3i8 ulloa's voyage to south America. 



from them that, under a pretence of the excurfions of the Portuguefe, who ufed to 

 feize thefe Indians and make them work in their mines, and of the favage Indians who 

 furrounded them in a manner on all fides, the fathers have taught them the ufe of 

 arms, make them fpend their holidays in military exercifes, have a large body of well- 

 difciplined troops, magazines well furnifhed with military ftores, together with mills 

 and other neceffary machines for making their own gunpowder. They likewife let us 

 know that, to prevent the manners of their difciples from being corrupted, the Jefuits 

 exclude them entirely from all communication with ftrangers, whether Europeans or 

 Indians, and fuffer none to enter into their miffions, who may report either the ftrength 

 or the weaknefs of their condition, or penetrate into the myfleries of their policy. 



PART I. 



ACCOUNT OF CARTHAGENA, PANAMA, &C. AND OF THE PROVINCE OF QUITO. 



BOOK I. 



Reafonsfor this Voyage ; Navigation from the Bay of Cadiz to Carthagena in America^ and 



a Defcription of the latter, 



CHAP. I. — Motives of this Voyage to South America, with Remarks on the Navigation 



between Cadiz, and Carthagen^a, 



npHE heart of man is naturally inclined to attempt things, the advantages of which ap- 

 pear to increafe in proportion to the diiEculties which attend them. It fpares no pains, 

 it fears no danger in attaining them ; and inftead of being diverted from its purpofe, is 

 animated with frefh vigour by oppofition. The glory infeparable from arduous enter- 

 prifes is a powerful incentive, which raifes the mind above itfelf j the hop^ of advan- 

 tages determines the will, diminifhes dangers, alleviates hardfhips, and levels obftacles, 

 which other wife would appear unfurmountable. Defire and refolution are not, however, 

 always fufEcient to enfure fuccefs ; and the beft-concerted meafures are not always prof- 

 perous. Divine Providence, whofe over-ruling and incomprehenfible determinations 

 dired the courfe of human ad:ions, feems to have prefcribed certain limits, beyond 

 which all our attempts are vain. The caufes his infinite wifdom has thought proper to 

 conceal from us, and the refult of fuch a conduft, is rather an objeft) of our reverence 

 than fpeculation. The knowledge of the bounds of human underftanding, a difcreet 

 amufement and exercife of our talents for the demonftration of truths which are only to 

 be attained by a continual and extenfive ftudy, which rewards the mind with tranquillity 

 and pleafure, are advantages worthy of our higheft efteem, and objeds which cannot 

 be too much recommended. In all times the defire of enlightening others by fome 

 new difcovery has roufed the induftry of man, and engaged him in laborious refearches, 

 and by that means proved the principal fource of the improvement of the fciences. 



Things which have long baffled fagacity and application, have fometimes been dif- 

 covered by chance. The firmefl refolutioa has often been difcouraged by the infuper- 



9 able 



