This scarcity of sheep and kine originated sometimes in the niggardliness of the Spaniards, sometimes in the gluttony of the Abipones, who, not content with the ordinary portion of meat awarded to all, often slew oxen, and still oftener young cows and calves, without our knowledge or consent, for their own private eating. If we detected and reprehended them, saying that the estate would be drained by these secret depredations, "That is no concern of your's, Father," they would reply; "the Spaniards must send more; they promised to do so when, at their request, and for their convenience, we entered this colony. If they fail to perform their promises, we are also freed from our engagements, and shall return to our old way of putting them to death." Providently reserving the cows for breed, we ordered that none but the superfluous bulls or steers should be taken to the shambles; but the Indians, careless of the future, wanted to eat the young heifers because they were fatter: "When bulls bring forth," said I, "the cows shall be killed." This refusal affronted them very much, and they threatened to desert the colony. If the Jesuit, either fearing the threats of the Indians, or desirous of obtaining their good-will, leave the herd at their discretion, he will see the estate suddenly destitute of cattle; if he firmly refuse to comply with their wishes, the town will be as suddenly stripped of inhabitants: in the one case, he will be accused of prodigality, in the other of parsimony, so that whichever way the Missionary acts, he is sure to incur blame—should he avoid Charybdis, he will hardly be able to escape Scylla.