or La Plata, a province of Spanish America, bounded on the north by the river of the Amazonas; on the east, by Brazil; on the south, by Patagonia; and on the west, by Chili and Peru. This country was first discovered by Sebastian Cabot, who, in 1526, sailed from Rio de la Plata to the river Parana in small barks, and thence entered the river called Uruguay. 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.

We have the following particular account of the missions of Paraguay, in the words of Don Jorge Juan, &c. 1753.

"The territories of the missions of Paraguay comprehend not only the province of that name, but also a great part of the provinces of Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Tucuman, and Buenos Ayres. The temperature (A) of the air is good, though somewhat moist, and in some parts rather cold: the soil in many places is fertile;

(A) The climate of Paraguay differs but little 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. Paraguay, tile (b); and produces in great abundance not only the fruits and vegetables peculiar to America, but also those of Europe which have been introduced there. The chief articles of their commerce are cotton, tobacco, some sugar, and the herb called Paraguay. Every town gathers annually more than 2000 arrobas of cotton, of a quarter of an hundred weight each, which the Indians manufacture into stuffs. There are also great quantities of tobacco produced. But the chief article is the herb Paraguay; for it grows only in the districts of the missions; and there is a vast consumption of this herb in all the provinces of Chili and Peru, especially of that called cami, which is the pure leaf; the infusion of which is called mate, and is drank by the inhabitants of Lima twice a day in lieu of tea or chocolate. The mate which is made by the infusion of the stalk is not so much esteemed.

'Tis now almost two centuries since these missions were first set on foot by the Jesuits. The bad management of the Portuguese greatly favoured the views of these fathers. There was a nation of Indians called Guaranes, some whereof were settled upon the banks of the rivers Uruguay and Parana, and others a hundred leagues higher up in the country to the north-west of Guayra. The Portuguese frequently came upon them, and by force carried away as many as they thought proper to their plantations, and made slaves of them. Offended by such treatment, the Guaranes resolved to quit their settlements in the neighbourhood of the Portuguese, and to remove into the province of Paraguay. Accordingly a migration of 12,000 persons, great and small, ensued. These the Jesuits soon converted; and having had the like success in converting about an equal number of the natives of Tape, a district in Paraguay, they united the two nations, and laid the foundation of their future dominion. These fathers seem to have trod in the steps of the first Incas, and to have civilized nations and converted souls in order to acquire subjects. According to a very exact account taken in the year 1734, there were then 32 towns of the Guaranes, which were reckoned to contain above 30,000 families; and as the new converts were continually increasing, they Paraguay, were then about laying the foundations of the new towns. There were also then seven very populous towns inhabited by the converted Chiquito Indians, and they were preparing to build others for the reception of the new converts of that nation which were daily made.

"The missions of Paraguay are surrounded on all sides with wild or unconverted Indians; some of whom live in friendship with the towns, but others harass them by frequent incursions. The father missionaries frequently visit these Indians, and preach to them; and from these expeditions they seldom return without bringing along with them some new converts to incorporate with their civilized subjects. In the performance of this duty they sometimes penetrated 100 leagues into those uncultivated tracts where wild Indians range; and it is observed that they meet with the least success amongst those nations with whom any fugitive Mestizos, or Spanish criminals, have taken refuge. The diligence of these fathers is certainly worthy the imitation of the protestant clergy.

"Every town has its curate, who is assisted by one, and very often by two priests of the same order, according to the largeness and extent of the town and its district. These two or three priests, together with six boys who assist them in the service of the church, form a small college in every town, wherein the hours and other exercises are regulated with the same formality and exactness as in the large colleges in the cities of Peru and Chili. The most troublesome part of the duty of the assistant priests are the personal visitations which they are obliged to make to the Indians to prevent their giving themselves up to idleness; for such is the slothfulness of the Guaranes, that if they were not very carefully looked after, the society would receive no benefit or advantage from them. They also attend the public flambles, where the cattle necessary for the sustenance of the Indians are daily slaughtered, and distribute the flesh amongst all the families in the town, in proportion to the number of persons wherof each family consists; so that all may have what is necessary,

(b) It produces 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 enormous size, many of which live on fish. It produces also abundance of sugar, indigo, pimento, ipecacuanha, and variety of other drugs; and above all the herb Paraguay, which it exports to the value of 100,000l. annually to the provinces of Chili and Peru. It is the leaf of a middle-sized tree, resembling an orange tree, in taste not unlike mallows. There are three gatherings: first, the buds before it unfolds its leaves, which is the best, but soonest subject to decay; the second gathering is the full-grown leaves at the first expansion; the third is when the leaves have remained on some time after they are full blown. The leaves are roasted, and then kept in pits dug in the ground to be ready for sale. These trees grow principally in the marshes on the east side of Paraguay, but now are distributed all over the country. The manner of using it is, to dry and reduce it almost to powder, then put it into a cup with lemon-juice and sugar; boiling water is then poured on it, and the liquor drank as soon as may be. It is supposed to be serviceable in all disorders of the head, breast, and stomach; it preserves the miners from the noxious mineral steams with which they would otherwise be suffocated; is a sovereign remedy in putrid fevers and the feverish; allays hunger; and purifies all kind of water, by infusing it therein. The country is diversified with forests, mountains, lowlands (great part of the year under water), fertile meadows, and morasses. Almost every forest abounds with bees, which have their hives in hollow trees. Besides cotton, the country produces hemp, flax, corn, rice, and wool; and there are such numbers of wild cattle, that they are killed only for their hides. The natives differ not materially from those described under the article America. They also visit the sick, and see that they are properly taken care of. They are generally employed the whole day in these affairs, so that they have seldom time to assist the curate in his spiritual functions. All the boys and girls in the parish go to church every day in the week (except on festivals and Sundays), where they are instructed by the curate. On Sundays the whole parish goes to church to be instructed. The curate is besides obliged to go to confess the sick, and to administer the viaticum to those who desire it, and also to perform all the other functions peculiar to this office. In sicknesses the curate should be appointed in this manner. The society should nominate three persons to the governor of Buenos Ayres (in whose government the missions of Paraguay are included), as being vice-patron of the missions, that he may choose one of them for curate; and the curates should be instructed in the duties of their office by the bishop: but as the provincials of the order can best judge who are properly qualified for the office, the governor and bishop have ceded their rights to them, and by them the curates are always appointed. The missions of the Guaranes and the missions of the Chiquitos, into which the missions of Paraguay are divided, have each their distinct father-superior, by whom the coadjutors or assistant-curates of the several towns in their respective divisions are appointed. These superiors are continually visiting the towns, to see that they be well governed, and to endeavour to improve and augment them. They likewise from time to time take care to send out some fathers of the order into the countries of the wild Indians to make new converts. The better to enable him to discharge these duties, the superior of the Guaranes is assisted by two vice superiors; one of whom resides in Parana, the other upon the banks of the river Uruguay, and the superior himself resides in the town of Candelaria. The post of superior of the Chiquitos is not near so troublesome as that of the superior of the Guaranes; for the Chiquitos are not only less numerous, but much more docile and industrious than the Guaranes, so that they need not be continually watched and attended in order to prevent their idleness. The king allows an annual stipend of 300 pesos to each curate of the Guaranes, for the maintenance of himself and his assistants. The money is paid to the superior, who issues out monthly to each curate as much as is necessary for his subsistence; and when they want anything extraordinary, their wants are supplied upon application to him. But the Chiquitos maintain their own curates. In every town there is a plantation set apart for the maintenance of the curate, which is cultivated by the joint labour of all the inhabitants. The produce of these plantations is generally more than sufficient for the subsistence of the curates, and the surplus is sold to buy ornaments for the churches. Nor are the curates the spiritual rectors of Paraguay, the towns only; they are also in effect the civil governors. It is true there are in every town of the missions a governor, regidores, and alcaldes, as there are in the other towns and cities under the Spanish government. But though the governor is elected by the Indians, he must be approved by the curate before he enters upon his office; nor can he chastise or punish delinquents without the curate's permission. The curate examines those who are accused of offences; and, if he finds them guilty, delivers them to the governor to be punished, according to the nature and quality of the offence committed. He sometimes orders them to be imprisoned for a few days, sometimes to fast, and, when the fault is considerable, to be whipped, which is the severest punishment that is ever inflicted; for the regulations and instructions of the curates have been so efficacious, that murder and such like heinous crimes are never here committed. And even before they undergo these gentle corrections, the curate discourses the offenders in a mild friendly manner; and endeavours to excite in them a due sense of their crime, and of the ill consequences that might flow from it, and to convince them that they merit a much greater punishment than is inflicted. This mild treatment prevents tumults and insurrections, and acquires the curates universal veneration and esteem. The alcaldes are chosen annually by the regidores. The governor, regidores, and alcaldes are all Indians of the best capacities; and are in effect only so many overseers appointed by the curate, and dignified with these empty titles (c).

Every town has its armory or magazine, in which are lodged the fire arms and other weapons wherewith the militia are armed when they take the field to repel the irruptions of the Portuguese and wild Indians. The militia are very dexterous and expert in the management of their arms; and are exercised on the eves of festivals in the squares or public places of the towns. The militia is composed of all those who are able to bear arms; they are formed into companies, which have each a proper number of officers chosen from amongst those who are most distinguished for judgment and conduct. The dress of the officers is rich, adorned with gold and silver, and the device of the town to which they belong; they always appear in their uniforms on festivals, and on the days of military exercise. The governor, alcaldes, and regidores have also proper robes and dresses suitable to their respective offices, in which, they appear on public occasions. There are schools in every town, in which the common people are taught reading and writing, and also music and dancing; in which arts they become very skilful. The Jesuits are very careful in consulting the natural bent and genius of their scholars, and in directing their studies and application accordingly.

(c) We call them empty titles; because in all causes the Jesuit or curate of the parish was a kind of sovereign, regarded as a petty prince, and obeyed as an oracle. Whatever forms might take place in the choice of the chiefs of the several departments, their success ultimately depended on him. The cacique held of him; the general received his commission and instructions from him; and all his decisions were without appeal. There were, we are informed, not less than 60,000 parishes on the banks of the rivers Uruguay and Parana, not exceeding the distance of 30 miles from each other; in each of which was a Jesuit or curate. Paraguay. The lads of the most promising genius are taught the Latin tongue with great success. In one of the courtyards of every curate's house are various shops or workhouses of painters, carvers, gilders, silversmiths, carpenters, weavers, and clockmakers, and of several other mechanics and artisans, who daily work for the public under the direction of the coadjutors, and at the same time teach the youth their respective arts and occupations.

The churches are large, well built, finely decorated and enlightened, and not inferior to the richest in Peru. Each church has a choir of music, composed of instruments of all sorts, and very good voices; so that divine service is celebrated here with as much pomp and solemnity as in cathedrals: nor are the public processions less splendid, especially that of the host; which, whenever it is carried abroad, is attended by the governor, alcaldes, and regidores, in their robes, and also by the militia in a body. The houses of the Indians are as well built and as well furnished as most of the Spanish houses in Peru. The greatest part indeed have mud walls, others are built with brick, and some with stone, but all are covered with tiles. In every town there is a house where gunpowder is made, that they may never want it when they are obliged to take arms, and always have it ready to make artificial fireworks on rejoicing days: for all festivals are here observed with as great ceremony and exactness as in the greatest cities. Upon the proclamation of a new king of Spain, the governors, alcaldes, regidores, and officers of the militia, appear dressed in new robes and uniforms of a different fashion from those they wore before. There is a sort of a convent in every town; in one part whereof are confined women of an ill life, and the other part is destined for the reception of married women who have no family, and who retire thither when their husbands are absent. For the maintenance of this house, and for the support of orphans, and of old and infirm people, all the inhabitants of the town work two days in every week; and the profits of their labour, which is called the labour of the community, are set apart for this purpose. If the produce of this labour be more than is necessary for their subsistence, the surplus is laid out to buy ornaments for the churches, and clothes for the orphans and aged and infirm people; so that here are no beggars, nor any who want the necessaries of life. In short, by the wise policy and prudent regulations of the Jesuits, the whole community enjoys peace and happiness.

"The Guaranes are so profuse and negligent, that the curates are obliged to take into their hands all their goods and stuffs as soon as they are manufactured and made ready for sale; otherwise they would waste and destroy them, and not be able to maintain themselves. The Chiquitos, on the contrary, are diligent and frugal; so that the curates have no other trouble with them than the assuring them in the disposal of their goods, and procuring returns for them. For this purpose the society keeps a factor or procurator at Santa Fe and Buenos Ayres, to whom the merchandise of the missions is sent to be disposed of; and these factors return the value to the fathers in such sorts of European commodities as are wanted. The goods of every town are kept separate; and the royal taxes are taken out of them without any other difficulty or allowance, save the stipends of the curates of Paraguay, the Guaranes and the pensions of the caciques. The fathers choose to manage the commerce of their subjects themselves, lest they should contract vices by their communication with other people. In this respect the fathers are so careful, that they will not suffer any of the people of Peru, whether they be Spaniards, Metizos, or Indians, to enter into the territories of the missions. They say that the Indians are but just recovered from a barbarous and dissolute way of life, and that their manners are now pure and innocent; but that if strangers were suffered to come among them, the Indians would soon get acquainted with people of loose lives; and as the Guaranes especially are very prone to vice, wickedness, disorder, and rebellion would soon be introduced; the society would lose all the souls they have converted; and their little republic would be utterly subverted. However, there are some who suspect that these are all specious pretences; and that the society's real motive for prohibiting all intercourse with strangers, is the fear of rivals in the beneficial commerce of Paraguay, which is now entirely in their hands."

Such is the account they themselves have given us of their own conduct: but others have 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 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 treasurers 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 every thing 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.