PROVINCE OF RIO GRANDE DO SUL. 



113 



Hyabary, the bed of which river to complete the line as far as the Maranham. 

 The commissioners sent by the two courts, in 1752, to arrange this demarca- 

 tion, having arrived at the source of the Rio Negro, were obliged to return, 

 from the opposition of the Indians of the missions, they being advised secretly 

 by the Jesuits not to consent to the proposed exchange. On learning which, the 

 two Sovereigns determined to compel the Indians to obedience by force of 

 arms. For this purpose, Gomez Freyre d'Andrade, governor of Rio de 

 Janeiro, marched with more than one thousand troops ; and the governor of 

 Buenos Ayres with double the number. When the combined armies were 

 marching through the territories lying between the source of the Caziquey, and 

 the Vaccahy-gua(ju, they were met by more than twelve thousand Tappes, 

 determined to frustrate their project. On the 10th of February, 1756, a battle 

 took place, in which the Indians were routed with the loss of fifteen hundred, 

 leaving on the field some pieces of artillery, and a great number of other arms, 

 the major part retiring to the missions, where shortly after the conquerors 

 arrived. The Indians were immediately reduced to subjection ; and, according 

 to the treaty, they passed over to the other side of the Paraguay. Gomez 

 Freyre d'Andrade took possession of the country, but, before delivering up 

 Colonia, received advices that his presence was indispensable at Rio, for which 

 place he immediately set out. The army remained some months behind, seizing 

 the produce of the labour of the Indians, and at length retired, many returning 

 to their homes. Bougainville, (say the Portuguese,) out of revenge for not 

 having been treated at Rio de Janeiro, by C. da Cunha, as he wished, gives a 

 different account of this expedition. 



The commissioners, in 1759, while completing this demarcation, found in 

 the field of battle, in latitude .30" south, a wooden cross set upright, with the 

 following inscription, in the Guarani language. 



Anno de 1756 



Omnium S'" rum A 7 O cU'' Jesus'"" Pa" lie ci« 



de Febrero pipe 

 oman6 J. b. 

 Tiarayu Guarani 

 pipe Sabado ramo 

 A 10 



de Febrero p* oico Gua- 



rini guafu Maries p'= 



9 Taba Uruguay rebe 

 gna 1500 Soldados rebe 



