Aftersomesuccessheisdefeatedandcondemnedtobeexecuted
Heisshotonhiswaytothescaffold
RenewedhatredagainsttheJesuits
TheirlaboursamongtheIndiansoftheChacoFromthedepartureofCardenasin1650，toabout1720，wasthehalcyonperiodoftheJesuitmissionsinParaguay。
DuringthattimethingswentoninthemissionsafterthefashionIhaveattemptedtodescribe。Thepeoplepassedtheirtimeintheirsemi
communisticlabour，sweetenedbyconstantprayer；
theirpastorsmayormaynothavedoneallthatwaspossibletoinstructtheminthescienceofthetime；but，still，theIndianpopulationdidnotdecrease，asitwasobservedtodofromyeartoyearinothercountriesofAmericaandintheSpanishsettlementsinParaguay。
DuringthisperiodtheJesuitshadmaderepeatedefforts，butwithoutmuchrealsuccess，toestablishmissionsamongstthewildequestriantribesintheGranChacouponthewesternbankoftheriverParaguay。
Nothing，apparently，pointedtotheeventswhich，beginningintheyear1721，finallyledtotheirexpulsion，or，atleast，furnishedadditionalreasonstoKingCharlesIII。toincludetheJesuitsinParaguayinthegeneralexpulsionoftheirorderfromthedominionsoftheSpanishcrown。
P。Cardiel`DeclaraciondelaVerdad'，p。449，quotingfromXarque`LaVidaApostolicadelPadreJosephCataidino'，ZaragocaporJuandeYpa，1664，says，rethediminutionoftheIndiansundertheSpanishrule:`ParaqueseveacuantarazontieneelJuezreparesequesegunlospadronesdelsiglopasadovg。1600
1700
enlaciudadyjurisdiciondeSantiagodelEsterohabia80，000Indiosyahora，apenashayochenta。EnlajurisdiciondeCordobadeTucuman，habia40，000；hoynohay40。
EnlajurisdicionycercaniasdelaciudaddeBuenosAyres，habia30，000；hoyapenashay30。'
Inthatyear1721DonJosedeAntequerawasappointedtosucceedtheGovernorofParaguay，DonDiegodelosReyesBalmaceda，whenhistermofofficehadexpired。Thesituationwas，asoftenhappenedintheSpanishcolonies，complicatedbyaninquiryintotheconductoftheGovernorBalmaceda，inprogressattheHighCourtofCharcas，whichcourt，asinthecaseofCardenas，actedmostcautiously，bothonaccountofitsposition，sofarfromParaguay，andonaccountoftheinordinateprocrastinationofeverythingconnectedwiththeSpanishlaw。IfBalmacedawerecondemned，thenAntequerawouldstepintohisshoesatonce。If，ontheotherhand，hewereacquitted，Antequerawouldhavetowaituntilthelegaltimeofofficehadrunitscourse。Sofarallwasinorder，buttheHighCourt，eitherindoubtofitsownwisdomorofitspowertopronouncejudgmentdefinitely，hadissuedadecreesuspendingBalmacedafromhisfunctions，butwithouteithercondemningoracquittinghim。
This，too，theydidafterhavingtakenmorethanthreeyearstosifttheevidenceandsummonwitnesses，whoeitherhadtocrossthecountryonamuleattheimminentriskofdeathbyfamineorbyIndians，or，havingdescendedtheriverPlatetoBuenosAyreswhichjourneyoftentookamonth，waitforashiptotakethemroundCapeHorntoLima，andfromthencetraveltoCharcasonmuleback，followingoneoftheIncas'roads。
DonJosedeAntequerayCastrowasbornatLima，andbeing，asFatherCharlevoixsays，anable，eloquent，butvainandmostambitiousman，endowedwithplentyofimagination，sometalent，andbutlittleballast，wasnotcontenttowaittilltimeshouldplacehiminhisgovernorship。So，hearingthatajudgeinquisitorwastobesenttoParaguaytoinquireintothecase，andhavinggraduatedhimselfandheldthepositionofprocuratorfiscalintheCharcas，hesolicitedthepost，andbysomeerrorwasappointed。
Charlevoix，vol。ii。，livrexvii。
NosoonerwastheappointmentsignedthanstraighthepostedofftoParaguay。
AshehadstudiedinthecollegeoftheJesuitsatLaPlata，hisfirstvisitwastothereductionsoftheJesuits。
Themissionariesreceivedhimwell，andsentatroopofIndianstoescorthimtotheboundaryoftheirterritories，neversuspectingwhatAntequerawasabouttodo。HavingheardthattheGovernor，Balmaceda，wasatadistantportupontheParana，AntequerahastenedtoAsuncion。
Arrivedthere，thesamemadnessofauthorityseemstohavecomeonhimwhichcamefiftyorsixtyyearsbeforehistimeonCardenas。
FindingnospecialseatreservedforhimintheCathedral，hepubliclyreprovedthedean，tothegreatscandaloftheworshippers。ThisseemsnottohavelosthimtherespectofthecitizensofAsuncion，whowereaccustomedtoallkindsofvagaries，bothoftheirrulersandtheirspiritualguides。
Nosortofviolencetolawsandcustomsseemsevertoaffectapeopleunlesstheviolenceisdonetobenefitthem，wheninstantlytheyriseagainstthebreakerofthelaw，howeverheavilyitmaybearuponthemselves。
ButthedevotedcitizensofAsuncionweresoaccustomedtoperpetualturmoilthat，asDeanFunessays，`theyonlystoppedwhenitwasabsolutelynecessaryforthemtobreathe。'
EventheoverpraisedcitizensofAthensatthetimeofPericles，whomusthavebeeninalltheirwayssoliketheAtheniansofto
day，werenotmoreinstantintheAgoraordiligentinwritingpatriots'namesonoyster
shellsthanthenoisymobofhalf
breedpatriotswhointhesandystreetsofAsuncionwereeveragitating，alwaysassembling，anddoingeverythingwithintheirpowertoshowtheworldtheperfectpictureofademocraticState。
StrangethatsuchturbulentandpatrioticpeopleshouldhavebeenancestorsofthosewhomI，aftertheterminationofthewarwithBuenosAyresandBrazilin1870，knewaslethargicanddowntrodden，asifthegreatdictator，Dr。Francia，whomthecountrypeople，speakinginbatedbreath，called`ElDifunto'，hadstilloppressedtheland。
IntotheturbulenthotbedofAsuncionfellAntequera，oneofthoseCreolesofPeruwho，bornwithtalentandwelleducated，seemed，eitherfromthecircumstancesoftheirbirthorthesurroundingsamongstwhichtheypassedtheiryouth，todifferasentirelyfromtheSpaniardsasiftheyhadbeenIndiansandnotCreolesofwhiteblood。
LikeCardenas，Antequerawasendowedwitheloquence；but，unlikeCardenas，hesetnostoreoneloquenceuponitsownaccount，butonlyuseditforhisownadvancementintheworld。FindingtheGovernorabsentfromAsuncionandlyingunderadecreesuspendinghimfromallhisfunctions，itseemsatoncetohaveoccurredtoAntequeratoseizehisplace。Onthisaccount，havingingratiatedhimselfwithsomeofthoseopposedtoBalmaceda，heraisedanarmy，andsenttoseizehim；
buttheGovernor，havingnoticeoftheplot，escapedtoCorrientes，andAntequerainstantlyassumedhispost。ThiswastoomuchfortheViceroyofPeru，who，thoughhehadbefriendedAntequerainthepast，hadsomerespectforlaw。ImmediatelyheissuedadecreereplacingBalmacedainthegovernorship，andorderingAntequeratogivehimbackthepowerhehadusurped。ThisAntequerahadnothoughtofdoing，andheembarkedonacareerofviolencewhichinducedsometobelieveheintendedtoproclaimhimselfanindependentking。
Whetherthiswasorwasnotthecase，astateofthingsaroseinParaguaymorepandemoniceventhaninthegoodoldtimesofCardenas。
TheJesuits，nothavingseentheirwaytosustainthecauseoftheirex
pupil，wereexpelledoncemore1725，andasbeforetookshipforCorrientesamongstthetearsofthepeople，theirhistorianssay，
andasIbanezandthosewhohavewrittenagainstthemaffirmasstrongly，amongstuniversaljoy。CertainitisthatinAsunciontheyplayedadifferentpartfromthatplayedbytheminthemissionterritory，andnodoubtmixed，asdidtheotherOrdersofreligion，intheintrigueswhichneverseemedtoceaseintherestlesscapitalofParaguay。
Funes，`EnsayodelaHistoriaCivildelParaguay'，etc。，vol。ii。，cap。v。，p。231。
DelTecho，Lozano，Guevara，Charlevoix，etc。，etc。
NotbeingcontentwiththeexpulsionoftheJesuits，AntequeradefeatedseveralgeneralssentagainsthimbytheViceroyofPeru，andbya`coupdemain'tookprisonertheex
GovernorBalmaceda，havingsurprisedhiminhishouseinCorrientes，andcarriedhimbacktoAsuncionunderacloseguard。Theusualreignofterrorthenbegan，andeverythingfellintoconfusion，tillatlasttheKingPhilipV。
in1726commandedthattheJesuitsshouldbereinstatedintheircollegeinAsuncion，andthatthemissionsshouldbetakenfromthejurisdictionoftheGovernorsofParaguayandplacedunderthecontroloftheGovernoroftheRiverPlate，ashadbeenpreviouslydoneinthecaseoftheotherJesuitmissionsbeyondtheUruguay。
ButSpainwasfaraway，andononepretextoranothersomuchdelayoccurredthatitwasnottillMarch18，1728，thattheJesuitswerereinstatedinthecollegeinAsuncion，whichtheywerenowfatedtoholdbutforalittlespace。AtlasttheViceroyofPeru，theMarquessofCastelFuerte，sentDonBrunodeZavalawithasufficientarmyandsixthousandIndiansfromthemissionsagainsttheusurperAntequera，whofledforrefugetotheFranciscanconventinCordoba，whereheremained，till，findinghispositionquiteuntenable，hefledtoCharcas，wherehewasarrested，andsenttoLimatoawaithistrial。Fouryearshewaitedinperfectliberty，goingandcomingaboutthetownasitbestpleasedhim，whilsttheHighCourtheardevidence，wrotetoMadrid，receivedinstructionsfromtheKing，andgenerallydisplayedtheincapacitywhichinallageshasbeenthechiefdistinctivefeaturesofeverycourtoflaw。
In1731anordercamefromMadridtoexecutehim，andwithoutlossoftimehewasplacedonahorsedrapedallinblack，and，precededbyaheraldandguardedbyatroopofguards，takenouttothepublicsquaretobebeheaded。Butthegoodpeopleofthecapital，who，inthefashionoftheworld，wouldnotmostprobablyhavestirredasteptosaveasaint，weremightilyconcernedtoseearoguereceivehisduedeserts。Thestreetswerefilledwiththousandscryingout`Pardon!'stonesflew，andtheaffairlookedsothreateningthattheViceroyhadtogetonhorsebackandrideamongstthecrowdtocalmthetumult。Thepeoplemethimwithashowerofstones，andhe，fearingtheprisonerwouldescape，calledonhisguardstofireuponhim。FourballspiercedAntequera，whofelldyingfromhishorseintothearmsoftwoaccompanyingpriests。
ThusthemostturbulentofalltheGovernorsofParaguayceasedtroubling，andtheexecutioner，afterhavingcutoffhishead，exhibitedittothepeoplefromthescaffold，withtheusualmoralaphorismastothetraitor'sfate。
ThetriumphoftheJesuitsinAsuncionwasbutmomentary，followingthegeneralruleoftriumphs，whichtaketheirwayalongthestreetwithtrumpetsandwithdrumsamidtheacclamationsofthecrowd，andthen，thepageantover，thechiefactorsfallbackagainintothestrugglesandthecommonplaceofordinarylife。
Betweentheyears1728and1730thepeopleofAsuncionhadbeenmoreeagerinpursuitoflibertythanwastheirusualwont。
Thecitizensweredividedintocamps，anddailyfoughtamongstthesandystreetsandshadyorange
borderedlaneswhichradiatefromalmosteveryquarterofthetown。Therivalbandsofmadmenwerestyledrespectivelythe`Communeros'andthe`Contrabandos'，andtothefirstAntequerathroughouthisresidenceinLimagavealltheassistanceinhispower。Neitherofthetwoseemstohavehadthemostelementaryideaofrealpatriotism，oranywishforanythingbeyondthemomentarytriumphofthemiserablepartytowhicheachbelonged。
Onedoctrinetheyheldincommon
ahatredoftheJesuits，andoftheinfluencetheyexercisedagainsttheenslavingoftheIndians，whichwastheaimof`Contrabandos'andof`Communeros'alike。
Oneoftherivalchieftainsofthefactionshavingfledforrefugetothemissions，thepeopleofAsuncionassembledtroopstotakehimfromhissanctuarybyforce。ArriveduponthefrontieroftheJesuitterritory，theyfoundthemselvesopposedbyanarmyoftheIndians，wholookedsoformidablethatthetroopsretiredtoAsuncion，andtheleaders，foiledinthefield，andnothavingforcetoattacktheJesuitsintheirownterritory，setvigorouslytoinflamethemindsofthepeopleagainstthem。
Libertyiscommonlyonlyattainedbyblood。Itis，Ithink，quitelegitimateinplayingthelibertygametokillallwhodisagreewithyourparty，ortobanishthem。
Inthesedegeneratetimes，loversoflibertyhavetostopshortatcalumny，justasiftheyweremeretyrants。
Theyworkedwithsuchsuccessthatwhen，in1732，thenewsofAntequera'sdeathreachedParaguay，thepeople，inflamedwiththeideathathewassacrificedtothehatredoftheJesuits，roseandexpelledthemonceagain。TheconstantexpulsionsoftheJesuitsfromAsuncion，theturmoilsintheState，andthefactthateverynowandthentheIndianshadtotakearmstodefendtheirterritory，actedmostmischievouslyonthereductions，bothinParaguayandinthosebetweentheParanaandUruguay。WholetribesofIndians，recentlyconverted，wentbacktothewoods；landwasleftquiteuntilled，andontheoutskirtsofthemissionterritorythewarliketribesofIndians，stillunsubdued，raidedthecattle，killedtheneophytes，andcarriedofftheirwivesasslaves。Butstill，inspiteofall，theIndiansclungtotheirpriests
astheysaid，fromaffectionforthereligiouscaretheyhadbestowed，butquiteaspossiblyfromtheinstinctiveknowledgethat，betweentheraidingPortugueseandthemaddeningpatriotsinAsuncion，theironlysafeguardagainstslaverylayintheJesuits。
MostfortunatelyforParaguayatthetime1734，DonBrunodeZavala，perhapsthemostenergeticoftheSpaniardsintheKing'sserviceinAmerica，wasViceroyintheRiverPlate。HavingreceivedorderstoquietthedissensionsinAsuncion，inspiteofbeingnearlyseventyyearsofage，andhavinglostanarmintheItalianwars，hemarchedatonce，takingbutfortysoldiersinhistrain，as，warbeingimminentwithPortugal，itwasnotsafetodepletetheslenderforcesintheRiverPlate。ArrivedinParaguay，heenteredtheJesuitmissionsattheReductionofSanIgnacioGuazu，and，havingappealedtotheprovincialoftheOrderforhisaid，speedilyfoundhimselfattheheadofalargearmyoftheIndians。AftersomeskirmisheshewasinapositiontoenterAsuncionandforcethepeopletoreceivehimastheirGovernor。Byoneofthoserevulsionssofrequentinacrowdofreasonablemen，thepeoplebeggedhimtoinvitetheJesuitstoreturn。Theydidso1735，andwerereceivedinstate，theGovernor，theBishop，andthechiefclergyandofficialsoftheplaceattendingMassintheCathedralwithlightedcandlesintheirhands。
Hisdutyover，DonBrunodeZavalasetoffforChile，wherehehadbeenappointedGovernor，andonhisjourney，atthetownofSantaFe，diedsuddenly，exhaustedwiththebattles，marchingsandcountermarchings，rebellions，Indianincursions，theturbulenceofthepeopleinthetowns，andtheothercareswhichformedthedailydutiesofaSpanishofficerinSouthAmericaatthemiddleoftheeighteenthcentury。
ThenexttenyearswereonthewholepeacefulandprofitablefortheIndiansofthemissionsandfortheJesuits。
TheIndiansfollowedquietlytheirArcadianlives，exceptwhennowandthenacontingentofthemwasrequiredtoassistinanyofthewars，whichatthattimewereceaselessthroughouttheeasternpartofSouthAmerica。TheJesuitspushedouttheirspiritualfrontiers，advancingonthenorthamongsttheTobatinesofthewoods，andonthewestendeavouringtospreadtheircoloniesamongsttheChiriguanasandotheroftheChacotribes。
`Guazu'=`great'inGuarani。Itisfrequentinplace
namesbothinParaguayandCorrientes。
DeanFunes，vol。ii。，cap。xii。，p。372，saysofZavala:
`Porcaractereramanso，perouso/algunasvecesdeseveridad，porquesabiaqueparaservirbienaloshombresesprecisodecuandoencuandotenervalordedesagradarlos……
Lapobrezaenquemuriodespuesdetantosan~osdemando，esunapruebaclasicadequenoestabacontagiadoconesacommunflaquezadelosquegobieranenAmerica。'
FromtheconquestofPeru，whenthoseIndianswhohadbeenbutrecentlybroughtundertheempireoftheIncasretreatedintotheChaco，ithadbeentherefugeofthefiercestandmostindomitabletribes。
TheSpanishcolonists，theardourofthefirstconquestspent，hadsettleddownmainlytoagriculturalpursuits。Fewhadefficientfirearms，andonthewhole，thoughturbulentamongstthemselves，theyhadbecomeunwarlike。TheverynameofthewildIndiansLosIndiosBravos
spreadterrorupanddownthefrontiers。Thisterror，whichIrememberstillprevalentbothinMexicoandonthepampasoftheArgentineRepublic，notmorethanfive
and
twentyyearsago，waskeenerupontheconfinesoftheChacothananywhereinSouthAmerica，except，perhaps，inChile，uponthefrontiersofAraucania。
InthelongandinterestingletterofJaimeAguilar，theprovincialoftheJesuitsinParaguay，totheKingofSpainPhilipV。，1737，occursthefollowingpassage:
`Ysialgunavez，quenosonmuchas，seanimanlosEspan~olesaperseguirycastigarlosIndios，muchoshuyendelatierra，oseesconden，pornoiralaentrada……Otrasvezes
quandolleganalla/，elEnemigolesquitanlaCavallada，dexandolosapieysevuelvenacasacomopueden。'
ThisIhaveseenmyself，notthirtyyearsago，onthefrontiersoftheArgentineRepublic。ThepopularArgentinepoem，`LaVueltadeMartinFierro'，byJoseHernandezBuenosAyres，1880，hasanillustrationshowinganexpeditionagainsttheIndiansreturning。
Someofthemenareonfoot；othersareridingtwoonthesamehorse，andofficersareanimatingtheirmenwiththeflatoftheirswords。
TheTobas，Mataguayos，Lules，Aguilotas，Abipones，andtherest，togetherwiththewarlikenationsoftheVilelasandtheGuaycurus，hadfromthefirstrejectedChristianity。Attemptshadseveraltimesbeenmadetoestablishsettlementsamongstthem，buttheferocityofallthetribes，theirnomadhabits
formanyofthempassedtheirlivesonhorseback
andthepeculiarnatureoftheircountry，avastdomainofswamp，piercedbygreatriversquiteunknowntotheSpanishsettlers，hadhithertocombinedtorendereveryeffortvain。
But，notwithstandingthis，theJesuitslabouredincessantly，andnotwithoutsuccess，amongstthewildestoftheChacotribes。
ThegentleandeccentricFatherMartinDobrizhofferpassedmanyyearsamongsttheAbipones，ofwhomhewrotehischarmingbook。Heenumeratesmanytribes，ofwhomhesays`theseareforthemostconvertedbyus，andsettledintowns。'
`AccountoftheAbipones'，p。125。
Nothing，perhaps，displaystheJesuitsattheirbest，morethantheireffortsintheChaco。Theenormousterritorywassparselypeopledbyaboutseventytribes，1whereoftherewerefifteenorsixteenofconsiderablesize。Hardlytwotribesspokedialectsbywhichtheycouldcommunicatewithoneanother，andalmosteveryoneofthemlivedinastateofwarfare，notonlywiththeSpaniards，butwiththeneighbouringtribes。TheinventoriespreservedbyBrabo2
showusthetownofPaisanesintheChaco，withitsroughwoodenhouses，andtheJesuits'habitationinthemiddleoftheplace，stockaded，andwithoutdoors，andwithbutnarrowopeningsinthewall，throughwhichthemissionariescrept。Theinsideofthehousecontainedfiveorsixroughrooms，almostunfurnished，butforafewreligiousbooksandaplentifulsupplyofguns。3
Theirbedswereofunvarnishedwood，withcurtainsofroughcottonspunbytheIndians。Sometimestheyhadasofaofleatherslungbetweenfourstakes，arackformedicinebottles，andforthewineforMass。
Lastly，onepriest，inthesettlementamongsttheToquitistines，hadamonghisbookscopiesofCervantesandQuevedo；onehopeshereadthemhalfsmiling，halfwithatearinhiseye，foryourtruehumourisakintotears。Perhaps，reading`DonQuixote'or`ElGranTacano'，thepoorpriestforgothistroubles，and，wanderingwithSanchoinLaManchanoak
woodsorthroughCastilianuplands，thoughthewasinSpain。4
1Brabo，`Inventarios'，p。ix。
2FranciscoXavierBrabo，`Inventariosdelosbieneshalladosa/laexpulsiondelosJesuitas'Madrid，1872。
3Thelistsofcannons，guns，andarmsofallkindsintheinventoriesoftheChacotowns，preservedbyBrabo，servetoshownotonlythedangerstowhichtheJesuitswereexposed，butalsohowthoroughlytheJesuitsunderstoodtheficklenatureofthosewithwhomtheylived。
4Anotherpriest，thelistofwhoseeffectsBrabohaspreservedinhis`Inventarios'，hadabookcalled`ElAliviodeTristes'。
EvenaProtestantmaybeexcusedforhopingthatitmeriteditstitle。
ThroughouttheterritoryoftheGranChacotherewerebutsevenreductionsestablishedbytheJesuits。ThesewereSanJosedeBilelas，withitslittletownPetacas；SanJuanBautistadelosIristines，withitstownletofthesamename；SanEstebandelosLules，withthetownofMiraflores；NuestraSenoradelBuenConsejodelosOmarapas，capitalOrtega；NuestraSenoradePilardelosPaisanes，withMacapilloasitscentre；NuestraSenoradelRosariodelosTobas，withitschiefplacecalledSanLucas；and，lastly，theestablishmentamongsttheAbipones，knownasLaConcepcion。InallthesemissionstheJesuitslivedinconstantperiloftheirlives。Inreadingtheiroldchroniclesonefindstherecordsoftheirobscureandhalf
forgottenmartyrdoms，theirsufferings，andthebriefrecordoftheirdeathsbyanarroworaclub。In1711FatherCavallero，withallhisfollowing，wasslainbythesavagePinzocas。In1717FatherRomero，having，asaJesuitwritersays，`nothingbutmoralforcebehindhim，'
wasslainwithtwelvecompanionsoftheGuaranisofParaguay。
In1718FathersArcoandBlende，SylvaandMaceo，receivedtheirdusted
overmartyrs'crowns。
CretineauJoly，tomev。，chap。ii。，p。95。Yourmoralforceisexcellentinacivilizedcountry；butyourmodernmissionaryusuallypreferssomethingmoreinaccordancewiththespiritofthetimes。
RightupthewesternbankoftheriverParaguay，intheoldmaps，thecrossesmarkthesiteswhereJesuitswereslain。Thattheyalldiedtofurthercraftyschemes，orforsomehiddenpurposeofaMachiaveliannature，evenaDominicanwillscarcelyurge。Thattheydidgood
moreorlessgoodthanProtestantfanaticsofthesamekidneymighthaveachieved
itwereinvidioustoinquire。Thatwhichiscertainisthattheyweresingle
heartedmen，faithfuluntotheendtowhattheythoughtwasright，faithfuleventothesheddingoftheirownblood，whichis，onemaybelieve，thewayinwhichthescripturalinjunctionshouldberightlyread。
Inthedimfuture，whensomeshadowofcommon
sensedawnsontheworld，andwhenmenrecognisethatitisbettertoletothersfollowtheirdestinyasitbestpleasesthem，withouttheofficiousinterferenceoftheirfellows，itmaybethattheywillsayallmissionariesofwhatsoeversectorcongregationshouldhavestayedathome，andnotgonegaddingtothedesertplacesoftheearthseekingtoremedytheerrorsoftheirGodbytheirexertions；butwhilsttheidealstillremainsofsacrificewhichmay，forallIknow，beuselessinitself，orevenharmful，theymustperforceallowtheJesuitsinParaguayhighrank，orelsebestultified。
ButintheChacotheJesuitsfoundconditionsmostdifferentfromthoseprevailingintheirmissionsbetweentheUruguayandParana。
Insteadofopenplains，vastswamps；insteadofdocilesemi
ArcadiansliketheGuaranis，whoalmostworshippedthem，fiercenomadhorsemen，brokenintoahundredlittletribes，alwaysatwar，andcaringlittleforreligionofanysortorkind。Again，thereseemsintheChacotohavebeennomeansofamassinganykindofwealth，asalltheterritorywasquiteuncultivatedandinavirginstate；but，still，thesettlementshadexistedlongenoughforcattletoincrease。
Lastly，theincursionsofthebarbaroustribeswereaconstantmenacebothtotheJesuitsandtheirneophytes。YetintheirindefatigablewaytheJesuitsmadeconsiderableprogressamongsttheChacotribes，asboththecurious`HistoryoftheAbipones'byFatherDobrizhofferandtheinventoriespreservedbyBraboprove。
Thetotalnumberofcattlewas78，171，asagainst698，353inthetownsoftheGuaranis。SeeBrabo，`Inventariosdelosbieneshalladosa/laexpulsiondelosJesuitas'，Appendix，p。668。
`HistoryoftheAbipones'，fromtheLatinofMartinDobrizhoffer，London，1822。
ItisacuriouscircumstancethatinthemissionsintheChacotherewerenegroslaves，thoughintheParaguayanmissionstheywereunknown。IntheinventoryofthetownofSanLucasappearthefollowingentries，undertheheadof`NegrosEsclavos':
`Justo，quesirvedecapatazenelcampo；sera/deedaddeveinteysietean~os，maso/menossegunsuaspecto。'
`Item，Pedro，sera/dediezyseisan~osyesmediofatuo。'
`Item，Jose/Felix，sera/deunmesymedio。'
BesidestheirsevenestablishmentsintheGranChaco，theyhadthreeestablishmentsinthenorthofParaguayinthegreatwoodswhichfringethecentralmountainrangeofthecountry，knownastheCordilleradeM'baracayu。Thesemissions，calledSanJoaquindelTaruma，SanEstanislao，andBelen，werequiteapartfromalltheothermissionsoftheGuaranis，fardistantfromtheChaco，andremovedbyanenormousdistancefromthoseoftheOrderintheMoxosandamongsttheChiquitos，forming，asitwere，anoasisintherecessesoftheTarumensianwoods。
Thesethreereductions，foundedrespectivelyin1747，1747，and1760，were，astheirdatesindicate，theswansongoftheJesuitsinParaguay。
FoundedastheywerefarfromtheSpanishsettlements，theywerequiteremovedfromtheintriguesandinterferencesoftheSpanishsettlers，whichwerethecurseoftheothermissionsontheParana。
TheTobatinesIndianswereofadifferentclasstotheGuaranis，thoughpossiblyofthesamestockoriginally。NothavingcomeincontactuntilrecentyearswiththeSpaniards，andhavinghadtwofierceandprolongedwarswiththenearestsettlements，theyhadremainedmoreintheirprimitiveconditionthananyoftheIndianswithwhomtheJesuitshadcomeincontactinParaguay。
DuringtheshortperiodofJesuitruleamongstthem1746
1767
thingsseemtohavegoneoninahalf
Arcadianway。InSanJoaquin，Dobrizhoffer，ashesayshimself，devotedeightyearsofunregrettedlabourtotheIndians。MostcertainlyhewasoneoftheJesuitswhounderstoodtheIndiansbest，andhisdescriptionsofthemandtheirlifeareamongthemostdelightfulwhichhavebeenpreserved。
HetellsoftheromanticbutfruitlesssearchduringeighteenmonthsthroughouttheforestsoftheTarumabyFathersYegros，Escandon，Villagarcia，andRodriguez，fortheItatineswhohadleftthereductionofNuestraSenoradeSantaFe，andhadhiddeninthewoods。
Though1747wasthedateofthefinalfoundingofthesereductions，asearlyas1697aboutfourhundredIndianswerediscoveredinthewoodsoftheTarumabyFathersRoblesandXimenes，andestablishedinthemissionofNuestraSenoradeFe；
butintheyear1721theyallreturnedtothewoods，afamineandanoutbreakofthesmall
poxhavingfrightenedthem。
Afterbeingagainestablishedinamission，andagainhavingleftit，in1746，theywereestablisheddefinitelyatSanJoaquin。
DobrizhoffercallstheTobatinesbythenameofItatines。
CharlevoixandothersrefertothemasTobatines。
Then，commentinguponthestrangenessofallaffairssublunary，herelatesthataccidentatlengtheffectedwhatlabourcouldnotdo。
In1746FatherSebastiandeYegros，afterasearchoffortydays，cameontheIndians
asitwere，directedbyProvidence，or，aswenowsay，accident。Hebuiltatownforthem，and，asDobrizhoffersays，`assembledtheminChristianpolity。'
Tothenew
foundedvillagecattleofeverykindweresent，withclothes
useful，ofcourse，tothosewhohadneverwornthem
axes，andfurniture，andlastlyafewmusicmasters，withoutwhosehelpthosewhobuildcitiesspendtheirtoilinvain。
`AccountoftheAbipones'，p。54。
Tothenewtowninwhichthesimple
heartedpriestremainedeightyears，in1753，cameDonCarlosMorphi，anIrishman，andGovernorofParaguay；
and，havingstayedfivedayswithDobrizhoffer，departed，marvellingattheaccuracywithwhichthenew
madeChristians`Cristianosnuevos'managedtheirdouble
basses，theirflageolets，theirviolins，and，ingeneral，alltheirinstruments，whetherofmusicorofwar。
Modestly，butwithprolixity，asbefitsavirtuous，God
fearingman，thesimpleJesuitrelatesaspecialinstanceofthewayinwhichhewasenabledtoworkbothforhisowngloryandfortheprofitoftheLord。
NotfarfromSanEstanislaowassituatetheforestofM'baevera，inwhichgrewquantitiesoftreesfromwhichthe`yerba
mate'
Paraguayanteawasmade。Toreachitwasaworkofpainandtrouble，forthroughthewoodsatrackcalleda`picada'hadtobecut；
theriversweredeep，bridgeless，andhadtohavebranchesstrewedalongthetracktogiveafootingtothestrugglingmules。
In1873，whenIvisitedtheoutskirtsofthisforest，theconditionsweresimilartothosewhichDobrizhofferdescribes，withtheadditionthatthedepopulationofthecountry，owingtotherecentlongwar，hadallowedthetigerstomultiplytoanextraordinarydegree，andmyguideandmyself，afterfeedingourhorses，hadtosleepalternately，thewakerholdingthetwohorseshobbledandbridled。
AnexpeditionhavingbeensentunderacertainSpaniardcalledVillalbatocollect`yerba'，camesuddenlyuponadesertedIndianhut。
Astheyhadstartedquiteunarmed，exceptwithknivesandaxestocutdowntheboughs，apanicseizedthem，and，insteadofcollectinganyleaves，theyhurriedbacktoSanEstanislao。NosoonerdidDobrizhofferhearthenewsthanhesetouttofindtheIndians，withafewneophytes，uponhisownaccount。Havingtravelledthe`mournfulsolitudes'foreighteendays，theycameuponnosignofIndians，andreturnedfootsoreandhungry，`theimprovementofourpatiencebeingoursolerecompense。'
Thewholeoperationofcollectingandpreparingtheleavesofthe`IlexParaguayensis'，tomakethe`yerba
mate'，wasmostcurious。
Bandsofmenusedtosallyoutforasix
months'expedition，eitherbylandwithbullock
waggons，oruponeoftheriversinflat
bottomedboats，whichwerepoledalongagainsttherapidcurrentbycrewsofsixtotwelvemen。Arrivedatthe`yerbal'，astheforestwascalled，theybuiltshelters，afterthefashionofthoseinuseamongstthelargeroftheanthropoidapes。Someroamedthewoodsinsearchofthepropertrees，theboughsofwhichtheycutdownwithmachetes，whilstothersremainedandbuiltalargeshedofcanescalleda`barbacoa'。Onthisshedwerelaidthebundlesofboughsbroughtfromthewoods，andalargefirewaslightedunderneath。
Duringforty
eighthoursifIrememberrightlythetoastingwenton；