The favourable reports which had reached Spain of the climate and capabilities of _Paraguay_ were such as to divert thither many emigrants who would otherwise have turned their faces towards _Mexico_ or _Peru_. It was the constant endeavour of Irala to level the distinctions which separated the Spaniards from the natives and to encourage inter-marriages between them. This policy, in the course of time, led to a marked result,--namely, to that singular combination of outward civilisation and of primitive simplicity which was to be found in the modern Paraguayan race until it was annihilated under the younger Lopez. “It was,” to quote Mr. Washburn, who lived eight years amongst them, “an anomalous people, and the like had never been seen in any other country of America. The reason of this may be found in the fact that in no other colony did the early colonists in large numbers adopt the native language and take the Indian women as wives.” [Sidenote: 1557.] Irala, in fact, created a nation. The colony under his administration became numerous and wealthy. From his first arrival in the New World until his death, his career was one of activity, toil, and adventure, always in the conscientious discharge of his duty to his sovereign and to those around him. He was the life and soul of the colony, and his death, which occurred in 1557 at the village of _Ita_ near _Asuncion_, when he had attained the age of seventy years, was lamented alike by Spaniards and _Guaranís_. In the estimation of Mr. Washburn, he was the first and last great man ever known to _La Plata_. From this date Paraguayan history is for a long period destitute of all marked events save one. It consists, indeed, mainly of the establishment and progress of the Order of Jesus in that country. An account of the origin and advance of this remarkable movement must be deferred to a future chapter. CHAPTER VI. _DISCOVERY OF PERU._ 1521-1528. [Sidenote: 1521.]