In 1784, he published the work, a translation of which is now laid before the public. The original title is Historia de Abiponibus, Equestri, Bellicosaque Paraquariæ Natione, locupletata copiosis Barbararum Gentium, Urbium, Fluminum, Ferarum, Amphibiorum, Insectorum, Serpentium præcipuorum, Piscium, Avium, Arborum, Plantarun, aliarumque ejusdem Provinciæ Proprietatum Observationibus; Authore Martino Dobrizhoffer, Presbytero, et per Annos duodeviginti Paraquariæ Missionario. A German translation, by Professor Kreil of the University of Pest, was published at Vienna in the same year. There is no other work which contains so full, so faithful, and so lively an account of the South American tribes.

His motives for undertaking the work, and his apology for the manner in which it is executed, may best be given in his own words:—

"In America, I was often interrogated respecting Europe; in Austria, on my return to it, after an absence of eighteen years, I have been frequently questioned concerning America. To relieve others from the trouble of inquiring, myself from that of answering inquiries, at the advice of some persons of distinction, I have applied my mind to writing this little history; an undertaking which, I am aware, will be attended with doubtful success and infinite vexation, in this age, so abundant in Aristarchi, accustomed to commend none but their own, or their friends' productions, and to contemn, as abortive, those of all other persons."

"A seven years' residence in the four colonies of the Abipones has afforded me opportunities of closely observing their manners, customs, superstitions, military discipline, slaughters inflicted and received, political and economical regulations, together with the vicissitudes of the recent colonies; all which I have described with greater fidelity than elegance, and for the want of this I am surely to be pardoned; for who can expect the graces of Livy, Sallust, Cæsar, Strada, or Maffeus, from one who, for so many years, has had no commerce with the muses, no access to classical literature? Yet in writing of savages, I have taken especial care that no barbarisms should creep into my language. If my sincerity be only acknowledged, I shall have attained my object: for candour was always the most noble ornament of an historian. To record true, and as far as possible well-established facts, has been my chief aim. When you read, I do not ask you to praise or admire, but to believe me; that I think I may justly demand."

"What I have learnt amongst the Paraguayrians in the course of eighteen years, what I have myself beheld in the colonies of the Indians and Spaniards, in frequent and long journeys through woods, mountains, plains, and vast rivers, I have set forth, if not in an eloquent and brilliant narration, certainly in a candid and accurate one, which is at least deserving of credit. Yet I do not look upon myself as a person incapable of making a mistake, and unwilling to be corrected. Convince me of error and I shall yield, and become as pliable as wax. Yet I advise you to proceed with caution; for you may err in judging as well as I in writing. So far am I from deeming this little work of mine perfect, that before it is printed and published, I intend to correct and polish it. But as I am now fast approaching my six-and-sixtieth year, I dare no longer defer the publication, lest the work should prove a posthumous one. These premises I have thought proper to make. Adieu! friendly reader, whoever you are; and pardon the errors of the press, and of the author likewise: for, Nihil humanum a me alienum puto."

In the course of the work, Dobrizhoffer frequently takes occasion to refute and expose the erroneous statements of other writers respecting the Jesuits in Paraguay, and the malignant calumnies by which the ruin of their institutions in that country was so unhappily effected. It has been deemed advisable to omit many of these controversial parts, which, though flowing naturally from one who had been an active member of that injured society, must of course be uninteresting in this country, and at these times. In other parts also, the prolixity of an old man, loving to expatiate upon the pursuits and occupations of his best years, has been occasionally compressed. No other liberty has been taken with the translation. The force and liveliness and peculiarity of the original must of necessity lose much, even in the most faithful version. Yet it is hoped, that under this inevitable disadvantage, Dobrizhoffer will still be found one of those authors with whom the reader seems to become personally familiar.

CONTENTS
OF
VOL. I.

PART I.
Prefatory Book on the State of Paraguay.
Page.
Of its Length and Breadth[1]
Of the Geographical Charts of Paraguayib.
Of the Division of the whole Province[2]
Of the City, Port, and Inhabitants of Buenos-Ayresib.
Of Nova Colonia do Sacramento[4]
Of the new Limits established in Paraguay, at the last Peace, between the Spaniards and Portugueze[7]
Of the Port, Castle, and Fortification of the city of Monte-Video[8]
Of the Gulf of Maldonado[9]
Of the cities of Sta. Fè and Corrientes[10]
Of the thirty Guarany towns subject to the jurisdiction of the Governor of Buenos-Ayres[12]
Of the sedition of the Uruguayans on account of the cession of their towns to the Portugueze[18]
Of the Fable of the pretended King Nicholas, and its origin[27]
Of the famous General Pedro Ceballos, Royal Governor of Buenos-Ayres[35]
Of Tucuman, and the cities of Cordoba, St. Iago, &c.[40]
Of Sta. Cruz de la Sierra, and the colonies of the Chiquitos[46]
Of the Jesuits called into Paraguay by Francis Victoria, Bishop of Tucuman[47]
Of the Province of Paraguay[49]
Of its Metropolis, Asumpcion[50]
Of the new Colonies of the Ytatingua Indians, St. Joachim, and St. Stanislaus[52]
Of the Savages discovered by me in Mbaevera[60]
Of the Colony which I intended to found for them[82]
Of my Excursion to the River Empelado[87]
Of the Colony of Belen constructed for the Mbaya Savages[96]
Of the native Productions of this Country[99]
Of the Herb of Paraguay[100]
Of Tobacco[109]
Of the Payaguas, Guaycurus, Abipones, Mocobios, and other Savages hostile to this Province[113]
Of the Province of Chaco, the retreat of the Savage Nations[118]
Of the other Indian Tribes, who wander without Chaco, chiefly those who dwell towards the South[126]
Of the exceeding fidelity which the Guaranies have always manifested towards the Spaniards in the Royal Camps, and of the signal services which they have performed there[133]
Of the Colonies founded by us for the Indians of the Magellanic Region, and of their fate[138]
Of the Voyage of three Jesuits to explore the shores of Magellan, undertaken by command of King Philip V.[146]
Of the Shipwreck of the Spaniards near Terra del Fuego, and of the Inhabitants of that Island[151]
Of the Island of St. Maló occupied by the French, and afterwards sold to the Spaniards[154]
Of the Brazilian Mamalukes, Destroyers of the Guarany towns, and Hunters of the Indians[157]
Of the Slavery of the Indians prohibited or regulated by Royal Edicts[163]
Of the Principal Rivers; the Parana, Paraguay, and Uruguay, and of the other lesser streams which are absorbed by them[167]
Of the horrid Cataract of the River Parana[185]
Of another smaller one[186]
Of the creation of fresh Islands, and the destruction of old ones[188]
Of the two yearly Floodsib.
Of the Magnitude, Ports, Shoals, &c. of the River Parana, which, near the city of Buenos-Ayres, bears the name of La Plata[189]
Of the various perils to be encountered in the navigation of this river[192]
Of the Want of Metals and Precious Stones in Paraguay[202]
Of the various Attempts, and false Stories of Portugueze and Spaniards, possessed with an Idea of finding Metals thereib.
Of the incredible Multitudes of Horses, Mules, Oxen, and Sheep[218]
Of the Hunting of Wild Oxen[221]
Of the Voracity of the Indians[223]
Of the Form, Variety, Teaching, Diseases, Cures, &c. of the Paraguayrian Horses[224]
Of Mules[240]
Of Asses[244]
Of the Management of Sheep[246]
Of the various Temperatures of the Air, and other peculiarities of the Climate of Paraguay[247]
Of certain Wild Beasts; the Tiger, Lion, Anta, Tamandua, Huanaco, &c.[251]
Of Amphibious Animals; the Crocodile, Seal, Otter, Capiiguára, Yguanà, &c.[291]
Of the more rare Birds, as the Emu, Parrot, Tunca, Cardinal, &c.[308]
Of many Species of Fish unknown to Europe, and of various Methods of Fishing[333]
Of remarkable Trees; the Holy Wood, Guayacàn, Cedar, Cupaỹ, and of Medicinal Plants; as China Chinæ, Zarza Parrilla, Rhubarb, Sassafràs, &c.[349]
Of the Productions of America; the Mandioc, Sugar-cane, Cotton, Rice, &c.[389]
Of various kinds of Vegetables[428]
Of the Petrifaction of Wood and Bones[433]
Of Hot Springsib.

AN ACCOUNT
OF
THE ABIPONES.