CONCERNING THE ARMS OF THE ABIPONES, AND THEIR
BATTLE-ARRAY IN FIGHTING WITH OTHER SAVAGES.
Different enemies must be combated with different arms. The Abipones,
when they go out against the Spaniards, lay aside their breastplates of
antas' skins, and their bows, and place their chief dependence in a
swift horse and a strong lance; but when attacked at home by a foreign
foe, whoever it may be, they make successful use of the bow, for, from
the constant exercise of war and hunting, they acquire so much skill in
the use of that weapon that they take a more certain aim with it than
the Spaniards do with a gun.
Let us suppose that a rumour is spread throughout the hordes of the
Abipones that the savages are speedily coming to attack them. If they
have strength and courage sufficient to repel the enemy, trusty scouts
are sent out in every direction to learn their route. The rest,
meantime, make it their chief care to prepare a drink of honey, or the
alfaroba, for a public drinking-party. For the Abipones think that they
are never more acute in counsel, or braver in fight, than when they are
drunk. Famiano Strada, in his history of the Belgic war, writes thus of
Schenck, a celebrated general of the Belgians: "He never handled arms
better than when he had drank profusely, and was intoxicated with wine."
I have often found the same to be the case with the Abipones as with
Schenck. In the colony of St. Ferdinand we learnt that a hostile troop
of Mocobios and Tobas were advancing toward us by hasty marches, and
were only two days' journey distant. The Abipones, astonished, not
alarmed at this news, though very few, awaited the assault of numbers
amidst drinking and songs of triumph. They spent two days with their
horses shut up in stalls within the town, that they might be always in
readiness, with their faces painted to excite terror, holding a cup in
one hand, and a quiver in the other. Quinquagesima Sunday came. At three
o'clock in the afternoon the troop of savage horse appeared in sight.
The Abipones, though after such long drinking hardly in possession of
their senses, or able to stand upon their legs, snatched up their
spears, leaped upon their horses, which were made ready by the women,
and, scattered in a disorderly manner up and down the plain, rushed full
speed upon their enemies, amid the discordant bray of trumpets, with
such good fortune, that, abandoning their project of plundering the
colony, they sought security in the adjacent woods. But being prevented
from this by the Abipones, they rushed off on all sides. The enemies
hurried away at full gallop; the Abipones endeavoured to overtake them.
It was not a fight, but a race between the fugitives and their pursuers.
The contest consisted more in the swiftness of their steeds than in
weapons, which were sent backwards and forwards, but, because badly
aimed, without injuring very many. Our victors returned to the colony
when the night was far advanced, some not till the morning, all safe and
sound, (except one, whose head was bruised with a club,) and, what was
very surprizing, quite sober, having exhaled the effects of the liquor,
not with sleeping, but with riding and fighting. How many of the enemies
were killed and wounded I do not know: but that more than two hundred
were put to flight by seventy drunken men was a noble victory for us.
Let us now treat of the other preparations which the Abipones make
previous to a fight.
Every thing being in readiness for the drinking-party, which is held
before a battle, their chief anxiety is to conceal their droves of
horses from the eyes and hands of the enemy. Reserving the best within
the neighbouring stalls, that they may be ready for the uses of war,
they place the remainder in stations, access to which is rendered
difficult to the enemy either by the high bank of a river, the
intervention of a wood, or their ignorance of the way. They also look
out for places of concealment for their wives and children, and all that
are unable to defend themselves. The Spaniards told me they had often
seen whole Indian families plunged up to the neck in lakes and rivers.
As soon as ever a report is spread amongst the Abipones of the approach
of an enemy, they immediately stain their faces, and carry about bundles
of weapons, and a military trumpet, which they blow chiefly in the dead
of the night, that the enemies may know from their scouts that they have
shaken off all fear, and are vigilant and desirous of the conflict. When
certified of the approach of the enemy's forces, they provide for their
safety in various ways. If they are few in comparison with their
adversaries, they make up for the want of strength by craft. That they
may not be obliged to join in open battle, they use various artifices to
prevent the enemy from gaining access to their stations. They set out on
the road, and surprize them by an ambuscade, or make themselves appear
more numerous by redoubled tumult of military trumpets, or leaving a
number of drummers and trumpeters at a distance behind, pretend that
they are only the part of a company that is to come after; or putting
Spanish dresses on some of their men, make it appear as if they had
Spanish soldiers at hand to give them aid. Misled by these artifices,
the enemies not unfrequently give up their intention of fighting, and
make the best of their way back again. Often, however, no opportunity is
left them for stratagems. Compelled by a sudden inroad of the enemy, or
allured by confidence of victory to resolve upon a combat, a piece of
ground opposite the approaching enemy, and near the horde, is selected
for the purpose, that they may be near their wives and children should
they be in danger. Heralds are sometimes sent forward by the enemy to
explain the causes of the war, and challenge the inhabitants to fight.
But the bellowing of drums and trumpets, and horrid vociferations, are
generally the only answer they obtain. Every thing preceding and
accompanying a battle, is a spectacle worthy to be seen, and laughed at
by Europeans. About the beginning of the conflict you may see jugglers
mounted on horseback, who, making ridiculous gestures, and whirling
round palm boughs in their hands, utter the direst imprecations on the
hostile army: whilst old female jugglers are observed crawling on the
ground, or leaping in the streets, and with sullen eyes and a hoarse
voice, uttering some omen or curse. You may see the Abipones with their
faces stained, with many-coloured feathers in their heads, and arms in
their hands, some wearing breastplates, others entirely naked, enter the
field with a marching gait, and appearing to threaten the whole world.
You may see mountains in labour bring forth ridiculous mice. These
heroes, when placed in order of battle, wish to be counted by the
Father, as they cannot count themselves. As I walked up and down the
ranks, I was frequently asked, "Are we many?" to which I constantly
replied, "You are very many;" lest they should be disheartened at their
want of numbers. Experience taught me that the towns were mostly
attacked by a numerous enemy when very few of the inhabitants were left
at home—the rest being dispersed far and wide for the sake of hunting.
The sagacious savages make the assault when they have learnt from their
spies that the colony is bare of defenders. They form themselves into a
square, if the place will admit of it. I observed that they sometimes
placed the archers in the midst, and the spearmen on each wing; at
others, the archers and spearmen ranged themselves promiscuously. The
Mocobios, Tobas, and Guaycurùs leave their horses a little way off, in
sight, and join battle on foot. The Cacique, or any other person in
authority, sits on horseback in the front of the army; but when the
battle commences he dismounts and fights among the rest. The leaders of
the Abipones are generally great fighters, as their example has more
weight than words amongst the soldiers, who follow their leader with
greater willingness when he is bravely fighting, than when he is
exhorting them from a distance.
At first they stand in close ranks, but afterwards, when the enemy is to
be attacked or repelled, in such loose ones that each soldier has a
space of four or six cubits on every side. In fighting they never stand
erect, or quietly on their feet. They run up and down with their bodies
bent to the ground, and their eyes fixed on their adversaries, for the
sake either of avoiding or aiming a blow. With a threatening voice they
provoke the enemy by continually exclaiming _hò, hò, hò_, raising their
voices from the lowest to the very highest tones. They rub their right
hand every now and then on the ground, lest the string of the bow should
slip from their fingers when they are moistened with perspiration. The
Indians do not imitate the Europeans, who send a shower of darts at the
same moment at the enemy. Each takes aim at his adversary with his
arrow, so that one diligently watches the eyes and motions of the other,
and, when he perceives himself aimed at, changes his situation by
leaping to the right or left. Many weapons are cast, though seldom with
impunity, at the leader of the army, and the most distinguished
warriors. When one is often aimed at by many, had he more eyes than
Argus, and were he more agile than the wind, no one can dare to promise
him security; so that if he leave the field of battle unhurt, it is
often to be attributed to good fortune, seldom to dexterity, and still
seldomer to his leathern breastplate, which I myself have seen yield not
only to spears, but even to the stronger arrows.
If their own arrows fail them they will send back those shot by the
enemy. However, when their quivers are exhausted, as sometimes happens,
and their souls fired by the combat, after having fought for some time,
at a distance with a bow, they will come to close fighting with a spear.
Neither then, however, will the plain be inundated with human blood. The
savages have, indeed, great power in dealing blows, but they have still
greater swiftness in eluding them. The whole combat is often confined to
threats and vociferations. Sometimes many are wounded, but very few die
in proportion to the number of wounds; for unless the head or breast be
pierced they never despair of the man's life. They are used to consider
broken ribs and immense gashes in the other members, as attended with
little danger; they calmly look upon them without any expression of
pain, and, half alive, reluctantly suffer themselves to be borne from
the fight on other persons' arms. This I learnt, that these savages,
unless flight be denied them, seldom dare the worst. Terrified at the
slaughter of a very few of their fellow-soldiers, they desert their
leader, and escape how they can. There is no need to sound a retreat.
Should ten or twenty take to flight, the rest, freed from all restraint
of shame, trust their lives to their horses, and rush along with the
impetuosity of a river that has burst its banks. On urgent occasions you
will see two or three seated on one horse. At the beginning of an
engagement on foot, they take care that the means of flight may not fail
them: behind the backs of the combatants, and out of reach of the
weapons, they station horses, upon which young men sit, and safely watch
the vicissitudes of the fight.
But if the enemy, finding the fortune of war against them, betake
themselves to flight, they scarce have to fear a very obstinate pursuit
from their adversaries, as the conquerors are very cautious not to
forfeit their glory; they are unwilling, by a doubtful contest, to
experience a change of fortune, and to undergo a new danger. A spear, or
garment, taken from them in battle by their enemies, the Abipones
consider a terrible disgrace to their nation, regarding the loss of it
with as much grief as Europeans do that of their drums or standards. The
Abipones never attribute victories, and the fortunate events of battles,
to their own skill, but to the arts of their jugglers. Although they
hold the other Paraguayrian nations in contempt, yet they allow the
Guaycurùs to be formidable; they say that they are cut down like
funguses by the spears of these savages, not because they excel them in
goodness of arms, strength of body, or courage of mind, but because they
enter the fight attended by far more skilful jugglers. The Cacique
Alaykin affirmed to me, that persons blown upon by their breath fell to
the ground, as if struck with thunder.
But now let us contemplate the Abipones triumphing after a successful
fight. If the event has answered to their wishes they fill the country
with joyful rumours of victory, and generally exaggerated accounts of
the slaughter of the enemy. They who have behaved with distinguished
valour have the ears and eyes of all directed towards them. They who
have received wounds in the battle deliver themselves to be sucked to a
crowd of juggler physicians, a multitude of spectators admiring and
extolling their constancy and fortitude. Great numbers flock to behold
the spoils and trophies taken from the enemy. The women, giving way to
an excess of gladness, seem mad with joy; they would make no end of
singing, leaping, and applauding, were they not obliged to turn their
attention towards making preparations for the public drinking-party of
their husbands; who, at the same time that they wash the horrible
colours from their faces, endeavour to clear from their minds, with
wine, their past anxiety respecting the conflict. In the assembly of
drinkers, where the victory is celebrated amidst confused clamours, and
songs accompanied with the sound of gourds and drums; when all are
heated with liberal draughts of mead, each begins to relate his own
brave actions, and to laugh at the errors, cowardice, and flight of
others; which not being endured by any of the Abipones, the warriors
contend furiously amongst themselves, first with fists, and then,
growing more enraged, with spears and arrows. Did not the women
interpose to effect a reconciliation, and employ themselves in snatching
away their weapons, and leading their husbands home, it is beyond a
doubt that more would be killed after the battle than in the battle.
If a battle be fought at a distance from the town, a horseman is sent
forward to announce the success of it to the hordesmen. As soon as this
messenger is espied from a distance, a crowd come out to meet him,
striking their lips with their right hands, and accompany him to his
house. Having preserved the profoundest silence he leaps down from his
horse on to a bed; whence, as from a rostrum, he announces the event of
the battle, with a grave voice, to the surrounding multitude. If a few
of the enemy are killed and wounded, he begins his story with
_Nalamichiriñi_; they are all slaughtered, which he utters with a severe
countenance and declamatory tone, and receives the applauses of the
by-standers. He then enumerates those that he himself has slain in
battle, and to enhance the merit of the victory, affirms of many, _Eknam
Capitan_; he was a captain. At every name that is mentioned of an enemy
slain in battle the air resounds with _Kem ékemat? Ta Yeegàm!_ an
exclamation of surprize. The number of captives, waggons, and horses,
that have been taken, are then detailed with infinite exaggeration, for
of each he asserts that they are innumerable; _Chik Leyé_ _kalipì_; at
which the auditors burst forth into an exclamation of _Ndře_, by which
they express a strange and unheard-of thing. Having minutely recounted
every circumstance tending to set forth this arduous fight and splendid
victory, he proceeds to discover those of his fellow-soldiers that have
been wounded in the battle. At every name the by-standers groan, and
utter the word _Tayretà!_ Poor little thing! As the Abipones think it a
crime to utter the name of a dead person, the narrator makes use of a
paraphrase, thus, _Yoalè eknam oanerma Hamelèn laneuek là chit kaekà_:
The man, the husband of the woman Hamelèn, is now no more. The mention
of the death of one of their countrymen entirely destroys all the
pleasure which the news of the victory had excited; so that the
announcer immediately finds himself deserted by his late attentive
listeners, as soon as ever he begins to touch upon this melancholy
subject. All the women unloose their hair, snatch up gourds and drums,
and lament in the manner that I have described in the twenty-fourth
chapter.
The Abipones, when returned from an expedition, enter their horde, not
in one company, but separately, without ostentation, if victorious, and
without signification of sorrow, if conquered, or even if desperately
wounded, unless they have lost their leader. Then indeed they return
with their hair partially shaven, to attest their grief, and convey the
bones of their deceased Cacique home, not without funeral apparatus. The
anxiously expected return of the warriors engages the eyes, ears,
tongues, and hands of all; some surveying the droves of cattle, the
captives, and spoils; others enquiring for the safety of their
relations; others examining the wounds of the soldiers; and all the
women lamenting. Each retains the captives, horses, mules, and other
things that he has taken, unless, as usual amongst them, he chooses to
share them with his friends. From one journey they often bring home many
thousand horses, which they divide amongst themselves, with what
regulations I know not, but without any disputes. On the succeeding days
every one is eager to make trial of the horses which have fallen to his
share in the partition of the spoils; they value swiftness alone,
disregarding every beauty which adorns a horse. You may daily see a
crowd of young men riding races with one another, and at the same time
contending with words, each extolling his own above his neighbour's
horse. The remembrance of the victory obtained over the enemy, disturbs
as much as it delights their minds; for they live in continual fear that
the enemy will speedily come to avenge the death of their people and
loss of their property. Hence, in order to tranquillize their minds, and
devise some method to keep off the foe, their chief care is to prepare a
public drinking-party, that sure quickener, as they think, of the wit
and exciter of valour.