Cu. V. SOUTH AMERICA. 267 



but the shoes are what chiefly distinguish them from 

 the common Indians. 



The men, both Creoles and Spaniards, are well 

 made, of a proper stature, and of a lively and agree- 

 able countenance. The Mestizos in general are nlfo 

 well miade, often taller than the ordinary size, very 

 robust, and have an agreeable air. The Indians, 

 both men and women, are generally low, but well pro- 

 portioned, and very sirong; though more natural de- 

 fects are to be observed among them than in the other 

 classes of the human species : some are remarkably 

 short, some idc^ots, dumb and blind, and others de- 

 ficient in some of their limbs. Their hair is gene- 

 rally thick and long, which they wear loose on their 

 shoulders, never tying or tucking it up, even when 

 they go to sleep. But the Indian women plait theirs 

 behind with ribband, and the part before they cut a 

 little above the eye-brows from one ear to another ; 

 which form of hair they call urcu, and are so fond of 

 this natural ornament, that the greatest affront pos- 

 sible to be offered to an Indian of either sex, is to cut off 

 their hair; for whatever corporal punishment their 

 masters think proper to inflict on them, they bear 

 with a dutiful tranquillity; but this is a disgrace they 

 never forgive; and accordingly it was found neces- 

 sary for the government to interpose, and limit this 

 punishment to the most enormous crimes. The co- 

 lour of their hair is generally a deep black ; it is lank, 

 harsh, and coarse as that of horses. The Mestizos, 

 on the other hand, by way of distinguishing them- 

 selves from the Indians, cut off their hair ; but 

 the women do not in this respect follow the ex- 

 ample of their husbands. The Indians have no 

 beard ; and the greatest alteration occasioned by their 

 arriving at the years of maturity, is only -a few strag- 

 gling hairs on the chin, but so short and thin as ne- 

 ver to require the assistance of the razor; nor hay.e 



either 



