ULLOA's voyage to south AMERICA. 639 



make gunpowder, that a fufficient quantity of it may not be wanting, cither on any ^Ws, 

 exigency, or for fireworks on holidays, and other anniverfary rejoicings which are ' 

 punctually kept. But the mod fplendid ceremony is on the acceffion of the new 

 monarch to the Spanifh throne, when the governor, alcaldes, regidores, together with 

 all the civil and military officers, appear in new uniforms, and other ornaments, to 

 exprefs the ardent afFedion they bear their new fovereign. 



Every church has its band of mufic, confifting of a great number both of vocal and 

 Jnftrumental performers. Divine fervice is celebrated in them with all the pomp and 

 folemnity of cathedrals. The like is obferved in public proceffions, efpecially that on 

 Corpus Chrifti day, at which the governor, alcaldes, and regidores, in their habits of 

 ceremony, and the militia in their uniforms, affift ; the reft of the people carry flam- 

 beaux ; io that the whole is conducted with an order and reverence fuitable to the 

 occafion. Thefe proceffions are accompanied with fine dancing, but very different from 

 that in the province of Quito, defcribed in the firft part ; and the performers wear par- 

 ticular drefles, extremely rich, and well adapted to the characters reprefented. In 

 Ihort, a miffionary town omits no circumftance either of feftivity or devotion, pradifed 

 in opulent cities. 



Every town has a kind of beaterio, where women of ill fame are placed ; it alfo ferves 1^^^ 

 for the retreat of married women who have no families, during the abfence of their 

 hufbands. For the fupport of this houfe, and alfo of orphans and others, who by 

 age or any other circumftance are difabled from earning a livelihood, two days in the 

 week are fet apart ; when the inhabitants of every village are obliged to fow and culti- 

 vate a certain piece of ground, called Labor de la Comunidad, the labour of the com- 

 munity ; and the furplus of the produce is applied to procure furniture and decorations 

 for the church, and to clothe the orphans, the aged, and the difabled perfons. By 

 this benevolent plan all diftrefs is precluded, and the inhabitants provided with every 

 neceffary of life. The royal revenues are punctually paid ; and by the union of the 

 inhabitants, the uninterrupted peace they enjoy, and the wifdom of their policy, which 

 is preferved inviolable ; thefe places, if there are any fuch on earth, are the habitations 

 of true religion and felicity. 



The Jefuits, who are the priefts of thefe miffions, take upon them the fole care of 

 difpofing of the manufactures and products of the Guaranies Indians, defigned for 

 commerce ; thefe people being naturally carelefs and indolent, and doubtlefs without 

 the diligent infpeCtion and patheric exhortations of the fathers, would be buried in floth 

 and indigence. The cafe is very different in the miffions of the Chiquitos, who are 

 induftrious, careful, and frugal ; and their genius fo happily adapted to commerce, as 

 not to ftand in need of any faCtors. The priefts in the villages of this nation are of no 

 expence to the crown, the Indians themfelves rejoicing in maintaining them ; and join 

 in cultivating a plantation filled with all kinds of grain and fruits for the prieft ; the 

 remainder, after this decent fupport, being applied to purchafe ornaments for the 

 churches. 



That the Indians may never be in any want of neceflaries, it is one part of the 

 minifter's care to have always in readinefs a ftock of different kinds of tools, ftuffs, 

 and other goods ; fo that all who are in want repair to him, bringing by way of ex- 

 change wax, of which there are here great quantities, and other products. And this 

 barter is made with the ftriCteft integrity, that the Indians may have no reafon to com- 

 plain of oppreffion ; and that the high character of the priefts for juftice and fanCtity 

 may be ftudioufly preferved. The goods received in exchange are by the priefts fent 

 to the fuperior of the miffions, who is a different perfon from the fuperior of the Gua- 

 ranies ; 



