El m% M <e*-i THE PARANA; INCIDENTS OF THE PARAGUAYAN WAR, SOUTH AMERICAN RECOLLECTIONS, FEOM 1861 TO 1868. THE PARANA; WITH INCIDENTS -OF THE PARAGUAYAN WAR, AND SOUTH AMERICAN RECOLLECTIONS, FROM 1861 TO 1868. BY THOMAS J. HUTCHINSON, F.E.G.S., F.E.S.L., F.E.S., F.A.S.L., H.B.M. CONSUL FOE EOSAEIO; VICE-PRESDDENT D'HONNEUR DE L'INSTITUT D'AFBIQUE, PARIS ; HONORABY AND CORRESPONDING MEMBER OF THE LIVERPOOL LITERARY AND PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY ; Socio EXTBANJERO DE LA SOCIEDAD FALEONTOLOGIOA DE BUENOS AIRES, &C, &C. ; AUTHOR OF " NIGER-TSHADDA-BINUE EXPLORATION"; "IMPRESSIONS OF WESTEEN AFRICA "; " TEN YEARS' WANDERLNGS AMONGST THE ETHIOPIANS " ; " BUENOS AYRES AND ARGENTINE GLEANINGS," &C. &C. Utaps, JfllttsfralioHS, aitir ^portrait of % |tat|pr. LONDON: EDWAED STANFOED, 6 AND 7, CHAEING CEOSS, S.W. 1868. LONDON .• PRINTED BV EDWARD STANFORD, 6 AND 7, CHARING CROSS, S.W. TO THE EIGHT HONOUEABLE LOED STANLEY, M.P., D.C.L., HEB MAJESTY'S PRINCIPAL SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS, AS AN HUMBLE TRIBUTE TO HIS LORDSHIP'S ENCOURAGEMENT OF GEOGRAPHICAL AND ANTHROPOLOGICAL PROGRESS, BY HIS OBEDIENT, HUMBLE SERVANT, THE AUTHOR. PREFACE. JUST as I had finished this work, and was meditating on the few words I have to say here, a friend of mine expressed his belief, that the time had neither arrived, nor had the man appeared, to write such a book as ought to be written about these countries. "Moreover," he added, "Sir Woodbine Parish's volume is a misnomer,—'Buenos Ayres from the Conquest,' when there has been no Conquest, for the Indians are still as bad as ever; and the ' establishment of political independence,' even in our days, partakes somewhat of the mythical. I leave those of my readers, who have lived for any time in the River Plate territories, to judge of the difficulty I should have had in contradicting my friend. Our age being one, in which emigration has become an European institution, the countries that are most favourable for the Hegira seem to me pre-eminently deserving of public attention. The Argentine and Uruguayan Republics, from their geographical posi­ tion, mildness of climate, purity of virgin soil, and 62 Till PREFACE. navigable rivers, are coming to be much inquired about now-a-days; and I hope some useful informa­ tion in reference to these districts may be obtained from the jottings and observations comprised here­ with. The only immigrants needed out here are men of capital, and labourers,—hands that are expert with the shovel, the hoe, and the plough most of all. The chief things that lie in the way of the English immigrant, are:— FIRST,—The fact of Spanish being the language of the country. SECOND,—Of the Governments not being founded on stable bases. THIRD,—Of the want of protection from any of these Governments, and the consequent necessity of the immigrants taking care they shall not need it. These are stubborn facts, because unfortunately true; but unless in time of civil (?) war, men with stout hearts and strong hands, keeping themselves clear of the political squabbles of the peoples, can get on in the River Plate territories to a position of inde­ pendence as well as in any new state of the world. Every day's experience shows us this. For a con­ vincing proof whereof, I can point to the fact, that nine-tenths of the material progress and industrial development of these fine territories are entirely owing PREFACE. ix to the introduction of foreign capital, energy, industry, and intelligence,—an amalgam of items, in which I regret to say, the native element is sadly deficient. I have written nothing about the Paraguayan war, but what I know to be the truth. That some of its contingencies have been a swindle on humanity and common sense I am firmly convinced; and I protest against being set down as a partizan of either side for this conviction, or for gathering, as I have done here, from the muddle of three years' official correspondence, as well as from my own personal observation, what I am certain are established facts, and which I hope will interest the general public. 21A, HANOVER SQUARE, LONDON, September, 1868. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. The Rio de la Plata — Its Indian Name — First Reception of the Spaniards — Cannibalism in South America — Sebastian Gabot's Expedition in 1526 — Foundation of the Fortress of the Holy Ghost — Fight with the Agaces — Friendly Relations with the Guaranis — Romantic Tragedy at the Fort of the Holy Ghost—Don Pedro de Mendoza's Arrival in 1534 — Foundation of Buenos Ayres — Battle with the Querandies — Indian Weapons of War — Abandonment of the Colony — Refoundation by Don Juan de Garay in 1580 — Story of Cristoval Altimarpn — Foundation of the City of Santa T?6 by Don Juan de Garay— His Death by Murder near the Fort of the Holy Ghost—Change of Site of Santa Fe' City in 1651 » Pagel CHAPTER II. Indian Ravages near the Vermejo — Captured Indians adjoining LakeTbera — Six Heroines — The Guaranis, Calchaquis, and Abipones — Another Tragedy in Paraguay — Treacherous Conspiracy of the Indians — Counter-treachery of the Spaniards, manifested in a pretended Marriage — Dreadful Slaughter, the result of this latter — Devastation caused in Santa Fe" by the Mocovi and Aquilotes Tribes — Terror of the Inhabit­ ants— Send to Buenos Ayres for Fire-arms to defend the Convents — Attack on Corrientes — Expedition of Marquez Montiel — Opening Preliminaries of Peace with the Cacique Larigua — Repeated Failures in this regard — Treachery of the Spaniards, again — Murder of two Caciques, and several of their Companions — Signal Failure of the Montiel Expedition—The Pampas Indians — Their Superstitions 13 CHAPTER III. Chaco Indians — Peculiarity of Skulls — Colonel Nelson's Experience of them — The Moscovis and Espineros — Religious Faith — Causes of Decrease in Indian Populations — Their Cowardice — Indians of the Northern Chaco — Weapons of Warfare —The Tobas, and their Law xii CONTENTS. of Succession — Republican Government amongst tbese Indians — Simplicity of Marriage Ceremony — Facility of Divorce — Ladies' Full- dress on Horseback —Horsemanship of the Indian Tribes —What Mr. Coghlan saw of it —Dialogue between a Missionary Padre and a Tobas Cacique — The Patagonian Indians — Mode of erecting Toldas—Pecu­ liarities of Smoking — Trade and Barter with Bahia Blanca Page 24 CHAPTER IV. The Bolivian Indians — The Toronomos Tribe — Their Ideas of the " Title " of Man — Polygamy amongst the Moxos — Their Sacrifice of Twin Children — Immorality of the Itonomos—Demonstrative Worship — Absence of Written Literature — The Priest, or "Comocois" — The Canichanas — " Good Walkers" amongst the Bolivian Indians — Their Travelling Apothecaries — The Mataguaya and Cambas Tribes — In­ dustry of the Latter — Extreme Simplicity of Marriage Ceremony — Jesuit Missions up the Parand — Variety of Effects in their Teaching of Indian Tribes — Mr. Crawfurd's Ideas of Crossed Races — Indian Civilization considered by Mr. W. Bollaert—Hippophagy in the Gran Chaco ' 33 CHAPTER V. Works of Reference on South America — De Azara on the Indians — Derivation of Names of • Paraguay and Uruguay — The River of Canoes — Products of Paraguay — Of Cannibalism amongst the Charruas — Warfare against the Spaniards — Manners and Customs of the Charruas—Their Arms of Warfare—Custom with Girls arriving. at Puberty —Manly Badge given to Boys at their Birth — Barhote — Licentiousness of Life — Barbarous Style of Mourning — The Yaros and their First Exploits — Their Extermination — The Bohans and Chanas — The Minuanes — Their Difference from and Similarity tto the Charruas — Peculiarities of their Mourning Ceremonies — Failure of Jesuit Missionaries amongst them 43 CHAPTER VI. Pampas Indians — Spanish and Native Nomenclature — Their Opposition to the Spaniards — Census of their Number according to Azara — Spanish Presents to the Indians — Neatness of Dress with the Pampas Ladies—Hereditary Title of Cacique — Arms of Warfare—Destructive Use of Bolas at Buenos Ayres — The Aracaunos Tribe —The Guaranis — Extent of their Occupation — Catechism and Grammar of the Guarani Language — This Idiom now generally spoken in Paraguay — CONTENTS. xiii Similarity to other Tribes—Their Pusillanimity as described by De Azara — The Tupis —Their reputed Savagery —The Guyanas — Nalicurgas — Guasarapos — Ninaquiquilas — Guatos — Orejones — Albayas and other Tribes Page 52 CHAPTER VII. The Guanas Tribe, and their Location — Authority of Caciques — Curious Mode of building Houses — Superiority of Furniture—Neat Beds — General Cleanliness — Hospitality to Travellers—Simplicity of Mar­ riage Ceremony— Commercial Covenants therewith — No Punishment for Divorce—Faults of the Ladies — Excess of Male over Female Population — Its Causes — Licentiousness of Boys—Doctors of the Guanas — Extent of their Therapeutics — Funeral Ceremonies, and Treatment of Prisoners taken in War — Curious Ceremony at Eight Years of Age — The Albayas and Payaguas Tribes — Their Barbarities — Treaty between them — Stoppage of their Invasion'—Forays — Cacique—Egotism of theAlbaias — Payaguas and their general Cus­ toms— Amphibiousness—Payaguas Dandies — Guaicaras, Tobas, and Mocovis — Hard Names — Other Tribes 61 CHAPTER VIII. Patagonians — Account of them by Alcide D'Orbigny — Tehuelches at Chupat, the real Patagonians — The Giant Men of Old—Group of them at Buenos Ayres — Their Physical Appearance — Passive Con­ tentment — Small Feet — Dulcet Language — Free and Easy Garments — Mistaken Ideas of Gigantic Stature by ancient Writers — Locale of Tehuelches — Welsh Colony of Chupat — What Sir Woodbine Parish says of the Position — Surveying Officer's Account — Captain Watson's Reports' — Want of serviceable Wood — Criminal Misrepresentations — Martin Dobrizhoffer and his well-wooded Plains of Buenos Ayres — Strawberry-beds on the Goodwin Sands — Fallacies about Wild Cattle 72 CHAPTER IX. Quichua in Santiago del Estero — Memoir by Dr. Gutierrez — Non-uni­ versality of Quichua—Partial Existence, according to Mr. Cock — Geographical Position of Santiago — The Incas Invaders—Adaptation to Manners as they found them — The suaviter in modo — Invasion of Almagro in 1535 — Taking of Nicaragua—Words from Quiehua Xiy CONTENTS.