianorthehorsemanmaybeformed，Ididlittletofitmyselfforwritinghistory。WanderingaboutthecountriesofwhichnowItreat，IhadalmostaslittleobjectinmytravelsasaGauchooftheoutside`camps'。Inevertookanoteonanysubjectunderheaven，norkeptadiary，bymeansofwhich，myyouthdepartedandthecountriesIonceknewsowelltransmogrified，Icould，sittingbesidethefire，readandenjoythesadnessofrevisiting，inmymind'seye，scenesthatInowrememberindistinctlyasinadream。
　　Itakeitthathewhokeepsajournalofhisdoings，settingdowndaybydayallthathedoes，withdatesandnamesofplaces，theirlongitudeandlatitudedulyrecorded，makesforhimselfamealofbitter
　　sweet；
　　andthatyourtruestdulcamaraistoreadwithglassesthefadednotesjotteddownhurriedlyinrain，insun，inwind，incamps，byfloodedrivers，andinthelongandlistlesshoursofheat
　　infact，toseeagainyourlife，asitwere，actedforyouinsomecameraobscura，withthechiefactorchanged。Butdiaries，unlesstheybemererecordsofbarefacts，mustofnecessity，asintheirnaturetheyareautobiographical，befalseguides；
　　sothat，perhaps，IinmycarelessnesswasnotquitesounwiseasIhaveoftenthoughtmyself。AlthoughImadenonotesofanything，caringmostchieflyfortheconditionofmyhorse，yetwhenIthinkonthem，pampaandcordillera，virginforest，the`passes'oftherivers，approachedbysandypaths，borderedbyfloweringandsweet
　　smellingtrees，andmostofallthedesertedJesuitMissions，halfburiedbythevigorousvegetation，andpeopledbutbyafewwhite
　　cladIndians，riseupsoclearlythat，withoutthesmallestfacultyfordealingwiththatwhichIhaveundertaken
　　Iamforcedtowrite。Flowers，scents，theherdsofhorses，theostriches，andthewholecharmofthatNewWorldwhichthosewhosawitevenaquarterofacenturyagosawlittlealteredfromtheremotesttimes，haveremainedclearandsharp，andwillremainsowithmetotheend。SotothereadersifIchancetohavethemofthisshortattempttogivesomefaintideaofthegreatChristianCommonwealthoftheJesuitMissionsbetweentheParanaandUruguay，Inowaddressmyself。
　　Hewhoattacksasubjectquitefallenoutofdate，andstillnotoldenoughtogiveamanauthoritytospeakuponitwithoutthefearofcontradiction，runsgraverisk。
　　Gentle，indulgentreader，ifsobethatyouexistinthesethedaysofuniversalknowledgeandself
　　sufficientcriticism，Idonotaskforyourindulgenceforthemanyerrorswhichnodoubthaveslippedintothiswork。These，ifyoucaretotakethetrouble，youcanverify，andholdmeuptoshame。WhatIdocraveisthatyouwillapproachthesubjectwithanopenmind。YourJesuitis，asweknow，themosttremendouswild
　　fowlthattheworldhasknown。
　　`Laguardianera'ofthePope，theorderwhichhaswroughtsomuchdestruction，theinventorsof`Cienciamedia'，
　　cradlefromwhichhasissuedforthMolina，Suarez，andallthosevillainswho，inthedaysinwhichthedoctrinewasunfashionable，decriedmerefaith，andtooktheirstandonworks
　　whointhislandofpreconceivedopinioncanspareitagoodword?But，notwithstanding，evenaJansenist，ifsuchbeleft，mustyetadmittheclaimofFrancisXavierasatrue，humblesaint，andifthesour
　　facedsectaryofPortRoyaleshouldrefuse，allmenoflettersmustperforcereverethewriterofthehymn。
　　Thedoctrineofthe`CienciaMedia'occursinthecelebrated`Concordiagratiaeetliberiarbitrii'，byLuisdeMolina1588。
　　TheconciliumdeAuxiliiswasheldtodeterminewhetherornot`concordia'waspossiblebetweenfreewillandgrace。AstheJesuitsstuckbyMolinaandhisdoctrinesindespiteofcouncilsandofpopes，thecommonsayingaroseinSpain:`PastelesenlapasteleriaycienciamediaenlaCompan~ia。'
　　ButintothewholequestionoftheJesuitsIcannotenter，asitentailscommandoffarmorefootandhalf
　　footwordsthanIcanmusterup。Still，inAmerica，andmostofallinParaguay，IhopetoshowtheOrderdidmuchgood，andworkedamongsttheIndianslikeapostles，receivinganapostle'struerewardofcalumny，ofstripes，ofblows，andjourneyinghungry，athirst，onfoot，inperilsoft，fromthegreatcataractoftheParanatotherecessesoftheTarumensianwoods。LittleenoughIpersonallycareforthepoliticalaspectoftheircommonwealth，orhowitactedontheSpanishsettlements；ofwhetherornotitturnedoutprofitabletotheCourtofSpain，orifthecrimesandchargesofambitionlaidtotheJesuits'accountwerefalseortrue。MyonlyinterestinthematterishowtheJesuits'ruleactedupontheIndiansthemselves，andifitmadethemhappy
　　morehappyorlesshappythanthoseIndianswhoweredirectlyruledfromSpain，orthroughtheSpanishGovernorsoftheviceroyalties。Fortheoriesofadvancement，andastowhethercertainarbitraryideasoftherightsofman，evolvedingeneralbythosewhointheirpersonsandtheirlivesarethenegationofallrights，Igiveafico
　　yes，yourfigofSpain
　　caringaslittleasdidancientPistolfor`palabras'，andholdingthatthebestrightthatamancanhaveistobehappyafterthewaythatpleaseshimthemost。AndthattheJesuitsrenderedtheIndianshappyiscertain，thoughtothosemenwhofudgeatheoryofmankind，thinkingthateveryoneisforgedupontheiranvil，orrunoutoftheirownmould，afterthefashionofatallowdipatheorywhich，indeed，thesamenessofmankindrendersattimesnotquiteuntenable，itseemsabsurdbecausetheprogressoftheworldhasgoneonotherlines
　　lineswhichprolongedindefinitelywouldnevermeetthosewhichtheJesuitsdrew。AllthatIknowisImyself，inthedesertedmissions，five
　　and
　　twentyyearsagooftenhavemetoldmenwhospokeregretfullyofJesuittimes，whocherishedallthecustomsleftbythecompany，andthoughtheyspokeatsecondhand，repeatingbutthestoriestheyhadheardinyouth，kepttheillusionthatthemissionsintheJesuits'timehadbeenaparadise。
　　IntothematteroftheJesuits'motivesIdonotproposetoenter，holdingthattheoriginofmotivesistoodeeplyseatedtobeworthinquiryuntilonehasmoreinformationaboutthehumanmindthanevenmodern`scientists'seemabletoimpart。YetitiscertaintheJesuitsinParaguayhadfaithfittoremoveallmountains，asthebriefstoriesoftheirlives，sooftenendingwitharudefield
　　crossbythecornerofsomeforest，andtheinscription`hicoccissusest'
　　survivetoshow。Somemen
　　suchisthecomplexityofhumannature
　　haveundergonetrialsandpersecutionsforbasemotives，anditisopenforanyonetosaytheJesuits，astheywereJesuits，coulddonothinggood。Still，IbelievethatFatherRuizMontoya
　　whosestoryIhavetold，howfalteringly，andwithhowlittlejusticetohisgreatness，noneknowsbetterthanmyself
　　wasagoodman
　　thatis，amanwithoutulteriormotives，andactuatedbutbyhislovetothepoorIndianswithwhomhepassedhislife。
　　To
　　day，whennoonecanseegoodinanythingoranybodyoutsidethesomewhatbeefypaleoftheAnglo
　　Saxonrace，IdonothopethatsuchameredabblerinthegreatmysteryofhistoryasIammyselfwillforaninstantchangeonepreconceivedopinion；forIamwellawarethatspeechesbasedonfactsareimpotentinpopularassembliestochangeasinglevote。
　　ItisanarticleofAnglo
　　SaxonfaiththatalltheSpanishcoloniesweremal
　　administered，andalltheSpanishconquerorsbloodthirstybutchers，whosesoledelightwasblood。This，too，fromthemembersofaracewho……；but`Inthemultitudeofthegreyhoundsistheundoingofthehare。'Therefore，IaskthosewhoimaginethatallSpaniardsattheconquestofAmericawereruffians，toconsiderthecareerofAlvarNunez，whoalsostrutsthroughhisbriefchapterinthepagesofmymostimperfectbook。
　　Still，IadmitmenofthestampofAlvarNunezaremostrare，andwerestillrarerinthesixteenthcentury；andtofindmanyoftheRuizMontoyabrand，Diogeneswouldhaveneededalanternfittedwithelectriclight。Inthegreatcontroversywhichengagedthepensofmanyofthebestwritersoftheworldlastcentury，aftertheJesuitswereexpelledfromSpainandhercolonialpossessionsthenalmosthalftheworld，itwillbefoundthatamongstallthemudsofreelyflungabout，theinsultsgivenandreceived，hardlyanyonebutafewex
　　JesuitshadanyharmtosayofthedoingsoftheOrderduringitslongruleinParaguay。NoneoftheJesuitswereevertried；
　　nocrimeswerechargedagainstthem；eventhereasonsfortheirexpulsionwerenevergiventotheworldatlarge。CertainitisthatbutafewyearsaftertheirfinalexitfromthemissionsbetweentheUruguayandParanaallwasconfusion。Intwentyyearsmostofthemissionsweredeserted，andbeforethirtyyearshadpassednovestigeoftheiroldprosperityremained。
　　Thesemi
　　communismwhichtheJesuitshadintroducedwassweptaway，andthekeenlightoffreeandvivifyingcompetitionwhichbeatssofiercelyuponthebagman'sparadiseoftheeconomistsreignedinitsstead。
　　Therevenuesdeclined，allwascorruption，and，astheGovernor，DonJuanJoseVertiz，writestotheViceroy，thesecularpriestssentbytheGovernmentwerebrawlers，drunkards，andstrikers，carryingarmsbeneaththeircloaks；thatrobberywasrife；
　　andthattheIndiansdailydesertedandreturnedbyhundredstothewoods。
　　DeanFunes，`EnsayodelaHistoriaCivildelParaguay'，etc。，BuenosAires，1816。
　　Idem。Theletterisdated1771andtheJesuitswereexpelledin1767。
　　Asthewriteroftheletterwasonthespotinanofficialposition，andnominatedbytheveryViceroywhohadbeentheexpelleroftheJesuits，histestimonywouldseemtobeasvaluableasthatoftheablesttheoristongovernment，CatholicorProtestant，whoeverwrote。
　　AllthereportsofrichesamassedinParaguaybytheJesuits，aftertheexpulsionoftheirorderprovedtobeuntrue；
　　nothingofanyconsequencewasfoundinanyofthetowns，althoughtheJesuitshadhadnowarningoftheirexpulsion，andhadnotimeforpreparationorforconcealmentoftheirgold。
　　AlthoughtheystoodtotheIndiansalmostinthelightofgods，andhadcontrolofanarmedforcelargerbyfarthananywhichthetemporalpowercouldhavedisposedof，theydidnotresist，butsilentlydepartedfromtherichterritorieswhichtheircareandindustryhadformed。
　　Rightlyorwrongly，butaccordingtotheirlights，theystrovetoteachtheIndianpopulationallthebestpartoftheEuropeanprogressofthetimesinwhichtheylived，shieldingthemsedulouslyfromallcontactwithcommercialism，andstandingbetweenthemandtheSpanishsettlers，whowouldhavetreatedthemasslaves。Theseweretheircrimes。
　　Fortheirambitions，whoshallsearchthehumanheart，orsaywhattheirsuperiorsinEuropemay，orperhapsmaynot，havehadinview?Whenallissaidanddone，andnowtheirworkisover，andalltheyworkedforlostashappensusuallywiththeeffortsofdisinterestedmen，whatcrimesoterriblecanmencommitastostandupfornearupontwocenturiesagainstthatslaverywhichdisgracedeveryAmericanpossessionoftheSpanishcrown?Nothingisbadenoughforthosewhodaretospeakthetruth，andthosewhoputtheirtheoriesintopracticeareadisgracetoprogressiveandadequatelytaxedcommunities。
　　Nearlytwohundredyearstheystrove，andnowtheirterritories，oncesopopulousandsowellcultivated，remain，ifnotadesert，yetdelivereduptothatfierce
　　growing，subtropicalAmericanplantlifewhichseemsasifitfightswithmanforthepossessionofthelandinwhichitgrows。ForabriefperiodthoseGuaranisgatheredtogetherinthemissions，ruledoverbytheirpriests，treatedlikegrown
　　upchildren，yetwithakindnesswhichattachedthemtotheirrulers，enjoyedahalf
　　Arcadian，half
　　monasticlife，reachingtojustsomuchofwhattheworldcallscivilizationastheycouldprofitbyandusewithpleasuretothemselves。Acommonwealthwheremoneywasunknowntothemajorityofthecitizens，acuriousexperimentbyself
　　devotedmen，asortofdroppingdownadiving
　　bellinthefloodofprogresstokeepaliveapopulationwhichwouldotherwisesoonhavebeensuffocatedinitsmuddywaves，wasdoomedtofailurebytheverynatureofmankind。
　　Foredoomedtofailure，ithasdisappeared，leavingnothingofalikenaturenowupontheearth。TheIndians，too，havevanished，gonetothatlimbowhichnodoubtisfittedforthem。Gentle，indulgentreader，ifyoureadthisbook，doubtnotaninstantthateverythingthathappenshappensforthebest；doubtnot，forinsodoingyouwoulddoubtofallyousee
　　ourlife，ourprogress，andyourowninfallibility，whichatallhazardsmustbekeptinviolate。ThereforeinmyimperfectsketchIhavenotdweltentirelyonthestrictconcatenationaftertheBradshawfashionofthehardfactsofthehistoryoftheJesuits。
　　Ihavenotsetdowntoomanydates，forthesettingdownofdatesinmuchprofusionis，afterall，anadcaptandumappealtothesuffragesofthosesoft
　　headedcreatureswhoarestyledseriousmen。
　　This，ofcourse，appliestothepossessionsofallEuropeanStatesinAmericaequallywithSpain。
　　Wanderingalongtheby
　　pathsoftheforestswhichfringethemissiontowns，andsetthem，sotospeak，inthehardtropicalenamelofgreenfoliage，onwhichtimehasnolien，andbuttheartsofall
　　destroyingmanareabletodeface，Imayhavechanceduponsomepettydetailwhichmayservetopassanhouraway。
　　Atreatiseofaforgottensubjectbyalabourerunskilled，andwho，moreover，byhisverytaskchallengescompetitionwiththosewhohavewrittenonthetheme，withbetterknowledge，andperhapslesssympathy；
　　apotheraboutsomefewdiscreditedandunrememberedpriests；
　　detailsabouthalf
　　savages，who`quoi!neportaientpasdeshaultsdechausses'；therecollectionsoflongsilentridesthroughforestpaths，ablazewithflowers，andacrosswhichthetropicbirdsdartedlikeatomscutadriftfromtheapocalypse；ahotch
　　potch，salmagundi，ollapodrida，orsea
　　pieofsweetandbitter，withperhapsthebitterrulingmost，asisthewaywhenweunpackourreminiscences
　　yes，gentleandindulgentreader，that'sthehumourofit。
　　R。B。CunninghameGraham。
　　Gartmore，March30，1900。
　　ContentsChapterI
　　Earlyhistory
　　Stateofthecountry
　　Indianraces
　　Characteristicsofthedifferenttribes
　　Dobrizhoffer'sbook
　　Variousexpeditions
　　SebastianCabot
　　DonPedrodeMendoza
　　AlvarNunez
　　Hisexpeditionanditsresults
　　Otherleadersandpreachers
　　FoundingofthefirstmissionoftheSocietyofJesusChapterII
　　Earlydaysofthemissions
　　Newsettlementsfounded
　　RelationsofJesuitswithIndiansandSpanishcolonists
　　DestructionofmissionsbytheMamelucos
　　FatherMaceta
　　PadreAntonioRuizdeMontoya
　　Hisworkandinfluence
　　RetreatoftheJesuitsdowntheParanaChapterIII
　　SpainandPortugalinSouthAmerica
　　EnmitybetweenBraziliansandArgentines
　　ExpulsionofJesuitsfromParaguay
　　Struggleswiththenatives
　　FatherMendozakilled
　　DeathofFatherMontoyaChapterIV
　　DonBernardinodeCardenas，BishopofParaguay
　　Hislaboursasapostolicmissionary
　　Hisambitionsandcunning
　　Pretensionstosaintliness
　　Hisattemptstoacquiresupremepower
　　QuarrelsbetweenCardenasandDonGregorio，thetemporalGovernorChapterV
　　RenewalofthefeudbetweentheBishopandDonGregorio
　　WholesaleexcommunicationsinAsuncion
　　Cardenasin1644
　　formulateshiscelebratedchargesagainsttheJesuits
　　TheGovernor，afterlongnegotiationsandmuchdisplayofforce，ultimatelysucceedsindrivingouttheBishop
　　ForthreeyearsCardenasisindesperatestraits
　　In1648DonGregorioissuddenlydismissed，CardenaselectshimselfGovernor，andforashorttimebecomessupremeinAsuncion
　　TheJesuitsareforcedtoleavethetownandtofleetoCorrientes
　　AnewGovernorisappointedinAsuncion
　　HedefeatsCardenasonthefieldofbattle
　　Thelatterisdeprivedofhispower，anddiessoonafterasBishopofLaPazChapterVI
　　DescriptionofthemissionterritoryandtownsfoundedbytheJesuits
　　TheirendeavourstoattracttheIndians
　　Religiousfeastsandprocessions
　　AgriculturalandcommercialorganizationsChapterVII
　　CausesoftheJesuits'unpopularity
　　Descriptionofthelivesandhabitsofthepriests
　　Testimonyinfavourofthemissions
　　Theiroppositiontoslavery
　　TheirsystemofadministrationChapterVIII
　　DonJosedeAntequera
　　AppointshimselfGovernorofAsuncion
　　Unsettledstateofaffairsinthetown
　　Heiscommandedtorelinquishhisillegalpower
　　Herefuses，andresortstoarms
　　Aftersomesuccessheisdefeatedandcondemnedtobeexecuted
　　Heisshotonhiswaytothescaffold
　　RenewedhatredagainsttheJesuits
　　TheirlaboursamongtheIndiansoftheChacoChapterIX
　　TheSpanishandPortugueseattempttoforcenewlawsontheIndians
　　TheIndiansrevoltagainstthem
　　Thehopelessstrugglegoesonforeightyears
　　RuinofthemissionsChapterX
　　PositionoftheJesuitsin1761
　　DecreefortheirexpulsionsentfromSpain
　　BucarelisenttosuppressthecollegesanddriveouttheJesuits
　　Theysubmitwithoutresistance
　　AftertwohundredyearstheyareexpelledfromParaguay
　　Thecountryunderthenewrule
　　ThesystemofgovernmentpracticallyunchangedChapterXI
　　ConclusionAVanishedArcadiaBeingSomeAccountoftheJesuitsinParaguay1607to1767
　　ChapterI
　　Earlyhistory
　　Stateofthecountry
　　Indianraces
　　Characteristicsofthedifferenttribes
　　Dobrizhoffer'sbook
　　Variousexpeditions
　　SebastianCabot
　　DonPedrodeMendoza
　　AlvarNunez
　　Hisexpeditionanditsresults
　　Otherleadersandpreachers
　　FoundingofthefirstmissionoftheSocietyofJesusWiththeexceptionoftheFrenchRevolution，perhapsnoeventcausedsomuchgeneralcontroversyattheendoftheeighteenthcenturyastheexpulsionoftheJesuitsfromSpainandPortugalandtheircolonialpossessions。Asnodefinitechargeswereeverbrought，atleastinSpain，againstthemembersoftheCompanyofJesusKingCharlesIII。havingkeptthereasons`ocultasyreservadas'
　　andtheproofs`privilegiados'，curiosityistosomeextentnotsatisfiedastotherealreasonoftheirexpulsionfromtheSpanishpossessionsinAmerica。
　　ItisalmostimpossibletounderstandnowadaysthefeelingswhichpossessedtheaveragemaninregardtotheJesuitsfromthemiddleofthelastcenturytillarelativelyshorttimeago。
　　AllthereallygreatworkdonebytheSocietyofJesusseemedtohavebeenforgotten，andeveryvulgarfablewhichitwaspossibletoinventtotheirprejudicefoundreadyacceptanceuponeveryside。Nothingwastooabsurdtobebelieved。
　　FromthecalumniesoftheJanseniststothefolliesofEugeneSuethemassofaccusation，invective，andinnuendokeptonincreasinginintensity。Indiscriminateabuseandunreasoninghatred，mixedwithfear，seemtohavepossessedallminds。EvenPascalconfessesinapostscripttotheninthProvincialLetterthat`afterhavingwrittenmyletterIreadtheworksofFathersBarryandBinet。'
　　IfsuchamanasPascalcouldbesogrosslyunfairastowriteacriticismonworkswhichhehadnotread，whatcanbeexpectedfromthenon
　　judicialanduncriticalpublicwhichtakesallupontrust?
　　FromJapantotheinteriorofBoliviathereisscarcelyacountryinwhichtheJesuitshavenotlabouredassiduously，andinwhichtheyhavenotshedtheirbloodfreelywithouthopeofreward，yetitwouldrequiremuchtimeandalengthycataloguetoenumeratethelistofsatiricalandcalumniousworkswhichhaveappearedagainsttheminalmosteverylanguageinEurope。Ofthese，perhapsthemostcelebratedisthewell
　　known`MonarquiadelosSolipsos'，byPadreMelchiorInshoffer，anex
　　Jesuit，whodescribesthecompanyintheworstpossibleterms。
　　Itisinterestingchieflyonaccountoftheportraitsofwell
　　knownpeopleofthetime1615to1648，asPopeClementVIII。，FranciscoSuarez，ClaudioAquaviva，andothers，veiledundereasilydistinguishablepseudonyms。
　　Theobjectofthewriter，asthetitleindicates，istoshowthattheJesuitsendeavouredtoturnalltotheirownprofit。Inthis，ifitwasthecase，theydonotseemtohavebeengreatlydifferentfromeveryotherassociatedbodyofmen，whetherlayorclerical。ThecelebratedSpanishproverb，`Jesuitayseahorca，cuentalehace'，meaning，EvenifaJesuitishunghegetssomegoodoutofit，mayjustaswellbeappliedtomembersofotherlearnedprofessionsastotheJesuits。
　　Madrid，1770。
　　Theworldhasrarelypersecutedanybodyofmenconspicuousbyitspoverty，orifithasdonesohasrarelypersecutedthemforlong。
　　TheInquisitionofSpain，violentagainstthewealthyJewsandcomfortableMoriscos，tooklittlenoticeoftheGipsies；
　　but，then，`PobrecomocuerpodeGitano'wasandisacommonsayinginSpain。
　　AsinthecaseoftheTemplars，persecutiononlybeganagainsttheJesuitswhenitbecameworthwhiletopersecutethem。IgnatiusLoyola，FranciscoXavier，andDiegoLainez，aslongastheyconfinedthemselvestopreachingandtoteaching，weresafeenough。
　　Eventheannalsoftheologicalstrife，bloodthirstyanddiscreditabletohumanityastheyare，containfewexamplesofpersecutorssuchasCalvinorTorquemada，towhom，ruthlessastheywereintheirsavageandnarrowmalignityandzealforwhattheythoughtthetruth，nosuspicionofvenalmotivesisattributed。
　　OftheJesuits'intrigues，adventures，riseandfallinEurope，muchmaybesaidinattackorinextenuation；butitisnottheintentionofthepresentworktodealwiththisaspectofthequestion。
　　ItwasinSpanishAmerica，andespeciallyinParaguayandBolivia，wherethepolicyoftheCompanyinregardtosavagenationswasmostfullydeveloped，asitwasonlytheJesuitswhoeversucceededinreclaiminganylargenumberofthenomadorsemi
　　nomadtribesofthosecountries。
　　ManyexcellentworksinFrench，andthecelebrated`ChristianismoFelicenelParaguay'oftheAbbateMuratoriinItalian，certainlyexist。
　　ButneitherFatherCharlevoix，theFrenchhistorianofthemissions，norMuratoriwaseverinParaguay，andboththeirbookscontainthefaultsandmistakesofmen，howeverexcellentandwellintentioned，writingofcountriesofwhichtheywerepersonallyignorant。
　　Bothgiveagoodaccountofthecustomsandregimenofthemissions，butbothseemtohavebelievedtooreadilyfabulousaccountsofthefloraandfaunaofParaguay。Thefactofhavinglistenedtooreadilytoafableaboutanunknownanimalinnowaydetractsfromthegeneralveracityofanauthorofthebeginningoftheeighteenthcentury，forinallotherrespectsexceptnaturalhistoryCharlevoixkeepswithintheboundsofprobability，thoughofcourseasaJesuitheholdsabriefforthedoingsoftheCompanyinParaguay。
　　Muratoriismorerarelyledintoextravagances，butisconcernedinthemainwiththereligioussideoftheJesuits，asthetitleofhisbookindicates。
　　ThoughinthisrespectCharlevoixisnotsocredulousasPadreRuizdeMontoyaandtheolderwriters，heyetrepeatsthestoryofthebirdthatcleansthealligator'steeth，themagicvirtuesofthetapir'snails，andmanyothers。
　　SeeCharlevoix，vol。i。，bk。i。，p。27，Paris，1756。
　　[Thestoryofthebirdthatcleanstheteethofalligatorsisverynearlytrue
　　`Pluvianusaegyptius'hasasymbioticrelationshipwithcrocodilesinpartsofAfrica，andsimilarrelationshipsexistthroughoutthenaturalworld。
　　A。L。，1998。]
　　ManyotherFrenchwriters，asRaynal，Montesquieu，andVoltaire，havetreatedofParaguayunderJesuitrule，buttheirwritingsarefoundedonhearsayevidence。AGerman，FatherDobrizhoffer，standsalone。
　　Hisdelightful`HistoryoftheAbipones，anEquestrianPeopleofParaguay'，isperhapsthemostcharmingbookdealingwiththesubject。