OF THE SCOUTS, AND WAR COUNCILS OF THE ABIPONES.
Their method of warfare varies according to the adversaries they have to
deal with. They adopt one mode of fighting against the Spaniards,
another against savages like themselves. This, however, may be observed
in general, that they are never precipitate in taking up arms against
any one, nor ever hazard an attack unless confident of victory; though,
like European generals, they are often deceived. Where they had looked
for laurels, they reap deadly cypresses—they go out to seek wool, and
return home shorn themselves. The fortune of war is always uncertain.
After having determined upon a hostile expedition, they usually send out
scouts to discover which way they are to go, and at what place begin the
attack; to learn every particular respecting the number of their
neighbours who might send supplies to their adversaries, and concerning
the access to houses; carefully to examine the situation most convenient
for an ambuscade, the places by which they might approach undiscovered,
and whither, if need required, they might betake themselves for safety,
together with the pastures of cattle, the number of guards, and other
particulars of that kind. And so cunningly do these emissaries discharge
their office, that they contrive to see all things, and be seen by none.
Leaving their horses for a while, either on the inaccessible bank of a
river, or in the recesses of the woods, that they may not be betrayed by
their means, they crawl along on their hands and feet, and lurking
amongst boughs and bushes observe all things, both at a distance and
close at hand. Concealed by the shades of night, they sometimes approach
the very houses of the Spaniards, and listening, catch part of the
conversation of the persons within; those even that are ignorant of the
Spanish tongue, can at least discover, from the tone of the voices,
whether the house contain more men or women. That their footsteps may
not betray them, they fasten pieces of skin to their feet, by which
artifice the marks of human tread are either disguised or destroyed. To
obtain a view of distant objects, they frequently climb trees, or stand
upright on their horses' backs. They generally send out two or three of
these scouts, who separate at night, one taking one road, one another,
first fixing upon a time and place to meet together again. That they may
be able with the more certainty to keep their appointment, they imitate
the voice of some bird or beast, as agreed upon beforehand, from which
one may know and discover the other. But this artifice must be warily
adopted; for if at night-time they imitate the note of a bird which is
only heard by day, the Spaniards know it to be uttered by the scouts of
the savages, and by timely cautions elude the hostile attack. Often one
companion signifies to another that he has arrived beforehand by broken
boughs of trees, or high grass knotted in various ways. None perform the
office of spy with more success than those Abipones who in their
childhood have been taken in war, and bred up by the Spaniards, and who
have returned to their countrymen when grown up; for, besides that they
are actuated by a stronger hatred to the Spaniards, and a keener thirst
for vengeance, from their acquaintance with places, and with the Spanish
tongue, they dwell for a time with impunity in the Spanish towns, and as
they use the same dress and language, are universally taken for
Spaniards. Secure by this artifice, even in mid-day, and in the public
market-place, they survey every thing, and enquire about whatever it is
their interest to know; learn what military men are absent, or preparing
for departure; what waggons are laden with merchandise, and whither they
are bound, so that they are afterwards easily plundered by the savages
in those immense deserts; not one of the waggoners or guards being able
to prevent the slaughter, as men of this description are in general but
ill provided with arms, and still worse with courage.
The scouts, after having finished their journey and made an accurate
report to their employers of all they have seen and heard, a council of
war, and at the same time a drinking-party is appointed; for the
Abipones think themselves ill fitted for deliberation with dry lips. The
Cacique, the promoter of the expedition, in the course of the drinking,
delivers his opinion on the affair, and enquires that of the rest. He
animates his companions to carry on the thing with vigour, either by the
example of their ancestors, or by the hope of glory or booty. Repeated
draughts inflame both the bodies and minds of the drinkers: for the meed
which they make of honey, or the alfaroba, immediately disorders the
brain, like the strongest wine, an effect which is powerfully increased
by the shouts of the intoxicated, by singing, and the noise of drums and
gourds. The heroic deeds of their ancestors, and former victories, are
generally the subjects of these savage songs. The spectacle is as
ridiculous as it is possible to conceive. In every one of the Abipones,
you would behold a thunderbolt of war. Each thinks himself a Hector, an
Epaminondas, a Hannibal; and such they might be believed by all who
beheld their faces covered with blood-red stains to render them more
terrific, their arms and breasts full of scars, and their threatening
eyes, and who listened to their ferocious and slaughter-breathing words.
But could we look into their breasts, we should perceive that they were
different within from what they appeared without. We should discover a
shell without a kernel, an ass in a lion's skin, an ignis fatuus under
thundering words, and vain rage unsupported by strength. Though, no
longer masters of themselves, they crawl on the ground in a state of
intoxication, at your bidding they will climb to Heaven itself, they
will tear away the hinges of the globe, and had all the human race but
one neck, like Caligula, they would end it at a blow. Were they as
courageous in battle, as vaunting in their cups, they would long since
have extinguished the race of Spaniards in Paraguay. But as some one has
observed, drunken bullies are better trumpeters than soldiers. They are
all empty sound. Amidst their cups and their songs they are bold as
lions, but in battle more cowardly than hares.
Whenever an Abipon dies by the hand of an enemy, the nearest relation of
the deceased takes upon him to avenge his death. It is his business to
invite his countrymen and hordesmen, or even the inhabitants of another
horde, to join their arms with his, to lead them against the enemy, and,
when the attack is made, to go first into battle. As they lend
assistance to friendly nations, they seek it in turn from them, either
when they are preparing for war, or when they apprehend it from others
whom they deem themselves unequal to contend with alone. But, as Europe
so often experiences, little confidence is to be placed in auxiliary
forces. The friendship of the Indians is notoriously fickle and
unsteady; for, as they enter into alliance merely with a view to their
own advantage, they will suddenly turn their backs on their greatest
friends, should the hope of the smallest emolument preponderate.