Page:Letters from the Battle-fields of Paraguay (1870).djvu/431



TO THE TEBICUARY RIVER. 401

built for six guns. The floor and platforms had been raised to keep them above the mean level of inundation. All was of the poorest and simplest tracing. I afterwards saw a Brazilian sketch of these Tebicuary batteries, which under the artistes hand had grown to regular fortifications revetted with masonry, and vomiting volumes of smoke.

The carrizal behind this north-eastern work appeared to be somewhat higher than the river,, and its fetid waters were fit only for the habitation of man's pest, gnat and mosquito. The narrow strip of dark humus between it and the stream showed little plots of beans and vegetables, cotton and stunted maize. Such is Paraguay proper immediately to the north of the Tebicuary River, and there is very little to say in its praise. Higher up, however, about Angostura, " infield " will take the lead of " outfield " or moorland, and in the central region, around Villa Rica, the soil is, I am told, exceptionally rich.

Every strategist supposed that Marshal- President Lopez would mass his forces and fight the invader behind the frontier-line of the Tebicuary. But he knew that the mouth was open to Monitors, and that thus his force would have been placed between thi'ee fires. Moreover, as he had laid out a road with the normal " lightning-dauk," through the Gran Chaco opposite, he foresaw that the enemy might soon become master of it and cut off his com- munications with the rear. He therefore hastened to with- draw his men and to concentrate himself higher up stream behind defences which were fated to give the Allies much trouble and to cause them severe losses. Meanwhile he established his provisional capital at Luque, a village seven to eight miles west of Asuncion.

My visit was now ended, and it afforded no opportunity of passing over to the Paraguayan lines. Mr. Gould was again expected in the Parana, and the cabin of the Linnet could

26