Ch. IV. SOUTH AMERICA. 33 



precept, they go to mafs at three in the morning, in 

 order to difcbarge thai duty, and return before the vio- 

 lent heat of the day, winch begins with the dawn *. 



Women wear over their pollera a taifety petticoat, 

 of any colour they pleafe, except black ; this is pinked 

 all over, to ilicw the other they wear under it. On 

 the head is a cap of fine white linen, covered with 

 lace, in the fhape of a mitre, and, being well ftarched, 

 terminates for\\ard iu a point. This they call panito, 

 and never appear abroad without it, and a mantelet 

 on their llioulders. The ladies, and other native 

 Whites, ufe this as their undrel's, and it greatly be- 

 comes them ; for having been ufcd to it from their in- 

 fancy, they wear it with a better air. Inilead of 

 Ihoes, they only wear, both within and without doors, 

 a kind of flippers, large enough only to contain the 

 tip of their feet. In the houfe their whole exerciie 

 confifis in fitting in their hammocks -f-, and fvvinging 

 themfelves for air. This is to general a cufiom, that 

 there is r\ot a houfe without two or three, according 

 to the number of the family. In thefe they pafs the 

 greater part of the day ; and often men, as well as 

 women, fieep in them, without minding the inconve- 

 niency of not fi retching the body at full length. 



Both lexes are pofreiied of a great deal of wit and 

 penetration, and aUb of a genius proper to excel in 

 all kinds of mechanic arts. Tiiis is particularly con- 

 fpicuous in thofe who apply themfelves to literature, 

 and who, at a tender age, fiicw a judgment and per- 

 fpicacity, which, in other climates, is attained only by 

 a long feries of years and the gr^ateft application. 

 This happy difpoiition and perfpicacity continues till 

 they are between twenty and thirty years of age, after 



* The heat is inconfiderable, compared with that of the after- 

 noon, till half an hour after funrife. A. 



t Thefe hammocks are made of twined cotton, ano commonly 

 knit in the manner of a net, and make no fmall part of the tratfick 

 of the Indians, by whom they are chiefly made. A. 



Vol. I. D which 



