The discovery of Uruguay--Reception by the Indians--Juan de Solis and his fate--Navigation of the River Plate--Serrano and Magellanes--Rivalry between Spaniards and Portuguese--The first settlement in the Banda Oriental--Aggressive tactics of the Indians--Forts destroyed by them--Colonisation under difficulties--The introduction of cattle--A prophetic move--Intervention of the missionaries--Jesuit settlements established--Uruguay's isolation comes to an end--Influence of the livestock--Cattle-raiders--The first Portuguese invasion--Victory of the Spaniards, assisted by native auxiliaries--Treaties and their attendant troubles--The indecision of Old Spain--Partial extermination of the Indians--The town of Colonia as a bone of contention--Introduction of the first negro slaves into the provinces of the River Plate--Unrest on the Spanish main--Moreau, the buccaneer--The fate of his expedition--Portuguese invaders expelled by the Spaniards--A fort is constructed on the present site of Montevideo.
The early history of Uruguay needs but cursory recapitulation, since its episodes form part and parcel of the general discovery of the River Plate. Juan Diaz de Solis, the famous explorer of the great river, was the first leader in the Spanish service to set foot on Uruguayan soil. The precise point of his disembarkation is unknown, but it is certain enough that the spot lay somewhere just to the north of the island of Martin Garcia. His reception at the hands of the hostile Charrúa Indians, who at the time inhabited the district, was fatally inhospitable. Solis and many more of the landing party of fifty who accompanied him were slain by these natives almost as soon as they had landed, and the disheartened expedition returned to Spain.
It is supposed that Rodriguez Serrano was the first to sail the waters of the Uruguay River proper. In 1520, when anchored in the mouth of the River Plate on his way to the South, Magellane is supposed to have sent this subordinate of his some distance up the Uruguay. There is much, however, that is vague in the history of these particular waterways at this time. A certain material reason obtained for the mystery. The rivalry between the Spaniards and Portuguese tended towards a concealment on the part of each of discoveries that affected comparatively unknown and debatable areas. Thus there is no doubt that various Portuguese expeditions sailed the Uruguay River at this period; but the details of these are uncertain.