For many years they have dared the utmost against us. Our children are torn from their mothers' bosoms, our wives slain, our horses stolen; the enemies attack us day and night, and did we not elude their snares by vigilance, and their numbers by valour, not a man of us would be left alive, or have a horse to sit upon. These things are not unknown to you, yet you quietly hear of our calamities without emotion, and never even bestow a thought upon assisting us. Of late, when, to revenge our injuries, we attacked the Mocobios with hostile arms, how fiercely was your anger kindled against us! You are afraid, forsooth, that the Mocobios, if provoked by us, will vent their rage upon you, and ravage the territory of Corrientes. How long will you have your security purchased with the danger of our lives? Spite of all your opposition, we are determined to go out against the Mocobios, and revenge our injuries. This one request we reasonably make, as a testimony of your friendship, and a reward of ours, that you will send ten Spanish horsemen, provided with muskets, to accompany us on this expedition." Here the Governor interrupted Pachiekè, who was proceeding to say more, and with an ill-timed joke evaded his threatening speech. "When," said he, "with a very long spear in your hands, and paints of various colours on your faces, you make the plain tremble under your horses' feet, and fill the air with the horrible braying of trumpets, in good sooth, you think yourselves mighty heroes." As he spoke this with mimicking gestures, appearing to ridicule the method of warfare practised by the Abipones, extreme indignation was excited amongst the bystanders. Whilst the rest were expressing their resentment, one, more forward than the rest, exclaimed, "Take care how you make a jest of our horns and trumpets, the clangor of which has, for so many years, caused every limb of you Spaniards to tremble." The horrid murmuring of the whole people and their threatening looks portended danger to the Vice-Governor, who, to conciliate their enraged minds, adroitly altered his tone, commending the Abipones, instead of satirizing them, as I warned him by signs. To flattery he added plenty of promises, (to which he never stood,) saying that another expedition against the Guaranies prevented him from giving them satisfaction at that time, but that as soon as the present war was finished, he would go out against the Mocobios, with some companies of horse. Having said this, he hastened back to the city under pretext of business, his coming having served no other end than that of irritating still further the minds of the Indians. No one could suggest any remedy for the afflicted colony which seemed sinking to ruin: amid continual attacks from the savages, or the apprehension of them, years passed away—years barren of comfort, but fruitful of misfortunes. Yet still more pernicious than any foreign foe was the unfortunate society of Debayakaikin's Abipones, both to the