NATIVES. G95 



NATIVES OF LA PLATA AND ITS TRIBUTARIES — THE PAMPAS 



AND PATAGONIA. 



When the Spaniards first arrived in that sea-like river, with 

 shallow shores — the mighty Parana, to which Sebastian Cabot 

 afterwards gave the name of La Plata — they encountered a 

 fierce tribe (the Charranas) inhabiting its shores. The natives 

 endeavoured to repel the invaders by a system of warfare 

 which the latter, though they describe it as of the most 

 treacherous character, were not slow to imitate. Step by 

 step, however, the Spaniards fought their way; though some- 

 times defeated and compelled to retreat, they again returned, 

 establishing forts and towns on the banks of the river, till 

 they finally obtained a firm footing in the land. They hesi- 

 tated at no act, however atrocious, to secure their conquests 

 by the destruction of their foes. 



On one occasion being warned that a tribe — the Guay- 

 caruses — with whom the}^ had formed a treaty of peace, had 

 laid a plot to cut them oft', they formed a counterplot, far 

 surpassing in treachery that of the savages. The Spanish 

 Lieutenant-Governor, pretending that he had been smitten 

 with the charms of the daughter of their principal cacique, 

 oftered her his hand in marriage. The proposal was accepted 

 by the delighted Indians, who, with their chiefs and a large 

 number of people, were invited into the town to attend the 

 ceremony. Meantime soldiers were concealed in the houses 

 to which the chiefs were conducted, and orders were given to 

 supply them amply with intoxicating liquors. While they 

 were thus deprived of their senses, soldiers were sent across 

 the river to destroy the remainder of the tribe who had not 

 come to the weddinc:. At a fjiven sicrnal the native villac^e 



