The rivers, lakes, and streams, abound in tortoises, but not of that
kind the shells of which are valuable in Europe, and fit for working. No
sooner did we cast a hook into the river than a tortoise would bite, but
was always rejected by us; for in the greater part of Paraguay these
animals are eaten neither by Spaniards nor Indians. The only useful part
of tortoises in Paraguay is their great shells, which are used for pots
and plates by the common people.