[64] The Mamelucos sometimes pushed their forays right through Paraguay into the district of the Moxos, and Padre Patricio Fernandez, in his curious ‘Relacion de los Indios Chiquitos’ (Madrid, 1726), relates their adventures in that far-distant district, and the conflicts which the Indians, led by their priests and helped by the Spanish settlers, sustained. [65] Lahier (Francisci) S. I., ‘Annæ Paraguarie, Annor. 1635, et duor. sequ.’ [66] ‘Relazioni della Provincia del Paraguai’. [67] Brabo. [68] An _estero_ is a tract of country covered by water to the depth of two or three feet. The bottom is usually hard, but it is full of holes and hummocks. High pampa grass and reeds not infrequently obscure the view, and clouds of insects make life miserable. If the tract extends to more than a day’s journey, the night passed on a dry hummock, holding one’s horse and listening without a fire to the wild beasts, is likely to remain present to one in after-life, especially if alone; the only things that seem to link one to humanity are one’s horse and the familiar stars. Perhaps that is why Capella has always seemed to me in some sort my own property. [69] This curious berry, about the size of a large damson, grows on a little shrub in sandy and rocky soils. It has a thick yellow rind and several large seeds, and the property of being icy cold in the hottest weather—a true traveller’s joy. Dr. de Bourgade de la Dardye, in his excellent book on Paraguay (the English edition published in London in 1892), thinks it is either a eugenia or a myrtus. [70] Charlevoix, vol. i., liv. vii., p. 384. [71] _Ibid._, liv. vii., p. 359. [72] Charlevoix, ‘Histoire du Paraguay’, vol. lvi., p. 285. [73] ‘Conquista Espiritual del Paraguay’, Ruiz de Montoya, introductory chapter. [74] This may either mean to the service of God or to the service of the King (Philip III.), for in the time of Montoya ‘Majesty’ was used in addressing both the King of Spain and the King of Heaven. [75] Yapeyu, or Reyes, was the southernmost of the Jesuit reductions. It was situated upon the Uruguay in what is now the Argentine province of Entre Rios. [76] ‘Conquista Espiritual’, p. 22. [77] This time, it is to be hoped, without omissions. [78] ‘Dando gracias por agravios negocian los hombres sabios.’ [79] Soon afterwards ruined by the Paulistas. [80] _Cacique_ = chief. [81] These raids were known as _malocas_. [82] In Paraguay it was not unusual for foreign Jesuits to hispaniolize their names; thus, Smith became Esmid. But it was more usual to add a Spanish name, as appears to have been the case with P. Vansurk Mansilla. Father Manuel Querini, in his report to the King of Spain in 1750, mentions the names of Boxer, Keiner, and Limp, with many other French, English, and German names, amongst those of priests at the various missions. [83] Montoya, ‘Conquista Espiritual’. Also Charlevoix.