Part 17
Next let it be considerd what vast profit these sovereign ecclesiastics make of the work of such a multitude of hands. If it is only allowd that each family brings them clear three pound a year: the total produce of 300,000 families will be nine hundred thousand pound _per annum_. Then consider the trade they have to all _Chili_, _Peru_ and _Mexico_ for the herb _Camini_, or _Paraguay_ tea; where a prodigious quantity is drank, and at a moderate computation brings them 200,000 pound a year, (all _East-India_ tea being there prohibited.) Their other commodities must be likewise sold to good advantage; and the gold dust which the _Indians_ gather up from the washes, when the river waters have left them, is an unknown revenue. Nevertheless, these fathers will tell ye, their gospel mission costs them a great deal of money and pains, and that their income is inconsiderable: but the jesuits gold and silver coind and uncoind, which comes every now and then into _Europe_, the shining magnificence of their churches, and their commerce, which is known to all the _Spaniards_ as well as others, are demonstrations to the contrary.
’Tis not amiss here to describe the church and habitation of one of those fathers, as it was related by two _Frenchmen_ belonging to a ship of _Nants_ commanded by _monsieur d’Escaseau_.
When that ship set sail from the port of _Maldonad_ designing for _France_, the said two _Frenchmen_ happend to be ashore; and at so great a distance, that when they came down the boat was gone off without them. One of these was captain of the small arms, and the other a serjeant. Being at a loss what to do on a desert coast, they resolved to advance up the country, and live upon what their muskets would bring them. In three days they met _Indians_ with beads round their necks, who kindly received them; and, understanding they were _French_, made many signs of respect: for they are taught to love that nation and distinguish them from all others.
They led them up to the _Mission_, several days journey from the place where they met; and in their way lived upon wild cows, which the _Indians_ catch when they please, by throwing a noose at ten or fifteen yards distance so cleverly round their horns, that they easily come to: which done, they hamstring them and cut their throats.
The _Frenchmen_ being arrived at the _Mission_, were handsomly entertaind by the jesuit, lord of that parish; at whose apartment they stayd four months without going once abroad. After this they returnd to _Buenos Ayres_ under a guard of _Indians_.
The account they gave is as follows. That _Father_’s parish church is long and spacious, enterd by a portico of several handsome steps; and supported by eight columns of a good order and well wrought. Over the door within is a gallery for the music in divine service, which consists of sixty persons, voices and instruments. There are seats in the church, where the men are placed according to their seniority and office: the women sitting in a neat gallery by themselves. The great altar is defended by a ballustrade of _India_ wood curiously turnd. The military officers are placed on the right, and the _Caciques_ or civil magistrates, on the left.
The back of the altar is very richly coverd. In the middle are three large paintings, framed with solid gold and silver. Above these are several gravings, and _base relieves_ in gold. The top is finisht with wood-work richly wrought and gilt up to the roof. On either side the altar is a wooden pedestal, plated at top with gold, upon which stand two saints of solid silver. The tabernacle is gilt with gold; and the _pyx_ wherein the host is kept is of solid gold, set round with emeralds and other costly stones. The ends and foot of the altar are hung with brocades fringed with gold. In short, the candlesticks and other vessels of plate, with which the altar is drest in service time amidst a great number of wax-lights, make a splendor beyond expression.
There are two small altars, on the right and left of the church, adornd in proportion to the other: and in the middle towards the ballustrade, is a large silver candlestick of thirty gilt branches, hanging from the roof by a silver chain. By all which a man may form some idea of the riches of that settlement, if the other parishes are like this, which is very rational to believe.
The _presbytery_ or father’s dwelling consists of several rooms and a hall furnisht with images and pictures, where the _Indians_ wait the good father’s levee till he comes forth to give audience. These lodgings are surrounded with green walks, gardens, and out-houses for servants. The whole with the church making a large noble square and walld in.
The forty two jesuits are independent of each other’s government; and are answerable to no power on earth, but the principal of the convent of _Cordova_ in _Tucuman_; who makes a general visitation once a year through the _Mission_, attended by a numerous guard of horse. When he arrives at the parish, the _Indians_ are to shew all respect and joy. The magistrates approach him with fear, and a down cast head; while the common people kneel, and cross their hands as he passes along. While he stays in the _Mission_, every parish makes up the last year’s account of their whole expense and income.
All their merchandizes are carryd by water to _Santa Fe_, which being their great magazine, they keep there a general factor. from thence they are carryd to _Buenos Ayres_ by land; where they appoint another factor. From these chief towns they dispose of their goods to the chapmen of _Peru_, _Chili_, and the three provinces of _Paraguay_, _Buenos Ayres_ and _Tucuman_. And we may justly conclude, that this _Mission_ of jesuits carries on more trade than the three provinces together.
The business of the civil officers is to write down the number of families, visit their houses, overlook their work, and deliver the jesuits orders. And as kissing the father’s sleeve is counted an earnest of their future immortal happiness, this welcome kiss is promised them as a reward in this life for doing their duty and minding their work. There are other task-masters for the country, to whom they strictly declare the produce of every thing, even to an egg; and are obliged, under certain penalties, to carry all into the proper store-houses. Servants also are appointed to parcel out to each family twice a week their allowance of provision: which is done with surprizing order in the father’s presence. And tho’ these priests are sufficiently paid for their care and vigilance; yet, to their praise it must be ownd, they are indefatigable in their labor, to prevent the people murmuring or misimploying their time. Formerly two jesuits were in each parish; but since their great increase there is only one, till they get more from _Europe_.
The _Indians_ are not sufferd to drink wine, or any spirituous liquor. Herein the good priests copy the law of _Mahomet_, who likewise forbid his disciples the use of wine; lest being spirited up, they should rebel, shake off their yoke, and overturn the empire he had founded.
The jesuits marry their men and women young, to fulfil perhaps the first commandment given to _Adam_, _Increase_ and _multiply_, or for other wise ends. The first precepts the children learn, are to fear God and the jesuit; to be humble and patient, and not in love with this world.
As the civil government is well orderd, so is the military. Every parish according to its power, is obliged to maintain some regiments of horse and foot. Each regiment hath six companies of fifty men with proper officers, and an adjutant who exercises them every sunday evening. Those officers are traind up from father to son; so that the military discipline becomes natural, and their forces march in great order. For this reason the parishes have all an easy communication, that their army may soon be formd under their proper commanders, of whom one of the jesuits is generalissimo. Their small arms are swords, muskets and slings; which last being natural to them, they can throw heavy stones; and hit a mark at a great distance.
The whole _Mission_ can draw together 60,000 men in a week’s time. Their pretense for keeping up so great a number is, because the _Portuguese Paulists_ sometimes make excursions and take away their people: but the _Spaniards_ laugh at this, well knowing that the jesuits keep these standing forces to prevent any foreign power giving disturbance to their colony.
Their omitting to teach the _Indians_ the _Spanish_ tongue, and forbiding them to converse at all with that nation when they are sometimes sent to work in the towns for the king of _Spain_’s service, is plain they mean to keep their government to themselves. For when any stranger, as these two _Frenchmen_, are driven there by accident, they are shut up while they stay. And when the _Spaniards_ themselves passing up the river _Paraguay_ have occasion to touch upon their settlement, they dare not go beyond their church walls: and when they beg leave to see the town, the jesuit is sure to walk with them, and all the _Indians_ are taught to keep in, and shut their doors. They have other precautions, one of which is, to send out good detachments of troops to clear their frontiers from _St. Gabriel_’s isles to the _Maldonad_ hills, and hinder all communication with their country, for the sake of their gold and silver mines; of which we shall give two instances. The _Falmouth_ of _St. Malo_ being lost in 1706 near the _Flores_ islands, some of these troops plunderd part of her cargo; which they afterwards restored by the interposition of the governer of _Buenos Ayres_. Two years after this, the _Atlas_ was cast away at the _Castiles_, and the crew having saved some of their best effects, were marching over the country to the _Maldonades_, thinking to get home again by sea; but were met by the _Indians_, who took all from them. However, they had luckily buryd their silver upon the coast, to the value of several thousand dollars, which they afterwards took along with them.
At the foot of the _Maldonad_ mountains are good mines, which were discoverd by _Pacheco_, who lived at _Buenos Ayres_ and was formerly miner of _Potosi_ in _Peru_: they are about seventy mile from the port, and forty from _Montevide_. The governer of _Buenos Ayres_ being acquainted with it, sent workmen with _Pacheco_, who dug up the place and returnd with a good quantity of gold ore. But _Valdes Inelau_ the governer being bribed by the father of the _Mission_, gave out that he had made trial of the ore, and it would not answer the charge and trouble. However _Pacheco_ kept what he had got, and saw it was only a trick of the jesuits, to prevent any new settlement near their dominions.
Some of the said ore was lately tryd in _France_, but yielded little, being taken from neat the surface. But _Pacheco_, who is known to be as good a miner as any, says, there is no richer earth in _America_ than that place affords: and doubts not the rivers thereaway are fertile of gold dust, as those near the _Paulists_. The young _Indians_ in the parish of _St. Dominic_, have several times brought gold to _Buenos Ayres_, which they got privately from the _Mission_; from whence we may infer there is a good deal of it.
In the year 1706, the aforesaid _D’Escaseau_, being in _Maldonad_ port, met with some of these _Indians_, who came in a small detachment to drive some cattle up to the _Mission_. He talkd with them, and made them a present. In return, they told him if he would go up the country to a place they pointed at, he might get silver enough. The priests have all along been jealous, lest the _Spaniards_ should find any of these mines, because a settlement of that kind might be of dangerous consequence: and they have taken care to clear the country on that side of all cattle and provision whatsoever.
From the foregoing particulars, ’tis evident that the jesuits affect sovereignty and arbitrary rule; and the three chief objects of their desire are power, splendor and riches. Their method of educating and governing their people, from whose industry arises all they enjoy, allowing them the bare necessaries of life; their care to prevent any communication with the _Spaniards_; their caution when any stranger comes to their _Mission_ by accident; their standing forces, and scowring their borders to prevent any new settlement near their limits; are all manifest arguments that they design to continue independent: and not only conceal what revenues they have, but many other advantages they are not yet quite possest of.
Some casuists will say, that all these nations round _Paraguay_ belong to his _Spanish_ majesty as king of the _Indies_; _Paraguay_ it self being possest by the _Spaniards_ in 1540, and governd by the viceroy of _Peru_. According to these gentlemen, the true divine right is the right of conquest: so that all these _Indians_ are his natural born subjects, and should obey him alone. They ought freely to parcel out their land, and dispose of their own crop, and otherwise injoy the fruit of their labor, whether in the mines or manufactures: this would make it a regular colony, and cause a general circulation of trade and money. Doubtless the poor _Indians_ would be glad of all this: but the wise fathers argue a different way, That since they have got them under subjection, and brought them into great rule and order, they have at present a fair title to their allegiance: especially since all this is done without cruelty or force of arms. ’Tis true, the _Indians_ can call nothing their property, but give up all as the inheritance of two and forty ecclesiastical kings ruling two million of good natured loyal subjects.
We shall give one instance of the great authority of these fathers, and the duty of their people. When the governer of _Buenos Ayres_ was orderd to besiege St. Gabriel belonging to the _Portuguese_, a body of 4000 jesuit _Indians_ came to assist him. After lying a short time before the town, the said governer orderd the attack at four in the morning. The _Indians_ not receiving their orders from their own commander, refused to obey; and threatend to revolt: whereupon the right reverend general was acquainted with it, who not being yet come from his tent, made haste to the army, and put himself at the head of his forces: when the _Indians_ immediately formd themselves, and executed his commands.
The jesuits ought to pay the king a yearly subsidy of so much a head for every _Indian_ through their settlement, according to the capitation tax. But this, if paid, is sufficiently returnd by the wages the _Indians_ receive, when they work for the king, who at the year’s end is often made debtor to the _Mission_. For, in the first place, the jesuits dont give in the number of half their families to be taxt. Then the governer of _Buenos Ayres_, who ought once in five years to visit all their _Mission_, and take an exact list, is stopt in his journey, and gratifyd for his trouble: so that he finds it better to take their own list. And lastly, when 500 _Indians_ are imployd in the king’s service, the good fathers charge him 1000.
Thus is his _Catholic_ majesty served, not only in the south _Indies_, but in all other parts of _America_; where his revenues are half sunk in feignd imployments and imaginary applications. As for the settlement of the jesuits, I shall only make this observation upon it, That all people are more naturally led than driven; and the same policy that founded this government will probably maintain it, if the fathers keep a succession out of their own society. If ever they make a present of this colony to a foreign power, it must be that of _France_: for the _Spaniards_ and _Portuguese_ are hated by all the _Americans_ for their tyranny and pride: and no other _Romish_ power except _France_, would be able to defend and support its title.
_MEMORANDUM._
The circumstance of captain _Shelvocke_’s losing the _Speedwel_ at _Fernandes_, and his building a bark out of the wreck, has been received by some people as a most ingenious wonderful performance: and has been the chief motive of such as never heard the like before, to buy the book for the sake of that story. Therefore I thought it proper here to mention, two particular facts of the same kind, tho’ far superior to that of _Shelvocke_.
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The one is of _John Oxenham_ of _Plymouth_, in queen _Elizabeth_’s reign. When Sir _Francis Drake_ had made himself greatly famous for his exploits against the _Spaniards_ in _America_, the affair at that time being new, all people were speaking of _Drake_’s glory and acquisitions. Mr. _Oxenham_ being a sprightly man, and emulous of doing something very extraordinary, set on foot a subscription at _Plymouth_ to fit out a ship with seventy men to land at the istmus of _Darien_; hide the ship and leave her there till he returnd; build another vessel and cross the land by a river thereabouts, and so get at once into the _South Sea_ and surprize the enemy: for he knew that to go by cape _Horne_ was very hazardous, tedious and chargeable, especially in those days. This, tho’ it might seem a strange project and like a wild chimera, yet ’tis certain he performd it: he left the ship a ground at _Darien_; coverd her with trees; went inland to a river which leads into the south ocean; built a bark there 45 foot by the keel, and saild into the _South Sea_, where he made several rich prizes. However he afterwards lost them all with his life by the artifices of a lady whom he took prisoner. If the reader is curious, he may find it at length in _Hacluit_. Sir _Richard Hawkins_ also has it in his _South Sea_ journal.
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The other is an example in the reign of king _Charles_ I. After several experiments were made to find a northwest passage to the _East-indies_, captain _James_ a very skilful navigator was sent also upon the same errand: and discoverd more land which he called new _South Wales_. He wanderd up and down those seas in vain; and then winterd at a place called by him _Charleton_ island, in 52 degrees. His ship having all this time received great damage, he there built a pinnace out of the said ship; and he with his people returnd in it to _England_. See the journal printed by the king’s command 1633.
If these facts are examined together, besides many that I could mention done by the buccaniers, pyrates and others, captain _Shelvocke_ will appear to have done nothing at all to boast of: neither can his performance hardly bear a comparison.
_FINIS._
Transcriber’s Note:
Page iv, Errata incorporated into book.
Obvious printer errors corrected silently.
Inconsistent spelling and hyphenation are as in the original.
End of Project Gutenberg's A Voyage Round The World, by William Betagh