第13章

类别:其他 作者:R。 B。 Cunninghame Graham字数:12607更新时间:18/12/14 11:09:22
Inadditiontothemeansdescribed,theJesuitshadrecoursetofrequentreligiousfeasts,forwhichthecalendargavethemfullscope,sothatthelifeinaJesuitmissionwasmuchdiversifiedandrenderedpleasanttotheIndians,whohavearootedloveofshow。Eachmissionhad,ofcourse,itspatronsaint,1andonhisdaynobodyworked,whilstallwasjoyfulnessandsimplemirth。Atbreakofdayadischargeofrocketsandoffirearmsandpealsuponthebellsannouncedthejoyfulmorn。Thenthewholepopulationflockedtochurchtolistentoanearlymass。Thosewhocouldfindnoroominsidethechurchstoodinlonglinesoutsidethedoor,whichremainedopenduringtheceremony。 Massover,eachonerantopreparehimselfforhispartinthefunction,theJesuitshavingtakencare,bymultiplyingofficesandemployments,toleavenomanwithoutadirectshareinalltheothersdid。2 Thehumblestandthehighesthadtheirpart,andtheheaviestburden,nodoubt,felluponthetwoJesuits,3whowereanswerableforall。 Theforemostdutywastogettheprocessionreadyforthemarch,andsaddle`loscaballosdelsanto\'4toserveasescort,mountedbyIndiansinrichdresses,keptspeciallyforfeasts。 1Inthe`RelaciondeMisiones\'oftheBrigadierDonDiegodeAlvear,writtenbetween1788and1801,andpreservedinthe`ColecciondeAngelis\',occursthefollowingcuriousdescriptionofthefeast dayofapatronsaintofaJesuitreduction:`Theymakealongalleyofinterwovencanes,whichendsinatriumphalarch,whichtheyadornwithbranchesofpalmsandothertreeswithconsiderablegraceandtaste(`conbastantegraciaysimetria\')。 Underthearchtheyhangtheirimagesofsaints,theirclothes,theirfirst fruits ascornandsugar cane,andcalabashesfullofmaize beer(`chicha\') theirmeatandbread,togetherwithanimalsbothaliveanddead,suchastheycanprocure(`comolospuedenhaberconsudiligencia\')。Then,forminginaring,theydanceandshout,`Vivaelrey!Vivaelsantotutelar!\' 2Manyandcuriousarethenamesbywhichtheoffice bearerswent。 Thus,intheMissionofelSantoCorazon,intheChiquitos,Ifindthefollowing:Corregidor,theMayor;Teniente,Lieutenant; Alferez,Sub Lieutenant;AlcaldePrimero,HeadAlcalde; AlcaldeSegundo,SecondAlcalde;Commandante,Captain(oftheMilitia); JusticiaMayor,ChiefJustice;SargentoMayor,Sergeant Major。 Thencamefiscales,fiscals;sacristanmayor,head beadle; capitandeestancia,chiefofthecattlefarm;capitandepinturas,carpinteria,herreros,etc。 captainofpainters,carpenters,smiths,etc。Alltheofficeswerecompetedforardently,andthoseofCorregidorandAlcaldeinespecialwereprizedsohighlythatIndianswhoweredegradedfromthemforbadconductorcarelessnessnotinfrequentlydiedofgrief。 3Ineachreductionthereweretwopriests。InallParaguay,attheexpulsionoftheOrderin1767,therewereonlyseventy eightJesuits(DeanFunes,`EnsayodelaHistoriadelParaguay\',etc。,cap。i。,vol。ii。)。 4InthemissionofLosApostolestherewere599ofthese`horsesofthesaint\',accordingtoaninventorypreservedbyBrabo。 TheinventoryofthetownofLosApostoles1enablesustoreconstruct,withsomeattemptataccuracy,howtheprocessionwasformedandhowittookitsway。Allthemilitiaofthetownwereinattendance,mountedontheirbesthorses,andarmedwithlances(`chuzos\'),lazo,bolas,andafewwithguns。TheofficersoftheIndiansrodeattheirhead,dressedoutingorgeousclothes,andtroopsofdancers,atstatedintervals,performedasortofPyrrhicdancebetweenthesquadronsofthecavalry。2 InthefrontofallrodeonawhitehorsetheAlferezReal,3 dressedinadoubletofbluevelvetrichlylacedwithgold,awaistcoatofbrocade,andwithshortvelvetbreechesgarteredwithsilverlace;uponhisfeetshoesdeckedwithsilverbuckles,andthewholeschemecompletedbyagold lacedhat。Inhisrighthandheheldtheroyalstandardfastenedtoalongcanewhichendedinasilverknob。 Aswordwasbyhisside,which,asheonlycouldhavewornitonsuchoccasions,andasthe`horsesofthesaint\'werenotunlikelyasticklishasmosthorsesoftheprairiesofEntreRiosandCorrientesarewonttobe,musthaveembarrassedhimconsiderably。 BehindhimcametheCorregidor,arrayedinyellowsatin,withasilkwaistcoatandgoldbuttons,breechesofyellowvelvet,andahatequalinmagnificencetothatwornbyhisboldcompeer。 ThetwoAlcaldes,lessviolentlydressed,worestraw colouredsilksuits,withsatinwaistcoatsofthesamecolour,andhatsturnedupwithgold。 Otherofficials,astheCommissario,MaestredeCampo,andtheSargentoMayor,werequiteasgailydressedinscarletcoats,withcrimsondamaskwaistcoatstrimmedwithsilverlace,4redbreeches,andblackhatsadornedwithheavylace。InthebrightParaguayansunshine,withtheprimevalforestforabackground,orinsomemissioninthemidstofavastplainbesidetheParana,theymusthavelookedasgorgeousasaflightofparrotsfromtheneighbouringwoods,andhavemadeaTurneresqueeffect,amblingalong,ablazeofcolours,quiteasself satisfiedintheirfineryasif`therainbowhadbeenentailsettledonthemandtheirheirsmale。\'Quiteprobablytheirbroad,flatnoses,andtheirlong,lankhair,theirfacesfixedimmovably,asiftheywerecarvedinnandubay,contrastedstrangelywiththeirfinery。 Buttherewerenonetojudge noonetomakeremarks;mostlikelyallwasconscienceandtenderheart,andnottheirbitterestenemyhaslaidthechargeofhumourtotheJesuits\'account。 1FurnishedtoBucareli,ViceroyofBuenosAyresattheexpulsion,andfirstprintedbyBrabo(`Inventariosdelosbieneshalladosa/laexpulsiondelosJesuitas\')。 2TheJesuitsexercisedtheIndiansagreatdealindancing,takingadvantageoftheirloveofdancingintheirsavagestate。 D\'OrbignyandDemersay(`Fragmentd\'unVoyageauCentredel\'Ame/riqueMe/ridianale\',and`HistoirePhysique,etc。,duParaguay\')foundbetweentheyears1830and1855 thattheIndiansoftheMoxosandChiquitosstilldancedastheyhaddoneinthetimeoftheJesuits。 Ihaveseentheminthethen(1873)almostdesertedmissionofJesus,buriedinthegreatwoodsontheshoreoftheParana,danceastrange,half savagedanceoutsidetheruinedchurch。 3Cardiel,inhis`DeclaraciondelaVerdad\',p。239,says: `TodoslospueblosponensucastilloenlaplazayenelmediodeelcolocanelretratrodelRey,yelIndioAlferezReal……vaalcastilloconelEstandarteRealyallihacesuhomenageconotrosrendimientosanteelRetratroReal,\'sayinginGuarani,`Toicohengatu/n~andeMbarubichaguazu/!Toicohengatu/n~andeReymarangatu/!Toicohengatu/n~andeReyFernandoSesto!\' (`LongliveourKing,thegreatchief!LongliveourgoodKing! LongliveourKingFerdinandVI。\')。 4`Chupasdedamascocarmesiconencajesdeplata。\' AsintheinventoriesofthethirtytownsIfindnomentioneitherofstockingsorofshoesforIndians,withtheexceptionofthelowshoesandbuckleswornbytheAlferezReal,itseemsthegorgeouscostumesendedattheknee,andthatthesepopinjaysrodebarefoot,with,perhaps,largeironGauchospursfastenedbystripsofmare hideroundtheirankles,andhangingdownbelowtheirnakedfeet。But,notcontentwiththeprocessionoftheeldersinparrotguise,therewasaparodyofparodiesinthe`cabildoinfantil\',thebandcomposedofchildren,who,withtheself sametitlesastheirelders,andintheself sameclothesadjustedtotheirsize,rodecloseupontheirheels。Lastly,asCharlevoixtellsus,came`deslionsetdestigres,maisbienenchaine/safinqu\'ilsnetroublerentpointlafe^te,\' andsothewholeprocessiontookitswaytowardsthechurch。 Thechurch,allhungwithvelvetandbrocade,wasallablazewithlights,andfumesofincense(nodoubtnecessary)almostobscuredthenave。 Upontherightandlefthandofthechoir(which,asisusualinSpain,wasinthemiddleofthechurch)theyoungerIndianswereseatedallinrows,theboysandgirlsbeingseparated,aswasthecustominallthemissionsoftheJesuits,who,nodoubt,wereconvincedoftheadvisabilityofthesayingthat`entresantaysanto,pareddecalycanto。\'1TheIndianswhohadsomeoffice,andwhoworetheclothes2Ihavedescribed,wereseatedorkneltinrows,andattheoutsidestoodthepeopleofthetowndressedinwhitecotton,theirsimpleclothes,nodoubt,forminganeffectivebackgroundtotheirmoreparti colouredbrethrenkneelinginthefront。 Throughoutthechurchthemenandwomenwereseparated,andifarumourofanincursionofPaulistaswasintheair,theIndianscarriedarmseveninthesacredbuildingsandatthesolemnfeasts。 Masswascelebratedwithafullband,theoboe,fagot,lute,harp,cornet,clarinet,violin,viola,andallotherkindsofmusic,figuringintheinventoriesofthethirtytowns。Indeed,intwooftheinventories3anoperacalled`Santiago\'ismentioned,whichhadspecialcostumesandpropertiestoputitonthestage。 Massover,theprocessionwasreconstitutedoutsidethechurch,andafterparadingoncemorethroughthetownbrokeup,andtheIndiansdevotedthenighttofeasting,andnotinfrequentlydancedtillbreakofday。 1Itmayberoughlytranslated,`agoodstonewallbetweenamaleandfemalesaint。\' 2Theseclotheswerethepropertyofthecommunity,andnotoftheindividualIndians。 3Brabo,xxxv。,Introductionto`Losinventariosdelosbienes。\' SuchweretheoutwardartswithwhichtheJesuitssoughttoattachthesimplepeople,towhomtheystoodinthepositionnotonlyofpastorsandmastersbothinone,butalsoasprotectorsfromthePaulistasononeside,andontheotherfromtheSpaniardsofthesettlements,who,withtheir`encomiendas\' andtheirEuropeansystemoffreecompetitionbetweenmanandman,wereperhapsunknowinglythedirestenemiesofthewholeIndianrace。 Thereis,asitwouldseem,implantedinthemindsofalmostallprimitivepeoples,suchastheGuaranis,asolidarity,aclingingkinship,whichifoncebrokendownbycompetition,unrestrainedafterourmodernfashion,inevitablyleadstotheirdecay。 HencethekeenhatredtotheChineseinCaliforniaandinAustralia。 Naturally,thosewhomwehate,andinameasurefear,wealsovilify,andthishasgivenrisetoallthoseaccusationsofOrientalvice(asiftheviceofanyOriental,howevermuchdepraved,wascomparabletothatofcitizensofParisorofLondon),ofbarbarism,andthelike,sofreelylevelledagainsttheunfortunateChinese。 InParaguaynothingismoreremarkableinamarketinthecountrythanthewayinwhichthepeoplewillnotunderselleachother,evenrefusingtopartwithgoodsafractionlowerthanthepricewhichtheyconsiderfair。ItmaybethattheJesuitswouldhavedonebettertoendeavourtoequiptheirneophytesmorefully,soastotaketheirplaceinthebattleoftheworld。Itmaybethatthesimple,happylivestheyledweretooopposedtothegeneralschemeofoutsidehumanlifetofindacceptanceoraplaceinourcosmogony。ButonethingIamsureof thattheinnocentdelightofthepoorIndianAlferezReal,mounteduponhishorse,dressedinhismotley,barefooted,andovershadowedbyhisgold lacedhat,wasasentireasifhehadeatenofallthefruitsofallthetreesofknowledgeofhistime,andsoperhapstheJesuitswerewise。 Arecentwriterinthelittlejournalpublishedonyellowpacking paperintheSocialistcolonyofCosme,inParaguay(`CosmeMonthly\',November,1898),hasacuriouspassagecorroboratingwhatIhavesooftenobservedmyself。Undertheheadingof`AParaguayanMarket\',hesays:`TheGuaraniclingsstubbornlytotheGuaranicustoms。 ThisisirritatingtotheEuropean,butwhoshallsaythattheGuaraniisnotright?……EuropeansettlementcannotbutbefataltotheGuarani,howeverprofitableitmaybetoland owningandmercantileclasses……TheParaguayanmarketisawoman\'sclub……theywillcomethirtyorfortymileswithaclothfulofthewhitecurd cheeseofthecountry,contentedlyjourneyingonfootalongthenarrowpaths。 Theywillcutacabbageintosixteenthsandeattheircheesethemselvesratherthansellitundermarketprice。\'Longmaytheydoso,forsolongwilltheybefree,andperhapspoor;but,then,incountriessuchasParaguayfreedomandpovertyareidentical。 Strangelyenough but,then,howstrangelyallextremesmeetinhumanity! theJesuitsalone(atleast,inParaguay)seemtohaveapprehended,astheArabscertainlyhavedonefromimmemorialtime,thatthefirstdutyofamanistoenjoyhislife。Art,science,literature,ambition allthefrivolitieswithwhichmenoccupythemselves havetheirdueplace;butlifeisfirst,andinsomestrange,mysteriouswaytheJesuitsfeltit,though,nodoubt,theywouldhavebeenthefirsttodenyitwithathousandoaths。 ButinaJesuitmissionallwasnotfeastingorprocessioning,forwithsuchneighboursastheMamelucostheyhadtokeepthemselvesprepared。1Asfortheirbettergovernmentinhomeaffairseachmissionhaditspolice,withofficers2chosenbytheJesuitsamongsttheIndians,soforexteriordefencetheyhadmilitia,andinitthe`caciques\'3ofthedifferenttribesheldprincipalcommand。 Mostlikelyoverthem,orattheirelbows,weresetpriestswhobeforeenteringtheCompanyofJesushadbeensoldiers: forthereweremanysuchamongsttheJesuits。Astheirownfounderoncehadbeenasoldier,sotheCompanywaspopularamongstthosesoldierswhofromsomecauseorotherhadchangedtheirswordstocrucifixes,andtakenserviceintheranksofChrist。4Asitwasmostimportant,bothfordefenceandpolicy,tokeepthe`caciques\'content,theyweredistinguishedbybettertreatmentthantheothersinmanydifferentways。Theirfoodwasmoreabundant,andaguardofIndianswasonperpetualdutyroundthehouseswheretheylived;thesetheyemployedasservantsandasmessengerstosummondistantcompaniesofIndianstothefield。TheirmethodoforganizationmusthavebeenlikethatoftheBoersoroftheArabs;foreveryIndianbelongedtoacompany,whichnowandthenwasbroughttogetherforevolutionsinthefieldorforaperiodoftraining,afterthefashionofourmilitiaortheGermanLandwehr。 Perhapsthissystemofanarmedmilitia,alwaysreadyforthefield,waswhat,aboveallotherreasons,enabledtheirdetractorstorepresenttheJesuitsasfearedandunpopular。Why,itwasasked,doesthiscommunityofpriestsmaintainanarmyinitsterritories? NoonerememberedthatifsuchwerenotthecasethemissionscouldnothaveexistedforayearwithoutaforcetodefendtheirbordersfromthePaulistas。EveryoneforgotthatFathersMontoyaandDelTanohadobtainedspecialpermissionfromtheKingfortheIndiansofthemissionstobeararms;and,asnohumanbeingisgratefulforanythingbutcontumelioustreatment,theSpanishsettlersconvenientlyforgothowmanytimesaJesuitarmyhadsavedtheirterritories。 ThebodyofthreethousandGuaranissentattheexpenseoftheCompanytoassisttheSpaniardsagainstthePortugueseattheattackupontheColoniadelSacramento5ontheriverPlate,in1678,wasquiteforgotten,togetherwiththeinnumerablecontingentssentbytheJesuitsatthedemandofSpanishgovernorsagainsttheChacoIndians,thePayaguas,andevenagainstthedistantCalchaquis,inwhatisnowtheprovinceofJujuy。EvenwhenanEnglishpirate,calledintheSpanishhistoriesRoqueBarloque(explainedbysometobeplainRichardBarlow),appearedoffBuenosAyres,theundauntedneophytesshranknotamomentfromgoingtotheassistanceoftheirco religionistsagainstthe`Lutherandog\'。6Lastly,allSpanishgovernorsandwriters,bothcontemporaneousandattheendoftheeighteenthcentury,seemtoforgetthatiftheJesuitshadanarmyofneophyteswithintheirterritorythefactwasknownandapprovedofatthecourtofSpain。7ButitappearsthatCalvinhadmanycoadjutorsinhispolicyof`Jesuitasautnecandiautcalumniisopponendisunt。\'8WhenaJesuitarmytookthefield,drivingbeforeitsufficientcattletosubsistupon,andwithits`caballada\'ofsparehorsesuponitsflank,itmusthaveresembledmanyaGauchoarmyIhaveseeninEntreRiosfive and twentyyearsago。 TheonlydifferenceseemstohavebeenthattheGauchosofyesterdaydidnotusebowsandarrows,althoughtheymighthavedonesowithasmuchbenefittothemselves,andnomoredangertotheirenemies,thanwasoccasionedbytherusty,ill conditionedgunstheyusedtobear。 TheIndianswerearmedwithbows,andintheirexpeditionseachIndiancarriedonehundredandfiftyarrowstippedwithiron。 Othershadfirearms,butallborebolasontheirsaddles,andcarriedlazosandlonglances,9which,likethePampaIndians,theyusedinmountingtheirhorses,placingonehanduponthemane,andvaultingintothesaddleswiththeotherleaningonthelance。 Theinfantrywerearmedwithlancesandafewguns;theyalsocarriedbolas,buttheytrustedmosttoslings,forwhichtheycarriedbagsofhide,withaprovisionofsmoothroundstones,andusedthemdexterously。 Onseveraloccasionstheirrudemilitiagaveproofsofstubbornvalour,and,astheyfoughtundertheJesuits\'eyes,nodoubtacquittedthemselvesasmenwouldwholookedupontheirpriestsalmostinthelightofgods。 Butagricultureandcattle breedingwerenotalltheresourcesofthemissions;fortheJesuitsengagedincommercelargely,bothwiththeouterworldandbytheintricateandcuriousbartersystemwhichtheyhadsetonfootforthemutualconvenienceofthedifferentmissiontowns。InmanyoftheinventoriesprintedbyBrabo,onecomesacrosstheentry`Deudas\',showingasortofaccountcurrentbetweenthetownsforvariousarticles。Thus,theyexchangedcattleforcotton,sugarforrice,wheatforpig ironortoolsfromEurope; asnoaccountofinteresteverappearsinanyinventoryasbetweentownandtown,itseemstheJesuitsanticipatedSocialism atleast,sofarasthattheyboughtandsoldforuse,andnotforgain。 Althoughbetweenthetownsoftheirownterritoryallwasarrangedformutualconvenience,yetintheirdealingswiththeoutsideworldtheJesuitsadheredtowhatareknownas`businessprinciples\'。 Theseprinciples,ifImistakenot,havebeendeifiedbypoliticianswiththeir`Buyinthecheapest,sellinthedearest\'tag,andthereforeeventhesternestProtestantorJansenist(ifsuchtherestillexist) canhavenostonetothrowattheCompanyofJesusforitsparticipationinthatsystemwhichhasmadethewholeworldglad。 1AstheGauchoproverbsays,`Lasarmassonnecesariaspero\"naide\"sabecuando。\' 2Corregidores,alcaldes,regidores,alguaciles,etc。 3Hereditaryorsometimeselectedchiefs。 4IrememberseeingonthetombstoneofaSpanishsailorhishopeofsalvationthroughtheintercessionoftheLordHighAdmiralChrist。AftertheSpanishcustom,officerswereoftengeneralsbothbyseaandland,sothatsoldierswerenotexcludedfromtheLordHighAdmiral\'sintercession。 5DeanFunes(`EnsayodelaHistoriadeParaguay\',etc。)says: `TheseIndianswentunderthecommandofDonAntoniodeVeraMoxica; theirsergeantswereGuaranisandtheircaptainsSpaniards。 Their`cacique\'wasIgnacioAmandaa,whocommandedinchiefunderVeraMoxica。\'Theyfoughtbravely,andreturnedagainandagaintotheassaultofthetownafterseveralrepulses,manifestingthesamedoggedcourageandindifferencetodeathwhichtheirdescendantsshowedinthewaragainstBrazilin1866 70。 InthatwarbodiesofParaguayansfrequentlyattackedstrongpositionsdefendedbyartillery,andallowedthemselvestobeshotdowntothelastmanratherthanretire。Atothertimes,concealedbehindmassesoffloatingherbage,fromtheircanoestheysprangonboardBrazilianironclads,andwereallkilledinthevainendeavourtocapturethevessels。Iknewalittlepettifogginglawyer,oneIzquierdo,who,withtencompanions,attemptedinacanoetotaketheBrazilianflagship(anironclad);leftaloneonherdeck,afterthedeathofhiscompanions,hesprangintothewaterunderashowerofbullets,and,badlywounded,swamovertotheChaco,thedesertsideoftheriver。Thereforthreedaysheremained,subsistingonwildoranges,andthenswamacrossagainonaraftofsticks,inspiteofthealligatorsandmanyfiercefishwhichaboundinParaguay。Hegotwell,and,thoughlame,was,whenIknewhim,asarrantalittlescriveningknaveasyoucouldhopetomeetineitherhemisphere。 OnmanyotheroccasionsthemissionIndiansperformednotableservicesfortheSpanishGovernment。In1681,whentheFrenchattackedBuenosAyres,adetachmentoftwothousandIndianswassenttoitsassistance。 PhilipV。himselfwrotetotheProvincialofParaguayonthisoccasionaskinghimtosendtroopstothedefenceofthecity。 In1785fourthousandGuaranis,commandedbyDonBaltazarGarcia,wereatthesecondsiegeoftheColoniadelSacramento。 Funessaysofthem:`Ajuiciodeuntestigoocular,noesmenosadmirablelasangrefriadesuscapellanes。\' 6`PerroLuterano\'。ItisastonishinghowinSpainthecomparativelyinnocuousLutherhasfallenheirtotheheritageofhatredthatshouldmoreproperlyhavebelongedtotheinhumanandtreacherousCalvin。 7PhilipV。in1745,afteranexaminationwhichlastedsixyears,approvedofalltheactionsoftheJesuitsinParaguay(CretineauJoly,`HistoiredelaCompagniedeJe/sus\',vol。v。,p。103)。 SothatacuriousletterofaJeronimitefriar(onePadreCevallos),writtenin1774,iswellwithinduelimitswhenitsaysthatalltheJesuitsdidinParaguaywas`todoprobadoporrealescedulaso/procediadeordenesexpresas。\' 8Oneisobligedtoallow,incommonfairness,thatCalvincarriedoutinhisownpracticewhatheadvocated aswitnesshisconductwithServetus,whomhefirstcalumniated,thenentrapped,andlastlymurderedincoldblood。 9DonFranciscoCorrsentthefollowinglistofarmstotheViceroyZabala,ofBuenosAyres(Funes,`Ensayo\',etc。):`Armasbuenas,850; lanzasdehierro,3,850;pedreras(culverins),10。Lasflechasnosecuentan。\'Hesays:`TodoslosIndiosquandohandesaliracompan~allevan150flechasdehierro,menoslosquellevanarmosdefuego。Asimismocargan\"bolas\"quesondospiedrasenunacuerda。Losdeapiequenollevanescopetastienenlanza,flecha,yhondaconsuprovisiondepiedrasenunbolsoncomodegranaderos。 Seprestancaballosentrelospueblos。\' Cottonandlinencloth,tobacco,hides,woodsofthevarioushard woodforestsofthecountry,and,aboveall,`yerba mate\',weretheirchiefarticlesofexporttotheoutsideworld。 TheirnearestmarketwasinBuenosAyres,andtothatporttheysenttheir`yerba\'inboatsmadeattheirownyards,ofwhichtheyhadseveral,butnotablyatYapeyuupontheUruguay。 ThemoneythatwasmadewassenttotheSuperiorofthemissions,whohadthedispositionofthewayinwhichitwasdispensed,eitherforuseathomeortobesenttoEuropefornecessarygoods。 Aswellas`yerba mate\',theysentgreatquantitiesofhides。 Theinventoriesofthetownstakenattheexpulsionstatethatthenumberofgreenhides1exportedannuallywasfiftythousand,togetherwithsixthousandcured;inadditiontheysoldfromthreetofourarrobas2ofhorse hair,andwoodtothevalueoftwenty fivetothirtythousanddollarseveryyear。Thetotalexportoftheir`yerba\'rangedbetweeneightyandonehundredthousandarrobas,whichatthelowestpricecouldnothavebeensoldataprofitundersevendollarsanarroba,3 sothattheincome4ofthethirtytownsmusthavebeenrelativelylarge。5 Twoorthreehundredbarrelsofhoney6andsomethreeorfourthousandarrobasoftobaccomadeupthesumtotaloftheirexports,though,hadtheyneededmoney,itmighthavebeenincreasedinsuchacountry,andwithsomanywillinglabourers,almostindefinitely。 1Ibanez(`HistoireduParaguaysouslesJe/suites\')statesthehidessoldataboutthreedollarsapiece。 2Thearrobawastwenty fivepounds。 3ThesefiguresarefromBrabo\'sinventories。 4Ibanezstatesthatonlyeighty fourdollarsayearweresetapartforthemaintenanceofeachpriest。 5DeanFunes(`EnsayodeleHistoriaCivildelParaguay\',etc。) putsitatamillionreales,whichalmostequals20,800Pounds。 Ibanez(`LaRepublicaJesuitica\'),withthenobledisregardofconsequencessonoticeableinmostpolemicalwriters,boldlyaltersthistoamilliondollars,hisobjectbeingtoprovethattheJesuitsexactedexorbitanttaxationfromtheneophytes。 6Thehoneyofthemissionswascelebrated,andthewaxmadebythesmallbeecalled`Opemus\',accordingtoCharlevoix(livrev。,p。285),`e/taitd\'uneblancheurquin\'avaitriendepareil,etcesneophytesontconsacre/toutqu\'ilsenpeuventavoira\\brulerdevantlesimagesdelaSte。Vierge。\' Thusitwillbeseenthatthemissionswereorganizedbothagriculturallyandcommerciallysoastobealmostself supporting,andthatofthemerenecessariesoflifetheyhadsufficientforexportation,nosmallachievementwhenweconsiderhowaversefromlabourweretheIndianswithwhomtheyhadtodeal。Butthatnothingshouldbewantingthatacivilizedcommunitycouldpossiblydesire,theyhadtheirprisons,withgoodstoreofchains,fetters,whips,andalltheotherinstrumentswithwhichthemoralcodeisgenerallyenforced。Themostusualpunishmentwaswhipping;andthecrimesmostfrequentweredrunkenness,neglectofwork,andbigamy,whichlatterlapsefromvirtuetheJesuitschastisedseverely,notthinking,beingcelibatesthemselves,thatnotunlikelyitwasapttoturnintoitsownpunishmentwithouttheaidofstripes。 IntheinventoryofthemissionofSanJoseIfind: `Item,doceparesdegrillos\';butIamboundtosaythatinthisinstancetheywerefortheuseof`losGuaicurusinfielesprisionerosqueestanendichamision。\' ChapterVII CausesoftheJesuits\'unpopularity Descriptionofthelivesandhabitsofthepriests Testimonyinfavourofthemissions Theiroppositiontoslavery TheirsystemofadministrationMuchhasbeenwrittenoftheinteriorgovernmentofthemissionsbytheJesuits,butchieflybystrongpartisans,forandagainst,oneitherside,whoseonlyobjectwastomakeoutacasetofittheprejudicesofthoseforwhomtheywrote。UpontheJesuitsidetheAbbeMuratoridescribesaparadise。AveryCarloDolceamongstwriters,withhimallinthemissionsissocloyingsweetthatone\'ssoulsickens,andonelongsinhis`HappyChristianity\' tofindadropofgall。Butforfivehundredpagesnothingisamiss; themenofBelialpersecutetheJesuitsaints,whoalways(afterthefashionoftheirOrderandmankind)turnbothcheekstothesmiter,and,iftheirpurseistaken,hastentogiveuptheircloaks。 TheIndiansareallloveandgratitude。NoneedintheAbbe\'spagesforthetwelvepairoffetters,whichBrabomostunkindlyhassetdownamongsthisinventories。Neverasingle`lapsus\'fromthemoralruletheJesuitsimposed nodrunkenness,andbigamysoseldommetwiththatitwouldseemthatJosephAndrewshadbeenaswaggererjudgedbythestandardofthesemoralGuaranis。ThencomesIbanez, theex Jesuit,ontheotherside。Inatwinklingofaneyethesceneischanged。For,quiteinHogarth\'svein,hepaintsthemissionsasaperpetualmarchtoFinchley,andtellsusthattheIndiansweresavages,andquiteunchangedinalltheirprimitivepropensitiesundertheJesuitrule。 AndfortheJesuitsthemselveshehasafewhome truthsadministeredwithvinegar,afterthefashionoftherenegadethewholeworldover,whoseesnothinggoodinthesocietythathasturnedhimout。HeroundlysaystheJesuitswereloafers,accusesthemofkeepingtheIndiansignorantfortheirownpurposes,andpaintsthemquiteasblackastheAbbeMuratoripaintedthemrosecolour,andwithaslittleart。Sothat,asusuallyhappensinthewritingsofallpolemists,nomatteruponwhichsidetheymaywrite,butlittleinformation,andthatdistortedtoanincredibledegree,isallthattheyafford。 `IlCristianesimoFelicenelleMissionedeiPadridellaCompagniadiJesunelParaguay\'。 `L\'HistoireduParaguaysouslesJe/suites\',Amsterdam,1700,lxxv。 Ingeneral,curiousasitmayappear,thebitterestopponentsoftheJesuitswereCatholics,andProtestantshaveoftenwrittenasapologists。 Buffon,Raynal,andMontesquieu,withVoltaire,Robertson,andSouthey,havewrittenfavourablyoftheinternalgovernmentofthemissionsandtheeffectwhichitproduced。Noothernamesofequalauthoritycanbequotedontheotherside;butyetthefactremainsthattheJesuitsinParaguaywereexposedtoconstantcalumnyfromthefirstdaytheywenttheretillthelastmemberoftheOrderlefttheland。 Itismyobjectfirsttotrytoshowwhattheconditionsoftheirgovernmentreallywere,andthentotryandclearupwhatwasthecauseofunpopularity,andwhysomanyandsuchpersistentcalumnieswerelaidtotheiraccount。 StretchingrightupanddownthebanksofboththeParanaandUruguay,themissionsextendedfromNuestraSenoradeFe(orSantaMaria),inParaguay,toSanMiguel,inwhatisnowtheBrazilianprovinceofRioGrandedoSul;andfromthemissionofCorpus,ontheeastbankoftheParana,toYapeyu,upontheUruguay。