CHAPTER XI. OF THE FREQUENT ENDEAVOURS OF THE JESUITS IN REDUCING THE ABIPONES TO OBEDIENCE UNDER THE KING OF SPAIN AND CONVERTING THEM TO THE CATHOLIC RELIGION. Amongst those who in the last century interested themselves in the conversion of the Abipones, Father Juan Pastòr, a Spaniard, merits the first place. Long celebrated for his apostolical missions to the Indians, he was made master of the college at St. Iago del Estero, when he conceived the project of visiting the Abipones, and, if he found them tractable, of instructing them in Christianity. They were then dwelling above a hundred and sixty leagues from the city of St. Iago. The difficulty and ruggedness of the roads were almost greater than you can conceive; but the perseverance of this intrepid man overcame every thing. He chose for his companion Father Gaspar Cerqueira, a native of Paraguay, who understood the Tonocotè language, which is used by many nations, and was of much service to him in this great expedition. After crossing a vast wilderness of nearly a hundred leagues, they turned aside for a while amongst the Matarà Indians, who, though they had all received baptism, and were governed in one colony by a secular priest, had little more than the name of Christians. Bárzana and A[=n]asco priests of our order, and before them St. Solano, had certainly not been useless amongst them; but the lapse of time had entirely eradicated from their minds whatever they had learnt of Christianity. Drunkenness was daily practised amongst them. The rites which they yearly celebrated to the souls of the departed were moistened with drink, more than with tears. Maize, ground by the teeth of old women, and fermented in water, served them for wine. Each was ordered to bring with him an emu, to furnish out the funeral table. After feasting three days they devoted one hour to weeping and lamentations, and then wiped away their tears and returned to their cups and dainties. When heated with liquor, they frequently polluted these anniversaries with quarrels, strife, wounds, and mutual slaughter.