Where,heasks,aretheIndiantribeswithwhomthecelebratedQuakertreated?
  InParaguay,ontheotherhand,atleastinthetimewhenWashburnewasMinisterfromtheUnitedStatestoLopezfrom1861to1868,thefewremainingParaguayansoftheupperclasswerealmostalldescendedfromtheintermarriagesofthefollowersofIralawiththenatives。
  ThetyrannyofLopez,andtheeffectsofthedisastrouswarwithBrazilandtheArgentineRepublic,havealmostextirpatedeveryParaguayanoftheoldstockwiththeleastpretensionstowhitedescent。
  RuizDiazdeGuzman,speakingofthemixedraceinParaguayandBuenosAyres,says:
  `Theyaregenerallygoodsoldiers,ofgreatspiritandvalour,expertintheuseofarms,especiallyinthatofthemusquet,somuchsothat,whentheygoonlongjourneys,theyareaccustomedtoliveonthegamewhichtheykillwithit。Itiscommonforthemtokillbirdsonthewing,andheisaccountedunfitforasoldierwhocannotbringdownapigeon。Theyaresuchexcellenthorsementhatthereisnoonewhoisnotabletotameandrideanunbrokencolt。
  `Thewomengenerallyarevirtuous,beautiful,andofagentledisposition。'
  IftheinhabitantsofParaguayandtheriverPlateofthosedaysweregoodmarksmen,itismorethancanbesaidoftheGauchosoftheArgentineprovincesandtheParaguayansoftwentyyearsago。
  Withoutmilitarytraining,sofarfrombeingabletobringdownapigeononthewing,fewcouldhitthetrunkofatreeatfiftypaces。
  Theusualmethodofshootingusedtobetocramasmuchammunitionintothegunasthehandwouldcontain,andthen,lookingcarefullyawayfromtheobjectaimedat,toclosebotheyesandpullthetrigger。
  Accuracyofaimwasnotsomuchconsideredasloudnessofreport。
  Asregardstheirpowersofriding,theyarestillunchanged;
  andastothevirtueoftheirwomen,virtueissolargelyamatterofconventionthatitisgenerallywisesttoleavesuchmattersuncommentedon,asitissoeasynottounderstandtheconventionsofthepeopleofwhomonewrites。
  WhilstIralawasconciliatingtheGuaranisinParaguay,CharlesV。hadnotforgottenthatthenewsettlementofBuenosAyreshadbeenabandoned。
  Aftermuchsearch,heselectedAlvarNunezCabezadeVacatobethenewGovernor;and,asAlvarNunezwasperhapsthemostremarkableofalltheSpanish`conquistadores'oftheNewWorld,itmaynotbeoutofplacetogivesomefactsofhiscareer,ashispolicyinregardtotheIndianswasalmostthatoftheJesuitsinafter
  times。
  AshehimselfinformsusinhisCommentaries,his`fatherwasthatPedrodeVerawhowonCanaria,'andhismother`DonaTeresaCabezadeVaca,anobleladyofJerezdelaFrontera。'AftertheSpanishfashionofthetime,heusedthenamesofbothhisparents。
  `ComentariosdeAlvarNunezCabezadeVaca'。PublishedbyDonAndresGonzalezBarciainhiscollectionof`EarlyHistoriansoftheIndies'Madrid,1749。
  In1529hesailedwiththeill
  fatedexpeditionofPanfilodeNarvaeztoApalacheinFlorida,wasshipwrecked,triedtoregaintheSpanishsettlementsinboats,andthencastbyastormabsolutelynaked,andwithonlythreecompanions,uponanunknownland。TakenbytheIndians,hewasmadeaslave,thenrosetobeapedlar,thenadoctor,andfinallyachief,heldsacredforhismysteriouspowers。
  AtlasthemadehiswayonfootintotheterritoryofNewSpain,notasacaptive,butastheleaderofseveralhundredIndians,whofollowedhimanddidhisbiddingasifhehadbeenborntheirchief。
  Ramblingaboutformonths,butalwaysfollowedbyhisIndians,heatlengthencounteredaSpanishhorse
  soldier,and,accostinghim,foundhehadalmostforgottenSpanishduringhistenyears'sojournwiththeIndians。Hisfirstentreaty,whenhefoundSpanishgraduallyreturningtohim,wastotheSpaniardsnottoharasshisIndianfollowing。ThenhebesoughttheIndiansthemselvestoceasetheirnomadlifeandcultivatethesoil。Inneithercasewashesuccessful,astheSpaniards,likeallotherEuropeans,heldIndianslittleremovedfromdogs。AndfortheIndians,thefewremainingareasmuchattachedtotheiroldwanderinglifeasinthedaysofthediscoveryoftheNewWorld。InallthatAlvarNunezwrites,heshowsagrandeurofsoulandspiritfardifferentfromthewritings,notonlyoftheconquerorsoftheNewWorld,butoftheconquerorsofAfricaofto
  day。Forhimnobraggingofhisexploits。1Allthathesayshesetsdownmodestlyandwithexcusesaseverynowandthen,`Mepesahablardemistrabajos',andasbefitsagentleman。
  Lastly,heleavesthereaderwhendescribinghiscaptivityinFlorida,bytellinghimquitequietlyandwithoutcommentthatGodwaspleasedtosavefromalltheseperilshimself,AlonsodelCastilloMaldonado,AndresDorantes,andthatthefourthwasanegrocalledEstevanico,anativeofAzimur。
  But,notcontentedwithhistenyears'captivity,afterthreeyearsathomeheenteredintoacertain`asiento'2and`capitulacion'3withtheKingtosailathisownchargeswithanexpeditiontosuccourDonPedrodeMendoza,whowashardpressedbyfamineandtheIndiansatBuenosAyres。Heagreedtofurnisheightthousandducats,horses,arms,men,andprovisionsathisownexpense,uponconditionthathewasmadeGovernorandAdelantadooftheRiodelaPlata,andGeneralbothofitsarmiesanditsfleets。
  1Itmustbeallowed,however,thatintheirwritingsfewoftheSpanish`conquistadores'ofAmericabraggedmuch。
  TheymostlygavethecreditofalltheirdoingstotheGodofBattles。
  TheboastinghasbeenreservedfortheconquerorsofAfricainourowntime。
  2`Asiento'isacontract。ThecontractwhichCharlesV。,atthewell
  meantbutunfortunateinstigationofLasCasas,madewiththeGenoesetosupplynegroesforAmericaisknownas`ElAsientodelosNegros'。
  3Inthe`capitulacion'madebyAlvarNunezwiththeKingoccursthecelebratedclause,`QuenopasasenprocuradoresniabogadosalasIndias',i。e。,thatneithersolicitorsnorbarristersshouldgototheIndies。Itisunfortunateitwasnotheldtostringently,asinParaguay,atleast,theReptiliawerealreadywellrepresented。
  UponNovember2,1537,heembarkedatCadizwithhisfleet,consistingofacaravelandtwofull
  riggedships。AllwentwelluptotheCapedeVerdes。Onnearingtheequator,itoccurredtothe`MaestrodelAgua'toexaminehisstockofwater,and,outofonehundredpipeswhichhadbeenputaboard,hefoundbutthreeremaining,andfromthesethethirtyhorsesandfourhundredmenwhowereonboardallhadtodrink。Seeingthegreatnessofthenecessity,theGovernor
  forAlvarNunezalmostalwaysspeaksofhimselfinthethirdperson
  gaveordersthatthefleetshouldmakeforland。
  `Threedays,'hesaysinhisCommentaries,`wesailedinsearchofit';
  andonthefourth,justbeforesunrise,occurredaverynotableaffair,and,asitisnotaltogether`fueradeproposito',Isetitdown,anditisthis
  `that,goingtowardstheland,theshipshadalmosttouchedonsomesharprockswehadnotseen。'Then,asnow,Itakeit,vigilancewasnotanoticeablequalityinSpanishsailors。
  Justasthevesselswerealmostontherocks,`acricketcommencedtosing,whichcricketasicksoldierhadputintotheshipatCadiz,beinganxioustohearitsmusic,andforthetwomonthswhichournavigationhadendurednoonehadheardit,whereatthesoldierwasmuchenraged;
  andasonthatmorningitfelttheland[`sintiolatierra'],itcommencedtosing,anditsmusicwakenedallthepeopleoftheship,whosawthecliffs,whichweredistantalmostacrossbow
  shotfromwherewewere,sowecastoutanchorsandsavedtheship,anditiscertainthatifthecrickethadnotsungallofus,fourhundredsoldiersandthirtyhorses,hadbeenlost。'SomeofthecrewacceptedtheoccurrenceasamiraclefromGod;butNunezhimselfissilentonthathead,beingabetterobserverofnaturalhistorythanatheologian。But`fromthere,andsailingmorethanahundredleaguesalongthecoast,thecricketeveryeveninggaveushismusic,andthuswithitwearrivedatalittleportbeyondCapeFrio,wheretheAdelantadolandedandunfurledhisflag,andtookpossessionforHisMajesty。'TheexpeditiondisembarkedatSantaCatalinainBrazil。
  `TheretheGovernorlandedhismenandtwenty
  sixofthehorseswhichhadescapedthesea,allthatremainedofforty
  sixembarkedinSpain。'
  The`odiumtheologicum'gavetheGovernorsomeworkatonce。
  Twofriars
  FrayBernardodeArmentaandFrayAlonsoLebron,Franciscans
  hadburntthehousesofsomeIndians,whohadretaliatedintheheathenfashionbyslaughteringtwoChristians。
  The`peoplebeingscandalized',theGovernorsentforthefriars,admonishedthem,andtoldthemtorestraintheirzeal。
  Thiswasthefirstfalsestephemade,andsetallfriarsandprieststhroughoutAmericaagainsthim。HearingatSantaCatalinathatBuenosAyreswasalmostabandoned,andthattheinhabitantshadfoundedthetownofAsunciondelParaguay,Alvardeterminedtomarchthitherbyland,andsendhisshipintotheriverPlateanduptheParaguay。
  ThetwoFranciscanfriarshetoldtoremainand`indoctrinate'theIndians。
  Thistheyrefusedtodo,sayingtheywishedtoresideamongsttheSpaniardsinAsuncion。HadtheybeenJesuits,itistentoonetheyhadremainedandspenttheirlives`indoctrinating',fortheJesuitsaloneofallthereligiousOrderswereeverreadytotakeeveryrisk。
  UponhismarchtheGovernor,contrarytoallgoodpolicyandprecedent,orderedthatnothingshouldbetakenfromtheIndianswithoutduepaymentbeingmade。Toinsurethisbeingdone,hepaidforallprovisionshimself,andservedthemouttothesoldiery。ThismadehimasunpopularwithhissoldiersashisdealingswiththetwoFranciscanshadmadehimamongstthefriars。SurelyhemighthaveknownthatPizarro,Cortes,Almagro,andtherest,weremenwhoneverpaidforanything。
  Still,hepersistedinhisconducttotheend,andsobroughtruinonhimself。
  TheIndiansseemedtoappreciatehismethod,forhesaysthat`whenthenewswasspreadabroadofthegoodtreatmenttheGovernorgavetoall,theycametomeetthearmydeckedwithflowersandbringingprovisionsingreatabundance。'Itwas,healsosays,`athingtoseehowfrightenedtheIndianswereofthehorses,andhowtheybroughtthemfood,chickensandhoneytokeepthemquietandingoodhumour,andtheyaskedtheGovernortotellthehorsesnottohurtthem。'
  AfterpassingtheriverIguazu,hesentthetwofriarsaheadtocollectprovisions,and`whentheGovernorarrivedtheIndianshadnomoretogive。'
  ThisisperhapsthefirstaccountofthelevyingofthetitheintheNewWorld。
  SohavingstartedfromthecoastuponNovember2,1541,hearrivedatAsunciononMarch2,1542,havingaccomplishedamarchofmorethantwothousandmileswithbutthelossofasinglemanandwithouttheslaughterofasingleIndian。HardlyhadhearrivedatAsuncionbeforehefoundhimselfembroiledoneveryside。TheIndianswereinfullrebellion,thesettlementofBuenosAyresalmostinruins,andtheofficersappointedbytheKingtocollecttheroyalduesallhostiletohimtoaman。
  AfterhavingconsultedwiththeclergytofindiftheythoughtitlawfultoattacktheGuaycuruswhohadassailedthenewly
  foundedtown,hereceivedtheopinion`thatitwasnotonlylawful,butexpedient。'
  Thereforehesentoffanexpeditionagainstthem,towhichwasjoinedapriesttorequiretheGuaycurustobecomeChristiansandtoacknowledgetheKingofSpain。Thepropositions,notunnaturally,didnotseemreasonabletotheIndians,whomostlikelywereunawareofthebenefitswhichChristianityconfers,andprobablyheardforthefirsttimeoftheKingofSpain。
  TheGovernor,whoseemstohavedoubtedofthehumanityoftheclergy,calledanothercouncil,whichconfirmedthepreviousopinion。
  Strangelyenough,thisseemstohavesurprisedhim,forheprobablydidnotreflectthattheclergywouldnothavetofightthemselves,andthatthefirstbloodeverspiltonearthwasonaccountofareligiousdifference。
  JustbeforetheexpeditionstarteditwasfoundthatthetwoFranciscanfriarswhohadcomewithhimfromSantaCatalinacouldnotbefound。
  ItthenappearedtheyhadstartedbacktothecoastaccompaniedbyabevyofIndiandamsels,thirty
  fiveinall。
  Theywerefollowedandbroughtback,andthenexplainedthattheywereontheirwaytoSpaintocomplainagainsttheGovernor。
  Thefive
  and
  thirtyduskycatechumensremainedwithoutanexplanation,andthepeoplewereoncemore`scandalized'。TheGovernorthenstartedoutagainsttheGuaycurus。OnlythosewhoknowtheChaco,orwesternbankoftheriverParaguay,canformtheleastideaofwhatsuchanexpeditionmusthavebeen。Evento
  dayintheChacothechangesincethebeginningoftheworldcanbebutslight。
  Asasteamerslipsalongthebank,nothingformilesandmilesisseenbutswamp,intersectedwithbackwaters,1inwhichliealligators,electriceels,andstingingrays。Farastheeyecanreachareswamps,swamps,andmoreswamps,aseaofwavingpampa
  grass。
  Aftertheswampsthicketsoftacuarascanes,forestsofthornytrees,chanares,nandubay,jacarandas,urundey,talas,andquebrachos,eachonehardenoughtosplitanaxe,some,liketheblackcanela,almostlikeiron;theinhabitantsferociousandintractableaswhentheGovernorhimselffirstsawthem;theclimateheavyandhumid,theairdankwithvinchucas2andmosquitoesandthelittleblackinfernalmidgetcalledthejejen;noroads,nopaths,nolandmarks,buthereandthereatintervalsofmanyleaguesaclearingintheforestwheresomestragglingsettlementexists,morerarelystillthewallsofadesertedJesuitmission
  houseorchurch。Ostrichesanddeer,tigers,3capibarasandtapirs,andnowandthenaherdofcattleaswildasbuffaloes,areseen。SometimesanIndianwithhislancesitsmotionlessuponhishorsetowatchthevesselpass
  asentineltoguardthewildernessfromencroachmentsfromwithout。
  SoAlvarNunez,ashetellsusinhisCommentaries,startedwithfourhundredmenandwithonethousandfriendlyIndians,allwellarmedandpainted,andwithplatesofmetalontheirheadstoreflectthesun,andsostriketerrortotheirenemies。
  Tosavethehorsestheywereputonboard,4whilsttheIndiansmarchedalongthebank,keepingupwiththeships。HorsesatthattimeinParaguayandinPeruoftenwereworthonethousandcrownsofgold,thoughAzaratellsusthatinthelastcenturyinBuenosAyresyoucouldoftenbuyagoodhorsefortwoneedles,socheaphadtheybecome。
  Then,asatpresent,timewasofnoaccountinParaguay,soalmosteverydaytheylandedthehorsestokeeptheminconditionandtochasetheostrichesanddeer。
  1ThesebackwatersareknowninGuaranibythenameof`aguapey'。
  2ThevinchucaisakindofflyingbugcommoninParaguay。
  Itsshapeistriangular,itscolourgray,anditsodournoxious。
  ItisoneoftheHemiptera,anditsso
  calledscientificappellationis`Conorhinusgigas'。
  3R。B。CunninghameGrahamwriteselsewhere:"AlloverSouthAmericathejaguariscalledatigertigre。"
  A。L。,1998。
  4Azara,inhis`HistoriadelParaguay',etc。,tellsusthatin1551
  DomingodeIralaatAsuncionboughtafineblackhorseforfivethousandgoldcrowns。Heboundhimselftopayforhimoutoftheproceedsofhisfirstconquest。
  Justthekindofarmythatathinkingmanwouldliketomarchwith;
  nottoomuchtoeat,but,still,apleasantfeelingofmarchingtospreadreligionandtomakeone'sfortune,withbutthesolitaryunpleasantfeaturetothesoldier
  thesystemofpaymentforprovisionswhichtheGovernorprescribed。Allwasnewandstrange;theworldwasrelativelyyoung。EachnighttheGovernorreligiouslywroteuphisdiary,nowchroniclingthedeathofsomegoodhorse,orofanIndian,orcommentinguponthefruits,thefish,theanimals,thetrees,and`alltheotherthingsofGodwhichdifferfromthoseintheCastiles。'
  OccasionallyafighttookplacewithGuasaraposorwithPagayuas,butnothingofmuchaccount`demuchamonta';alwaysthetalesofgold
  minestobemetwithfurtheron。EventuallytheexpeditioncametoapointnotfarfromwhereisnowthetownofCorumba。ThereAlvarNunezfoundedatowntowhichhegavethenameofReyes,whichhaslongfallenintodecay。
  Healsosenttwocaptainstoexploreandsearchforgold,waitingtwoorthreemonthsfortheirreturn,andsufferingfromaquartanaguewhichconfinedhimtohisbed;then,havingfailedtofindthetalked
  ofgold
  mines,hesethisfaceagaintowardsAsuncion。
  Justbeforestartinghegavethefinalblowtohiswaningpopularity。
  Someofhisfollowers,havingtakenIndiangirls,hadhiddenthemonboardtheships;this,whenheknewit,Nunezatonceforbade,and,sendingforthefathersofthegirls,restoredtheirchildrentothem。
  `Withthis,'hesays,`thenativesweremuchpleased,buttheSpaniardsrenderedangryanddesperate,andforthiscausetheyhatedme。'
  Nothingmorenatural,andforthesamecausetheSpanishParaguayanshatedtheJesuitswhocarriedoutthepolicywhichthewiseGovernorbegan。
  OnApril8,1543,theGovernorreturnedtoAsuncion,wornoutandillwithague。Therehefoundallconfusion。DomingodeIrala,aclever,ambitiousBiscayansoldierwhohadbeeninterimGovernorbeforeNunezhadarrived,hadworkeduponthepeople,sayingthatNunezwishedtotakeawaytheirproperty。
  AstheirchiefpropertywasinIndianswhomtheyhadenslaved,thisrenderedNunezmostunpopular,andthesamekindofallegationswerelaidagainsthimaswerelaidagainsttheJesuitswhenintheirturntheydenouncedslaveryinParaguay。
  Allthecomplaintswereinthenameofliberty,asgenerallyisthecasewhentyrannyorvillainyofanysortistobedone。
  SoAlvarNunez1tellsusinhisCommentariesthatatthehouroftheAveMariatenortwelveofthe`factious'enteredhishousewherehelayillinbed,allshouting`Liberty!'andtoprovetheywereallgoodpatriotsoneJaimeResquinputabentcrossbowtohisside,andforcedhimtogetoutofbed,andtookhimofftoprisonamidacrowdallshouting`Liberty!'Thefriendsoflibertyupontheothersideattemptedarescue,butthepatriots2weretoostrong。
  SotheunpatrioticGovernorwasthrown,heavilyironed,intoacell,outofwhichtomakeroomtheyletamurdererwhowasawaitingdeath。
  `He'AlvarNunezgrimlyremarks`madehastetotakemycloak,andthensetoffdownthestreetatonce,callingout"Liberty!"'
  Thateverythingshouldbeinorder,thepatriotsconfiscatedalltheGovernor'sgoodsandtookhispapers,publishingaproclamationthattheydidsobecausehewasatyrant。Unluckily,theIndianshavenotleftusanycommentaries,oritwouldbecurioustolearnwhattheythoughtastothetyrannyofAlvarNunez。MostprobablytheythoughtastheIndiansoftheJesuitmissionsthoughtattheexpulsionoftheJesuitsfromParaguay,asissetforthinthecuriousmemorialaddressedin1768bythepeopleoftheMissionofSanLuistotheGovernorofBuenosAyres,prayingthattheJesuitsmightbesufferedtoremaininsteadofthefriars,whohadbeensenttoreplacethemagainstthepeople'swill。3
  HavinggottheGovernorintoprison,thepatriotshadtoelectanotherchief,andthechoicenaturally`fell'uponDomingodeIrala,who,havingbeeninterimGovernor,hadneverceasedintriguingfromthefirst。
  Hepromptlyputhisfriendsinoffice,afterthefashionofallGovernors,whethertheyenterofficetothecryof`Liberty'ornot。
  ThefriendsofAlvarNunez,intheusualSpanishfashionlongsanctifiedbyuseandwont,declaredthemselvesinopposition
  thatis,theyroamedabouttheland,provingbytheftandmurderthattheirloveoflibertywasjustasstrongasthatofthoseinpower。
  Thingsshortlycametosuchapassthatnoonecouldleavehishousebynight。
  ThemaraudingGuaycurusburntallthesuburbs,andthreatenedtoattackthetown。Nunezhimselfwasguardeddayandnightbyfourmenarmedwithdaggersinacloseprison。Ashesayshimself,hisprisonwasnot`fittingforhishealth,'fordayandnighthehadtokeepacandleburningtoseetoread,andthegrassgrewunderneathhisbed,whilstforthesakeof`health'hehadapairoffirst
  ratefettersonhisfeet。ForhischiefgaolertheyprocuredoneHernandodeSosa,whomNunezhadputingaolforstrikinganIndianchief。Aguardwatchedconstantlyattheprisongate,but,still,inspiteofthishemanagedtocommunicatealmostuninterruptedlywithhisfriendsoutside。Hismethodwascertainlyingenious。
  HisfoodwasbroughttohimbyanIndiangirl,whom,sogreatwasthefearofthepatriotsthatheshouldwritetotheKing,theymadewalknakedintotheprison,carryingthedishes,andwithherheadshaved。Notwithstandingthis,shemanagedtobringapieceofpaperhiddenbetweenhertoes。ThepartyofLiberty,suspectingthatNunezwascommunicatingwithhisfriends,procuredanIndianyouthtomakelovetothegirlandlearnthesecret。
  Thishefailedtodo,owing,perhaps,tohislove
  makingbeingwantinginconvictiononaccountofhershavedhead。
  AtlastIralaandhisfriendsdeterminedtosendtheGovernoraprisonertoSpain,takingcare,ofcourse,todespatchamessengerbeforehandtodistortthefactsandprejudicetheKing。ThefriendsofNunez,however,managedtosecreteaboxofpapers,statingthetruefacts,onboardtheship。
  Atdeadofnightabandofharquebusiersdraggedhimfromhisbedafteracaptivityofelevenmonths,ashesays,`almostwiththecandleinhishand'
  i。e。,inadyingstate。Ashelefttheprison,hefelluponhiskneesandthankedGodforhavinglethimoncemorefeeltheairofheaven,andtheninaloudvoiceexclaimed:
  `InameasmysuccessorCaptainJuandeSalazardeEspinosa。'
  AtthisoneGarciVargasrushedathimwithaknife,andtoldhimtorecallhiswordsorhewouldkillhiminstantly。Thishewasstoppedfromdoing,andNunezwashurriedtotheshipandchainedsecurelytoabeam。Onboardthevessel,hesays,theytriedtopoisonhim;
  butthisseemsdoubtful,astherewasnothingonearthtopreventtheirdoingsohadtheybeensoinclined。
  Still,asaprudentmanhetooktheprecautiontoprovidesomeoilandapieceofunicorn`pedazodeunicornio',withwhichhetriedthefood。UnicornshecouldnothaveseeninParaguay,noryetinFlorida,andhedoesnotexplainhowhebecamesoluckilyequipped。
  1`ComentariosdeAlvarNunezCabezadeVaca',containedinBarcia's`HistoriadoresPrimitivosdelasIndiasOccidentales'。
  2The`patriots'arealwaysthoseoftheprevailingpartyinaState。
  3`I。H。S。
  `GodpreserveyourExcellency,saywe,theCabildo,andalltheCaciquesandIndians,men,womenandchildrenofSanLuis,asyourExcellencyisourfather。TheCorregidor,SantiagoPindoandDonPantaleonCaynari,intheirloveforus,havewrittentousofcertainbirdswhichtheydesirewewillsendthemfortheKing……Wearesorrynottohavethemtosend,inasmuchastheylivewhereGodmadethem,intheforests,andflyfarawayfromus,sothatwecannotcatchthem。
  WithalwearethevassalsofGodandoftheKing,andalwaysdesiroustofulfilthewishesofhisMinister……sowepraytoGodthatthatbestofbirds,theHolyGhost,maydescendupontheKing……
  Furthermore,wedesiretosaythattheSpanishcustomisnottoourliking
  foreveryonetotakecareofhimself,insteadofhelpingoneanotherintheirdailytoil。'
  ThisquaintandtouchingletterwaswrittenoriginallyinGuarani,andispreservedatBuenosAyres。`Thatbestofbirds,theHolyGhost,'showsfaithgrounded,atleast,onornithology,andthewholespiritofthesimpledocumentisaspatheticasitsunconsciousphilosophyistrue。
  Nonetheless,ofallthediscoverersofAmericaheisthemanofleastimaginativepower
  thatis,inmattersappertainingtonaturalhistory
  soonemustconcludehehadhispieceofunicornfromSpain,wherehemostprobablyhadboughtitfromsomedealerinnecessariesfortravellerstotheNewWorld。
  AfterastormyvoyagehearrivedinSpaintofindhisaccusersjustbeforehim。WithtrulyEasternjustice,bothaccusersandaccusedwereputingaol,acustomworthyofadoptioninotherlands。
  Nunezwassoonreleasedonbail,and,hisaccusershavingalldied,ineightyears'timehewastriumphantlyacquittedofallthechargesbroughtagainsthim。Toprove,however,thatJusticeisandalwayshasbeenblind,theKingneverrestoredhimtohisgovernmentinParaguay,and,asNunezsays,forgottorepayhimwhathehadexpendedinhisservice。
  WithAlvarNunezwaslosttheonlychanceofliberaltreatmenttotheIndians,forfromhistimethegovernors,insteadofbeingmenoftheworldabovethepettyspiteofpartydifferences,werechoseneitherfromofficerswho,havingservedinthefrontierwars,quitenaturallylookedontheIndiansasenemies,orwereappointedbyintriguingMinistersatCourt。FromthedeathofAlvarNuneztotheinaugurationofthemissionsbytheJesuits,noonearosetotaketheIndians'side,anditmaybethathadhispolicyprevailedtherewouldhavebeenanIndianpopulationleftinthemissionterritoryofParaguay;forhadthecivilgovernorsco
  operatedwiththeJesuits,thedispersionoftheIndians,whichtookplaceattheexpulsionoftheJesuits,hadnotoccurred。
  Guevara,`HistoriadelParaguay'printedin`LaColecciondeAngelis',BuenosAires,1836,bookvi。,p。108,saysofAlvarNunez:
  `Mereciaestatuaporsurectitud,justiciayChristiandad。'AndinanotherplaceGuevarasays:`LaFloridalocautivo/coninhumanidad;
  LaAsuncionloaprisiono/coninfamia;peroenunayotropartefueejemplardemoderacion……recto,prudenteydesanocorazon。'
  AlvarNunezdiedholdingtheofficeof`OidordelaAudienciadeSevilla',accordingtoP。delTecho`HistoriadelParaguay';
  orasamemberoftheConsejodeIndias,accordingtoCharlevoix。