36 MEMOIR OF 



observations are in this respect a contrast, as he 

 strictly confines himself to what he had himself seen ; 

 and it is to be observed, that many of his remarks 

 but ill quadrate with the ingenious speculations of 

 the distinguished historian. 



Azara uses the word nation not in its usual ac- 

 ceptation, but in that sense to which, as is well 

 known, it has often been applied to the native in- 

 habitants of America.* " Before giving," says he, " a 

 particular description of each nation, I must notice 

 that I shall designate nation every association of 

 Indians which regards itself as forming a single and 

 distinct people, and which has the same principles, 

 forms, manners, and tongue. I shall attach little 

 importance to the mere numbers which form it, 

 because national character does not consist in this 

 circumstance. When I say that the language of 

 one nation differs from that of another, it is to be 

 understood that the difference is at least as great as 

 between the English or German and the Spanish, 

 so that there is not a single word which precisely 

 resembles the other. They are universally very 

 poor, and have no alliances the one with the other." 



Our author supplies a distinct description of be- 

 tween thirty and forty of these nations; among 

 whom, although there are some features in common, 

 yet there are also very remarkable differences. TVe 

 shall supply a somewhat ample specimen of the 

 manner in which he executes this part of his task, 



* See Robertson's America, vol. ii. p. 129. 



