The following extract, translated from _Azara_, may give some further idea of the system pursued by the Jesuits. The historian’s knowledge is derived from eye-witnesses, and his statements of fact, though not his conclusions, agree with those of the Fathers:--
“The thirty-three Jesuit missions were ruled in the following manner: Two Jesuits resided in each _pueblo_. The one called the _cura_ had either been provincial or rector in their colleges, or was at least a grave _padre_. He did not exercise any of the functions of a _cura_, and frequently did not know the language of the Indians. He occupied himself only with the temporal administration of all the property of the _pueblo_, of which he was the absolute director. The spiritual department was confided to another Jesuit, called _compañero_, or _vice-cura_, subordinate to the first. The Jesuits of all the _pueblos_ were under the superintendence and vigilance of another, named the _superior_ of the missions, who had, moreover, the power to confirm from the Pope. To control these _pueblos_ they had no laws, either civil or criminal; the only rule was the will of the Jesuits. Though in each _pueblo_ there was an Indian called a _corregidor_, and others called _alcaldes_ and _rejidores_ (mayor and aldermen), that formed a municipal body like that which they have in Spanish colonies, no one of them exercised the least jurisdiction, and they were only instruments that served to execute the will of the _curas_, even in criminal cases. The _curas_ who inflicted the punishments were never cited before the king nor before any of the ordinary tribunals. They compelled the Indians of both sexes and of every age to labour for the community, without permitting any person to labour at all for himself. All must obey the orders of the _cura_, who stored up the produce of the labour, and who had the charge of supplying food and clothing to all. From this it is seen that the Jesuits were absolutely masters of everything; that they completely disposed of the surplus stock of the whole community; and that all the Indians were equal, without distinction, and unable to possess any private property. There could be no motive of emulation to induce them to exercise their talents or their reason, since the most able, the most virtuous, the most active, was not better fed or clothed than the others, nor would he obtain any enjoyment that was not common to all. The Jesuits have persuaded the world that this kind of government was the only one suitable for the Indians, and had rendered happy those who were like children, and incapable of taking care of themselves. They add, that they direct them as a father governs his family, and that they collect and keep in the storehouses the products of the harvests, not for private use, but to make a proper distribution to their children, who, incapable of provision, do not know how to preserve anything for the sustenance of their families. This manner of government had appeared in Europe worthy of such great encomiums, that the lot of these Indians has almost come to be envied. But this is done without reflecting that these same Indians in a savage state did know how to support their families, and that individuals of the same Indians that had been subjugated in _Paraguay_ lived an age before in a state of liberty, without knowing of such community of goods, without the necessity of being directed by any person, nor of being incited or forced to labour, and without a public storehouse or distribution of the harvest; and that, too, notwithstanding they had to support the charge of the commanderies that took the sixth part of their annual labour. It seems, then, they were not such children, nor were they so incapable as the Fathers tried to make them appear. But were such incapacity certain, from their not having sufficient time in a century and a half to correct such defects, one of the two following causes appears reasonable,--either the administration of the Jesuits was contrary to the civilization of the Indians, or they were such a people as were incapable of emerging from their primitive state of infancy.”