172 A VOYAGE TO Book VII. 



incurfiQns, in order to caiVy off the young inhabi- 

 tants as flaves for their plantations ; fo that it be- 

 came abfoluteiy neceffary, in order to preferve thefe 

 converts, to remove into Paraguay, about 12000 of 

 all ages, and both fexes ; a like number of emi- 

 grants was alfo brought from Tappe, and formed 

 into communities, living here in peace and fafety ; 

 and at the fame time in a decency becoming their new 

 profefTion. 



But the number of fucceeding converts was fo 

 great, that continual additions were neceffary to 

 thefe towns, fo that I was at Qiiito informed by a 

 perfon of undoubted veracity, and thoroughly ac- 

 quainted Vv^ith fuch matters, that the number of 

 towns of the Guaranies Indians in the year 1734, 

 amounted to thirty- two, and fuppofed to contain 

 between thirty and forty thoufand families : That 

 from the increafing profperity of the Chriftian religion, 

 they were then deliberating on the manner of building 

 three other towns, thefe thirty-two being in the 

 diocefles of Buenos Ayres, and Paraguay. Befides 

 the Indlos Chiquitos belonging to the diocefs of Santa 

 Cruz de la Sierra, there were at that time feven very 

 populous towns ; and by reafon of the great reforc 

 of converted Indians, preparations were making for 

 building others. 



The Paraguay miffions are on all fides terminate^ 

 by nations of idolatrous Indians ; fome of which how- 

 ever live in perfed harmony with them, but others do 

 all in their power to exterminate them by frequent in- 

 curfions ; anS. it is with the latter that the fathers 

 chiefly employ their zeal, in order to reclaim them 

 from their inhumanity, ty preaching to them the glad 

 tidings of the gofpel. Nor is this fortitude deftitute 

 of fruit, the mofl rational receiving with joy the 

 knowledge of the true God, and quitting their country, 

 are conduced to the Chriftian towns, where, after 

 proper inftru6tions, they are admitted to baptifm. 



About 



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