Amidst these continual tumults, no time was left for the instruction of the Abipones, nor the faintest hope of success in the attempt. Engrossed by the pursuits of war and the chase, they had neither time nor inclination for religious duties, and though in the evening most of the young women and boys assembled in the chapel to learn from me the rudiments of the faith, very few, and often none of the male adults appeared there. No industry or eloquence seemed sufficient to abolish their drinking-parties and superstitious ceremonials. It was with the utmost difficulty that I could prevail upon them to receive baptism, even at the point of death. They often refused to obey me when I advised any wholesome ordinances, tending either to the security of the colony, or the welfare of individuals. Hence, when the Governor desired to be informed, by letter, of the number of inhabitants, that by exhibiting this testimonial he might procure me the usual Missionaries' pension from the master of the royal treasury; I replied to him in these words: "I should not dare to demand the annual pension which his Catholic Majesty has destined for the support of the Missionaries; for this colony is not composed of catechumens, but of _energumens_: but the stipend paid to the King's soldiers I assert to be my undoubted right, and I verily believe that there is no captain or lieutenant in this province who would be induced, by any emolument whatsoever, to pass even one month amidst the perpetual dangers, watchings, labours, and miseries, which I have daily undergone during a period of two years, in defending this situation against the savages." These things I told the Governor with the greatest sincerity; but let it be known that I never received a single penny from the royal treasury, either in the character of missionary or of soldier. Hence originated the uncommon indigence of this colony: for the money which the piety of the King had appropriated to the support of the Missionaries, was the chief, and almost the only source from which we used to purchase the sacred utensils, the instruments of iron, and other necessaries for clothing and remunerating the Indians.