The downfall of Cabeza de Vaca did not inaugurate a reign of peace at _Asuncion_. Irala had been called to power by popular election, but his authority was curtailed by the pretensions of certain official persons who were nominated to their positions from Castile. Disputes and dissensions arose; but after a time these became silenced in the face of a combination against the Spaniards by two native tribes, the task of chastising whom was confided to Irala. The chosen leader of the colonists showed himself equal to the occasion. He successfully defended the colony, which he employed the following two years in consolidating. But a long period devoted to peaceful pursuits was not to the taste of a man cast in the mould of Vasco Nuñez or of Cortez. Setting out with three hundred and fifty Spaniards and two thousand auxiliaries, he ascended the _Paraguay_ as far as to _San Fernando_. There the main body of the expedition left the course of the stream, their boats being entrusted to the care of some Spaniards. Irala was well fitted to be the leader of such an expedition of discovery. Active and experienced, he was likewise cautious, and was never found unprepared on an emergency. Having journeyed onwards for a month or more, his ears were at length greeted by the sound of the Spanish language from Peruvian lips. Such was the first communication which took place between the Spaniards proceeding from _La Plata_ and those who proceeded from the Pacific Ocean. [Sidenote: 1547.] Irala, in conformity with the orders of the President Gasca of _Peru_, retraced his steps to _Asuncion_. There he distributed to his followers _repartimientos_, or consignments of land and slaves--a measure which greatly added to his popularity. He likewise founded a new settlement named _Ciudad Real_, near the border line of the Spanish and Portuguese territories. In the year 1547 _Asuncion_ became the seat of a bishop, and about the same time an important intermediate station between _Paraguay_ and _Peru_ was established at _Santa Cruz de la Sierra_, whilst Spanish civilization also began to extend downwards from _Paraguay_ in the direction of the sea.