Ch. V. SOUTH AMERICA. 163 



and distressed ; for they refuse to apply themselves to 

 any mechanic business, considering it as a disgrace to 

 that quality they so highly viJue themselves upon, 

 which consists in not being black, brown, or of a cop- 

 per-colour. The Mestizos, whose pride is regularcd 

 by prudence, readily apply themselves to arts and 

 trades, but chuse those of the greatest repute, as paint- 

 ing, sculpture, and the like, leaving the meaner sort to 

 the Ini-lians. They are observed to excel in all, particu- 

 larly painting and sculpture ; in tl"Kí former a Mestizo, 

 called Miguel de Santiago, acquired great reputation, 

 some of his works being still preserved and highly 

 valued, while others were carried even to Rome, 

 'where they were honoured with the unanimous ap- 

 plauses of the virtuosi. They arc remarkably ready 

 and excellent at imitation, copying being indeed best 

 adapted to their phlegmatic genius. And wliat ren- 

 ders their exquis-ite performances still more admirable 

 is, that they are destitute of many of the instruments 

 and tools requisite to perform them with any tolerable 

 degree of accuracy. But, with these talents, they are 

 so excessively indolent and slothful, that, instead of 

 working, they often loiter about the streets during the 

 whole day. The Indians, who are generally shoemakers, 

 bricklayers, ws^avers, and the like, are not more in- 

 dustrious. Of these the most active and tractable are 

 the barbers and phlebotomists, who, in their respec- 

 tive calling?, are equal to the most expert hands in Eu- 

 rope. The shoemakers, on the other hand, distinguish 

 themselves by such supineness and sloth, that very of^ 

 tQñ you have no other way left to obtain the shoes you 

 have bespoke, than to procure materials, seize on the 

 Indian, and lock him up till they are finished. This 

 is indeed pardy owing to a wrong custom of paying 

 for the work before it is done ; and v/hen the Indian 

 has once got the money, he spends it all in chicha*, so 

 that while it lasts he is never sober ; and it is natural 

 * A kind of beer or ale made of rr,alze, and very intoxicating. 



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