ULLOA*S VOYAGE TO SOUTH AMERICA. 447 



accounted as fuch. The Whites, according to this conftrudion of the word, may be 

 confidered as one-fixth part of the inhabitants. 



The Meftizos are the defcendants of Spaniards and Indians, and are to be confi- 

 dered here in the fame different degrees between the Negroes and Whites, as before 

 at Carthagena ; but uith this difference, that at Quito the degrees of Meftizos are not 

 carried fo far back ; for, even in the fecond or third generations, when they acquire 

 the European colour, they are confidered as Spaniards. The complexion of the 

 Meftizos is fwarthy and reddifli, but not of that red common in the fair Mulattos. 

 This is the firft degree, or the immediate iflue of a Spaniard and Indian. Some are, 

 however, equally tawny with the Indians themfelves, though they are diftinguiftied 

 from them by their beards : while others on the contrary, have fo fine a complexion 

 that they might pafs for Whites, were it not for fome figns that betray them, when 

 viewed attentively. Among thefe, the moft remarkable is the lownefs of the forehead, 

 uhich ofttn leaves but a fmall fpace between their hair and eye-brows ; at the fame 

 time the hair grows remarkably forward on the temples, extending to the lower part 

 of the ear. Befides, the hair itfelf is harfli, lank, coarfe, and very black ; their nofe 

 very fmall, thin, and has a little rifmg on the middle, from whence it forms a fmall 

 curve, terminating in a point, bending towards the upper lip. Thefe marks, befides 

 fome dark fpots on the body, are fo conftant and invariable, as to make it very difficult 

 to conceal the fallacy of their complexion. The Meftizos may be reckoned a third 

 part of the inhabitants. 



The next clafs is the Indians, who form about another third ; and the others, who 

 are about one-fixth, are the Cafts. Thefe four claffes, according to the moft authentic 

 accounts taken from the parifh regifter, amount to between 50 and 60,000 perfons, 

 of all ages, fexes, and ranks. If among thefe claffes the Spaniards, as is natural to 

 think, are the moft eminent for riches, rank, and power, it muft at the fame time be 

 owned, however melancholy the truth may appear, they are in proportion the moft 

 poor, miferable and diftreffed ; for they refufe to apply themfelves to any mechanical 

 bufinefs, confidering it as a difgrace to that quality they fo highly value themfelves upon, 

 which confifts in not being black, brown, or of a copper-colour. The Meftizos,' 

 whofe pride is regulated by prudence, readily apply themfelves to arts and trades, but 

 chufe thofe of the greateft repute, as painting, fculpture, and the like, leaving the 

 meaner fort to the Indians. They are obferved to excel in all, particularly painting 

 and fculpture ; in the former a Meftizo, called Miguel* de Santiago, acquired great 

 reputation, fome of his works being ftill preferved and highly valued, while others were 

 carried even to Rome, where they were honoured with the unanimous applaufes of the 

 virtuofi. They are remarkably ready and excellent at imitation, copying being indeed 

 beft adapted to their phlegmatic genius. And what renders their exquifite performances 

 ftill more admirable, is, that they are deftitute of many of the inftruments and tools 

 requifite to perform them with any tolerable degree of accuracy* But, with thefe 

 talents, they are fo exceffively indolent and flothful, that, inftead of working, they 

 often loiter about the ftreets during the whole day. The Indians, who are generally 

 fhoemakers, bricklayers, weavers, and the like, are not more induftrious. Of thefe 

 the moft aclive and tradable are the barbers and phlebotomifts, who in their refpedive 

 callings, are equal to the moft expert hands in Europe. The fhoemakers, on the other 

 hand, diftinguifh themfelves by fuch fupinenefs and floth, that very often you have no 

 other way left to obtain the fhoes you have befpoke, than to procure materials, feize on 

 the Indian, and lock him up till they are finifhed. This is indeed partly owing to a 

 wrong cuftom of paying for the work before it is done j and when the Indian has 



once 



