missionaries, into the mountainous territory, where he quelled the rebellion, and after having inflicted a severe chastisement on the ringleaders, succeeded in bringing about an entire pacification. The next measure to be carried into effect, was the construction of a fort or castle, to serve as a shelter and protection to the reverend missionaries and their converts.—It was speedily fabricated by the means of the large and excellent timber produced on the mountains; was of a square shape; and armed with four pederaroes. An ensign and fourteen soldiers, provided with the necessary stores and ammunition, were left in it as a garrison.
In the year 1736, the new converts belonging to the tribe of Chichirenes were established in two towns, entitled Upper Parua and Lower Parua. The town of Catalipango was at the same time rebuilt; and so successful a progress was made in the conquest of other tribes, with the help of the spiritual reinforcement of the second mission, which reached Peru from Spain in the year 1737, that several towns were founded,[1] and those of Santa Cruz preserved until the year 1751, when the rebel Atahualpa, at the instigation of the female Indian with whom he was associated, proceeded to Sonomoro from the mountain of salt, with a view to oblige the tribes of Chichirenes and Andes to submit to his domination. The fort happened to be in want of the provisions and arms necessary to maintain a protracted siege;[2] and although the fidelity of the converts to God and the supreme authority, remained unshaken, they were reduced to the necessity of abandoning their country. They accordingly decided to accompany the missionaries to the valley of Jauxa, to the end that they might not forsake the faith in Jesus Christ. Thus terminated the celebrated missions of Jauxa, which had been acquired by the reverend fathers, by the dint of incalculable fatigues, and by so many lives sacrificed on the altars of the faith.
The journey from Andamarca, by Sonomoro, to the junction of the rivers Ene and Perene, was formerly performed in ten days on the backs of mules; but the road is now entirely obstructed. On this account, and in consideration that, even if this road should be again opened and rendered practicable, it would still be extremely rugged; but more especially because, in re-establishing the missions of the mountain of salt, we may penetrate from them to Sonomoro with less difficulty, agree-
- ↑ The missionaries who came from Spain in the years 1731 and 1737, not only preserved the missions which had been re-established by friar Francisco de San Joseph, but likewise added to them the two towns of Parua, and sixteen others, which they founded in the Pajonal.—Tena, lib. ii. p. 182.
- ↑ Amich, p. 429.
