4ÍS A VOYAGE TO Book VL 



have any natural advantage over the other : for I have 

 ohserved throughout this whole kingdom, that the In- 

 dians of its several provinces through which I tra- 

 velled are alike. And those of Quito are not more 

 deficient in their understandings, than those of Val- 

 les or Lima ; nor are these more acute or sagacious 

 than the natives of Chili and Arauco. 



Without going out of the province of Quito, 

 ■\ve have a general instance in confirmation of what 

 1 have advanced. For all the Indians, brought up to 

 the Spanish language, are far more acute and sensi- 

 ble than those who have spent their lives in little 

 villages ; and their behaviour more conformable to 

 the dictates of a rational creature. They are men of 

 abilities and skill, and have divested themselves of 

 many of their errors. Whence they are called Ladi- 

 nos, i. e. knowing men : and if they retain any of 

 the culpable practices of the former, it is from the 

 infection of intercourse, or from a mistaken notion 

 that they should keep them up as transmitted to them 

 from their ancestors. Among- these are chiefly distin- 

 guished the barber-surgeons, who bleed with such 

 dexterity, that, in the opinion of I^Ions. de Jussieu 

 and Mons. Seniergues, surgeons to the French acade- 

 mists, the}^ equal the most famous in Europe: and 

 their intercourse with persons of a liberal education 

 enlightens their understanding, so that tliey distin- 

 guish tliemselves to great advantage among their 

 countrymen. It seems to me unquestionable, that if 

 in villages care was taken to instruct the Indians in 

 S' anish, conformable to tl¡e laws of the Indies, be^ 

 s.des other acquirements, this people would have the 

 benefit of conversing more frequently with the Spa- 

 niards, which would greatly improve their reason, and 

 give them a knowledge of many things for which they 

 have no word in their lanouaa-e. Accordinq;lv it is 

 observed that the Cholos (a name given to the Indian 

 boys) becoming acquainted with the Spanish language, 

 2 improve 



