第4章

类别:其他 作者:R。 B。 Cunninghame Graham字数:11090更新时间:18/12/14 11:09:22
Where,heasks,aretheIndiantribeswithwhomthecelebratedQuakertreated? InParaguay,ontheotherhand,atleastinthetimewhenWashburnewasMinisterfromtheUnitedStatestoLopez(from1861to1868),thefewremainingParaguayansoftheupperclasswerealmostalldescendedfromtheintermarriagesofthefollowersofIralawiththenatives。 ThetyrannyofLopez,andtheeffectsofthedisastrouswarwithBrazilandtheArgentineRepublic,havealmostextirpatedeveryParaguayan(oftheoldstock)withtheleastpretensionstowhitedescent。 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。1Allthathesayshesetsdownmodestlyandwithexcuses(aseverynowandthen,`Mepesahablardemistrabajos\'),andasbefitsagentleman。 Lastly,heleavesthereader(whendescribinghiscaptivityinFlorida),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。 Aftertheswampsthicketsoftacuaras(canes),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:\"AlloverSouthAmericathejaguariscalledatiger(tigre)。\" 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!\'Thefriendsofliberty(upontheotherside)attemptedarescue,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,intheusualSpanishfashion(longsanctifiedbyuseandwont),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。 Atdeadofnightabandofharquebusiersdraggedhimfromhisbed(afteracaptivityofelevenmonths),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。