TRAVELS OP THE MISSIONARIES. 



'409 



live, not in towns or villages, but in distinct huts, insomuch that, although their 

 number does not exceed one thousand, they occupy more than twenty leagues of 

 territory north and south, and from ten to twelve east and west. The implacable 

 hatred which had subsisted between the Setebos and Sipibos, since the former were, 

 in a bloody conflict in the year 1736, vanquished by the latter, seemed to render all 

 union and friendly intercourse between these tribes imprafticable. At length, 

 however, after a lapse of four years, they were reconciled by the entreaties and per- 

 suasion of the reverend missionaries. Friar Juan de Dios Fresneda, without a mo- 

 ment's delay, seized on the favourable opportunity, and coUeiled the Sipibos, whom 

 he established in a town, in the vicinity of the river Pisqui, which received the 

 name of Santo Domingo. This event was soon followed by the voluntary submis- 

 sion of the Conibos, one of the most irrational and extravagant tribes of the Enim 

 empire*. They dwelt on the eastern bank of the Gran Paro, near its confluence 

 with the Pachitea. In the year 1685, several Franciscan monks descended the 

 rivers Enne and Pachitea, and reached their settlement, on which they bestowed the 

 name of St. Michael. Father Ridler, a Jesuit belonging to the conversions of May- 

 anas, afterwards proceeded thither by the Ucayali ; but, in imitation of those who 

 had preceded him, confined himself to a short visit to the establishment, notwith- 

 standing he met with a very flattering reception among these unconverted Indians, 

 who still retained a distant recollection of the kindness and benevolence of the Fran- 

 ciscans. In the sequel, father Fresneda proceeded to St. Michael, to take on 

 himself their spiritual diredlion. 



Under these favourable circumstances the Manoa missions began to flourish, and 

 to hold out the promise of much eventual success. In the midst, however, of these 

 hopes, the number of the missionaries having been gradually diminished, and their 

 operations embracing a great extent of territory, they were incapable of stifling the 

 rancour and jealousies which subsisted among these savage tribes, who discharged 

 their fury on their peaceable benefactors, by whom they had been united in the 

 bonds of fellowship. 



A road which had been opened from Pampa-hermosa to Manoa, to prevent 

 any untimely accidents, was found scarcely practicable by fathers Santa Rosa, Me- 

 nendez, Errans, Asnar, and Jayme, who had set out for the new conversions, and 



* In the peregrinations of the reverend fathers Sobreviela and Girbal, an account of this empire, with 

 many interesting particulars relative to the customs of its inhabitants, its boundaries, rivers, &c. will be 

 given. 



3 G were 



