Subsequent to the separation, already mentioned, of the two nations, one of the most disastrous hostilities which the Portuguese experienced from the Guaycurus was in May, 1775, when they proceeded up the Paraguay, in twenty canoes, nearly to Villa Maria, where they assassinated sixteen persons, and carried off many others prisoners. The foundation of the prezidio, or garrison, of Nova Coimbra, in the same year, upon the western margin of the Paraguay, ought to have been, according to the order of General L. d’Alburquerque, forty leagues further to the south, at the place called Fecho dos Morros, where it would have contributed to the protection of the navigators of St. Paulo. The author of the Guaycurus, (written in this prezidio by one of its governors,) says, that he could but partially embarrass the passage of the Indians, or prevent the flight of deserters; and that its founder had committed an error, from whence resulted the entrance of the Spaniards into the dominions of his faithful Majesty, where they founded Villa Real, St. Carlos, and St. Joze. The last hostility which the Portuguese sustained from the Guaycurus, was the atrocious assassination of fifty soldiers in a plain fronting Nova Coimbra, in January, 1781, at the time they were bartering some articles with the barbarians who had been there twice before with demonstrations of friendship. The prezidio of Nova Coimbra was besieged in September, 1801, by the Spaniards, who proceeded from the city of Assumption with four escunas and twenty canoes. It was the first time that the thunder of contending artillery had been heard in the centre of South America, and from which the Guaycuru and Payagoa warriors formed an idea of the European mode of warfare. The commencement of hostilities produced the following correspondence between the Spanish and Portuguese commandants:-- “I had the honour, last evening, to contest the fire of the fort under the command of your Honour; and having ascertained that the force with which I am about to attack it is much superior to that of your Honour, which cannot fail to reduce it to the ultimate state of misfortune; and as the vassals of his Catholic Majesty know how to respect the laws of humanity, an opportunity is offered, and your Honour is required to surrender the fort to the arms of the King my master; on the contrary the cannon and the sword will decide the fate of Coimbra, and its unfortunate garrison will suffer all the extremities of war, from which calamity it will see itself delivered, if your Honour complies with my proposal. Furnish me with your decision categorically, in the course of one hour. On board of the Escuna, Nossa Senhora do Carmo, 17th of September, 1801. “DON LAZARO DA RIBERA.” * * * * * “Coimbra, 17th September, 1801.