the Abipones drew to the Spanish territories, the stronger grew their fear and repentance at having quitted their native country. At night, as we were sitting on the ground near the fire with Barreda, Malakin came to us, and protested that those lands were not approved of by his people; that they dreaded the neighbourhood of the Spanish nation, and lamented the want of trees, fruits, roots, and herbs, which the women could not dispense with. Barreda exerted all his eloquence to refute these objections, and retain the wavering minds of the people in their duty, promising all sorts of benefits, emoluments, security, and convenience to accrue from the vicinity of the Spanish towns; which method of arguing moved our extreme disapprobation, as the Indians, finding things turn out contrary to what they had been led to expect, began to accuse the Spaniards of want of veracity, and greater liberality in words than deeds. CHAPTER XXXI. THE CALAMITIES AND PERPETUAL MUTATIONS OF THE NEW COLONY AT THE RIVER SALADO. Two-and-twenty days elapsed before we reached the situation appointed for the colony. Towards the east it has the bank of the river Salado; an extensive plain stretches itself towards the west, and on the north and south it is shut in by a wood. A plain, situated in the midst, scarce four hundred feet in extent, and sloping down from the high shore of the Salado, was chosen for the site of the colony. The river, though swollen with long rain, had something salt and bitter in the taste of its waters, and we all foresaw that when the sun's heat caused the flood to cease we should be in want of water for daily use. Barreda, contented with the situation that first offered, was displeased at hearing these true, though unpleasant observations, and angrily said—"Whoever dislikes this water, may go a hundred leagues off to drink of the Parana, for aught I care." Under his directions, two little huts were hastily built for myself and my companion, of stakes, covered with dry grass; a third of the same description was erected to serve as a temporary chapel. The Abipones were forced to lodge under the mats which they made use of in travelling. Without any further trouble, Barreda departed with his soldiers, and was declared the founder of a new town by the Governor of Tucuman, the Viceroy of Lima, and indeed every body.