The history of Paraguay is highly interesting. It was discovered by Sebastian Cabot in 1526, but the first colony was settled in 1535 by Pedro de Mendoza, who founded the city of Asuncion, and established Paraguay as a province of the viceroyalty of Peru. The warlike native tribe of the Guaranis, however, a people who possessed a certain degree of civilization, and professed a dualistic religion, long successfully resisted the apanish arms, and refused to receive either the religion or the social usages of the invaders. In the latter half of the 16th c. the Jesuit missionaries were sent to the aid of the first preachers of Christianity in Paraguay; but for a long time they were almost entirely unsuccessful, the effect of their preaching being in a great degree marred by the profligate and cruel conduct of the Spanish adventurers, who formed the staple of the colonial population. In the 17th c. the home government consented to place in their hands the entire administration, civil as well as religious, of the province; which, ''r.):» its not possessiug any of the precious metals, was of little value as a source of revenue.; r.nd in order to guard the natives against the evil influences of the bad example of European Christians, gave to the Jesuits the right to exclude all other Europeans from the colony. From this tune forward the progress of civilization as well as of Christianity was rapid. The legislation, the administration, and the social organization of the settle 'tient were shaped according to the model of a primitive Christian community, or rather of many communities under one administration ; and the accounts which have been pre served of its condition, appear to present a. realization of the ideal of a Christian Utopia. On the expulsion of the Jesuits from Paraguay in 1768, the history of which is involved in much controversy, the province was again made subject to the Spanish viceroys. For a. time the fruits of the older civilization maintnined themselves; but as the ancient organization fell to the ground, much of the work of so many years was undone; the communities lapsed into disorganization, and by degrees much of the old barbarism returned. In 1776 Paraguay was transferred to the newly.formed Rio de
la Plata; and in 1810 it joined with the other states in declaring its independence of the mother kingdom of Spain, which, owing to its isolated position, it was the earliest of them all to establish completely. In 1814 Dr. Francia (q.v.), originally a lawyer, and the secretary of the first revolutionary junta, was proclaimed dictator for three years; and in 1817 his term of the office was made perpetual. He continued to hold it till his death, in 184U, when anarchy ensued for two years; but, in 1842, a national congress elected two nephews of the dictator, don Alonzo and don Carlos Antonio Lopez. joint consuls of the republic. In 1844 a new constitution was proclaimed, and don Carlos was elected sole president, l•ith dictatorial power, which he exercised till his death in 1862, when he was succeeded by his son, don Francisco Solano Lopez, whose name has become notorious in connection with the tragic struggle of 1865-70, in which the-Paraguayans made a heroic but unavailing fight against the combined forces of Brazil, the Argentine confed eration, and Uruguay. The war was brought to a close by the defeat and death of Lopez at the battle Of Aquidahan, Mar. 1, 1870. In June, 1870, a congress voted a new consti tution, which was proclaimed on Nov. 25. It is modeled on that of the Argentine con federation, the legislative authority being vested in a congress of 2 houses, and the executive in a president, elected for 6 years. Paraguay was till 1876 partially occupied by Brazilian troops, and was virtually a Brazilian province.
The central department, in which the capital, Asuncion. is situated, contains nearly one-third of the whole inhabitants; and the capital itself 10,00 to 20,000. Asuncion is connected by railway with Pararrual. The inhabitants of the towns consist chiefly of whites, or half-breeds, speaking The native population of the provinces are chiefly Guaranis, speaking the Guarani language.