CHAPTER XIII.

THE FIRST COLONY OF ST. JERONYMO, FOUNDED FOR THE ABIPONES RIIKAHÉS.

Cordoba, impatient of war, and now no longer able to contend with her calamities, was eager to behold the Abipones appeased and reconciled. The instrument of attaining this desirable object was Father Diego Horbegozo, a Biscayan. He strongly urged the Abipones who frequented Sta. Fè, and the Vice-Governor Francisco de Vera Muxica, the latter to build, and the former to accept of a colony; and his wishes were gratified in both points. Ychamenraikin, chief Cacique of the Riikahés, besides promising peace to all the Spaniards, agreed to resign himself and his people to the care of the Jesuits, on this condition, that the youth alone should be taught the elements of religion, but that older persons should by no means be compelled to study them. The Vice-Governor readily subscribed to this condition, because he flattered himself that the efforts of the Fathers would induce all ages, indiscriminately, to attend to the truth; and also because he was of opinion, that peace, by which the public tranquillity, and the lives and fortunes of so many mortals were preserved, should be accepted without hesitation on whatever condition it were offered.

The situation of the colony was wisely left to the choice of the Abipones, who pitched upon the northern shore of the river Rey. This place, which is seventy leagues north of Sta. Fè, forms the centre of that territory which these people claim as their own. Here you behold a plain, about two hundred leagues in extent, abounding in good pasture, in wood for fuel and carpenter's work, and in vast numbers of wild animals. The soil is excellent and suitable to seed of every kind. Not a stone nor even a pebble can be met with here, nor any springs, so that the water of this place, being solely procured from the adjacent ditches, is seldom sweet, never clear. Nearly all the smaller rivers within sight are composed of muddy, bitter water, so salt, as to be refused by the very beasts, but which sweetens when increased by violent or continual rains. The same is the case with the Rio Rey, the principal river of the vicinity, which, in dry weather, becomes so shallow that travellers may cross it on foot, but is often swelled to such a degree by the inundations of the Parana, and by unusually heavy rains, that, overflowing its banks, it spreads far and wide, and assumes the appearance of a lake. When the waters recede, they leave a muddy marsh in every part, so that a foot of land can hardly be found, on which you can stand with safety. The Abipones, ever distrusting the friendship of the Spaniards, chose this place to prevent the possibility of being treacherously attacked by them; and they thought that the difficulty of the journey, by keeping off the Spaniards, would prove a guard to themselves. But some years after, when their minds were softened, and their suspicions of Spanish perfidy laid aside, they requested to have this town removed from the northern to the southern shore, where it was placed on a large and pleasant hill. So far concerning the site of this colony. Let us now proceed to other particulars.

Affairs being settled in the city of Sta. Fè, the head of the college, Diego Horbegozo, took a journey to the hordes of the Abipones, for the double purpose of gaining the good-will of the whole nation, and of observing the nature of the place where the town was to be situated. Having informed himself of the intentions of the Abipones, he returned to the city, and procured the sacred utensils for the priests, instruments for agriculture and house-building, and above all, the cattle necessary for the support of the Indians. But those very people, who had promised mountains of gold to avert from their throats the knives of the Abipones, were niggardly, and slow in fulfilling their engagements. The care not only of instructing, but likewise of supporting the Indians, as in other cases, fell solely upon the Fathers, who had perpetually to struggle with the want of all necessaries. For the assistance their prayers extorted from the royal treasury never equalled the necessities of the colony, and the expectations of the savages. Two Jesuits were appointed to take care of the town: Joseph Cardiel, a native of Castile, a man of the greatest intrepidity, and a missionary of various nations; to whom was given as a companion another Castilian, Francisco Navalon, a man of the gentlest disposition, and well fitted for economical cares, so that he rendered infinite services to this town for twenty years.

In the year 1748, the Vice-Governor of Sta. Fè, with two Fathers, and a troop of soldiers, went to the place designed for the colony. A small chapel, a little hut for the Fathers, and another for the chief Cacique, were hastily constructed by the soldiers, of wood and mud, and covered with hay. A heavy shower coming on, it seemed to have rained harder in the apartment of the Fathers, than out of doors; indeed the fabric altogether was such as no labourer or herdsman in Europe would deign to inhabit. The Abipones, assembled in this place, made use of their mats for tents, till, polished by some years' discipline, they constructed rather handsomer edifices, for sacred purposes, for the Fathers, and for themselves. Yet how languidly would these fabrics have been conducted, had they not been aided by the advice and even the personal labour of the Fathers! The court-yard of our house was surrounded with stakes, to guard against the incursions of our savage enemies, and to serve as a place of refuge for the women and children, whilst the men were fighting out of doors. The Abipones Riikahés, under Neruigini and Ychoalay, their chief commanders, constituted this first colony, which scarce consisted of three hundred people. The Caciques Naarè and Kachirikin settled here likewise, with their numerous Yaaukanigas, whilst the people of Corrientes were building them the town of St. Ferdinand. After some months Lichinrain, and then Ychilimin, and Kebachichi, came with their people to the newly built colony, and subsequently more and more flocked thither. The greater number were attracted by the desire of novelty, rather than of religion. The expectation of trifling presents, the beef which was every day gratuitously distributed, and security, were magnets which drew numbers to the colony. By observation, the town of St. Jeronymo is situated in the 28° 50' lat. and the 317° 40' long.

Father Joseph Cardiel being removed to the Mocobios, his place was filled by Father Joseph Brigniel, who had spent eleven years in the Guarany towns, and presided four years over the college at Corrientes. His companion for two years in the town of St. Jeronymo, and his pupil in the Abiponian tongue, I ever beheld in him the utmost industry and good nature, united with equal sanctity of life. He seemed created purposely to suit the tempers of the Abipones, who fly a supercilious person, and are won by easy manners. I told you before of his labours in investigating the nature of the Abiponian tongue, and in writing a vocabulary, grammar, catechism, sermons, &c. You shall now hear how much all the Paraguayrian towns were indebted to him. In order that the benefit of the peace granted by the Abipones to the city of Sta. Fè might be extended to all Paraguay, he contrived to have the chief Caciques of the whole nation convened in the town of St. Jeronymo. Each of the Caciques was accompanied by a chosen troop of his own horse, figures terrible to behold. Whether the peace faithfully offered by all the Spaniards should be accepted, and whether peace should be granted unreservedly to all the Spaniards, by the whole Abiponian nation, these were the subjects of deliberation in that savage conclave. At first, there was a great diversity of opinions. Many inclined towards according their friendship to the inhabitants of Sta. Fè, Cordoba, and St. Iago, to the exclusion of the Corrientines and Paraguayrians, denying the expediency of a universal peace which should embrace all the Spaniards. "Such a cessation," said they, "will cause the use of arms, and our ancient boast of military glory, to decay amongst us. Inactivity will destroy the love of war implanted in the youth of our nation. Grown effeminate like the pedestrian Indians, we shall be subjugated by the Spaniards, as soon as we cease to be formidable to them. War with one Spanish province at least is necessary to us, that we may still enjoy the opportunity of plundering those things of which we have need for daily use. We shall get more from the Spaniards as their enemies, than as their friends. It is better to be feared than loved by them; and who can promise himself their love unmingled with secret hatred, and desire of revenge, when he calls to mind, how sorely we have persecuted this province for so many years? The conquered seldom love their conquerors."

On the other hand, Ychoalay strongly advised that the peace should be extended to all the Spanish towns. "I maintain," says he, "that the friendship offered us by all the Spaniards, should not only be granted to them all in return, but eagerly embraced as a benefit. Are you apprehensive that the military spirit of your countrymen will be extinguished, or that your arms will contract rust for want of use? Are there not lions, tigers, stags, emus, and all the feathery and scaly tribes against which to direct your weapons? If you feel such ardour for fighting, turn your arms and your anger against the Yapitalákas, Oaékakalóts, Ychibachís, and other people with whom we are at variance. Does the recollection of former victories, and rash confidence in future ones, inspire you with such pride, that you scorn to receive all the Spaniards into your friendship? I allow that we have inflicted slaughters upon them; but will you always have the power, as you now have the inclination, to forget slaughters of their committing? The vicissitudes we have experienced sufficiently warn us not to trust too much to the changeful fortune of war. Indeed I ever thought a certain peace with all the Spaniards much safer and better than the uncertain victories which you expect to gain from them. How pleasant to be able to enjoy undisturbed slumbers, without fear of the Spaniards, on whose approach we have passed so many sleepless nights! How many days have we endured hunger! How many lakes and rivers have we swam in our flight, to find lurking-holes in distant woods, where we might preserve our lives! Ah! I feel both sorrow and shame in the remembrance of our terrors! But does the hope of booty prevent you from promising a universal peace? For my part, I fear that if we frowardly persist in war, we shall ourselves fall a prey to the Spaniards, like the Calchacuis, who were much more numerous than we, and, with your leave be it spoken, more warlike. Think on it again and again, lest, if you now refuse the friendship of the Spaniards, their enmity may prove fatal to our whole nation, and give you cause to repent when it is too late."

Ychoalay, after he had addressed the savage assembly nearly to this effect, perceiving that some of the more refractory were not yet persuaded to a universal peace, added these words. "It appears that I have hitherto been preaching to deaf ears. If reason does not convince you, if the dangers of war do not terrify, nor the pleasures of peace allure you, at least let pity soften your hearts. Lo! crowds of Abipones and Mocobios, made captives by the Spaniards, are dragging out a life of slavery, bitterer than any death. Numbers united to us by the ties of blood, and ancient alliances, banished from their country, dispersed in miserable corners of cities and estates, subject to the power of others, and oppressed with labour, now mourn, and are consumed with grief. The liberty of so many wretches is in your hands, and may be purchased this very day, by your concession of a universal peace. Again and again, I entreat you to consider, whether it be most incumbent on you to show anger to your enemies, or pity to your friends. The courageousness of mind you have always evinced in arms, you should now render more illustrious by accelerating peace."

This address had such an effect upon the savages, that suddenly adopting milder sentiments, they unanimously acquiesced in the advice of the orator. Peace was accorded to all the Christian colonies in Paraguay, with what perfect sincerity may be collected from the circumstance, that every Cacique had part of the land of the Spaniards committed to his custody, that he might prevent any of the Abipones from doing injury or violence to any of the Spaniards. Debayakaikin was appointed to guard the city of Asumpcion; Kebachichi that of Corrientes; Alaykin, St. Iago; Ychamenraikin, Sta. Fè; and Ychoalay, Cordoba.

This condition was annexed to the agreement; that the Abipones and Mocobios in captivity amongst the Spaniards should be sent home without a ransom, but that the Christian captives should pay a price for their liberty: and numbers did return to Cordoba, Asumpcion and Corrientes, though many of the Spanish, Negro, and Guarany captives had become so familiarized to the Abipones by long acquaintance, that fearing to lose the liberty they enjoyed amongst these people, even whilst in a state of servitude, they would on no account return to their own country. In the town of St. Jeronymo alone forty-seven of each sex remained voluntary captives, but, more intolerable than the savages themselves, they were a pest to the new colonies, a hindrance to religion, the torment of the Fathers, devisers of frauds and wickedness; in short, of such a character, that except baptism, which they received in their infancy, they retained nothing of Christianity. The same complaint might be made of the Abiponian captives who returned from the Spaniards. Yet many Abipones and Mocobios, who had been civilized, and converted to the Catholic religion in their boyhood, would be induced by no entreaties to revisit their native land: but learnt a trade, and lived in the city, pleased with their condition, and much commended for honesty.

The annunciation of peace decided upon in this assembly was the more agreeable to the Spaniards, from being unexpected. You might have seen the whole province revive, and hold public rejoicings, but their joy was of short duration. For, some months after, Oaherkaikin, with a small band of his followers, afflicted the territories of Asumpcion with slaughter and rapine. Whilst the other Caciques either did not know of this incursion, or connived at it, Ychoalay, indignant at such perfidy, thought it incumbent upon him to avenge the injury done the Spaniards, and the disgrace reflected on the Abiponian name. He knew Oaherkaikin to have very few fellow-soldiers and companions. Full therefore of hope and of anger, he undertook a journey, with a small band of soldiers, for the purpose of putting him down. But just as they were on the point of battle, Ychoalay perceives that all Debayakaikin's soldiers had come to the assistance of Oaherkaikin. Retreat would have been dishonourable. He tries the chance of war. A very few Riikakés fought bravely for a little while with a great number of Nakaiketergehes, though there was more shouting and trumpeting than bloodshed. The loss amounted to two men slain, and some wounded on each side. But Ychoalay narrowly escaped being killed, and was obliged to fly with his people. To save his life, he left his spear on the field of battle, a disgrace which likewise befel two of his companions. The Riikahés also left in the hands of the enemy a number of their horses. Urged by the instant peril, two or three leapt upon one horse, some unarmed, others naked, and fled, with all speed, to the colony of St. Jeronymo. This expedition proved the origin of a twenty years' war between the Riikahés and Nakaiketergehes. I shall confine myself to a brief narration of the most important events: for were I to describe all the successive vicissitudes of this war, I should consume more ink, than there was blood spilt in the whole course of it. Let me now give you the portraits of Ychoalay and Oaherkaikin, the authors of the war.