4q5 ULLOa's voyage to south AMERICA. 



as to prejudice its fale. Thus the fruits rot on the trees, or are eaten by monkeys or 

 other creatures. 



At the time of its firft difcovery, and the fucceeding conqueft, this country was in 

 great repute for its riches j and not undefervedly, vaft quantities of gold being brought 

 from it. But thefe gains were foon brought to a period by the revolt of the Indians, 

 though in the opinion of many, who look upon thofe people to be a part of the human 

 fpecies no lefs than themielves, the infurredion was owing to the exceflive rigour of the 

 Spaniards, in making them work in the mines under infupportable fatigues. At prefent, 

 all the gold collected here is by Indians wafhing the fands of the rivers during the time 

 of the inundations ; and thus find gold duft, or fmall grains of gold, with which they pay 

 the tributes, and purchafe neceffaries ; and they make fo little account of this metal, 

 that though by a proper induftry they might get a confiderable quantity, it is only the 

 pooreft Indians that live near the fettlements who pra£tife it ; as for the independent 

 Indians, they give themfelves no concern about it. 



The jurifdidion'of this government produces in particular vaft quantities of tobacco ; 

 the cultivation of it indeed is the chief occupation of all the inhabitants. After fteep- 

 ing the plant in hot mead, or decoftions of fragrant herbs, in order to improve its 

 flavour, and the better to preferve its ftrength, it is dried, and tied up in the form of 

 a fauciffon, each of a hundred leaves. Thus it is exported into Peru, all over the 

 province of Quito, and the kingdom of Chili, where no other is ufed /or fmoking, 

 in cornets of paper, according to the cuftom of all thefe countries. This great vogue 

 it owes to the manner of preparing the leaves, which gives it a particular relifh, and 

 a ftrength to its fmoke, that is very agreeable. to thofe who are fond of that amufement. 

 The country alfo produces a great deal of cotton ; likewife large breeds of mules ; and 

 thefe three articles conftitute the advantageous traffic which this government carries on 

 with the jurifdi£tion of its province and the other parts of Peru. 



In the countries of Jaen de Bracamoros, Quixos, and Macas, are feen great numbers 

 of thofe wild animals, a defcription of which has been given in treating of other coun- 

 tries of a Hke climate. But thefe, befides tigers, are infefted with baftard lions, bears, 

 dantas or grand beftias (an animal of the bignefs of a bullock, and very fwift, its 

 colour generally white, and its ikin very much valued for making buff leather ; in the 

 middle of its head is a horn bending inward). Thofe three kinds of wild beafts are 

 unknown in the other countries ; and that they are known here, is owing to the prox- 

 imity to the Cordilleras, where they breed, as in a cold climate adapted to their nature : 

 whence they fometimes come down into the neighbouring countries ; but without this 

 circumftance of lying fo near the mountains, they would never be feen. Among the 

 reptiles in the country is themaca, a fnake which the Indians diftinguifh by the name 

 of Curi-Mullinvo, having a fhining fpotted Ikin like that of the tiger,* Curi in the 

 Indian language fignifying gold ; it is wholly covered with fcales, and makes a fright- 

 ful appearance, its head being out of all proportion to the body, and has two rows of 

 teeth, and fangs like thofe of a large dog. The wild Indians, as an oftentatious mark 

 of their intrepidity, and to give them a more terrible appearance, paint on their targets 

 figures of this Inake, the bite of which is incurable ; and wherever it has feized, it 

 never lets go its hold ; which the Indians would alfo intimate by their device. 



CHAP. 



