Theytoldhowthroughthewoodstangledwithundergrowth，mattedtogetherwithlianas，theyhadhewedapath。Monkeysandparrotschatteredatthem，andawhitemiasmaticvapourhungovertreesandlakes，buryingtheclearingsinitswreaths，andliftingonlyatmid
day，tocloseagainuponthewoodsatnight。Theytalkedofalligators，jaguars，thegiantant
eater，andthemysteriousbirdknowntothemasthe`ipetata'，whichinitstailcarriesaburningfire。Intherecessesofthethicketsdemonslurked，andwildCaaguas，whowithablowpipeandapoisonedarrowslewyouandyourhorse，themselvesunseen。PoolscoveredwithVictoriaregia；massesofredandyellowflowersuponthetrees，thetreesthemselvesgigantic，andthemosswhichfloatedfromtheirbrancheslongasaspear；thevoyageincanoes，whirledlikeacorkupontherapids；
lastlythefallsthemselves，andhowthey，awestrickenatthesight，fellprostrateandpromisedmanycandlestotheVirginandthesaintsontheirreturn，theytalkedofintothewatchesofthenight。
Somehow，Ilikethosecountrieswhich，astheprovinceofGuayraandParaguay，appeartohavenofuture，andofwhichthecharmisinthepast。
Itpleasesmetothinkthatthesharpbusinessmenoftimesgoneby，pattingtheirstomachstheprisonoftheirbrain，predictedgreatadvancement，andwerealldeceived。Forthenitseemsasiftheprognosticationsofto
day'sschemesmayalsofail，andcountrieswhichtheyhavedoomedtoprogressstillremainasisGuayra，theirtownsdeserted，withbutthebrokenspireofsomeoldchurchemergingfromtheverdureofthetropics，astheSt。Paul'sRocksrisesheeroutofthesea。Ifthereischarmintheunknown，thereisatleastasgreatacharmintheforgotten，andtheSaltodeGuayraisoneofthemostforgottencornersoftheearth。
TothiswildplaceFatherMendozaproposedtoleadtheIndiansfromtheReductionsofSanJoseandSanFranciscoXavier，andthenunitewiththemanyofthefugitiveshecouldassemblefromthosereductionswhichhadbeendestroyed。ButeventhedoglikepatienceoftheIndianswasatanend，andtheypreferredtodieorbeledcaptivesratherthanrunthechancesofescapeinsuchasolitaryplace。Intheirdespair，andplacedbetweenthePaulistasandthefearofemigration，theneophytesturned，asevenmorecivilizedpeoplethanthemselveswillturn，ontheirbestfriends，andheldtheJesuitsresponsibleforalltheirwoes。
TwoIndianwomen，wivesof`caciques'，havingbeentakenbythePaulistas，theIndiansbrokeintothechurchwhereaJesuitPadreSalazar
wasofficiating，andinterruptedhimduringtheMasswiththemostbitterinsults。OneoftheIndiansmenacedhimwithalance，anotherwithanarrow，whilstathirdtriedtosnatchthechalicefromhishands。Heescaped，andran，holdingthechalice，outintothewoods，followedbytwolittleIndianboys。Wanderingabout，hefellinwiththeotherJesuits，alllikehimselfoutcasts，withoutachurch，andalmostdesertedbytheIndians。
PadreRuizMontoyaalonepossessedashadowofauthority，andheadvisedtheoutcastswiththeremnantoftheirflockstoretireintothewoods，andsowacropofmaizeforfood，whilstheendeavouredtogethelpfromParaguay。Hardlywasthisdone，whennewswasbroughthimwhichmadehimalterallhisplans。
TwomessengerscametoinformhimthatanarmyofPaulistaswasmarchingonVillaRica，andthatastrongdetachmentofthemwasadvancingfromthesouth。ThenPadreMontoyatookasupremeresolve，andorderedtheevacuationofthetwoprincipalreductionsSanIgnacioandLoretowhichyetremainedintact。TheywerethefirstwhichhadbeenfoundedinGuayra，andwereasimportantasanyoftheSpanishtownsinParaguay。Thechurches，alltheJesuitwriters，asMontoya，Charlevoix，Mastrilli，andLozano，areagreed，werefinerthananyintheland。TheIndianswere，accordingtoMontoya，farbetterChristiansthantheinhabitantsoftheSpanishsettlements，andtheirfaithandinnocencewereaboveallpraise。
Theycultivatedcottonandhadlargeherdsofcattle，sothatthemostbitterenemiesoftheJesuitsmustallowthatmuchhadbeenaccomplishedintheshortspaceoftwo
and
twentyyears。
In1609theJesuitscametoGuayra，andfounditabsolutelyuntouched；
andwhenin1631theyleftit，itwasupontheroadtobecomeoneofthemostflourishingAmericanprovincesoftheSpanishthrone。
TheothermissionariesimaginedthatnothingwouldpersuadetheIndianstodepartfromtheirhomes，whereforsomanyyearstheyhadbeenhappy；
butafterMontoyaexplainedtothemhisplans，theyallassentedtothemaswithasinglevoice。
TheplanbymeansofwhichtheJesuitMosesledhissheepoutofthewildernessofGuayrawasmostremarkable。
TheriverParanaformsagreatarterybetweenBrazilandParaguay；
uponeachsideofitanetworkofriversdisembogue。TheParanapane，onwhichmostofthemissionsofGuayraweresituated，flowsfromtheeast，andfallsintotheParana，notmuchmorethanfiftymilesabovethecataract。Afterthelastoftheonce
flourishingsixJesuitreductionshadbeenevacuatedattheordersofMontoya，hecollectedalltheboats，rafts，andcanoes，andaftermuchpersuasiongotalltheIndianspersuadedtofollowhimtoseekforsaferhabitationslowerdowntheParana。Thepopulationofthesixreductionshasbeenestimatedataboutonehundredthousandsouls；butofthese，duringtheyearsof1629and1630，thousandshadbeenledcaptivetoSanPaulo，andthousandshaddispersedintothewoods。
Still，assembledonthebanksoftheParanapane，therewasamultitudeofIndiansofeverysexandage。Fortunatelyorunfortunately，norecordbyaneye
witnessexists，exceptthatwrittenbyMontoya，andheismodesttoafaultaboutalldetails，andabsolutelysilentastothepartheplayedhimself。Hetellsusthatatthestarting
pointweregatheredtwothousandfivehundredfamilies，andthisinspiteofthedispersionsandtheeffortsmadebytheSpanishsettlersinthetownofCiudadReal，whofeared，withcause，tobeexposedtothefullfuryofthePaulistaswithoutallies。ItappearstheIndianswereinastateofspiritualexaltation，forsomeyoungmenhavingremarkedtheJesuitswerepackingupaChristandanimageoftheBlessedVirgin，whichinhappiertimeshadbeenmiraculous，theydeclaredthattoaffrontexile，andevendeath，insuchgoodcompanywasaforetasteofheaven。
Atleast，Ihavebeenunabletodiscoveranyotheraccountbyaneye
witness。
ThiscitywassituatednearthegreatfallsofGuayra，andwasdestroyedbythePaulistas，aswellasthecityofVillaRica，aftertheJesuitsandtheirIndianslefttheprovince。
Montoya，inoppositiontothemodernstyle，triestoshifttheburdenofthepraiseontotheshouldersoftheProvincial，PadreFranciscoLopezTruxillo，1butwithindifferentsuccess。
Thismatterofbearingyourownpraisewillrequireregulationinthefuture，whenanadvanceofcivilizationhasopenedpeople'seyestotheperceptionthatpraiseisjustasdisagreeabletothesuffererasisblame。
Thesentinelwhomtheyhadplacedtowarnthemoftheenemy'sapproachgavethealarm。MontoyasentatoncetoCiudadRealforhelp，buttheSpanishsettlersweretoohardpressedthemselvestogiveassistance。
Nothingremainedbuttomakeaportageofalltheirrafts，boats，andcanoes，andthentore
embarkandsaildowntheParanaoutofthereachofthePaulistas。Montoyapassedinreviewhisboats，andfoundhehadsevenhundred，andthattwelvethousandpeoplehadembarkedwithhimonleavingtheParanapane。WhenthePaulistasfoundtheJesuitshadevacuatedalltheirtowns，theyburntthechurches，ontheprinciple，perhaps，that，thenestsoncepulleddown，therookswouldnotreturn。TheyturnedtheJesuitcellsintobarracksforthemselves，taking，asMontoyasayswithhorror，`infamouswomen'
intothosechasteabodes，whereneverwomanhadpassedthroughthedoors。
ThePaulistasthenenteredintoarigorousexamination2oftheJesuits'
privatelives，hopingtofindsomescandaltobringagainstthem。
EspeciallytheyquestionedtheIndianwomen，givingthempresentstodiscovereverythingtheyknew。Allwasinvain，thedisciplineoftheOrder，orthestrictconscientiousnessoftheindividualmembersofit，nothavinggivenscandalanyhold。3Themostdifficultpartofthegreatexoduswasnowtocome。TherapidsandthecataractsoftheParanaextendtonearlyninetymiles，andthewholecountryisamazeoftangledforestinterspersedwithrocks。Nopathsexist，theplaceisdesert，andoverthedankmassofvegetationthemoisturefromthecloudsofvapourthrownupbythefallingwaterdescendsinnever
endingrain。4
Inordertoendeavourtosavethetroubleofreconstructingnewraftsandcanoesatthebottomofthecataract，MontoyalaunchedthreehundredemptyboatssendinganIndianinadvancetoseeifanyofthemwouldarrivesafelyatthebottomofthefalls。Notoneescaped；
andsothepilgrimagebegan，almostwithoutprovisionsandwithoutarms，inthemiddleofacountryquiteuncultivated，andwheregamewasscarce。5
Tomakethingsworse，intelligencewasbroughtthat，afewmilesbelowthebeginningofthefalls，theSpaniardsofGuayrahadbuiltawoodenfort，surroundedwithastrongstockade，hopingtointercepttheretreatingIndians，andmakeslavesofanywhomightfallintotheirhands。Montoyahimself，dressedasanIndian，wentouttoobservetheenemy，andonhisreturnthewholeimmenseassemblagesilentlyplungedintothewoods，leavingsolittletracesofitspassagethattheSpaniardsinthefortwerestillexpectingthemwhentheywerefarbeyondtheirreach。
1`ConquistaEspiritual'，p。48。
2`Rigorosoexamen'`ConquistaEspiritual'。
3InallthebooksandpamphletsIhavesearchedabouttheJesuitsinParaguay，bothfriendlyandunfriendlytotheOrder，IhaveneverfoundachargeofpersonalunchastityadvancedagainstaJesuit。InregardtotheotherreligiousOrdersitisfarotherwise。
4Azara，`DescripcioneHistoriadelParaguay'，tomoi。，p。40:
`EnlasinmediacionesdelSaltohayproporcionparatomarlasmedidasgeometricasquesequieraymetiendoseporelbosquesepuedereconocerloinferiordelSalto，bienqueparaesteesmenesterdesnudaretotalmenteporquelluevemucho。'
5Azararecordsbooki。theIndianfablethatnolivingthingcouldexistnearthecataract。Thoughthisisofcourseuntrue，yetinmostParaguayanforestsnearwater，gameisbothscarceandhardtofind。
EachIndianhadtotakehisbundleonhisback；eventhechildrencarriedbundlesinproportiontotheirstrength。Themissionariescarriedwhatwasheldmostsacred，asaltar
plateandimagesofsaints。
Infrontabandofmenarmedwithmachetescane
knives
openedthewaythroughthedensewoodsandpathlessjungleofthebank；
andastheymarchedalong，MontoyasaystheysanghymnswhichtheJesuitshadtaughtthem，andatthesoundofthemfugitiveswhohadbeenhidinginthewoodscameoutandjoinedtheirmarch。Especiallythosefromtheout
stationofTayaobajoinedthem；theirpriest，PedrodeEspinosa，hadmethisdeath`withagoodchanceofhiseternalwelfare，'asMontoyasays。
Butaftertheseconddaythehymnsnolongersoundedthroughthewoods，nordidtheyplayupontheharpsandotherinstruments，whosestringsbeingallbrokenandthewoodunglued，`theyleftthemontherocks，beingtoosadtolookatthem。'
AllthroughthewearyjourneyMontoyaseemsneveroncetohavedespaired，andsetsdowninhisbooktheadventuresofeachseparateday，neverforgettingtochronicleanythingstrangeorpatheticasitoccurredtohim。OnthefourthdayhesentoffFathersDiego，NicolasHennerio，andMansillaintotheprovinceofItatinestofoundamissionthere，actinguponorderswhichhadjustreachedhimfromtheProvincialoftheOrdershortlybeforehehadstartedfromGuayra。
Theytookwiththem`bells，images，andeverythingsuitableforthefoundationofamission'；butthefirsttwoweremartyredbythewildIndians，andthethirdjustfledintimetosavehislife。
IttookthefugitiveIndianseightwearydaysofmarchingtoreachthelowerendofthecataract，whereonceagaintheParanawasnavigable。Ontheirarrivaltheyhopedtofindprovisionsandmoreboats；butnonewerethere，theirownstoreswerealmostdone，andthepeopletooexhaustedtomarchon。
Feverbrokeout，andmanyofthemdied；andothers，lostintheforests，withoutaguide，wanderedabouttilldeathreleasedthemfromtheirmarch。
AweakermanthanPadreMontoyamighthavedespairedofeverissuingfromthewoods。However，hesettheIndianstoworktomakecanoes，andotherstocultivatepatchesofmaizeforfood，workinghimselfalternatelywithaxeandhoetogiveexampletotheneophytes。
Others，again，cutdowntheenormouscanes，whichinthatregiongrewtofiftyfeetinheight，tomakethemintorafts。
`Conbuenasprendasdesusaludeterna'`ConquistaEspiritual'。
FathersSuarez，Contreras，andEspinosawereMontoya'slieutenantsinthismemorableretreat。Itisdifficulttogivethepalmtotheenergyandcourageofthefourpriests，ortotheresignationandfaithoftheimmensemultitudeofIndianswhoweresavedbythem。
So，afteraconsiderabletime，allwasinreadinessforanewstart，andluckilyprovisionsfromthereductionsontheParanaarrived。
Sotheyembarkedagain，andonthejourneyaraftinwhichawomanandtwochildrenweresittingupset，toMontoya'sagony，asheknewthat`inthatrivertherearefishthatthepeoplecallculebras，
whichhavebeenseentoswallowmenentire，andthrowthemoutagainwithalltheirbonesbrokenasifithadbeendonewithstones。'
Hesays:`IconfessIsufferedinfinitely，and，turningmyeyestoheaven，Iblamedmysinsashavingbeenthecauseofsomuchmisery，andsaid，"OLord，isitpossiblethatforthisThouhastbroughtthesepeopleoutoftheircountry，thatmyeyesshouldendurethespectacleofsomuchmisery，andmyheartbreakatsomuchsuffering，andthentoletthemdiedevouredbysavagefish!"'Asthegoodmanwaspraying，theIndianwoman'sheadappearedabovethewater，andMontoyahimself，aidedbyIndians，drewherandthechildreninsafetytotheland。Buthistrialswerenotatanend，formanyofthehastilyconstructedraftsandcanoessankbeforehiseyes，andthemortalityofIndianswasgreat。EventuallytheyfoundatemporaryrefugeintheReductionoftheNativityupontheAcaray，andatSantaMarialaMayorupontheIguazu。Thenfamineraged，andthearrivalofsomanypeopleincreasedthescarcity，sothatsixhundredofthenewarrivalsdiedinonereduction，andfivehundredinthenext。AtlastthescarcitybecamesogreatthatthepoorIndianshadtoroamabouttheforeststogatherfruit，andmanyofthemdiedintherecessesofthewoods。
`Culebra'istheSpanishforaserpent。Thesefishmayhavebeenwaterboas，or，again，asseemsprobablebytheirdigestivepowers，somekindofhypotheticalfishnotyetcatalogued。
Seeingnohopesofsavingtheremainder，MontoyaledthemfurtherontothebanksofalittlerivercalledtheJubaburrus，
andthereheonceagainfoundedtworeductions，whichhenamedLoretoandSanIgnacio，afterthetwotheMamelucoshaddestroyed。
HeboughttenthousandheadofcattleoutofthemoneytheKingallowedtotheJesuitsofGuayra，andfromthesaleofsomefewobjectssavedfromthegeneraldestructionofthetowns，andsettleddownhisIndians，whoinGuayrahadbeenallagriculturists，toapastorallife。
Thusdidhebringsuccessfullynearlytwelvethousandpeopleadistanceofaboutfivehundredmilesthroughdesertcountry，anddownariverbrokeninallitscoursebyrapids，landingthemfarfromtheirenemiesinasafehavenatthelast。
Mostcommonlytheworldforgetsorneverknowsitsgreatestmen，whileitslard
headedfools，whointheirlivesperhapshavebeenthetoysoffortune，sleepintheirhonouredgraves，theirmemorylivinginthepageofhistory，preservedlikegrapesinaspicbywriterssuet
headedasthemselves。ButthoughthisHegirawasthemoststirringepisodeofMontoya'slife，heyethadworktodo，andintheprovinceofdiplomacyrenderedasgreat，orevengreater，servicestotheIndians，whomhelovedbetterthanhimself，asinthememorablejourneywhenheledthemdowntheParana。
Thenameofthisriverseemstohavepassedthroughthemachineofsomemedievaltypewriter，foritislikenonameinanylanguage，andMontoyaknewGuaraniwell，havingwrittenmuchinthatlanguage。
ChapterIII
SpainandPortugalinSouthAmerica
EnmitybetweenBraziliansandArgentines
ExpulsionofJesuitsfromParaguay
Struggleswiththenatives
FatherMendozakilled
DeathofFatherMontoyaIntheprovinceofGuayratheSpaniardswhohadlookedwithdisfavourontheJesuits，andhadenslavedtheIndianswhentheywereable，wereinsorestraits。TheMamelucos，findingnomoreIndianstoenslave，fellonthetwotownsofVillaRicaandCiudadReal，destroyedthemutterly，andforcedtheinhabitantstofleeforrefugeintoParaguay。
ThusGuayrawentthewayofMattoGrossoandseveralotherprovincesofSpain，andbecamePortuguese。Strangelyenough，mostoftheselosseshappenedwhenSpainandPortugalwerejoinedunderonecrown。AthometheSpaniardsandthePortuguese，howevermuchtheydetestedoneanother，wereforcedtokeepthepeace。
InAmericatheywerealwaysatwar，whichendedinvariablytothedetrimentofSpain。ThestrifebegunbythePapalBullof1493，inwhichPopeAlexanderVI。dividedtheterritoriesdiscoveredandtobediscoveredbetweenPortugalandSpain，wenton，tillbitbybitSpainwasstrippedoftheprovincesofMattoGrosso，RioGrande，andGuayra，andfoundherselfdrawnintothenumerousdisputesabouttheColoniadelSacramento，whichcostsomuchbloodtobothcontendingPowers。PerhapsthemostcuriousandinterestingincidentofthelongstrugglewastheThreeYears'War，whichbeganin1750，afterthemarriageofFerdinandVI。ofSpainwithDonaBarbaraofPortugal。Bythetreatyenteredintoatthismarriage，sevenofthemostflourishingofthemissionssituatedontheleftbankoftheUruguaywerecededtoPortugalinexchangeforLaColoniadelSacramentoontheriverPlate。
Thetownsresistedchangeofsovereignty，asPortugaltothemwastypifiedbythePaulistas，theirmostinveterateenemies。
TheMarquisdeValdeliriosinhiscuriousdespatchestouchesmuchuponthiswar，butperhapsthebestaccountistobefoundinthecuriousmemoiroftheIrishJesuitFather，TadeoHennis，
whowasthebackboneoftheresistingGuaranis。
Evensolateastheyear1777，inwhichthelasttreatyofboundarieswassignedatSanIldefonso，Portugalwasthegainer，thoughnotsogreatlyasbytheformertreatiesof1681and1750。
`EfemeridesoDiariodelaGuerradelosGuaranies'，porP。TadeoHennis。
Thisjournalhas，Ithink，neverbeenpublishedinitsentirety，butportionsofitaretobefoundinthecollectionofdocuments，Bulls，despatches，etc。，publishedatMadridin1768
underthetitleof`CausaJesuiticadePortugal'。TheauthorofthisbookcallsHennisaGerman，buthisname，ThadeusEnnisasitisoftenspelt，andhisloveoffightinglookun
Germanic。PortionsofthediaryarealsotobefoundintheworkofBernardoIbanezdeEchegarray，entitled`HistoireduParaguaysouslesJe/suites'Amsterdam，1780。
EithertheoriginaloranoldmanuscriptcopyexistsinthearchivesofSimancas，whereIhaveseen，butunfortunatelydidnotexamine，it。Aportionoftheworkisalsoincludedinthe`ColecciondeAngelis'BuenosAyres，1836。
Theancientenmityofthetwonationshasbeencontinuedintheirdescendants，theBraziliansandtheArgentinesandUruguayans，andlittlebylittleBrazilisabsorbingallthenorthernportionoftheRepublicofUruguay。
AftertheretreatunderMontoyadowntheParana，theJesuitmissions，especiallyinParaguayandwhatisnowtheprovinceofCorrientes，forsometimeenjoyedaperiodofpeaceandofrepose，andthestrangepolicyoftheJesuitswasdeveloped，andtownshipaftertownshiparoseamongsttheGuaranis1630
31。ButtherewasstillnorestforRuizMontoya，whowasofthosewhorestbutinthegrave。In1632，attheinstanceoftheGovernorandmagistratesofthetownshipofJerez，MontoyasentFathersJeanRanconierandMansillatothenorthofParaguaytofoundamissionamongsttheItatines，aforest
dwellingtribe。
Theirterritorywasmarshyandtheclimatebad，andwoodsofindiarubber
treescoveredalltheland。FathersdelTechoandCharlevoixbothspeakofthe`reboundingballs'withwhichtheyplayed，which，thrownupontheground，startupagainasiftheywerefilledwithair。
Thisis，perhaps，oneofthefirsttimesthatindiarubberismentioned，thoughinsomeplacesJeandeLeryseemstoindicatehewasacquaintedwithitsuse。
`Histoired'unVoyagefaictenlaTerreduBre/sil'。
TheJesuitsfoundthattomakeprogresswasnoteasywiththeseIndians，whowillinglyenoughlistenedtotheirpreaching，butrefusedtoaltertheirsocialhabits，towhichtheJesuitsascribethefactthateventhentheirnumberswerediminishing。LikemostoftheIndiansofAmerica，theywerepolygamists，whichcustomintheirraceoperatesdifferentlytopolygamyamongstthenegroes:forwhereastheyseemtoincreaseandthrive，theIndiansevenattheconquestoftentendedtobecomeextinct。
WhenaheadmanamongsttheItatinesdied，anumberofhisfollowersjumpeddownprecipicestoaccompanyhimuponhisjourneytoabetterworld。
ThiscustomandpolygamygavemuchtroubletotheJesuits，buttheirmostadmirablepatienceandknowledgeofmankindhelpedthemtoovercomethembydegrees。Allwasabouttoflourishinthemission，whenoneAcosta，aBrazilianpriest，appeared。PerhapshewasinleaguewiththePaulistas，orperhapswasjealousoftheJesuits，forhetriedhardtoleadanumberoftheIndianstoSanPaulotoshowthemashesaid
howtheyshouldfollowthetruelawofGod。
Thewayoftheneophyteevento
dayishard，somanypriestsofdifferentjarringsectsdisputingforhissoulashotlyasifitwereapreferencestockwhichtheyhadprivateintimationwasjustabouttorise。
TheItatines，eithersuspectingthatAcosta'struelawwasfalse，ortiredofhispreaching，roseandkilledhim；buttheeffectwasbad，andtheregrewupamongstthoseinfidelsacoldnesseventowardstheJesuitsthemselves。Haditnotbeenfortwomiraculouseventswhichhappenedopportunely，assuchthingsshouldhappeniftheyaretobeturnedtogoodaccount，muchharmmighthavebeendone。
Achief，havingcursedapriest，wasseizedatoncewithamalignantulcerinthethroat，whichshortlykilledhim。TheItatinesdidnotapparentlythinkanythingoftheinfluenceoftheunhealthyclimateinwhichtheylived，andsettheoccurrencedowntotheactofGod。
Butmorewasstilltocome。Anotherchiefhavingsofarforgottenhimselfastojeeratapriest，athunderboltfellsoclosetohimthathewasknockedsenseless，andlayasdead。ThesetwoeventsconfirmedtheJesuits'power，andthingsbegantoflourishintheirfournewmissions。
ButtheGreatPower，socarefuloftheindividualeffortofHispriests，seemstohavebeenmostunaccountablyremissoftheirsuccessconsideredasawhole。Inthesameyear1632theMamelucosappearedandruinedallthefourmissions，sothattheeffortsoftheJesuitsandthemiracleswerelost。
In1633thefirstskirmishtookplacebetweentheBishopofParaguayandtheJesuits。Thisskirmishlittlebylittlegrewintoawar，keptupformorethanahundredyears，andendedfinallyintheexpulsionoftheJesuitsfromParaguay。TheGovernor，DonLuisdeCespedes，havingcalledupontheIndiansoftheJesuitmissionsforpersonalservice，aproceedingquiteagainstboththeKing'sordersandthePapalBulls，theBishopthoughtthemomentopportunetopressfortithes。This，too，wasequallyforbiddenbothbyaBullandbyanorderoftheCounciloftheIndies。PadreRomerowenttoAsuncionanddisplayedhisBullsandhisordersoftheCouncil，andtheGovernorwithdrewhisclaims。TheBishop，aftersomeopposition，withdrewlikewise，andtheProvincialoftheOrderarrivedatAsuncion，bringingwithhimanorderfromtheKingsignifyingthattheIndiansofthereductionsweretobeleftentirelytotheJesuits。
SoforthepresenttheJesuitsscoredavictory，thoughinthefutureitwastocostthemdear。ButtheGovernorofParaguayhavingreturnedapparentlytohisdesignofexactingpersonalservicefromtheIndiansofthemissions，theProvincialcheckmatedhimwitharoyalorderfromPhilipIV。TheorderwasaddressedtotheViceroyofPeru，thefourthCountofChinchon。Themissive，datedatMadridin1633，condemnedinthestrongesttermsallpersonalservicethatis，forcedlabouramongsttheIndians，notonlyoftheJesuitmissions，butofPeruandMexico。
Withatouchingconfidenceinhisownpowers，andabsoluterightDivine，thewell
meaningKingaddedtohisordersaparagraphcommandingalltobedoneashehadorderedwithinsixmonths。StrangetofindPhilipIV。，whomVelasquezhasimmortalizedandshownusashesatuponhishorseineffable，sofarawayfromtheMuseodelPrado，wherealoneheeverseemsreallytohavelived。ButfoolishGovernorsandBishopswerenottheJesuits'worstenemiesinParaguay。In1634theProvincial，FatherBoroa，wasshipwreckedinavoyageuptheUruguay，andonlysavedbythedevotionofhisneophytes。
SometimesthecrueltreatmentofthenativesbytheSpanishsettlerswasavengedupontheJesuits。ThiswasthecasewithabandofGuapalaches，who，comingonFatherEspinosainawood，attackedandmassacredhimandallhisIndians，and，havingcuthisbodyintopieces，leftitforthewildbeaststoeat。UponanotheroccasionFatherMendozafellintoanambuscade，fromwhichhemighthaveescapedhadnothishorsesunkinamirystream。LonghedefendedhimselfwithanIndianshield，butatlengthwasstretcheduponthegroundandleftfordead。
Duringthenightherevived，anddraggedhimselfuptosomerocks；
buttheIndiansinthemorning，followinguphistrail，cameonhimprayinginaloudvoice。TheytoldhimthatheservedablindGod，oratbestapowerlessGod，asHedidnothingtodefendHisservant；
then，aftertorturinghimcruelly，theydespatchedhim，and，takingouthisheart，said:`Letusseeifhissoulwilltaketheroadtoheaven。'Thesesavagesdonotseemtohavebeengenuinelyinterestedinfindingoutwhatbecameofthesoulafterthedissolutionofthebody，fortheysatdownandmadeaheartymealoftwoyoungIndianswhoaccompaniedtheunluckypriest。
Buttheyhadheardtheirvictimsaythatwhenhebaptizedthemitpurifiedtheirsouls，andthelastwordsofFatherMendozahadbeentorecommendhissoultoGod。IoftenwonderiftheChristiansofto
day，theircreedsofirmlyfixedbythemartyrdomsofsimplefolk，whoheldtheirfaithwithoutperhapsmuchreasoningonit，knowwhattheyowetomenlikeFatherChristopherMendoza，slainbytheIndiansintheParaguayanwoods。Yourancientmartyr，fallenoutoffashionandforgottenbytheChristiansofto
day，shouldhavehishomagedonetohim，ifonlybythechancewriter，whoinhisstudiesforsomesubjectofnointeresttothegeneralworldcomesonhistrailofblood；formartyrdom，nomatterhowobscure，forgottenbythepeopleofthefaithforwhichthemartyrsuffered，isaslurnotonlyonthefaithful，butonthefaithitself。In1636occurredthesecondinvasionofthePaulistas，whichinducedFatherMontoya，accompaniedbyFatherDiazTano，togotoEuropetoseekprotectionfortheIndiansbothfromtheKingofSpainandfromthePope。
TheMamelucosburstintotheprovinceofTape，and，asthemissionofJesus
Mariaoneofthefewleftundestroyedattheformerinvasionwasmostexposed，FatherRomeroaskedpermissionoftheGovernoroftheRiverPlatetomakesometrenchestodefendtheplace。TheGovernorconsented，butthestormburstonthemissionbeforethedefenceswereinafitstatetodefend。
ThemissionpriestsAntonioBernalandJuanCardenaswereinthefrontranksencouragingtheIndians，andbothwerebadlywounded。FathersMolaandRomerowentaboutministeringtothewounded，butescapedthemselves。Atlast，theMamelucoshavingsetfiretothechurch，capitulationbecameinevitable，andthechiefpartoftheIndianswereledawayinchains。
ThesamefatewouldhaveovertakenthemissionofSanCristobal，wherefatherRomerohadretreatedwithsomefugitivesfromJesus
Maria，hadnotthepeopleandtheirpriestretreatedhastilyuponthemissionofSantaAna。Buteventheretheywerenotlonginsafety，andhadtoundertakeanotherperilousjourneydowntheriverIguai。
HereapartyofpassingMamelucosfellintoanambuscade，andwerehewninpieces，presumablybeforetheLord。TheMamelucospushedtheiradvancesofarthatFatherMontoyahadgivenordersthatallthemissionsofthatprovinceshouldbeburned。Theinhabitants，whotrustedhimquiteblindly，werejustabouttobegintoburntheirhouses，whenanorderfromtheProvincialstoppedthemfromdoingsotillhehimselfappeareduponthescene。Hearrived，and，gatheringupthescatteredIndiansasfarashewasable，leftthemforsafetyinsomeofthemissionswhichhadnotbeendestroyed，andsetoffhimselftoaskforhelpfromtheGovernorofParaguay。
ThisprovincewassometimescalledGuayra，andsometimesLaProvinciadeVera，VerabeingthefamilynameofAlvarNunezCabezadeVaca。
Itsposition，etc。，maybedeterminedbyreferencetothecuriousvolumeofmapspublishedatMadridbyDonFranciscoJavierBraboin1872。
Thatamissioncouldbesoundefendedastoneedtrenches，thataJesuitshouldaskleavetomakesuchelementarydefences，eveninthefaceofimminentdanger，seemstoprovethattheJesuitsatleastin1636hadnointentionofdefyingthesovereignpower，aswassooftenallegedagainstthem。
FindingnohelpeitherfromhimorfromtheGovernoroftheRiverPlate，hewenttoCorrientes，andwasreceivedalmostwithcontumely。
Then，desperate，heequippedanarmyofthemissionIndians，andadvancedtofighttheMamelucos；buttheyhadretreatedintoBrazil，andwerebeyondhisreach。SeeingthatnothingwastobehopedfromtheSpanishGovernors，hesentaboxofpapersinashipgoingtoPortugal，andlaidhiscasebeforetheCounciloftheIndies。
MontoyaandCharlevoixrelatethattheboxwasthrownintotheseanearLisbonbysomeenemyoftheJesuits，butprovidentiallywaswashedupbythetide，and，beingfoundmiraculously，wastakentotheKingofSpain。
Whetherthishappenedasitiswritten，whoshallsay?But，indistress，whenhavegoodmenbeforethetimeoftheencyclopaedists
beenwithoutamiracletosustaintheircause?Inthenextyear1637
FatherMontoyaandTanostartedupontheirmissiontoEurope，andanewfieldwasopenedtoMontoyainwhichtoshowhistalentsontheIndians'behalf。
WhilstFatherMontoyawasinSpain，theProvincialappointedFatherAlfarototakehisplace。Hefellontroubloustimes，fortheMamelucoswerepreparingtoattackthethreeremainingmissionsintheprovinceofGuayra。Astheywerenotdefensible，itwasagreedtoevacuatethem，andtoretreatintotheprovincesupontheUruguay。WhentheywerejustabouttostartfromSantaTeresa，wheretheinhabitantsoftheothermissionshadbeencollected，theMamelucosappearedjustbeforeChristmas。TheIndiansweredrivenoffasslaves，andtheMamelucos，withtheirusualsenseofhumour，attendedMassaspenitentsonChristmasDay，withcandlesintheirhands，andlistenedtothesermoninanedifyingway。Thepriestreproachedthemfortheircruelty，andthey，afterlisteningdevoutly，gavehimthelibertyoftwochoirboys，andquietlyleftthechurch。
SanJoaquin，SantaTeresa，SantaAna。
AtlengththeJesuits，rendereddesperatebytheperilstowhichthemissionIndianswereexposed，armedseveralbandsofIndiansandattackedtheMamelucos。But，aswastobeexpected，thehalf
armedIndianswerealwaysworstedbythewell
armedanddisciplinedPaulistabands，andthentheJesuitstookthesupremeresolvetoevacuateGuayraentirely，andplacetheIndiansinsafetybetweentheriversParanaandUruguay。
Formedintothreegreatcompanies，theIndiansstartedontheirsecondexodus。
AlthoughthedifficultieswerelessthaninthevoyagedowntheParana，still，tomarchseveralthousandIndiansjustemergedfromsavagery，accompaniedbytheirwomenandchildren，andchargedwithalltheirpossessions，throughawildcountry，wheretheywereexposedtotheattackofawell
armedenemyupontheway，wasnotaneasytask。
FatherChristobalArenasformedthemintothreedivisions，leadingthefirsthimself；buttheProvincialseemstohavedonemostoftheorganizing，forCharlevoixsaysthat`tohiscourage，prudence，andinalterablekindness，'thesuccesswasdue。
`HistoireduParaguay'，liv。ix。，p。446。
Courageandprudenceandinalterablekindnessarethethreevirtueswhichhavemostmovedtheworld；perhapsthelasthasbeenmostefficacious，andonewouldhopethatinthefutureitwouldbetheonlyoneofthewholethreerequired。
TwelvethousandIndians，notcountingwomenandchildren，werethusledintoaterritorybetweentheriversUruguayandParana，rich，fertile，and，asthedistancebetweentheriversisnotabovesomefive
and
twentymiles，defendedinsomemeasure，andeasilyrenderedalmostimpregnable。
ThisterritoryisnowtheArgentineprovinceofMisiones。
Noonecanseetheheartofman，and，evenifGodseesit，Henevertellsuswhatisthere，sothatweareobligedtojudgeofactionsaswefindthem，andleavethesearchformotivestoomniscients。
Onthefaceofit，theJesuits，boththosewholedtheIndiansdowntheParanaandthosewhoheadedtheminthismigrationtotheMesopotamiabetweentheUruguayandParana，werenotimpelledbythoughtofgain；andifaJesuitmustofnecessityhavesomedarkschemebehindthesmallestactionofhislife，thesemenconcealeditsodeepdownwithintheirsoulsthatalltheresearchesoftheirkeenestenemieshavenotbeenabletothrowlightonit。But，evensettledintheirnewhomes，theIndiansweredefencelessagainsttheMamelucos，asitwasastatemaximoftheSpanishcourtthattheIndiansshouldneverbeallowedtheuseofguns。Thiswasawiseenoughprecaution，withoutdoubt，fortheIndiansoftheEncomiendas，wholivedamongsttheSpaniardsandowedthempersonalservices；
butarmsfortheIndiansofthemissionswereanecessityoflife。