CHAPTER XXXV.

THE ORIGIN AND SITUATION OF A COLONY OF ABIPONES NAMED FROM S. CARLOS AND THE ROSARY.

That the corruption of one thing is the generation of another, and that insects are created from putrid substances is affirmed by some naturalists and denied by others, but certainly such was the origin of this colony; for it was composed of Abipones who had deserted religion, and the other towns. Weary of Christian discipline, and of the inactivity of peace, they for some time vexed the territories of the Spaniards and Guaranies with slaughter and rapine: but seeing themselves threatened, both behind and before, with avenging arms, and being unable to discover any place of retreat where they might conceal themselves from Ychoalay, they provided for their safety by artifice, since they could not secure it by force of arms. Three orators were sent to Asumpcion to petition, in the name of the rest, for a colony, and priests to instruct them in religion. The Governor, Martinez Fontez, granted the request of these wily legates with the utmost willingness, flattering himself that he should gain great favour with the King by founding this colony. Fulgentio de Yegros, a Paraguayrian commander, wonderfully approved the Governor's purpose, urged the execution of it, and bestowed a great many caresses on the Abiponian deputies. The other more prudent Spaniards strongly opposed the design, truly observing: "These rascally Abipones, the dregs of the whole nation, come hither from the fear of punishment, not from the desire of embracing religion: it is not a colony, but an asylum where they may commit crimes with impunity, that they seek amongst the Spaniards; and even if this were not the case, a province so indigent in every respect as this, cannot afford the supplies necessary for founding and preserving such a colony." The same was the opinion of all the Jesuits. Eager for glory, the Governor turned a deaf ear to all these remonstrances. By his order the people were convoked to the market-place of the city, that each might voluntarily contribute something for the colony, according to his means. Some promised sheep and oxen; others horses, or Paraguay tea; the less opulent, axes, knives, and the other articles of domestic furniture: and were there not as wide a difference between gifts and promises, as there is between words and deeds, the colony would have been amply provided for. But, to use a Spanish proverb, _mucho era el ruido, pero pocas las nueces_: great was the noise, but few were the nuts. Many evaded the performance of their promises altogether; others impudently sent aged cows; lame, lean, and dying horses; old, bare, and diseased sheep; and every thing else in the same style. Many of those persons whom the Governor employed in collecting or keeping the cattle and other things, were deficient either in fidelity or in diligence, reserving some for their own private use, and exchanging the better ones, which they kept to themselves, for others of less value. It therefore is not to be wondered at that the whole of Paraguay did not contain a more indigent or calamitous colony, of which I, who was forced to struggle, for two years, with extreme poverty, and the insolence of these savages, had full and ocular demonstration.

The Abipones, solicitous for their security above all things, themselves pointed out a situation for the colony, seventy leagues south of Asumpcion, four leagues distant from the western shore of the Paraguay, and beset with woods, rivers, and marshes, which rendered it difficult of access to the Spaniards, who had to cross that vast river whenever they approached it from their own city. This plain is called Timbò in the Guarany tongue, from a tree of that name which abounds here; by some it has been named La Herradura, or the horse-shoe, because the river Paraguay, being forced into a curve by the interjection of an island, presents, in this place, the appearance of a horse-shoe. Besides this, two tolerably large rivers, (both having salt waters,) flow past the spot where the colony stood, and uniting, in sight of it, into one channel, form a large lake which afterwards discharges itself into the Paraguay. After a long drought, you can seldom find any fresh water, or any of the larger kind of fish, in this labyrinth of waters; innumerable crocodiles, by which the fish are either consumed or kept away, are every where to be seen. In the desire of concealment, however, the Abipones pitched upon this incommodious situation, which the Tobas lay claim to: and the Spaniards willingly ratified their choice, because their enemies, the Mocobios and Tobas, used generally to cross the Paraguay in this place, when they made their excursions against the Paraguayrians.

In this sequestered place, the Abipones were ordered to remain, till things being properly settled, and priests appointed, a little town should be built there. In the mean time, oxen were given them for their support, yet they still continued to drive vast herds of horses from the estates of Sta. Fè and St. Jeronymo: but Ychoalay, accompanied with a troop of horse, surprized this horde of thieves by night, and carried off all the horses they had plundered; irritated by which nocturnal assault, they industriously made up for the loss by repeated rapine. Fulgentio de Yegros visited these Abipones with a numerous band of soldiers, for the purpose of making a dwelling-house for the expected priests. After staying two days there, and consuming an incredible number of the oxen intended for the use of the colony, the soldiers built only two little huts, so narrow and low, and so badly constructed, of wood and mud, that the Governor himself pronounced them absolutely uninhabitable.

The Jesuit Contucci, at that time Provincial and Visitor of Paraguay, being ordered, in the King's name, to appoint priests for the new colony, after consulting those persons who were best acquainted with the affairs of the province, conferred this charge upon me, on account of my acquaintance with the Abiponian tongue. I was therefore called to the Guarany town of Sta. Rosa, where the Provincial resided, on business of the colony, and soon afterwards ordered to hasten to the metropolis, where I had to wait from the 28th of August till the 24th of November, whilst the Governor was preparing every thing necessary for beginning the colony.