An Account of the Abipones, an Equestrian People of Paraguay, (1 of 3)Dobrizhoffer, Martin
History
An Account of the Abipones, an Equestrian People of Paraguay, (1 of 3)
Dobrizhoffer, Martin
Abipon Indians; Jesuits -- Missions; Paraguay -- Description and travel -- Early works to 1800
judgment, the courage and alertness of his mind, and the soundness of
his loyalty, if one man ever excelled another, _he_ excelled. His
steadfast aim was to benefit rather than please his sovereign, and both
he effected, though more than once disgraced from the royal favour by
the artifices of calumny. He did nothing without much previous
consideration. To crown his purposes with success, he was master of the
most admirable devices; was never at a loss to remove obstacles,—to
anticipate dangers,—and either elude them by artifice, or overcome them
by force. He never charged the future with the present business—never
let slip a good opportunity: did nothing from impulse, every thing from
reason; yet though never headstrong in attempting any thing, or hasty in
attacking an enemy, in battles and sieges he was fierce and determined.
Neither dejected by adverse nor inflated by prosperous circumstances, he
always preserved an equal mind. By kindness and good example, he bound
his soldiers to a prompt obedience; and this I conclude was the cause of
his doing so much with such scanty resources. He was not content to have
given his orders, he would himself overlook their execution. On the eve
of an expedition, he used to inspect the waggons, carefully enquiring
whether they were stored with the requisite arms and provisions, and if
they were properly guarded. Rarely trusting to vague reports and
uncertain answers, he examined every thing, as far as he was able, in
his own person. Early in the night he inspected the different stations
of horse-guards, regardless of sleep, as indeed he was of every other
indulgence. He used to say, that vigilance in the general and obedience
in the men, were the safeguards of the army, and the parent of victory,
a maxim most happily demonstrated in his own person.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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