THE ARRIVAL AT POSADAS. 
9 
When the Spanish rule was overthrown in 
1814, they were as helpless as sheep, under the 
domination of their own rulers. The reign of 
the ruthless Dictator, Lopez, left the country 
drained of men and money. In a mad ambition 
to become the Napoleon of South America, he 
waged war on Brazil and the Argentine, and 
dreamt of ruling a vast kingdom carved from 
conquered lands. Every man was pressed into 
the Army, and even boys of fourteen and fifteen 
were forced to fight. He built a church in 
Asuncion, in which he intended to be crowned 
Emperor; but his death in 1870 took place 
before it was finished. It took place, however, 
too late to save the country. A whole male 
generation had been sacrificed to his ambition, 
and Paraguay was left a nation of women and 
small children. By now the second generation 
has grown up, but it seems stamped with the 
sorrow of its race. Exploited by foreigners, 
ringed about by hostile neighbours, the lovely 
country has little strength left. 
The Paraguayans we saw in the market 
brought their fruit and poultry across the river 
by the ferryboat every morning, and returned 
at night. Both men and women smoked, or 
chewed, huge cigars; and every woman sorted 
her oranges or arranged her vegetables with a 
large cigar hanging out of the corner of her 
mouth. Tobacco is one of the industries of the 
country, and is very cheap. 
