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.