CHAPTER XXIV.

THE FLIGHT OF THE ABIPONES FROM THE TOWN OF CONCEPCION AND THEIR RETURN TO IT.

The new town prospered extremely in the beginning and enjoyed entire safety and tranquillity; but this deep calm was succeeded by a sudden storm, and dismal wreck. The Abipones learnt from no dubious report that the Spaniards had thoughts of removing the town, and placing it in a situation nearer to their own city. Accounting this purposed removal extremely perilous both to their lives and liberties, they began to deliberate on flight, the Fathers suspecting nothing of the matter. On the very day of their departure, Alaykin informed Father Sanchez that himself and his people were prepared for the journey, saying that he had a reason for his departure, which, however, he did not specify. He then demands a flock of two thousand sheep; which the Father, equally astonished and terrified at this unexpected news, was obliged to grant. They were all gone in a moment, leaving behind them only three of the most daring Abipones who had agreed to slay both the Fathers in the night, to plunder the chapel, and carry away the household furniture. But, as I have elsewhere related, Ychoalay arriving the same day delivered the Fathers from that state of peril, and assisted them in conveying the sacred and domestic utensils to the town of St. Jeronymo. Father Casado, with the Spaniard who guarded the cattle, repaired to Sta. Fè, whence couriers were sent to Cordoba and St. Iago to announce the flight of Alaykin. Great terror was excited in both places by this news, no one doubting but that the savages would recommence their plunderings. On which account, that little brick fortress situated in El Tio (a plain so called between Cordoba and St. Iago) was erected in its present form, to repress all hostile invasions.

Joseph Sanchez, in the town of St. Jeronymo, eagerly awaited the arrival of Barreda, with a troop of St. Iagans, in the persuasion that on his receiving intelligence of Alaykin's flight he would come either to restore the fugitives to their colony, or pursue them with arms if they refused to return. Many days had passed, when, presaging the approach of soldiers from the smoke daily observed toward the city of Sta. Fè, he hastened on horseback to the deserted town, accompanied by an Indian Christian. On the way he was spied by some wandering Abipones hidden within a wood, and destined by them to death when he arrived in the vacant town. As the fleas prevented him from getting any sleep in his former bed, he was obliged to lie down in the court-yard of the house. The Indian servant was his only companion: when they were both sound asleep three savages burst into the court-yard; one of them was aiming a deadly blow, with a spear, at the Father, when he suddenly awoke, snatched up a musket, and put the assailant and his two companions to flight. He then returned unhurt to the town of St. Jeronymo without having seen so much as the shadow of a horseman from St. Iago.

At the end of many weeks Barreda arrived with some companies of St. Iagan horse. Having pitched his camp in sight of the deserted colony, he sent Landriel with a very few companions to the horde of Alaykin. Arrived there, he proclaims a pardon, in the name of Barreda, for their desertion, on condition of their immediate return; he endeavours to persuade them that the reports concerning the removal of the colony were false and futile; and tells them that Barreda is coming laden with gifts to reward the obedient, but at the same time accompanied with a formidable number of soldiers. The Abipones, yielding to the eloquence of this benevolent man, laid aside their fears, and returned, in company with Landriel, to their former abode. On their return they were not only cordially received, but liberally rewarded with the usual presents, by Barreda, whom you would have supposed either ignorant or unmindful of their late desertion. All good men admired his prudence in treating the savages, though culpable, with gentleness and kindness, like children, who, when in error, are more easily induced to amendment by toys than by threats or infliction of punishment.

Certainly Barreda is to be praised for abstaining from unseasonable rigour, but his bestowing so many caresses on the Abiponian chiefs, and promising more than he was able to perform, was perhaps worthy of censure. The Abipones, relying on this indulgence from the Spaniards, whom they imagined afraid of them, grew bolder in their attempts than before. Let one example serve for all the rest. Barreda, on his departure, left in the colony some bales of woollen cloth, to pay the Spaniards hired to guard the cattle. The Abipones, through the artifices of the female captives, were deceived into a belief that this cloth was intended for their own clothing, and threatened to kill the Father if he did not immediately give it up to them. As they passed the night in unusual noise and drinking, the Father was afraid that when intoxicated they would execute their threat of taking away his life; and to avert this danger delivered up, next day, all the cloth in his house to the greedy and formidable savages. In a few days, at the command of the Provincial, I removed from St. Xavier to that colony, accompanied by fifteen hundred Mocobian horsemen. Great was my surprize to see a crowd of Abipones, almost all clothed in garments of the same colour, riding out to meet us; for they suspect all comers of hostile intentions, and imagine them treacherously inclined. I reached the court-yard of our house, surrounded and almost overwhelmed by this troop of Abiponian horsemen. Father Sanchez came out to meet me, and rushed into my embrace. His figure, dress, and appearance inspired me first with terror, and afterwards with pity. He wore a hat made of straw. His gown was dirty, worn, and of no colour. His beard was long, thick, and blacker than pitch. The affliction of his soul appeared in his countenance. "Were I a captive at Algiers, amongst the Moors," said he, "my life would be more tolerable than amongst these savages by whom you see me surrounded." Having entered his chamber, with the crowd of Abipones still at my side, I opened my packet to deliver the Bishop's letter to the Father, when they all thrust their hands into it, and not only examined everything, but would have stolen any of my little matters that happened to please their fancies, had they not been restrained by respect for the by-standers. Shortly after, the whole market-place resounded with the clangor of war trumpets, the neighing of horses, and the shouting of women. On my inquiring the cause of this uproar, they replied that the savage Mocobios were at hand. At the same time the Heavens bellowing with thunder, and the approaching shades of night, increased our horror. "See!" said the Father to me, "amid what daily tumults our lives are passed: to these, whether you like it or no, you must be enured." A hut, built of stakes plastered over with mud, was given me for a habitation, straw or hay for a roof, wooden shutters for a window, a rough board without a lock for a door, a piece of wood scarcely planed for a table, a bull's hide suspended on four posts for a bed, and the grassy ground, all perforated by ants, for a floor. Immense gaps in the walls and roof afforded ready admission to wind, dust, rain, and sun, as well as to serpents, gnats, and toads. The decaying palms which supported the roof distressed my ears exceedingly with the hiss of gnawing worms, and my eyes with the yellow dust that fell from them both by day and night. Great pieces of plaster, often weighing thirty pounds, broke all at once from the wall, and were more than enough to crush me had they touched any part of my body. What shall I say of my fare? Beef, either boiled or roasted, was my daily dinner and supper, and if to this some maize, or a melon, were added, we thought we had fared sumptuously; for we had not yet time to cultivate our fields or garden, to which however, afterwards, we diligently applied ourselves. Bread was never even dreamt of. The river supplied us with our only beverage, and wine could seldom be obtained even for mass. This scarcity of all necessaries will not be attributed to our own improvidence when it is recollected that the city of St. Iago, where we had to procure everything, was a hundred and seventy leagues from our town, that of Sta. Fè sixty, and that we were often prevented from attempting the journey by the inconvenience and danger which marshes and wandering savages occasioned. Such was the face of affairs for two years in that town, which may be called my apprenticeship amongst the savages, and the trial of my patience.