Fulgentio de Yegros had established a little estate for the use of the colony on the opposite shore of the river, but its pastures were by no means fertile, and so poorly was it furnished with cattle, that they scarce sufficed to feed the Abipones; consequently very few could be left to breed. The man sent by Fulgentio to guard the cattle was an infamous wretch, composed of nothing but fraud and falsehood, who used to slay the fattest cows for his own use, and sell the fat and suet to the Spaniards, whilst we in the colony were suffering the greatest want of both. He also fatigued the horses of the colony by hunting with them, or lending them to others for the same purpose, as if they were entirely at his disposal. I often accused him to the Governor, but he was never punished, though convicted of innumerable thefts. The man whom Fulgentio appointed to supersede him was honest, but not quite sane: he was agitated by continual terrors, and wherever he was, imagined that stones were being thrown at him by some unknown hand, even in the middle of the day. What diligence or accuracy could be expected from such a person in managing the estate? Our never having a proper guard for the cattle was the chief origin of all our miseries: for the Abipones think nothing wanting to their felicity if they have plenty of good meat, but if that be not the case will never rest easy in the colony. It may also be reckoned amongst our misfortunes, that as the estate was on the opposite shore of the Paraguay, we had to convey across that vast river all the oxen necessary for our support. A ship, strong horses, dexterous horsemen, and much industry were requisite to effect that without the loss of many oxen.