Ch. iv. among the American Indians. 53 



'6 



the Americans betray of any diminution of their 

 society, and their apparent wish to increase it, are 

 no proofs that this is generally the case. The 

 country could not probably support the addition 

 that is coveted in each society ; but an accession 

 of strength to one tribe opens to it new sources 

 of subsistence in the comparative weakness of its 

 adversaries ; and, on the contrary, a diminution 

 of its numbers, so far from giving greater plenty 

 to the remaining members, subjects them to extir- 

 pation or famine from the irruptions of their 

 stronger neighbours. 



The Chiriguanes, originally only a small part 

 of the tribe of Guaranis, left their native country 

 in Paraguay, and settled in the mountains towards 

 Peru. They found sufficient subsistence in their 

 new country, increased rapidly, attacked their 

 neighbours, and by superior valour or superior 

 fortune gradually exterminated them, and took 

 possession of their lands ; occupying a great 

 extent of country, and having increased, in the 

 course of some years, from three or four thousand 

 to thirty thousand,* while the tribes of their 

 weaker neighbours were daily thinned by famine 

 and the sword. 



Such instances prove, the rapid increase even of 

 the Americans under favourable circumstances, 

 and sufficiently account for the fear which pre- 

 vails in every tribe of diminishing its numbers, 



* Lettres Edif. torn. viii. p. 243. Lcs Chiriguanes multipli- 

 crent prodigieuscnient, ct en assez peu il'imutcs leur nombre mont;^ 

 a trente mille aines. 



