Inseason(andwhatincasesofthekindistentimesmoreimportant)，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，inhisexcellentbookonParaguay(theEnglisheditionpublishedinLondonin1892)，thinksitiseitheraeugeniaoramyrtus。
3Charlevoix，vol。i。，liv。vii。，p。384。
Aboutthistime(1630)thepoorJesuitsweremuchtormentedbythereturntopaganismoftheirIndians，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。
3ThismayeithermeantotheserviceofGodortotheserviceoftheKing(PhilipIII。)，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，forthesaint(whomusthaveseenhimallthetime)，flattered，perhaps，thathisownchiefvirtuehadbeenthecauseofsomuchpain，promptlyhealedhimandrestoredhislegtoitsusualsize，andMontoyawentonhiswayrejoicingtoAsuncion。TheProvincialheardandwasdisabused，butwasunabletosendasinglemantohelp，andpoorMontoyasetoffagainbacktoGuayraalone，havinggainednothingbuthissufferingsontheroad。
Again，in1614，wefindhiminAsuncioncombatingcalumniesspreadbytheSpanishsettlersagainsttheJesuits。
Inthesameyear(asheinformsus)hewaswitnessintheReductionofLoretoofastrangecircumstance。
`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，andwhenitsalliesfromthemarsheswhereitlives(whichitdoesordinarilyintroops)，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，forgettingthatposterity(forwhomtheywrite)canjudgeoftheresultaswellastheythemselves，butthirstfordetailstocompletethechainbetwixtthemandtheirpredecessors。Onethingissetdown`inextenso\'
notbyMontoya，butbyanotherJesuit
thatis，thesermonwhichMontoyapreachedtobringthechiefintothefold。
Consideredasasermonitdoesnotseemoutofthecommonway，andjudgedbyitsresultswasfutileatthetime，forthechiefansweredcoldlythathewouldthinkthematterover，andthenretiredintothewoods。ButtheseedthussowninVillaRicawastobearfruit，forinayearthechief，eithertiredofhisancestralgodsorhavingponderedonthesermon，cameintothefoldandwasbaptizedasPaul。
`Cacique\'=chief。
Anirruption1oftheMamelucoscalledFatherMontoyafrombaptizingIndiansandrecoveringtheirsoulstothemoreprosaic，ifasuseful，taskofsavingtheirbodies，whichhedidattheimmediateperilofhisown。TheMamelucoshadappeared(1628)
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。Theorderbeinggiventodismisstheseconcubines(orwives)，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，andinducedMontoya(stillthesuperiorofthereductionsinthatprovince)togivehisaid。Hecame，and，havingarmedsomeofthefaithful，atdeadofnightattackedthetemplesandrazedthemtotheground。
ItiscertainthattheGuaranis，likemanyotherIndians，werepolygamists，andXarque，inhis`VidaApostolicadelP。JosephCataldino\'，thusexplainsthematter:
`Eltenertantonumerodeconcubinas，nosolamenteloocasionasunaturallascivo，sinotambien，elviciodelaembriaguez，puesteniendotantascriadastenianconmasabundanciasucervezayvino。\'
ThusXarqueseemstoagreewiththelateMissMaryKingsley，whoinoneofherbooks(thoughshesaysnothingaboutthe`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。Thoughatthetime(1631)PortugalandSpainwereunited，yetintheIndiestheirsubjectswereatwar，andthoughinEuropeSpainwasthestrongerofthetwo，inAmericathePortugueseconqueredaboutthattimerichprovinces，whichto
dayformpartofthequondamEmpireofBrazil。
UponthefailureofDonLuisdeCespedestorenderhelp，PadreDiazTanowasdespatchedtoCharcas1tolaythematterbeforetheAudienciaReal(theHighCourtoftheIndies)。
ThefrequentjourneysanddiplomaticnegotiationsinwhichtheJesuitsofParaguaywereengagedrenderedthemfarmoreapttomanagebusinessthanmembersoftheotherOrdersinAmerica。
WhilstinGuayraallwasconfusion，andthePaulistassweptthroughthelandruiningeverything，upontheUruguaythingsprospered，andPadreRomerofoundedtwonewreductions(1631)，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；EnglisheditionbyGeorgePhilipsjunior(London，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，knowntothewanderingIndianswhogivenoquarter(anymoreto
daythaninAzara\'stime)，thegiantcataractisalostwonderoftheworld。IntheruinedmissionsontheParana，twohundredmilesaway，IhaveheardtheIndianstalkofitwithawe。
