OF THE MILITARY DISPOSITIONS OF THE ABIPONES.
I am at a loss in what colours to paint the military dispositions of the
Abipones; no word corresponds to the idea which long acquaintance with
these savages has impressed on my mind. That the Abipones are warlike,
prompt, and active, none even of the Spaniards ever doubted, but I
should hesitate to call them valiant and intrepid. Cicero himself
distinguishes an active from a brave man, in these words, 2. Philipp.
_Ut cognosceret te, si minus fortem, attamen strenuum._ It is my purpose
to write the history not the panegyric of the Abipones: I must therefore
be sincere, and declare my real opinion, whatever it be.
Military fame is the principal object of the ambition of the Abipones.
Their whole souls are bent upon arms. They can manage a spear, bow, and
every kind of weapon with great dexterity, and ride on horseback with
peculiar swiftness. No people with greater fortitude endures the
hardships of war, the inclemencies of the sky, want of food, and the
fatigues of travelling. They fearlessly swim across rivers formidable to
sailors and ships. They look upon their wounds without a groan, and with
as much indifference as they would upon those of another person. They
are acquainted with all those arts which every European soldier admires,
but which so very few practise. This alone is unknown to the Abipones,
to despise death, and gain glory by encountering danger. They boast of
martial souls, but are too unwilling to resign their lives. They are
active, but can by no means be called brave, for a brave man would
remain unterrified were the globe itself to fall in ruins, and would
choose either to conquer or die. The Abipones always desire to conquer,
but are never willing to die. They will curse a victory obtained at the
expense of one of their countrymen's lives. They abhor triumphal hymns
if mingled with funeral lamentations, and would reject a victory
accompanied by the sighs of one mourning widow or orphan.
Certainly no one can accuse the Abipones of rashness in venturing their
lives. Their chief adorations are paid to the goddess Security, the
arbitress of their battles, without whose approving sanction they will
never risk an engagement. They carefully avoid a contest of uncertain
issue. They always threaten others, always fear for themselves, and
trust nothing to chance. Before they undertake a warlike expedition,
they carefully consider the nature of the place, the numbers of their
enemies, and the opportunity of the time. Any danger, or the least
suspicion of it, will strike the spear from their hands, and extinguish
all their ardour. Agis, King of Sparta, boasted that his soldiers, in
the heat of war, did not enquire the number and strength of their
antagonists, but where they were, that they might attack and put them to
flight. The Abipones are never hurried into a combat with such blind
impetuosity as this. They proceed cautiously, nor do the trumpets sound
till all things have been diligently examined. When assured of their
safety, they rush on like thunder, imitating now the cunning of
Hannibal, now the delays of Fabius. They know that the daring are
favoured by fortune, but not unless they exercise a sagacious foresight
with regard to dangers. As persons about to cross a threatening river,
try the ford that they may not be carried away by the current; so they
never approach their enemies till after mature deliberation, that they
may secure an unimperilled victory. The timidity of the Americans gives
the name of rashness to what Europeans call courage. They think long and
often upon what is to be done once. They never strike a blow which they
have not previously contemplated, and then it is with a hand trembling
at every noise. They seldom attack openly, but do it in general
unawares. They dare little against the bold who front assailants, and
are accustomed to keep strict watch. They never fear less than when they
perceive themselves the objects of fear. Craft, and the swiftness of
their horses, more than strength, were what gave them the power to
commit so many slaughters. Though you may object to their cowardice, yet
that method of warfare is surely admirable, and agreeable to military
tactics, which enabled them, with no loss, or a very trifling one of
their own soldiers, to return home victorious, laden with the heads of
the Spaniards, and triumphantly displaying crowds of captives, cattle,
and other spoils taken from the enemy. _Hæc ars_, says Vegetius,
_dimicaturis est necessaria, per quam vitam retineant, et victoriam
consequantur_. For this purpose, heroes themselves have used a sword,
and a shield, with the one to offend the enemy, with the other to defend
themselves. Cunning, agility, and the swiftness of their horses, were a
shield, nay, better than any shield, to the Abipones. If they see one or
two of their fellow-soldiers fall, they immediately fly. When
straitened, and deprived of all means of escape, fear is converted into
rage, and they fight with the utmost obstinacy. I shall now proceed to
treat of their arms, scouts, councils of war, military provisions,
hostile expeditions, various modes of fighting, customs on obtaining a
victory, and lastly, of the slaughters committed by them in every part
of the province.