Page:Letters from the Battle-fields of Paraguay (1870).djvu/419



TO THE RRAZILIAN FRONT. 381)

rest is made to pay the etapa or etape^, rations, and other necessaries. Hence many assured me that they received only a dollar and a half per mensem, and that even this was irregularly paid. The officers appeared to have full pockets, and the pedlars made little fortunes by selling silver spoons, mugs, and similar notions. The campaign is everywhere termed a " guerra de negocios," a war upon the Brazilian Treasury ; and many are said to make money out of the un- happy soldier. The War-upon-the-Treasury system is known to us as to other people. Witness Mr. Calvert, with his little gang of thieves, at the Dardanelles ; he was supported at home till he began to insure non-existing ships. Here, however, it is believed that, with some brilliant exceptions^ no rank is free from corruption ; and it is popularly asserted that, whilst he had money. Marshal- President Lopez could purchase from his enemies whatever he wanted.

I had taken a letter of introduction, by no means one of the least useful, to Sor Leonardo Mendoza, an employe of the Commissariat Department. All the " provedores," with whom contracts were made at so much a head, are under an Intendente — Commissary-General and Chief of the Re- parti9ao Fiscal (Treasury) and the Caisse Militaire. The first arrangements were concluded with Messrs. Cabal (of Santa Fe) and Benitez, who gave general satisfaction. In those days, however, pasto or fodder w^as little required. About three years ago they were succeeded by Messrs. Lezica and Lanuz, of Buenos Aires, who, as ^^ fornecidores ^^ for the Brazilian and Argentine Armies, fairly amassed large fortunes. At the same time, Messrs. Cabal and Bravo (a supposed partner) supplied the pressed hay, till, on March 21, 1869, this contract was taken up by Messrs. Molina and Co. ; the latter have not found it pay. Besides these great houses, there were many Brazilian and other ^' fornecidores,^^ each of whom has '^ made his pile.^'