Although I had remained uninjured amidst a hundred calamities during the former years, yet this situation had well nigh proved fatal to me. The origin of my complaint was this. Towards sun-set the air was filled with innumerable gnats, which intruded into my apartment when supper was brought in, and by their stings and their loud hissing prevented me from gaining a moment's rest. I passed whole nights without sleep, walking up and down the court-yard for the sake of fresh air, which brought on a loathing of food. Continual want of rest and sustenance reduced me to such an emaciated state that I was literally nothing but skin and bone. Some thought I could not survive above three months, but these sad presages were prevented from being fulfilled by the humanity of the Provincial, at whose command I was removed to the old towns of the Guaranies. It was not without tears that I bade farewell to the Abipones, amongst whom I had lived for five years, and with whose language I was become pretty well acquainted; but the idea of returning to them, when restored to health, mitigated my grief at parting. After four months spent in the town of Sta. Maria Mayor, on the shores of the Uruguay, the inveterate nausea departed, sleep and appetite returned, and my health was completely re-established. After spending nine years amongst the Guaranies, whose language, which is much easier than the Abiponian, I soon learnt, I was again called out to found a colony for the Abipones in Timbo, but returned at the end of two years. In short, I performed the part of a missionary for eighteen years, spending seven amongst the Abipones, eleven amongst the Guaranies. CHAPTER XXXIII. PROGRESS OF THE TOWN OF ST. FERDINAND, WHICH WAS RETARDED BY DEBAYAKAIKIN.