or LA PLATA, a province of Spanish America, bounded on the north by the river of the Amazons; on the east, by Brazil; on the south, by Patagonia; and on the west, by Chili. This country was first discovered by Sebastian Cabot, who, in 1526, passed from Rio de la Plata to the river Parana in small barks, and thence entered the river called Paraguay. It was not, however, thoroughly reduced till the Jesuits obtained possession of it. A few of these went to Paraguay, soon after the city of Assumption was founded, and converted about 50 Indian families, who soon induced many others to follow their example, on account of the peace and tranquillity they enjoyed under the fathers. They had long resisted the Spaniards and Portuguese; but the Jesuits, by learning their language, conforming to their manners, &c., soon acquired great authority among them; till at last, by steadily pursuing the same artful measures, they arrived at the highest degree of power and influence, being in a manner the absolute sovereigns of a great part of this extensive country; for above 350,000 families are said to have been subject to them, living in obedience and awe bordering on adoration, yet procured without the least violence or constraint. There were above 60,000 parishes on the banks of the rivers Paraguay and Parana, not exceeding the distance of 30 miles from each other: in each of these there was a Jesuit, supreme in all causes, civil, military, and ecclesiastic, who might be regarded as a petty prince, governing not only with the sway of a sovereign, but with the influence and reputation of an oracle. He nominated the chiefs in all the different departments; the cacique held of him; the general received his commission and instructions from him; and all his decisions were without appeal. The same reverend father who presided over the civil economy, assisted by two others, performed also the duties of a parish-priest; catechizing the Indians, saying mass, exhorting, marrying, imposing penance, visiting the sick, &c.

The above was the account given of the behaviour of the Jesuits by their own writers. Others, however, treated their characters with more severity; accusing them of pride, haughtiness, and abusing their authority to the greatest degree; insomuch that they would have caused the magistrates to be whipped in their presence, and obliged persons of the highest distinction within their jurisdiction to kiss the hem of their garment, as the greatest honour at which they could possibly arrive. To this might be added, the utter abolition lition of all ideas of property; which indeed was rendered useless by the general magazines and store-houses which they established, and from which, together with the herds of cattle kept for the public use, they supplied the want of individuals as occasion required; yet still it was objected to the character of the fraternity, that they possessed large property themselves, and claimed the absolute disposal of the meanest effects in Paraguay. All manufactures belonged to them; every natural commodity was brought to them; and the treasures annually remitted to the superior of the order were thought to be a proof that zeal for religion was not the only motive by which they were influenced.

Besides the parochial or provincial governments, there was a kind of supreme council, composed of an annual meeting of all the fathers, who concerted the measures necessary for promoting the common concerns of the mission, framed new laws, corrected or abolished old ones, and, in a word, adapted everything to circumstances. It is said to have been one of the great objects of the annual councils to take such measures as should effectually deprive strangers of all intelligence concerning the state of the mission. Hence the natives were restrained from learning the Spanish tongue, and were taught, that it was dangerous for their salvation to hold any conversation with a subject of Spain or Portugal. But the circumstance that rendered their designs most suspicious, was the establishment of a military force. Every parish had its corps of horse and foot, who were duly exercised every Sunday; and it was said, that the whole amounted to a body of 70,000 or 80,000 troops, well disciplined.—Such was the state of this country some time ago; but as to its situation since the abolition of the sect of Jesuits, we can say nothing, as very little authentic intelligence is permitted to pass from that country to this.

The climate of Paraguay is very little different from that of Spain; and the distinctions between the seasons are much the same. In winter indeed, violent tempests of wind and rain are very frequent, accompanied with such dreadful claps of thunder and lightning as fill the inhabitants, though used to them, with terror and consternation. In summer, the excessive heats are mitigated by gentle breezes, which constantly begin at eight or nine in the morning.

The soil is very fertile, producing maize, manioc, and potatoes, besides many fruits and simples unknown in Europe. Vines, however, do not thrive, except in some particular places. Wheat has also been tried; but it is only used for cakes, and other things of that kind. There are great numbers of poisonous serpents, and others of an enormous size, many of which live on fish. Almost every forest of the country abounds with bees, which make their hives in hollow trees. The country produces also cotton, hemp, and flax; and there are such numbers of wild cattle, that they are killed only for their hides. The natives differ not much from those described under the article America.