第7章

类别:其他 作者:R。 B。 Cunninghame Graham字数:14899更新时间:18/12/14 11:09:22
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,pattingtheirstomachs(theprisonoftheirbrain),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,theIndiansbrokeintothechurchwhereaJesuit(PadreSalazar) wasofficiating,andinterruptedhimduringtheMasswiththemostbitterinsults。OneoftheIndiansmenacedhimwithalance,anotherwithanarrow,whilstathirdtriedtosnatchthechalicefromhishands。Heescaped,andran,holdingthechalice,outintothewoods,followedbytwolittleIndianboys。Wanderingabout,hefellinwiththeotherJesuits,alllikehimselfoutcasts,withoutachurch,andalmostdesertedbytheIndians。 PadreRuizMontoyaalonepossessedashadowofauthority,andheadvisedtheoutcastswiththeremnantoftheirflockstoretireintothewoods,andsowacropofmaizeforfood,whilstheendeavouredtogethelpfromParaguay。Hardlywasthisdone,whennewswasbroughthimwhichmadehimalterallhisplans。 TwomessengerscametoinformhimthatanarmyofPaulistaswasmarchingonVillaRica,andthatastrongdetachmentofthemwasadvancingfromthesouth。ThenPadreMontoyatookasupremeresolve,andorderedtheevacuationofthetwoprincipalreductions(SanIgnacioandLoreto)whichyetremainedintact。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,Montoyalaunchedthreehundredemptyboats(sendinganIndianinadvance)toseeifanyofthemwouldarrivesafelyatthebottomofthefalls。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。\' 5Azararecords(booki。)theIndianfablethatnolivingthingcouldexistnearthecataract。Thoughthisisofcourseuntrue,yetinmostParaguayanforestsnearwater,gameisbothscarceandhardtofind。 EachIndianhadtotakehisbundleonhisback;eventhechildrencarriedbundlesinproportiontotheirstrength。Themissionariescarriedwhatwasheldmostsacred,asaltar plateandimagesofsaints。 Infrontabandofmenarmedwithmachetes(cane 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,ThadeusEnnis(asitisoftenspelt),andhisloveoffightinglookun Germanic。PortionsofthediaryarealsotobefoundintheworkofBernardoIbanezdeEchegarray,entitled`HistoireduParaguaysouslesJe/suites\'(Amsterdam,1780)。 EithertheoriginaloranoldmanuscriptcopyexistsinthearchivesofSimancas,whereIhaveseen,butunfortunatelydidnotexamine,it。Aportionoftheworkisalsoincludedinthe`ColecciondeAngelis\'(BuenosAyres,1836)。 Theancientenmityofthetwonationshasbeencontinuedintheirdescendants,theBraziliansandtheArgentinesandUruguayans,andlittlebylittleBrazilisabsorbingallthenorthernportionoftheRepublicofUruguay。 AftertheretreatunderMontoyadowntheParana,theJesuitmissions,especiallyinParaguayandwhatisnowtheprovinceofCorrientes,forsometimeenjoyedaperiodofpeaceandofrepose,andthestrangepolicyoftheJesuitswasdeveloped,andtownshipaftertownshiparoseamongsttheGuaranis(1630 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,forhetriedhardtoleadanumberoftheIndianstoSanPaulotoshowthem(ashesaid) 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。Inthesameyear(1632)theMamelucosappearedandruinedallthefourmissions,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,condemnedinthestrongesttermsallpersonalservice(thatis,forcedlabour)amongsttheIndians,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 Maria(oneofthefewleftundestroyedattheformerinvasion)wasmostexposed,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,whenhavegoodmen(beforethetimeoftheencyclopaedists) beenwithoutamiracletosustaintheircause?Inthenextyear(1637) 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。