DON FELIX D'AZARA. 73 



especially as it regarded his return to Europe, on 

 the contrary, did every thing they could to hinder 

 it. All this injustice of his superiors, however, 

 diminished not our officer's zeal in the execution 

 of their orders. He was appointed to survey the 

 southern limits of the states, in which government 

 was intending to fix new settlements; and this 

 duty was the more trying, as the region was quite 

 a desert, peopled only by the wild Pampas. At a 

 subsequent period, he received the military command 

 of the frontier next Brazil, with an order to dislodge 

 the Portuguese from the posts which they had there 

 planted. To him also was entrusted the task of 

 examining the harbours of the La Plata, and of 

 regulating a plan of defence against the anticipated 

 attack of the English. He likewise presented to 

 the local government memoirs upon a variety of im- 

 portant subjects, among which we shall particularize 

 only one on the melioration of the administration, 

 and another upon liberating the civilized Indians 

 from their bondage*, by altering the absurd govern- 

 ment which had been imposed upon them by the 

 Jesuits. 



Whilst engaged in such honourable employments, 

 for we cannot allude to many others, and with 

 which he never ceased to associate his scientific 

 pursuits, the neglect of the Spanish government at 

 length came to an end, and some attention was 

 manifested to an officer who was at once so devoted 

 and so worthy of reward. In the year 1801, 

 M. Azara obtained the permission he had so long 



