The universal geography : earth and its inhabitants

TOPOGRAPHY OF PARAGUAY. 819
river, and which is said to take its name from a native chief, who held out stoutly
against the Spanish invaders in 1528. According to the tradition, Sebastian
Cabot, who was in command, did not venture to advance beyond this point,
although he had repulsed the Indians. A few hills, which, like Lambare, contain
deposits of salt, follow along the left bank, enclosing the pleasant little riverside
port of Villeta with its palm and orange groves.
The heights terminate southwards in a headland, where the stream contracts,
at the famous Aiujostura "Narrows," to a breadth of not more than 205 feet.
Fig. 136.
—
South-TTest Pakaouat.
Scale 1 : 2,400,000.
'ajtQueradeLoreio
58'40- West or GreenwicVi 56'4n'
ICO Miles.
Here also the Indians made a stand against the Spaniards, and three centuries
afterwards the Paraguayans attempted to arrest the advances of the allies by the
formidable lines erected at the same spot by the English engineer Thompson.
But the Brazilian army, at the risk of being overtaken and drowned by a sudden
rise of the Paraguaj% turned the position by passing westwards through the Chaco
solitudes, and reappearing on the banks of the river above the Narrows.
Below this defile almost the only places of note are the villages of Oliva
and Villa Franca on sUght rising grounds above the Tibicuary confluence. Villa
del Pilar, usually called Nembucu, might seem to occupy an excellent position