IN SOUTH AMERICA. 221 



every diredion the gloom of an immenfe foreft, which but for them were forbidden to 

 accefs. New plants, new animals, and new races of men, were exhibited to view. 

 Accuftomed during feven years to mountains loft in clouds, I was wrapt in admiration 

 at the wide circle embraced by the eye, reftrided here by no other boundary than the 

 horizon, fave where the hills of Pongo, foon about to difappear, raifed themfelves to 

 checquer the conftant monotony of the fcene. To the crowd of varying objeds which 

 diverfify the cultured fields of Quito, and which ftill prefented themfelves to the ima- 

 gination, fucceeded the moft uniform contraft, the whole to be feen being verdure and 

 water ; for the earth is fo thickly covered with tufted plants and buflies, that it is trod, 

 buf not perceived ; to find a barren fpace, though but a foot fquare, requiring a world 

 of toil.^ Below Borja, and 4 or 500 leagues beyond, on falling down the river, a 

 ftone, nay a pebble, is an obied rare as a diamond. The favages of thefe countries 

 indeed have no conception ot ftones, and when, on vifiting Borja, they firft perceive 

 them, the wonder they occafion is admirable to behold ; every gefture tokens furprife ; 

 they colled them together, and load themfelves with the precious burden, till, begin- 

 ning to notice their abundance, they finally difregard, and throw them away. 



Before I proceed farther, I deem it right to fay a word of the genius and charader 

 of the primitive inhabitants of South America, improperly called Indians, in fpeaking 

 of whom, I mean to include neither the Spanifh or Portuguefe Creols, nor the various 

 races produced by a mixture of Europeans with the blacks of Africa, or the red men 

 of America, fince the eftablilhment of the firft in the country, and the introdudion 

 by them of the Negroes of Guinea. 



All the old natives of the country are of a tawny colour, inclining to a red of different 

 fhades of brightnefs ; the difference in the ftiades arifing probably in a great degree from 

 the varying temperature of the climate they inhabit, which embrace the intenle heat of 

 the torrid zone with the cold of the vicinage of fnow. 



This variety of climates ; the wooded countries, plains, mountains, and rivers, which 

 different fites afford ; a difference of aliment ; the little intercourfe fubfifting between 

 neighbouring nations, and numerous other caufes, muft neceffarily have introduced a 

 variety in the occupations, as in the cuftoms of thefe people. Again, it will readily 

 be conjedured that a nation, become Chriftian, and fubjed during a century or two to 

 the Spaniih or Portuguefe yoke, muft, of confequence, have adopted fomewhat of the 

 manners of its conquerors, and that an American inhabitant of a town or village in 

 Peru, for example, muft differ from the favage of the interior, and even from a new 

 inhabitant of thofe countries in which miffions are eftabliflied on the Maraiion. In 

 order, therefore, to prefent an exad idea of the American people, almoft as many de- 

 fcriptions are requifite as there are nations ; however, as in Europe all nations, not- 

 withftanding diftind languages, manners, and cuiloms, have yet fomewhat in common 

 to the eyes of an Afiatic who examines them with attention, fo do all the Americans 

 of the different countries I had opportunity of noticing in the courfe of my travels, 

 prefent features of refemblance, the one to the other, indeed (with exception of light 

 fhades of difference, fcarcely to be diftinguifhed by a paffmg obferver,) I fancied in all 

 alike a fimilar bafe of charader. 



Infenfibility among thefe people is generally prevalent, which, whether to be dig- 

 nified by the name of apathy, or funk in that of ftupidity, I leave to the decifion of 

 others. Undoubtedly it is caufed by the paucity of their ideas, which extend no farther 

 than their wants. Voracious gluttons, where means of fatiety exift ; when want 

 enforces fobriety they patiently bear with abftinence, and feem to be void of care. Pufilla- 

 nimous and timid in extreme, unlefs when tranfported by drunkennefs j inimical to toil y 



12 indifferent 



