Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XII.djvu/802

 788 PAEZ with an arch 50 ft. high is almost perfect. Around and amid the whole grow profusely the famous Passtan roses, which even in their wild state flower twice a year, and are remark- able for their fragrance. A colony of Greeks from Sybaris settled here in 524 B. 0., and the city flourished and grew powerful. Being taken by the Lucanians about 430, it gradu- ally lost the character of a Greek city, and its inhabitants finally ceased to speak the Greek language. During the war with Pyrrhus the Romans founded there a Latin colony. About the llth century, after the devastation of the Saracens, it fell into complete decay. Its ruin, generally attributed to foreign enemies, is by Strabo assigned to its unhealthy atmosphere. Sulphurous springs in the neighborhood still form stagnant pools, and a stream running under the walls overflows the low grounds and forms a marsh around the city. PAEZ, Francisco, a Spanish Jesuit missionary, born at Olmedo, near Valladolid, in 1564, died in Abyssinia about 1620. In 1588 he was sent from Goa with Father Antonio Montserrat to direct a mission in Abyssinia. On the voyage thither they were made prisoners by an Arab pirate and carried to Sana, the capital of Yemen, where they passed seven years. Ransomed at length by the viceroy of India, the two mis- sionaries returned to Goa in 1596. Paez, after passing a few years at Diu and Cambay, again took ship for Abyssinia, and in 1603 reached Massowa, where he learned the native lan- guage, translated into it a compendium of the Christian doctrine, and instructed the chil- dren. The king, Za-Denghel, ordered him to appear at court with two of his pupils, and was so much impressed that he wrote to the pope and to Philip III. of Spain for more mis- sionaries. The Abyssinian priests stirred up an insurrection in which Za-Denghel lost his life (1604) ; but the next king, Susneius or Melek Seghed, was still more favorable to the Spaniard, and granted him a piece of ground for a convent. Father Paez accompanied the king on his military expeditions, and on one of these occasions discovered the sources of. the Abai, the 1 eastern upper branch of the Blue Nile, which he was the first European to visit. Nicolas Antonio attributes to Paez a general history of Ethiopia (not published), a treatise De Abyssinorum Erroribus, and several letters printed in the Literce Annuce. PAEZ, Jose Antonio, a Venezuelan soldier, born near Acarigua, province of Barinas, June 13, 1790, died in New York, May 6, 1873. At the age of 18 he became overseer of a cattle estate. In 1810 he joined the patriots, collected a band of daring llaneros, and soon became the ter- ror of the Spanish commanders. In 1815 he defeated the royal troops under Lopez at Mata de la Miel, and in 1816 at Montecal. Soon afterward he was made commander of the revolutionary forces, with the rank of briga- dier general, and again defeated Lopez, taking the city of Achaguas, recovering the province PAGANINI of Apure and a part of Barinas in Venezuela, and Casanare in New Granada. In 1817 he defeated the royal army under La Torre, and soon afterward he acknowledged the author- ity of Bolivar, with whom thenceforth he act- ed in concert. In 1819 he became general of division, and was successful in several encoun- ters with the Spanish general Morillo. The victory of Paez at Oarabobo in 1821 secured the independence of Colombia, and his capture of Puerto Cabello in 1823 removed the last trace of Spanish authority there. On the for- mation of the new government he represented Venezuela in the senate, acting with the feder- ative party. In 1826, in the execution of an order requiring the enlistment of all citizens between the ages of 16 and 50, Paez gave so much offence that the house of representatives resolved to impeach him. Refusing to obey the summons, he put himself at the head of the military and of the party opposed to the con- stitution, and a revolt followed, which contin- ued till Bolivar returned and recognized Paez as the commander in Venezuela. In 1829 Vene- zuela was declared independent, and in 1830 Paez was elected president. Subsequently he suppressed two insurrections under Monagas, was presented by congress with a golden sword, and was honored with the title of "illustrious citizen." In 1839 he was again elected presi- dent, and in 1846 was succeeded by Monagas. In 1848, when Monagas endeavored to usurp the supreme authority, Paez took command of the revolutionary army, but was captured and imprisoned. Released finally by congress, but exiled, he went in May, 1850, to New York, where he remained till December, 1858, when, the Monagas party having been overthrown, he returned by special invitation to Venezuela. In 1860 he was accredited as minister to the Uni- ted States, but resigned in 1861. On his re- turn he was invested with supreme authority to quell disturbances in Venezuela ; but failing in his efforts, he again went to New York in 1864. He afterward lived for some time in the Argentine Republic and in Peru, receiving large pensions in both countries. See Autobi- ografie del General Jose Antonio Paez (vol. i., 8vo, New York, 1867), and " Public Life of J. A. Paez," by his son Ramon Paez (New York, 1854). The latter has also published " Wild Scenes in South America" (12mo, 1862), enlarged as " Travels and Adventures in South and Central America" (1868), and Ambas Americas: Contrasted (1872). PAGAMM, Mcolo, an Italian musician, born in Genoa, Feb. 18, 1784, died in Nice, May 27, 1840. He was subjected by his father to a very severe training. At six years of age he was a violinist, and began to practise novel effects upon his instrument, and to perform feats requiring great power and quickness of execution ; at eight he had composed a sonata, which has been lost ; and at nine he made his first public appearance in the largest theatre in Genoa, rousing the audience to an extraordi-