fl6 ULLOA's voyage to south AMERICA. 



formed fo excellent an economy, and fo beautiful a fyftem of facial duties: though 

 undoubtedly they are the fame people, and ftill retain fome of their ancient cuftoms 

 and manners. Leaving, therefore, this intricate fubjedl to be inveftigated by farther 

 inquiries, I Ihall proceed to give an account of the prefent Indians, their genius, cuf- 

 toms, and qualities, according to the befl information I could obtain from a commerce 

 with thofe people of all ranks, during ten years. Some particulars in this narrative will 

 demonftrate that they ftill retain a few fparks of the induftry and capacity of the an- 

 cient Indians of Peru ; whilft others will Ihew that they are utterly deftitute of the 

 Itnowledge of certain fciences which were common among their anceftors ; and that 

 they are equally degenerated from their wifdom in making laws, and their regular ob- 

 fervance of them. 



It is no eafy talk to exhibit a true pidure of the-cuftoms and inclinations of the In- 

 dians, and precifely difplay their genius and real turn of mind ; for if confidered as* 

 part of the human fpecies, the narrow Hmits of their underftanding feem to clafh with 

 the dignity of the foul ; and fuch is their ftupidity, that, in fome particulars, one can 

 fcarce forbear entertaining an idea that they are really beafts, and even deftitute of that 

 inftindt we obferve in the brute creation. While in other refpedts, a more comprehen- 

 five judgment, better-digefted fchemes, and conducted with greater fubtilty, are not 

 to be found than among thefe people. This difparity may miflead the moft difcerning 

 perfon : for, ftiould he form his judgment from their firft adions, he muft neceftarily 

 conclude them to be a people of the greateft penetration and vivacity. But when he 

 reflefts on their rudenefs, the abfurdity of their opinions, and their beaftly manner 

 of living, his ideas muft take a different turn, and reprefent them in a degree little above 

 brutes. 



Such is the difpofition of the Indians, that if their indifference to temporal things 

 did not extend itfelf alfo to the eternal, they might l^^e faid to equal the happinefs of the 

 golden age, of which the ancient poets have given fuch enchanting defcriptions. They 

 poffefs a tranquillity immutable, either by fortunate or unfortunate events. In their 

 mean apparel they are as contented as the monarch clothed with the moft fplendid in- 

 ventions of luxury ; and fo far are they from entertaining a defire for better or more 

 comfortable clothing, that they give themfelves no manner of concern about lengthen- 

 ing their own, though half their bodies continue naked. They fhew the like difregard 

 for riches ; and even that authority or grandeur within their reach is fo little the objedb 

 of their ambition, that, to all appearance, it is the fame thing to an Indian, whether 

 he be created an alcalde, or forced to perform the office of a common executioner. 



And thus reciprocal efteem among them is neither heightened nor leiTened by fuch 

 circumftances. The fame moderation appears in their food, never defiring more than 

 what fuffices ; and they enjoy their coarfe limple diet with the fame complacency as 

 others do their well-furnifhed tables. Nor do I indeed queftion but if they had their 

 choice of either, they would prefer the latter ; but at the fame time they fliew fo little 

 concern for the enjoyments of life, as nearly approaches to a total contempt of them : 

 in. Ihort, the moft fimple, mean, and eafieft preparation feems beft adapted to their 

 humour. 



Nothing can move them, or alter their minds ; even intereft here lofes all its power ; 

 it being common for them to decline doing fome little a6t of fervice, though offered a 

 very conliderable reward. Fear cannot ftimulate, refpeft induce, nor punilliment com- 

 pel them. They are indeed of a very fmgular turn ; proof againft every attempt to 

 roufe them from their natural indolence, in which they feem to look down with con- 

 tempt on the wifeft of mortals : fo firmly bigoted to their own grofs ignorance, that the 



wifeft 



