BUENOS AY RES. 





legula- 

 tions re- 

 specting 

 theencomi. 



conquerors. They shrink from the voice of a Spa- 

 !, and cherish against him the most bitter but se- 

 animosity. On the first conquest of their coun- 

 he Indians were parcelled out into departments, 

 or cncuixu mlns, which were divided among theii\con- 

 tjucrors, under whose authority tliey continued for a 

 certain number of years. At the expiry of this pe- 

 riod, they devolved to the crown ; who either em- 

 ployed them in public works, or made them over to 

 other private individuals. The service demanded by 

 their oppressors, consisted in their labouring for two 

 months in the year in whatever way they chose to 

 employ them, and to pay out of their earnings during 

 the other ten months, an annual tribute of five pias- 

 tres, from which, however, those- who were under 

 eighteen or above forty were exempted. In return 

 for this, the enconinmlero was bound to provide them. 

 \vith necessaries, and to have them instructed in the.- 

 Christian religion. But this severe bondage, and the 

 cruelties with which it was attended, had so reduced 

 this class of the American population, that the evil 

 called for some immediate remedy. The Spanish 

 court accordingly appointed officers, with power to 

 deprive of their cncomiendas such as could be proved 

 to have been oppressive in their exactions, or ty- 

 rannical in their treatment of the Indians ; and the 

 nature and extent of the services which they might 

 be required to perform, were precisely ascertained. 

 The facilities, however, of evading such distant au- 

 thority, and of corrupting those who were entrusted 

 with the execution of its commands, rendered the wi- 

 sest precautions and laws but weak barriers against 

 avarice and oppression. The same evils continued to 

 prevail, and were the occasion of some formidable in- 

 surrections, until many of the encomiendas had re- 

 verted, and were annexed to the crown. Their con- 

 dition is now greatly ameliorated, and their services 

 are very different from those originally demanded. 

 The tribute has been reduced to a piastre a head ; 

 and it is only in works of primary importance, that 

 they can be compelled to labour : in the culture of 

 maize and other grain f necessary consumption ; in 

 erecting'buildings of public utility ; in forming roads; 

 in tending cattle ; and in working the mines ; which 

 last task is confined entirely to those Indians whore- 

 side wfthin 30 miles of the ore. This labour, howe- 

 ver, is most burdensome and deleterious. It annually 

 destroys a large proportion of the inhabitants, cither 

 by a rapid mortality, or by engendering the germs of 

 a slow but certain <lestruction. Those who are lia- 

 ble to employment are called out by divisions, or me', 

 ins, but the number must not exceed the seventh 

 part of the population of the district ; and no one 

 can be compelled to go but in his turn. Such as are 

 destined for the mines remain there for six months, 

 and are paid at the rate of four reals per day. In 

 spite of the numerous regulations which have been 

 framed, in order to guard the Indians against the ty- 

 ranny of their masters, they are still exposed to seve- 

 ral arbitrary and burdensome exactions. Unreason- 

 able tasks are often imposed, and the term of their 

 labour is frequently prolonged beyond the legal time. 

 It is only in the more remote districts, wher there 

 are but few Spaniards, that they enjoy any degree of 

 relaxation from oppression. In these districts, some 



i them are even in affluent circumstances, possesiing 

 numerous herds, and working mines for their own be- 

 n- fit. I-'rom the exuberant fertility of tlivir country, 

 and their knowledge of some of the European arts, 

 tin y have risen to a ttate of comparative civilization, 

 and are plentifully supplied, not only with the neces- 

 saries, but with many of the luxuries of life. 



The general characteristics of the Indians are indo- Th- gen?. 

 lence and apathetic indifference. Their tasks are per- r - 

 formed with the greatest reluctance, and require the If^'i",]*,^', 

 constant attendance of overseers. Promises cannot in- 

 duce, nor punishment scarcely compel them to exer- 

 tion. Their only domestic labour consists in the 

 ploughing of their chacara, or piece of ground ; but 

 the sowing and the rest of the culture, and indeed 

 every other kind of work, is left entirely to the wo- 

 men, who spin, make their apparel, grind the barley, 

 and brew the c!ti<.a, an inebriating beverage, made 

 from maize, of which all the Indians are particularly 

 fond. Their perseverance, however, is proverbial 

 among the Spaniards ; and when any work ot trifling 

 importance is to be performed, which requires much 

 time and patience, they say that it is onlv fit to be 

 done by an Indian. They are devoid of every spe- 

 cies of ambition or emulation, and now seem perfectly 

 indifferent to their situation. They are seldom heard 

 to complain, either in pain or sickness. They endure 

 punishment without discovering the smallest symptom, 

 of sensibility ; and even view death with the most per- 

 fect unconcern. This part of their character, howe- 

 ver, may with justice be ascribed to the operation of 

 an enervating and degrading bondage. It is only at 

 their drinking entertainments, that they shew any dis- 

 position to exert themselves. Every kind of reserve 

 or restraint is then thrown aside, and the night is 

 spent iu the most indecent and intemperate mirth. No 

 ties of conjugality or relationship is regarded, and 

 though, on other occasions, the chastity of their mar- 

 ried women is an object of solicitude, yet it is a re- 

 ceived maxim among them, that the husband must 

 not resent the privileged familiarities of these orgies. 



Of the unsubdued Indians who wander over this Thennsub- 

 vast expanse of territory, and who have as yet resist- d u d lu " 

 ed the yoke of the Spaniards, it is impossible to give djaus * 

 any determinate account. The state of almost perpe- 

 tual hostility in which they live with the Europeans, 

 has considerably prevented the researches of modern 

 travellers. The discordant relations which have been 

 handed down to us by their conquerors concerning 

 their appearance, their manners, and their internal 

 policy, and which seem to be more the effusions of 

 ignorance and prejudice, than the minute details of 

 historical truth, afford us little opportunity of ex- 

 tracting a correct and simple representation. Indepen- 

 dent, however, of the scantiness of our information 

 on this subject, the numerous nations into which these 

 Indians are split, and the diversity of their language 

 and manners, would forbid all attempts at any very 

 particular details in this work. While some of these 

 nations wander through their forests in a state of per- 

 fect uudity, unacquainted with every species of cul- 

 tivation, and living on berries and roots, or depend- 

 ing for subsistence ulirely upon fishing and the 

 chase ; others practise a rude kind of agriculture, 

 which, from the fertility of the soil, supplies them 



