524 ULLOA's voyage to south AMERICA. 



rity, that in the opinion of Monf. de Juffieu and Monf. Seniergues, furgeons to the 

 French academifts, they equal the mofl famous in Europe ; and their intercourfe with 

 perfons of a liberal education enli^tens their underftanding, fo that they diftinguifh 

 themfelves to great advantage among their countrymen. It feems to me unqueilionable, 

 that if in villages care was taken to inftruA the Indians in Spanifh, conformable to the 

 laws of the Indies, befides other acquirements, this people would have the benefit of 

 converfmg more frequently with the Spaniards, which would greatly improve their 

 reafon, and give them a knowledge of many things for which they have no word in 

 their language. Accordingly it is obferved that the Cholos (a name given to the 

 Indian boys) becoming acquainted with the Spanifh language, improve fo much in 

 knowledge, that they look on their countrymen as favages, and take upon themfelves 

 the appellation of Ladinos. 



I am very far from imagining that the Spanifh language itfelf has the virtue of im- 

 proving the intellefts of the Indians ; but only,^ that rational converfation with the 

 Spaniards would -lead them to a knowledge of many things : and confequently they 

 might be brought to a greater purity of faith and practice. Whereas the converfation 

 among themfelves mufl be very low and confined : and what they have with the 

 Spanifh traders who underfland their language, turns wholly on trafHck. But if they 

 underftood the Spanifh, they would daily receive new lights by converfmg with 

 travellers whom they attend, as well as from the inhabitants of the cities, their maflers, 

 the priefts, the corregidors, and others ; and thus become more induftrious and tract- 

 able, and acquainted with the nature of things of which before they had not fo much as 

 an idea. 



Are not the differences and advantages evident among ourfelves, betwixt a young man 

 whofe flock of learning is his natural language, and him who is acquainted with others ? 

 What a fuperiority of. knowledge, difcernment, and facility in the latter ! Hence 

 we may form fome idea of the abje6l ftate of the human mind among rude country 

 people, who cannot exchange a word with a ftranger, and never ftir out of their 

 village : whereas, when any one happens to go to a neighbouring town, he returns 

 home with enlarged knowledge, and entertains all the village with his narratives : but 

 if he had not underftood the language fpoken in it, he would have been little the 

 better, nor able to relate the ftrange things he faw and heard. This is the very cafe 

 of the Indians ; and I am of opinion, that to teach them the Spanifh tongue would be 

 the beft means of improving their reafon, and confequently of making them better 

 members of fociety : and that my fuperiors thought fo, appears from the ordinances re- 

 lating to America. 



The Indians in general are robuft, and of a good conftitution. And though the 

 venereal diftemper is fo common in this country, it is feldom known among them : 

 the principal caufe of which unqueftionably lies in the quality of the juices of their body 

 not being fufceptible of the venom of this diftemper. Many however attribute it to 

 a quality in the chicha, their common drink. The difeafe which makes the greateft 

 havock among them is the fmall-pox : which is fo fatal that few efcape it. Accord- 

 ingly it is looked upon in this country as a peftilence. This diftemper is not continual 

 as in other nations, feven or eight years, or more, pafTmg without its being heard of; 

 but when it prevails, towns and villages are foon thinned of their inhabitants. This 

 defolation is owing partly to the malignity of the difeafe, and partly to the want of 

 phyficians and nurfes. Accordingly, on being feized with this diftemper, they imme- 

 diately fend for the prieft to confefs ; and die for want of remedy and relief. The like 

 happens in all other diftempers; and were they frequent, would be equally fatal, 



4 thefe 



