Ch. XV. SOUTH AMERICA. fv^ 



vince, it being' the only one ^vhich produces it; and 

 from hence it is sent all over Pei'ii, and Chili, where 

 its use is universal ; especially that kind of it called 

 caiiiini, which is the pure leaf; the other, distin- 

 guished by the name of palos, bcini^ less fine, and 

 not so proper for making mate, is. not so valuable. 



These goods were carried, for sale, to the cities of 

 Santa Fé, and Buenos Ayres, where the fathers have 

 factors ; the Indians, particularly the Guaraníes, want- 

 ing the sagacity and address, so absolutely necessary 

 to procure success in commercial affairs. These factors 

 dispose of what is consigned to them from Paraguay, 

 and lay out the money in such European goods as thtí 

 towns are then in want of, in ornaments for the 

 churches, and the decent support of the priests oiUci- 

 ating in them. But the greatest care is taken in de- 

 ducting ñom what each town sends, the amount of 

 the tribute cf its Indian inha!)iiants, which is remitted 

 immediately to the revenue offices, without the least 

 deduction, except the stipends for the priests, and 

 the pensions allowed the caciques. 



The other products of their lands, together with, 

 their cattle, are made use of for the sabsistance of the 

 inhabitants, among whom tliey are distributed with 

 such regularity and oeconomy, that the excellent; 

 police under which those people live so happily can- 

 not be passed over in silence, without great iojustice 

 to these wise legislators. 



Every tow n of the missions of Paraguay, like the ci- 

 ties and great tow iis of the Spaniards, arc under a gover- 

 nor, regidores, and alcaldes. Tiiat the important office 

 of governor may be always filled by a person duly qua- 

 lified, he is chosen by the Indians, with the approba- 

 tion of the priests. The alcaldes are annually aj)p: ini- 

 ed by the liiigidorcs, and jointly with them, the go- 

 vernor attends to the maintenance of good order a ad 

 tranquillity among the inhabitants; and that th.'^e 

 oilicers, who arc seldom persons of the most sh ning 



parts. 



