in Paraguay. 333 



accoftcd by the Indidns of a Detachment who came under a 

 Chief upon that Coaft, to get Cows together, and drive 

 them to the Mijfions. Monfieur cTEfcajeau having made 

 them a Prefent, they propofed to him, in Return, that 

 if he would advance fo far into the Country, to a Piace 

 they pointed to him, he fliould find Silver Mines eafy to 

 be come at; which proves, that thofe Mines do not lie 

 deep in the Earth, andalfo that they are plenty. 



The Jefuites have always been apprehenfive of the Dif- 

 covery of thofe Mines by the Spaniards, and will do all 

 that is in their Power to prevent the working them, beeaufe 

 the making a Settlement upon that Coaft would prejudice 

 the good Fathers, who would be obliged to furnifh In- 

 dian? to labour in them. They have even deftroy'd all the 

 Horfes on that fide, to make it the more incommodious 

 for People to fettle there. 



It remains now to make a juft Application of the Con- 

 duft of the Jefuites in the Particulars above recited, and 

 to fliew that their Ambition of Sovereign Power, and I 

 their infatiable Defire of heaping up immerife Riches, are 

 the only Objedts they purfue. The Method they take in 

 educating and governing their Indians, from whom they 

 fqueeze all the Fruits of their Labours, leaving them no- 

 thing but the NecefTaries of a frugal Life ; the Care they 

 take to hinder their Communication with the Spa- 

 niards ; their Circumfpe&ion when at any time either 

 Spaniards or Foreigners are driven by Accident into their 

 Mifiion; the Number of armed Men they continually 

 keep on foot $ their perpetual Scouring the Coaft by De- 

 tachments, to prevent Peoples Settlement on it all thefe 

 are plain Proofs, that they aim at making themfelves in- 

 dependent, and not only conceal the Advantages of the 

 Country they are poffefsM of, but even of what they have 

 not in Polfrffion. Nevertheless, that Country belongs 

 without all Difpute to the King of Spain, as Lord and 

 Sovereign of the Indies: Nor ought fuch a Number of, 

 People to be reduced under any other Obedience than his 



alone. 



