44 ARCH^OLOGICAL AND ETHNOLOGICAL 



each about four feet long, are sewed together at one of their edges- one-third of the 

 length from each end, leaving the middle third not united. Through the sHt thus 

 left the wearer puts his head. The united ends cover the front and back part of 

 the person, and the middle parts cover the slioulders. These ijonclios are made 

 from a lighter or a heavier cloth; the former of cotton, the latter of wool, according 

 to the climate to which the wearer is exposed. At night it is used as a covering, 

 like the blanket in Central America. The male inhabitants of Huarmaca are 

 known for the great length of t\\e\x jmnchos, and the females for the length of their 

 skirts; both of which are made of a tliick clotli woven of black wool. 



When first I met the Indians in Guayaquil who came down the Andes, I was 

 surprised to find them with rosy cheeks, which I did not observe in the inhabitants 

 of Central America. This proves that rosy cheeks are not a peculiarity of the so- 

 called Caucasian race, but the eff"ect of a temperate clime. Not having made any 

 measurements, I do not venture any further comparison of the inhabitants of these 

 two parts of America. 



The disposition of the Indians of South America with whom I came in contact 

 is passive and unaggressive, at the same time they appeared sullen and stubborn, as 

 though they could not be moved by any kind of reasoning, but only by force. The 

 treatment which the Indian lias experienced from liis European conquerors, and 

 still experiences, is sufficient cause for his present character. The Indian is very 

 saving, wasting nothing and making use of everything. For example, he uses the 

 shoulder-blade of a sheep as a knife for peeling potatoes. The inhabitants in gen- 

 eral are more energetic and enterprising than those of Central America. They 

 talk a great deal of the improvements they wish to introduce. In the province of 

 Imbabura are actually two factories in operation producing cotton and woollen 

 goods; and in Cuenca is one for spinning and weaving cotton, though working 

 only with a part of its power, for want of material. The great success of grape 

 culture in Peru, which produces the best grapes I know of, was stimulating tiie 

 inhabitants of Ecuador to cultivate it also. They intend likewise to introduce the 

 culture of silk, of which some trials have been made already, and a superior article 

 produced. The governor of the Province of Imbabura, besides being a physician, 

 was engaged in five different pursuits. One of these was the manufacture of sul- 

 pliuric acid, and another the collection of caoutchouc. At the same time they neg- 

 lect the improvement of the indigenous products, like the potato, or of those wliich 

 have become naturalized, as the wheat. They are often ignorant of the nature of 

 some products, as for example the indigo plant (jiguilike), which grows wild in some 

 localities; and where this plant is utilized the indigo is produced only as a liquid, 

 the inhabitants not knowing how to produce it in a dry state. Many of the people 

 manifested an ignorance about any business matter which is out of their line. A 

 curate who received me hospitably informed me of his possessing some mines 

 winch had been worked by the ancients, and of his willingness to invest four dol- 

 lars in working them again. 



An insatiable thirst for money has taken possession of all, by which they are 

 alienated from noble and generous sentiments, and induced to practise extortion, 

 especially towards foreigners. I will mention but one instance of this kind. The 



