Grown  bolder  than  ever,  the  Communeros  essayed  to  bring  the
king's  party  to  terms  by  a  sweeping  confiscation  of  all  their  prop-
erty; they  then  proceeded  to  inflict  a  similar  punishment  upon
the  Jesuits.  Finally,  in  order  to  have  the  fathers  and  their  mis-
sions at  a  safer  distance,  they  forced  the  Defender  to  sign  an  edict
which  imposed  upon  the  Jesuits  the  obligation  of  removing  all
their  reductions  to  the  other  side  of  the  river.  The  people  of
Asuncion,  too  obstinate  to  retreat,  looked  forward  with  uncon-
cerned boldness  to  an  open  rupture  with  the  king's  force,  and
Zavala  was  not  slow  in  making  them  feel  its  power.  His  many
years  of  faithful  services  had  been  lately  rewarded  by  an  appoint-
ment to  the  presidency  of  Charcas,  but  before  entering  upon  his
new  duties  he  proceeded  to  restore  peace  and  order  in  this  long-
troubled  and  disordered  province.  He  was  clement  where  clem-
ency could  be  of  avail ;  but  upon  this  occasion  saw  that  severe
and  forcible  measures  alone  would  enable  him  to  accomplish  his
object.  Strong  garrisons  were  placed  along  the  frontier  of  Para-


INTRIGUES  IN  SPAIN.  533

guay,  in  addition  to  a  considerable  force  stationed  on  the  Tibiqua-
ri,  the  Kubicon  that  had  so  often  separated  the  rebels  of  Asuncion
from  the  king's  good  subjects  of  Buenos  Ay  res  and  the  missions.
