Inseasonandwhatincasesofthekindistentimesmoreimportant，outofseason，theybesought，pleaded，andpreached，andfindingaslittlegracefromthePaulistachiefsasatransgressoragainstsomefierydogmawouldfindfromasour
facedNorthBritishdogmatist，theystartedforRiodeJaneirotoseetheCouncil
GeneralofBrazil。
TheretheyweretoldthattherightpersontoaddresswastheCaptain
Generalofthecolony，whohadhisresidenceinBahia，fiveorsixhundredmilesaway。Nottheleastdaunted，theysetout，andfoundDonDiegoLuisOliveiramoreorlessfriendly，butasusualfearfulofgivingoffencetothosewhohadavestedinterestinthetrade。
ThenthetwoJesuits，hearingthatanotherinvasionofthePaulistaswasexpectedinGuayra，startedbackontheirlongjourneythroughthewoods，overtheplains，acrossthemountainranges，andthroughthedank`esteros'whichlaybetweenthemandtheirmissionsontheParana。TheCaptain
Generalseemstohavebeenrousedtoasenseofthepositionbytheirwords，foronhisannualvisitationatSanPaulohespokeinpublictothecolonistsagainsttheirslaveraids，whenashotfiredfromthemeetingendedhisspeech。3Theinhabitantsthensignifiedtohimthat，soonerthangiveupwhatseemedtothemajustifiableandhonestmeansoflife，theywouldbedebaptized。
Howtheyproposedtodebaptizethemselvesisnotrelated，butperhapsafterthefashionoftheGuaranis
bysand，hotwater，andscrapingwithashell；thoughwhythetongueshouldbethusscarifiedseemsdoubtful，fornosectofChristiansthatisknownexactsthatpeopleatthatsacramentshouldputouttheirtongues，andevenbaptismdoeslittleornothingtoincreasethepowerofscandalinherentbothinthosewhohavebeenandthosewhoneverwerebaptized。
1An`estero'isatractofcountrycoveredbywatertothedepthoftwoorthreefeet。Thebottomisusuallyhard，butitisfullofholesandhummocks。Highpampagrassandreedsnotinfrequentlyobscuretheview，andcloudsofinsectsmakelifemiserable。Ifthetractextendstomorethanaday'sjourney，thenightpassedonadryhummock，holdingone'shorseandlisteningwithoutafiretothewildbeasts，islikelytoremainpresenttooneinafter
life，especiallyifalone；theonlythingsthatseemtolinkonetohumanityareone'shorseandthefamiliarstars。
PerhapsthatiswhyCapellahasalwaysseemedtomeinsomesortmyownproperty。
2Thiscuriousberry，aboutthesizeofalargedamson，growsonalittleshrubinsandyandrockysoils。
Ithasathickyellowrindandseverallargeseeds，andthepropertyofbeingicycoldinthehottestweather
atruetraveller'sjoy。Dr。deBourgadedelaDardye，inhisexcellentbookonParaguaytheEnglisheditionpublishedinLondonin1892，thinksitiseitheraeugeniaoramyrtus。
3Charlevoix，vol。i。，liv。vii。，p。384。
Aboutthistime1630thepoorJesuitsweremuchtormentedbythereturntopaganismoftheirIndians，andmostespeciallybyahideousdwarfwhosethimselfupasagod，andfoundahostofworshippers。GoodFatherCharlevoixthinksthat`cepetit
monstre'，despairingofbeingthoughtaman，hadnoresourcebuttogiveouthewasagod，andremarksthat，asevenmorehideousgodshavebeenadored，itisnotsurprisingthattheIndianstookhimathisword。
WhenstrippedofthesomewhatstrangephraseologyofthesimpleJesuit，thereisnothingreallyshockingintheincident。Peopleingeneral，inmakinggods，enduethemwiththeirownleastadmirableattributes，andlogicallythesepoorIndiansbutfollowedoutthegeneralscheme。
Ibid。，liv。vii。，p。359。
Butinthemidstofheresiesanddwarf
gods，withthePaulistasalmostalwaysinthefield，amanarosewhowastoleadtheJesuitsandtheirneophytesoutofGuayraandsettlethemsecurelybelowthecataractintheMisionesofParaguay。
BornprobablylateinthesixteenthcenturyinSpain，AntonioRuizdeMontoyawasamongstthefirstoftheJesuitFatherswhocametoParaguay。In1612wefindhimrecentlyarrivedfromSpain；1
sentuptotheprovinceofGuayratotheassistanceofFathersMacetaandCataldino。Forthirtyyears，2ashehimselfinformsusinhisbook，heremainedinParaguay，andinhisownpatheticwordshetellsushowmostofhislifewasspent。`Ihavelived，'hesays，`allthroughtheperiodofthirtyyearsinParaguay，asinthedesertsearchingforwildbeasts
thatis，forsavageIndians
crossingwildcountries，traversingmountainchains，inordertofindIndiansandbringthemtothetruesheepfoldoftheHolyChurchandtotheserviceofHisMajesty。3WithmycompanionsIestablishedthirteenreductionsortownshipsinthewilds，andthisIdidwithgreatanxiety，inhunger，nakedness，andfrequentperilofmylife。
AndalltheseyearsIpassedfarfrommybrotherSpaniardshavemademealmostarusticandignorantofthepolishedlanguageoftheCourt。'
Travellingashedidcontinually，fewknewthecountryfromGuayratoYapeyu4sowellashe；hetellsusthatfor`alltravellingequipment'hetookahammock，andalittlemandiocaflour，thatheusuallytravelledonfootwitheithersandalsorbarefeet，andthatforeightornineyearsheneveroncetastedbread。
1Charlevoix，`HistoireduParaguay'，vol。lvi。，p。285。
2`ConquistaEspiritualdelParaguay'，RuizdeMontoya，introductorychapter。
3ThismayeithermeantotheserviceofGodortotheserviceoftheKingPhilipIII。，forinthetimeofMontoya`Majesty'wasusedinaddressingboththeKingofSpainandtheKingofHeaven。
4Yapeyu，orReyes，wasthesouthernmostoftheJesuitreductions。
ItwassituatedupontheUruguayinwhatisnowtheArgentineprovinceofEntreRios。
Abouttheyear1611
12wefindhimchargedwithamissiontotheProvincialatAsunciontodisabusehimofareportwhichhadbeencarriedtherethattheJesuitsofGuayraweregarneringinnofruitfromalltheirlaboursinthewilds。
TherumourhadbeensomuchrepeatedthatthesuperiorsinAsuncionwereonthepointofcallingbackthemissionariesandgivingupallhope。
Montoya，accompaniedbysixIndians，setoutuponthejourney，whichbylandto
dayisenoughtoappaltheboldesttraveller。
Walkingalong，hefoundhimselfaboutthemiddleofhiswayalone，hisIndianshavingloiteredintherear。Nightcaughthimintheforests，andastormcameon。Hepassedthenightatthefootofalargetree，hungryandwet，and，wakinginthemorning，foundhimselfsocrippledwitharthriticpainsastobeobligedtocontinuehisjourneyonhishandsandknees。Aloneandhelpless，hedraggedhimselftoaplacecalledMaracayu，and，failingtoobtainacanoe，wentonanotherleague，andtherelaydowntodie，hislegbeingswelledenormouslywiththerheumaticpains。Then，ashesayshimself，heprayedtoSanIgnacio，tellinghimthatfromasentimentofobediencehehadsetoutuponthejourneythroughthewaste。Nothingcouldhavebeenbetter，forthesaintwhomusthaveseenhimallthetime，flattered，perhaps，thathisownchiefvirtuehadbeenthecauseofsomuchpain，promptlyhealedhimandrestoredhislegtoitsusualsize，andMontoyawentonhiswayrejoicingtoAsuncion。TheProvincialheardandwasdisabused，butwasunabletosendasinglemantohelp，andpoorMontoyasetoffagainbacktoGuayraalone，havinggainednothingbuthissufferingsontheroad。
Again，in1614，wefindhiminAsuncioncombatingcalumniesspreadbytheSpanishsettlersagainsttheJesuits。
InthesameyearasheinformsushewaswitnessintheReductionofLoretoofastrangecircumstance。
`AnIndian，'hesays，`ofintelligenceandpiousconductcalledmetoadministerthelastSacraments，andtoconfesshimbeforehedied，andthisIdid。Asthereseemedlittlehopeofhisrecovery，andpressingbusinesscalledmeaway，Iquittedhimafterhavinggivenordersforhisburial。Hediedinashorttime
atleast，allthosewhowerewithhimhadnodoubtofthis；onmyreturnIfoundthemanwhomIhadchargedtostaybesidetheIndiantillhisdeathpreparingforhisfuneral。Towardmid
daytheycametotellmethatthedeadmanhadcometolife，andwishedtospeaktome。Iranthere，andfoundhimwithacheerfulfaceinthemiddleofacrowdofIndians。
IaskedhimwhathadhappenedsinceIlastsawhim，andheansweredmethattheinstantthatIquittedhimhissoulhadtakenitsdeparturefromhisbody；then，atapointwhichhethoughtneartohishammock，adevilhadappeared，whosaidtohim，"Youaremyprey，"
andthatheanswereditcouldnotbe，forhehadconfessedhimselftothebestofhisability，andhadreceivedtheholyViaticumbeforehisdeath；thatthedevilhadsustainedthathisconfessionhadbeenincomplete，andthathehadforgottentoconfessthattwicehehadbeendrunk，towhichheansweredthatitwasanoversight，andhehopedthatGodwouldnotrememberit。Then，onthedevilsustainingthathehadcommittedasacrilege，St。Peterhadappeared，followedbyangels，anddrivenoffthefiend。IaskedhimhowhehadknownSt。Peter，andherepliedbydescribinghim，thoughhehadneverseenanimageofthesaint。"Thesaint，"hesaid，"coveredmewithhismantle，andIfeltmyselfinstantlycarriedthroughtheair。FirstIperceivedalovelylandscape，andfurtheronagreatcity，fromwhichashininglightappeared。ThentheApostleandtheangelsstopped，andthefirstsaidtome，`ThisisthecityoftheLord；
weliveherewithHim，butthetimeofyourentryisnotyet。
Itiswrittenthatyoursoulshalloncemorejoinyourbody，andinthreedaysyoumustappearinchurch。'Thenallwasdark，andinaninstantIwokeupaliveandwell。"
`ConquistaEspiritual'，p。22。
`I，'saysMontoya，`understoodbythelastwordsofSt。Peterthatthemanhadtodieinthreedays，andIaskedwhathethoughthimself。
"Ithink，"saidhe，"thatnextSundaytheywillcarrymybodytothechurch，andIamcertainthatIonlyreturnedtolifeinordertoexhortmyrelativesandmyfriendstolistentoyourinstructions。"……
WhenSundaycamehemadehisgeneralconfession，admittedthetwosinsthedevilhadreproachedhimwith，exhortedalltoliveaChristianlife，andafewmomentsafterwardsquietlygaveuptheghost。'
Thistime，itistobehoped，withoutomissions。
ThisisthesoleoccasiononwhichPadreRuizMontoyaevenremotelytouchesthefieldofmiracles，asheingeneralreliesuponhimself，hisknowledgeoftheworld，andonhispatience，whichmusthavebeenalmostNorthBritishinitsquality，ifheacteduptohisownfavouritemaximof`byreturningthanksforinjuriesishowwisemenconducttheirbusiness。'
`Dandograciasporagraviosnegocianloshombressabios。'
In1623wefindhimprayingFatherCataldinotolethimaccompanytheexpeditiontoItiranbaru，amountainwoodedtothesummit，inwhichlivedseveralwildtribes。TherehesoworkedupontheIndiansastoestablishtheminareductionunderthetitleofSt。FrancisXavier，
andleftthemountain，whichhadbeenahauntofsavages，asPadredelTechosaysinhiscuriousworkonParaguay，`allattheserviceoftheLord。'
SoonafterwardsruinedbythePaulistas。
In1623，whilstpreaching，hewassuddenlyassailedbyhostileIndians，andsevenofhisIndianspiercedwitharrowsathisfeet。
Undoubtedly，hemusthavebeenkilledhadnotanIndiantakenhishatandcloak，andrunintothemiddleoftheenemytodistractthefire。IntheconfusionboththeheroicIndianandMontoyamanagedtoescape，thelattergettingintoacanoewhich，fortunately，wasreadyattheriver
side。Butinthemidstofallhisoccupationshehadtimetostudynaturalhistoryinthespiritofthetime，asthefollowingdescriptionclearlyshows:`Amongsttheotherraritiesofthelandisanamphibiousanimal……Itislikeasheep，withbutthedifferencethatitsteethandnailsarelikeatiger's，whichanimalitequalsinferocity。TheIndiansneverlookonitwithoutterror，andwhenitsalliesfromthemarsheswhereitliveswhichitdoesordinarilyintroops，theyhavenootherchanceofescapebuttoclimbupatree，andeventhensometimesarenotinsafety，forthisterriblecreaturesometimesuprootsthetree，orsometimesstaysonguarduntiltheIndianfallsintoitsjaws。'ThusfarMontoya；
butCharlevoixinformsusthat，`enlangueGuaranie'，itisknownasthe`ao'，andrathertamelyadds，`Whenoneoftheseanimalsisslain，thepeoplemakeajacketofitsskin。'
Again，MontoyatellsusofthehorseonwhichthevenerablePadreRoqueusedtoride，which，whenhedied，refusedallfood，andweptperpetually，twostreamsofwaterrunningfromitseyes。ItneverallowedanIndiantomountitafteritsmaster'sdeath，andfinallyexpired，closetohisgrave，ofgrief。Akindly，scholarly，intrepidpriest，wellskilledinknowledgeoftheworld，andnotwithoutsometinctureofstudiesinscience，astheabove
relatedanecdotesrevealtous。NodoubttheIndianslovedhimfarandwide，andhissuperiorsstoodinsomelittleaweofhim，asthoseinofficeoftendooftheirsubordinateswhentheyshowthatcapacityforactionwhichisasurebartoadvancementeitherinChurchorState。
In1627MontoyawasmadeheadofthemissionsinGuayra，whichopeneduptohimtheopportunityofshowingwhatkindofmanhewas。
InthisyeartheSpaniardsofVillaRica，thenearesttowninParaguaytothereductionsinGuayra，sentoutanexpeditiontochastizesomeIndianswhohadinsultedachiefcalledTayaoba，whomMontoyahadbaptized。
Thiswasthepretextfortheexpedition，butMontoyaknewwellthattherealobjectwastohuntforslaves。HebroughtbeforetheGovernortheedictoftheKingofSpainforbiddinganywartobemadeupontheIndianswithoutsufficientcause。Allwasinvain，andtheexpeditionleftVillaRicaandplungedintothewilds。Montoya，soreagainsttheGovernor'sdesire，wentwiththeexpedition，takingwithhimPadreSalazarandsomewell
armedIndians。ItwasluckyfortheSpaniardsthathewasthere，forontheseconddayaflightofarrowsburstfromawoodandwoundedmanyofthem。Thecaptainoftheexpeditionorderedaretreat，which，situatedastheywere，exposedonallsidestothefireofanenemywhomtheycouldnotsee，musthaveprovedfatal。
MontoyacounselledthrowingupearthworksbeforesomehutswhichstoodupontheedgeofthewoodsinwhichtheIndianswere；
thisdone，hesentamessengertoVillaRicaforreinforcements。
EvenbehindtheearthworkstheSpaniardswerehardpressed；
noonecouldshowhimselfwithoutbeingpiercedbyanarrow。
ThenumberoftheIndiansdailyincreased，tillonthethirddaytheynumberedaboutfourthousand，andseemedlikelytoadvanceuponthehuts。
TheSpanishcaptainorderedarally，andtheneophyteswishedtodecamp，takingMontoyawiththem，andthengaintheshelterofthewoods。
Thishewouldnotallow，and，chargingwiththesoldiers，puttheIndianstoflight。TheSpaniards，farfrombeinggratefulfortheirlives，seeingtheirhopesofmakingprisonershadvanished，wishedtolayhandsupontheIndianswhomMontoyahadbrought，andwhohadfoughtbesidethemintherecentfray。HearingthatinthemorningtheSpanishsoldierswouldattackhisneophytes，Montoyasentthemoffbynight，andinthemorning，whentheSpanishcaptainfoundhimandtheotherpriestalone，hesaid，`ThinkingyouhadnootherusefortheIndians，Iadvisedthemtoreturn。'Thecaptainhadthegracetosaynothingbut，`Then，yougavethemgoodadvice，myfather。'
Thetwopriestswaitedpatientlytillthesoldiershadretired，andthensentfortheirIndiansandquietlywenthome。ThusitappearsthatatnecessityPadreMontoyawasatruesonofSanIgnacio。
In1628MontoyaseemstohavemetforthefirsttimePadreDiazTano，whoafterwardswashiscompanionbothintheretreatfromGuayradowntheParanaandinhismissiontotheKing。NomatterwhetheramanmakehiscareerwithIndiansinthewildsofParaguayoramongsttheso
calledreasoningpeopleinmoresophisticatedlands，ifheonceshowhimselfsuperiortotheordinaryrunofmen，thereissomethingofaninvidiouscharactercertaintobeattributedtohimbythosewhothinkthatgeniusistheworstattributethatmancanhave。
This，MontoyadidnotescapefromamongsttheSpaniards，buttheIndians，atleast，werelessenvious，beingperhapslesseducated，fortheybelievedthatthesoulofoneoftheir`caciques'，knowninhislifeasQuaratici，hadenteredintohim。TherumourreachedatlastachiefcalledGuiravera，knowntotheSpaniardsasthe`Exterminator'fromhiscruelty，who，hearingthatthesoulofhislaterivalhadenteredintoMontoya，cametoseehimattheheadofalargeretinueofpeopleofhistribe。
MontoyaandMacetawereatVillaRica，andonthechief'sapproachtheyhappenedtobeseatedintheplazaofthetown。Asheapproachedthem，followedbyhismen，andwithathreateningair，theyremainedseated，merelymotioninghimtotakeaseatuponabench。Thishedid，aftermakingoneofhismencovertheseatwithatiger
skinandstandbehindonguard。
Whatpassedbetweenthem，mostunluckily，Montoyahasnotsetdown。
Whathehastoldusonlymakesuswishformore，foritappearsthataftertheusualsalutationsGuiraverarefusedtospeak，andgettingupwalkedaboutthetown，silentlylookingateverything。
But，asiteverhappens，evenMontoyawasnoexceptiontothegeneralrunofhistory
writers，whousuallyareoccupiedalonewithfactswhichseemtothemimportantatthetime，forgettingthatposterityforwhomtheywritecanjudgeoftheresultaswellastheythemselves，butthirstfordetailstocompletethechainbetwixtthemandtheirpredecessors。Onethingissetdown`inextenso'
notbyMontoya，butbyanotherJesuit
thatis，thesermonwhichMontoyapreachedtobringthechiefintothefold。
Consideredasasermonitdoesnotseemoutofthecommonway，andjudgedbyitsresultswasfutileatthetime，forthechiefansweredcoldlythathewouldthinkthematterover，andthenretiredintothewoods。ButtheseedthussowninVillaRicawastobearfruit，forinayearthechief，eithertiredofhisancestralgodsorhavingponderedonthesermon，cameintothefoldandwasbaptizedasPaul。
`Cacique'=chief。
Anirruption1oftheMamelucoscalledFatherMontoyafrombaptizingIndiansandrecoveringtheirsoulstothemoreprosaic，ifasuseful，taskofsavingtheirbodies，whichhedidattheimmediateperilofhisown。TheMamelucoshadappeared1628
beforetheReductionofEncarnacion，andmanyoftheIndianshadalreadytakenrefugeinthewoods。Thosewhoremainedwerelikeaflockofsheepwithoutashepherd，andknewnotwhattodo。PadreMontoyahastenedtothespot，andcalledoneveryChristiantotakeuparms。
Underthecircumstancesheundoubtedlywasright；still，inreadinghistoryoneispuzzledtoobservehowoftenandinhowmanydifferentcountriesChristianshavetoresorttoarms。Butbeforeproceedingtoextremities，MontoyasentoutFathersMendozaandDomenecchiwithsomeoftheprincipalinhabitantsofthereductiontoparleywiththeMamelucos，who，undertheircelebratedleaderAntonioRaposo，wereencampedoutsidetheplace。UponarrivingwithinrangeofthePaulistacamptheyweregreetedwithashowerofballsandarrows，whichkilledseveraloftheIndiansandwoundedFatherMendozainthefoot。Butwhen，inspiteofhiswound，theJesuitadvancedtowardsthecampandinsistedonspeakingwiththeleader，theMamelucosweresostruckwithhiscouragethattheygaveuptohimseveraloftheIndianswhomtheyhadtakenprisonersuponthepreviousday。NextdayFatherMontoya，encouragedbytheunhoped
forsuccessofFatherMendoza，wentouthimself，and，facingthePaulistas，somewhatimprudentlythreatenedthemwiththewrathofHeavenandtheKingiftheydidnotretire。
ThewrathofHeavenisoftensomewhatcapriciousinitsaction，andtheKingofSpain，althoughaswrathfulashehadbeenanEmperor，wastoofarawaytoinspiremuchterrorinhissubjectsontheParana。
SothatthePaulistatreatedthewrathofboththeirMajestiesasqualitieswhichhecouldwellneglect，andforsoleanswerorderedhismentomarchuponthetown。But，whetherowingtotheirhardheartshavingbeentouchedbythegoodFather'seloquence，orthefactthattheneophyteswereunderarms，whenthePaulistasarrivedclosetothetowntheyalteredtheirintentionsandfiledoffintothewoods。Profitingbytherespitefromhostilities，Montoya，inconjunctionwithPadreDiazTanoandaFatherbearingthesomewhatcuriousnameofPadreJustoVansurkMansilla，2
devotedallhisattentionforthetimetotheMissionofSantaMarialaMayor，whichwasthemostflourishingofallthemissionsofthetime，andwhichto
daystillshowsthegreatestremnantsoftheJesuits'work，bothinregardtoarchitectureandtheremainsofIndianpopulationstillsettledontheoldmissionlands。ButeventheretheJesuitsdidnotescapewithouttheirtrials，foritappears3
thataquantityofnewproselytesarrivedwithwomen，whomthegoodFathersstigmatizedas`concubines'，andwhomtheignorantIndiansintheinnocenceoftheirheartslookedonaswives。Theorderbeinggiventodismisstheseconcubinesorwives，afewsubmitted；buttherest，leavingthemission，startedcultivatingatractoflandinthevicinity。
1Theseraidswereknownas`malocas'。
2InParaguayitwasnotunusualforforeignJesuitstohispaniolizetheirnames；thus，SmithbecameEsmid。
ButitwasmoreusualtoaddaSpanishname，asappearstohavebeenthecasewithP。VansurkMansilla。FatherManuelQuerini，inhisreporttotheKingofSpainin1750，mentionsthenamesofBoxer，Keiner，andLimp，withmanyotherFrench，English，andGermannames，amongstthoseofpriestsatthevariousmissions。
3Montoya，`ConquistaEspiritual'。AlsoCharlevoix。
ThenthegoodFathers，withMontoyaattheirhead，hitonastrokeofgenius。
TakingtheopportunitywhenthesecedingIndianswereawaygatheringtheircrops，theysetfiretotheirhousesandcarriedoffthechildrenandthewomen，backtothemission。TherecalcitrantsappearednextdayatSantaMarialaMayor，andwerereceivedagainintothebosomoftheChurch。Heresy，also，nowandthenmadeitsappearance，fortworascals，havingbuilttwotemplesupontwohills，transportedtothemtheskeletonsoftwomagicianslongsincedead，andtheficklepeopleleftthechurchesempty，andwenttoworshipatthemagicians'shrines。Butinthisseasonofsorrowandofcare，andwhilstthechurchesintheMissionofEncarnacionwereleftdeserted，Montoyaonceagainshowedhisdetermination，andputthingsright。
Notbeingabletocopealonewiththeheathen，FatherDiazTanowenttoGuayra，andinducedMontoyastillthesuperiorofthereductionsinthatprovincetogivehisaid。Hecame，and，havingarmedsomeofthefaithful，atdeadofnightattackedthetemplesandrazedthemtotheground。
ItiscertainthattheGuaranis，likemanyotherIndians，werepolygamists，andXarque，inhis`VidaApostolicadelP。JosephCataldino'，thusexplainsthematter:
`Eltenertantonumerodeconcubinas，nosolamenteloocasionasunaturallascivo，sinotambien，elviciodelaembriaguez，puesteniendotantascriadastenianconmasabundanciasucervezayvino。'
ThusXarqueseemstoagreewiththelateMissMaryKingsley，whoinoneofherbooksthoughshesaysnothingaboutthe`naturallascivo'ofthenegroesoftheWestCoastofAfrica
seemstoattributethepolygamyofthenegroestothedifficultyamanexperiences，inthecountriesinwhichshetravelled，ingettinghisfoodpreparedbyonewife。
In1631MontoyaandotherscameintheforestsofGuayrauponthewildCaaguas。Thesetheystrovehardtocivilize，but，afterlabouringlong，withalltheireloquencewereabletoinduceonlyeighteentoreturnwiththemtotheEncarnacion。
Itwas`withdifficultythattheywereabletogivethemasufficientknowledgeofthemysteriesofourfaithtobeabletobestowtheriteofbaptism。'ItmaybethattheCaaguas，nothavingmuchtooccupytheirminds，approachedthemysteriesofourfaithinmorereceptiveattitudesthanisattainedbythosewhosemindsarefull。
But，anyhow，Montoya，withtrueprudence，deferredtheirbaptismtilljustbeforetheirdeath，forafewmonthsoflifeoutsidetheforestsprovedfataltothemall。Faithisawondrousthing，andabletomovemostthings，evencommon
sense。Onewonders，though，why，whentheJesuitslearnedfromexperiencethatthepoorIndiansinvariablydiedwhenexposedtotheburningsunupontheplains，theycontinuedintheirfataleffortstoinflictbaptismontheunoffendingpeopleofthewoods。Ifitwerenecessary，itsurelymighthavetakenplaceintheirownhomes，andthepatientsthenmighthavebeenlefttochance，toseehowthereceptionoftheholyriteactedupontheirlives。
In1631theMamelucosbrokeintotheprovinceofGuayra。
Allwasconfusion，andMontoyasentFatherDiazTanotoAsunciontobegtheGovernor，DonLuisdeCespedes，tosendthemhelp。
Heansweredthathecoulddonothing，andthusbyleavingthewholeterritoryofGuayrawithoutdefencelostarichprovincetotheCrownofSpain。Thoughatthetime1631PortugalandSpainwereunited，yetintheIndiestheirsubjectswereatwar，andthoughinEuropeSpainwasthestrongerofthetwo，inAmericathePortugueseconqueredaboutthattimerichprovinces，whichto
dayformpartofthequondamEmpireofBrazil。
UponthefailureofDonLuisdeCespedestorenderhelp，PadreDiazTanowasdespatchedtoCharcas1tolaythematterbeforetheAudienciaRealtheHighCourtoftheIndies。
ThefrequentjourneysanddiplomaticnegotiationsinwhichtheJesuitsofParaguaywereengagedrenderedthemfarmoreapttomanagebusinessthanmembersoftheotherOrdersinAmerica。
WhilstinGuayraallwasconfusion，andthePaulistassweptthroughthelandruiningeverything，upontheUruguaythingsprospered，andPadreRomerofoundedtwonewreductions1631，knownasSanCarlosandApostoles；
healsolaidthefoundationofthatterritoryinwhichthepersecutedneophytesofGuayraweresoontofindasaferetreat。
FatherDiazTanobythistimehadreturnedfromCharcaswithadecreeoftheHighCourt，declaringtheactionofDonLuisdeCespedesinfailingtoprotectGuayraagainsttheMamelucosprejudicialtotheinterestsoftheKing；butasneitherhenortheHighCourtofCharcaspossessedanypowerbymeansofwhichtostimulatetheGovernortogreaterzeal，thedecreewasuseless，andTanoandRuizMontoyafoundthemselvessummonedhastilytomeetanewattack。Butbeforetheyarrivedthemissions，bothofSanFranciscoXavierandofSanJose，hadbeendestroyed。Astherewerestillthreereductionsundestroyed，Montoya，asProvincialofGuayra，calledalltheJesuitsoftheprovincetodeliberateastotheirchanceofmakingadefence。Thedebateranhigh；
someofthepriestswishedthattheneophytesshouldfighttotheend；
others，moresensible，pointedoutthattheill
armedandquiteuntrainedmilitiaofthemissionscoulddonothingwiththeirbowsandarrowsagainstthewell
ledandwell
disciplinedPaulistasallarmedwithguns。2
PadreTruxillogaveitashisopinionthatitwouldbemoreprudenttotransporttheIndianstoaplaceofsafety，andpointedoutthatnearthecataractofGuayratheywouldbeabletocrosstheriverandplaceitbetweenthemselvesandthePaulistasincaseofanattack。Thisadviceseemedprudenttotherest，andFatherTruxillosetouttomakehispreparationforthemarch。
FewEuropeantravellersevento
dayhavevisitedthegreatcataractknownasElSaltodeGuayra，orinPortugueseAsseteQuedas。
BourgadelaDardye3hasdescribeditinhisbookonParaguay。
Situatedasitisinthemidstofalmostimpenetrableforests，ithasnotevennowbeenproperlyplaceduponthemap。BourgadelaDardyeinclinestothinkhewasthefirsttovisititsincetheexpeditionsentbytheelderLopez，PresidentofParaguay，underLieutenantPatinoin1861。
Beforethattimeithadbeenleftunvisitedsince1788，whentheBoundaryCommissionerssenttodeterminethedividinglinebetweentheSpanishandPortuguesepossessionscampednearitforaweek。
FelixdeAzarawritesaboutitinhis`HistoriadelParaguay'，4
buthedoeslittlemorethanreproducetheaccountgivenbytheBoundaryCommissioners。Heplacesitin24d4'27"lat。，andreferstoitas`atremendousprecipiceofwater5
worthyofHomerorofVirgil'spen。'Hesaysthewatersdonotfallverticallyasfromabalconyorwindow`comoporunbalcono/ventana'，butbyaninclinedplaneataninclinationofaboutfiftydegrees。
TheriverclosetothetopofthefallsisaboutfourthousandninehundredCastilianyardsinbreadth，andsuddenlynarrowstoaboutseventyyards，andrushesoverthefallwithsuchterrificviolenceasifitwishedto`displacethecentreoftheearth，andcausethusthenutationwhichastronomershaveobservedintheearth'saxis。'Thedeworvapourwhichrisesfromthefallisseenintheshapeofacolumnfrommanymilesaway，andonithangsaperpetualrainbow，whichtremblesastheearthseemstotrembleunderone'sfeet。
`Thenoise，'hesays，`isheardfullsixleaguesoff，andintheneighbourhoodneitherbirdnorbeastisfound。'InAzara'stimethejourneywasnottoopleasant，forhesays:`HewhowishestoseethisfallmustcrossthedesertforthirtyleaguesfromthetownofCuruguatytotheriverGuatimi。Therehemustchoosetreestoconstructcanoes。
Inthesehemustembarkallthosewhogowithhim，armsandprovisions，andbesides，whereheembarks，leaveanarmedescorttosecurehisbaseofsuppliesfromthewildIndians'attack。
InthecanoeshethenmustnavigatetheGuatimiforthirtyleaguesuntilitjoinstheParana，andalwayswithmuchcare，forinthewoodsuponitsbanksareIndianswhogivenoquarter。6……
ThenthereremainthreeleaguestosailupontheParana，thenonecanreachthefallseitherinthecanoesorstrugglingalongthewoodswhichfringetheriver'sbank。'
1CharcasissituatedinwhatisnowBolivia，andwasextremelyinconvenientforalldwellersontheeasternsideoftheAndestoreach。
Whetherthiswasamasterpieceofpolicycalculatedtodiscouragelawsuits，orwhetheritwasmerelyduetoSpanishincuriousnessandmaladministration，isamootpoint。
2TheIndiansofthemissionswerenotallowedtopossessfirearmsatthisperiod。
3`Paraguay'，Dr。E。deBourgadelaDardye；EnglisheditionbyGeorgePhilipsjuniorLondon，1892。TheIndianscallitSaltodeCanandiyu，which，accordingtoAzara，wasthenameofa`cacique'whomthefirstSpaniardsmetthere。
4`DescripcionyHistoriadelParaguay'，Madrid，1847。
5`Yesunespantosodespen~aderodeagua'，etc。
`DescripciondelParaguay'，tomoi。，p。39。
6`Nodancuartel'。
Azarawas，perhaps，ofallthetravellersofthelastcentury，themanwhoaboveallthingsshinesinaccuracy，andinpointoffacthisdescriptionofthecataractisthebestwehaveuptothepresenttime。
BourgadelaDardyetellsusthatnotfarabovethecataracttheParanaexpandsintoalakealmostfivemilesinbreadth，andfromthelaketheriverissuesintwogreatarms，whichhaveforcedtheirwaythroughthemountainsknownastheSierradeMbaracyu。
Dr。BourgadelaDardyeseemstothinkthecirculareddiesfoundinthewhirlsarethemostcuriousfeaturesofthefalls。Hedescribesthemthus:
`Theyflowinfallsvaryingfromfiftytosixtyfeetindepth；
thesecirculareddies，whicharequiteindependentofoneanother，rangealonganarcofabouttwomilesinitsstretch。
Theyaredetachedlikegiantcaldronsyawningunexpectedlyatone'sfeet，inwhichthefloodseetheswithincrediblefury；everyoneofthesehasopenedforitselfanarroworificeintherock，throughwhichlikeastonefromaslingthewaterishurledintothecentralwhirlpool。
Thewidthoftheseoutletsrarelyexceedsfifteenyards，buttheirdepthcannotbeestimated。Theyallemptythemselvesintooneimmensecentralchamberabouttwohundredfeetwide，rushingintoitwithastoundingvelocity……Amoreimposingspectaclecanscarcelybeconceived，andIdoubtwhetherabyssessuchastheseexistelsewhereintheworld。'Heplacesthefallsinlatitude24d2'59"，butcorrectsthelongitudegivenbyAzaraas56d55'westofParisto58d18'8"
thatis，53d57'53"westfromGreenwich，whichcertainlyhassomeimportanceinfixingthebreadthoftheterritoryofParaguay。
ButneitherAzaranortheFrenchtraveller，withtheiryardsandfeet，theirlongitudeandlatitude，andtherest，giveanideaofthegrandeuroftheplace。Buriedintheprimevalforests，forgottenbytheworld，knowntothewanderingIndianswhogivenoquarteranymoreto
daythaninAzara'stime，thegiantcataractisalostwonderoftheworld。IntheruinedmissionsontheParana，twohundredmilesaway，IhaveheardtheIndianstalkofitwithawe。