oliden's expedition. 



171 



site the ancient town of "Alburquerque," which was abandoned, the 

 people having moved off to another part of the country. Two days 

 farther down was the mission of the "Guanas," inhabited by about fifty 

 families, who formed the new settlement of Alburquerque. Near the 

 frontiers of Brazil and Paraguay, he passed the fortress of Coimbra* 

 erected in 111 5. 



Mr. Oliden then entered the territory of Paraguay, searching on the 

 western shore of the river for the mouth of the Otuguis, which he de- 

 sired to ascend to the town of Oliden. He suddenly came in sight of 

 the Forte de Borbon, with twelve pieces of iron cannon, from which sev- 

 eral shots were fired at his canoe. He pushed on and landed at the 

 port, where a soldier met and conducted him up the bank. He sent his 

 compliments to the commanding officer, and requested permission to 

 enter; the soldier returned with permission. His passport was de- 

 manded ; in handing it to the commander, he told him he had a letter of 

 recommendation to his Excellency the Supreme Dictator of the State 

 from the Governor of the Brazilian province of Matto Grosso. The 

 commander replied, that he could not allow him to descend the Para- 

 guay without special permission to do so from the one man who ruled 

 the country. Mr. Oliden requested that he might continue down to 

 Assumption, the capital of Paraguay, and present his letter in person to 

 the "Dictator." The commander replied, that he could do "ni uno ni 

 otro" — neither one nor the other. 



Mr. Oliden, finding his requests fruitless ; that the gates of Paraguay 

 were shut in his face, and that the great highway cut through the 

 earth was closed up by this one man's power ; that the trade of Chi- 

 quitos and all of Bolivia was blocked by this passage, and that the 

 people of his country were cut off from the path of peace and commerce, 

 took leave, and returned to his canoe to await a passport giving him 

 permission to retrace his steps. The logs of wood that floated by on the 

 stream of the river excited envy in the heart of the enterprising Oliden ; 

 they were free and he was chained ; for he was forced to go where 

 they would not go — up the stream again. Had he dared to push his 

 canoe off and let her float quietly down by the sides of the logs with 

 the current, there were one hundred soldiers ready to take arms against 

 him, and insultingly turn him back. He remarked that the soldiers had 

 very expressive faces, were tall, well-made, handsome-looking fellows, 

 stout and white. They spoke the " Guarani" and Spanish language?. 

 They brought him "mate" and tobacco, for which he exchanged a little 

 gunpowder and a cotton handkerchief. 



The soldiers were nearly in a state of starvation. The government had 



