USE OF BARTER. 189 



and more precious mettalls, wherein they spend their time LlD&amp;gt; IT - 

 and labour. They vse no other mettalls, as copper and 

 yron, but only that which is sent them from Spaine, or 

 that which remaines of the refining of gold and silver. 

 We finde not that the Indians in former times vsed gold, 

 silver, or any other mettall for mony, and for the price 

 of things, but only for ornament, as hath been said, 

 whereof there was great quantitie in their Temples, 

 Palaces, and Toombes, with a thousand kindes of 

 vessels of gold and silver, which they had. They 

 vsed no gold nor silver to trafficke or buy withall, 

 but did change and trucke one thing for another,, as 

 Homer and Plinie report of the Ancients. They had xSiifcaj 

 some other things of greater esteerne which went current 

 amongst them for price, and in steede of coine ; and vnto 

 this day this custoine continues amongst the Indians, as in 

 the Provinces of Mexico, in steede of money they vse 

 cacao, which is a small fruit, and therewith buy what they 

 will. In Peru they vse coca to the same end, the which is 

 a leafe the Indians esteeme much, as in Paraguay, they have 

 stamps of yron for coine, and cotten woven in Santa Cruz 

 de la Sierra. Finally, the maner of the Indians trafficke, and 

 their buying and selling, was to exchange, and give things 

 for things; and although there were great martes and 

 famous faires, yet had they no neede of mony, nor of 

 brokers, for that every one had learned what he was to give 

 in exchange for every kinde of merchandise. Since the 

 Spaniards entred, the Indians have vsed gold and silver to 

 buy withall ; and in the beginning there was no coine, but 

 silver by weight was their price and mony, as they report 

 of the ancient Romans. Since, for a greater benefite, thev Plin lib - 



J xxxiii, c. 4. 



have forged coine in Mexico and Peru, yet vnto this day 

 they have not in the West Indies coined any mony of 

 copper or other mettall but only of silver and golde ; for 

 the richnes of that Countrie hath not admitted nor received 



