OF THE HOSTILE EXPEDITIONS, PROVISIONS, AND CAMPS
OF THE ABIPONES.
It is a remarkable circumstance that the military expeditions which they
conclude upon when intoxicated, they faithfully execute, at the
appointed time, when sober. Not only are they destitute of almanacs,
they even have no names for the days and months. They know, however,
without the danger of mistake, on what day the moon will begin, when it
will be at full, and when it will be on the wane. They use these changes
of the moon as a measure of time to determine expeditions, so that
though distant many days' journey the parties assemble at the appointed
day, and even meet at the very precise hour that had been agreed upon.
For though they have no names for the hours, and no machine to point
them out, they supply these deficiencies by their fingers, with which
they point to that part of the sky which the sun or moon or some nightly
star will occupy at the period of meeting. When the moon is on the wane,
they generally judge it a fit time for a journey, that they may set out
under the cover of darkness, and incur less risk of detection: on their
return, if they are obliged to make it in haste, they wish that luminary
to be on the increase. They generally begin a journey about mid-day, and
in different companies, meeting together in the evening at some
appointed place.
A European prince, when about to engage in a war, wants more than lead
and iron: he stands in need of gold and silver wherewith to procure
provisions, and pay his troops. The chieftain of the Abipones has no
care of this kind: every one of his soldiers is furnished with plenty of
horses, a formidable spear, a bow, and a bundle of arrows. These are
their only instruments of war. The severed heads of the Spaniards,
thousands of horses and mules taken from their estates, children torn
from their mothers' bosoms, and the glory derived from these, serve both
for the rewards and trophies of the fighting Abipones. Though the colony
which they purpose to attack be more than two hundred leagues distant,
they each drive but two horses before them, and ride upon a third. They
do not judge it expedient to begin a journey laden with provisions. They
carry nothing either for meat or drink. Formerly they are said to have
had roasted rabbits for provisions, but that was when they were less
exercised in hunting, being unprovided with horses. Now the Abipones
kill any animal they meet for food, with the spear they carry in their
hands. That each may hunt more expeditiously, and obtain more booty,
they separate their ranks, unless suspicious of the enemy's being close
upon them, and disperse themselves over the plain, afterwards assembling
to pass the night or mid-day together. For they know what situations
afford the best opportunities of getting wood and water, and where they
may safely lurk without fear of secret hostilities.
They think gourds and horns, which are used for flaggons and
drinking-cups in Paraguay, a superfluous burden: for they can either
take up water in the hollow of their hands, or stoop, and drink it like
dogs. Pools and deep rivers are often at hand, but their salt and bitter
waters are fitter to torture the stomach, than quench the thirst. They
consider an iron knife, and a pebble to sharpen it, necessary
instruments on a journey; as also two sticks, by the mutual attrition of
which they can elicit fire even while sitting on horseback. Of these
trifles consists the whole furniture of the Abipones, happy in being
able to dispense with all that luggage and those waggons which in Europe
are justly called the impediments of the army, and leeches of the
treasury. Our Abipones pass the day and night in the open air, and are
either parched with heat, or drenched with rain of many days'
continuance. They expose their bare heads to the burning sun; they strip
their shoulders, breasts, and arms of the garment of sheep's or otters'
skins, and had rather endure the stings of gnats, than the perspiration
caused by the fervid heat of the air. A turf is their bed at night, a
saddle their pillow, and the sky their covering. Every one waits upon
himself, nor does the leader employ any one else to prepare his food, or
saddle his horse. If they have to cross wide rivers or vast lakes, they
need neither bridge nor boat. When it is no longer fordable they leap
from their horses into the water, strip themselves, hold up their
clothes at the end of their spear in the left hand, and using the right,
with which they grasp the reins of their horse, for an oar, struggle to
the opposite bank.
In the commencement of a journey they daily send out scouts in all
directions, who, if they discover any traces of a foreign nation or any
mark of hostile designs, immediately announce it to their
fellow-soldiers. They generally choose a situation to pass the night in,
which, being guarded behind, and on both sides by a lake, river, or
thick wood, renders access difficult; where they cannot be surrounded on
a sudden; and where a few can repel or elude the attacks of a great
many. They lie down in a semicircular form. Each has his spear fixed at
his head, and four or five keep up a fire burning in the midst, unless
fear of the enemy obliges them to refrain from this comfort, lest the
blaze or the smoke should betray them: though on some occasions, it was
of use to multiply fires, in order to deceive the enemy; for from the
number of them the number of men passing the night thereabout is usually
argued. By this artifice Cortez is said to have imposed upon the
Mexicans. Whilst some are indulging in sleep, others, appointed to keep
watch, scour the plain on horseback, both for the purpose of bringing
back the scattered horses, and, on the approach of danger of admonishing
their sleepy comrades by sound of trumpet. I have been astonished to see
with what activity and fidelity they performed all the offices of
watchmen in our colonies. Whole nights have they spent in riding up and
down the plains adjacent to the town, even in very boisterous weather,
whenever the slightest rumours were spread of the approach of the enemy.
By the nightly sound of horns and trumpets they signified that they were
on the alert, and, by showing the enemy that their intentions were
discovered, prevented them from making the attack: for it is usual with
the savages never to attempt any thing except against the unprepared.
During the whole seven years that I spent amongst the Abipones, I
regularly found that whenever we passed sleepless nights in arms, for
fear of an enemy, not so much as the shadow of one ever approached; and
that when none of us suspected any thing hostile, a formidable swarm of
savages fell upon our colony. An enemy is never more to be dreaded than
when he is feared the least.