to Spain for his position, and the surest way to do so
was to discover gold-mines. So, naming Francisco de Mendoza
his lieutenant, he started up the Paraguay, taking with him
three hundred and fifty soldiers and two thousand Guaranis.
After many hardships, he reached the frontiers of Peru,
only to find the country already conquered from the Pacific side,
and to be met by the messengers of the wise President, La Gasca,
who told him to return, and named one Diego Centeno Governor of Paraguay
instead of him. Centeno died before he could assume the governorship,
so it seemed that fate determined that Irala was to continue in command.

After a year and a half he returned to Paraguay, having found
no gold or riches, but bringing many thousand Indians as slaves.
It is important to remember that Irala, who was remarkable
for his relatively kind treatment of the Indians, on this occasion
led so many of them captive. On arriving at Asuncion he found
a rebellion going on, as not infrequently occurred when a Spanish Governor
left his domains. His lieutenant, Mendoza, had been killed
by one Diego de Abreu. After quieting matters in Asuncion,
he despatched Nuflo de Chaves (one of his captains) to found a town
on the higher waters of the Paraguay.

Like many other captains of those days, the idea of Chaves was to make himself
quite independent of authority; so, striking into the interior,
he founded the town of Santa Cruz de la Sierra in Bolivia.
After many adventures he was killed by an Indian, who struck him with a club
whilst he was sitting eating without his helmet.

Irala died at the little village of Ita in 1557, and was buried
in the cathedral at Asuncion, which he was building at the time.