ACCOUNT OF BOOKS. 



1051 



be any partiality observed in the dis- 

 tribution of them. The officers and 

 chiefs were only distinguishable from 

 the rest by a chain round the neck, 

 a white wand, a feather fan, or 

 some such simple peculiarity. There 

 were, and still are, two hospitals for 

 the sick — one for the men, the 

 other for the women ; where, as soon 

 as any one is taken ill, he is immedi- 

 ately conveyed, as none remain ill in 

 their own houses. Each hospital 

 has a lay-brother to attend it, who 

 is well skilled in surgery and physic, 

 and has several assistants under him. 

 They have likewise a large room 

 well stored with drugs, both native 

 and European. In fact, nothing is 

 wanting to supply the wants of either 

 the healthy or the sick ; and, that 

 no one might be neglected, several 

 of the oldest and most experienced 

 Indians were appointed to superin- 

 tend the whole, and see that justice 

 was administered in every depart- 

 ment and the sick properly attend- 

 ed. How such wise regulations as 

 these should ever be subject to 

 change 1 must own rather surprises 

 me ; but changed they certainly are. 

 Instead of the officers and superin- 

 tcndants being selected by the rector 

 only, they are now made subordi- 

 nate to the military, who are ap- 

 pointed by the governor of the pro- 

 vince; and instead of being com- 

 manded by Indian chiefs, they arc 

 subjected to a Spanish commandant 

 and fiscal, to whom even the rector 

 is answerable for the conduct of his 

 flock. Many other alterations Jiavc 

 been made, which 1 fancy have gone 

 near to overturn the wise regulations 

 established by tne Jesuits, who, in 

 my opinion, understood the true 

 art of governing better than any 

 other body of men in the universe." 

 By personal observation, and from 



the confidential communication of 

 the good priest, Mr. Davie now 

 learned the real source of the mis- 

 sion of which he formed a part. It 

 proceeded from the necessity there 

 existed of enquiring into the causes, 

 and means of prevention, of a most 

 dangerous spirit of insubordination 

 and rebellion, which existed at that 

 momentin the presidency, and which 

 soon after exploded, to the tempo- 

 rary subversion at least of the Spa- 

 nish government. 



The following remedy for the 

 epidemic disease of the country, 

 which had nearly proved fatal to our 

 author on his arrival at Monte 

 Video, and which it will be remem- 

 bered was administered to him by a 

 friendly Indian, maybe useful. 



" This morning, during one of our 

 rambles. Father Hernandez imparted 

 several particulars that I was extreme- 

 ly desirous of obtaining, but princi- 

 pally relative to the herbs used in such 

 cases of illness as mine on my first 

 arrival at Monte Video, and which I 

 think may be of essential service in 

 England during most epidemic dis- 

 eases. I am certain, from experi- 

 ence, that if properly applied, it can- 

 not fail of curing those who may 

 \infortunately have caught the in- 

 fection ; for we have herbs in our 

 country that will very nearly work 

 the same eflcds as those reared ia 

 Tucuman, only the process must be 

 diiferent. But observe the follow- 

 ing rules, and I will venture my life 

 that not one in a hundred will die : 

 Take of camomile, rosemary, worm- 

 wood, rue, and featherfew, of each 

 a large handful ; set them on the 

 fire in a large pipkin, or bell-metal 

 pot; cover them with two gallons 

 of water, and let them boil till the 

 strength is entirely drawn out ; then 

 take about half a peck of the best 



unslaked 



