DON FELIX d'aZABA. 35 



of his investigations into these matters witli great 

 judgment. He thus introduces them to the notice 

 of his readers. " Though man, and especially savage 

 man, is an incomprehensible being, v/ho writes not, 

 speaks but little, and expresses himself in an un- 

 known tongue, destitute of many words and ex- 

 pressions, and though he occupies himself mainly 

 with those trifling matters which his urgent wants 

 require, yet as he occupies the principle and most 

 interesting place in the description of a country, I 

 shall here supply some of the observations I have 

 made upon a number of Indian nations,* whether 

 free or savage,- and who are not, and never have 

 been, under subjection to the Spanish or any other 

 yoke. I shall not, however, dilate too much, lest 

 I prove tedious, or resemble those, who after having 

 seen half a dozen Indians upon the coast, supply a 

 far more particular description than it would bo 

 possible for themselves to do. Besides I like not 

 conjectures, but facts ; and I am not master of the 

 talents and acquirements of many." 



Many of our readers will here be reminded of 

 Principal Robertson's very elaborate discussion on 

 this very subject, in his History of America, in 

 which he applies his remarks to both continents, 

 and even other portions of the globe. Our author's 



* We see here a name still prevalent, derived from a very 

 erroneous opiiiion. As in the time of Columbus the American 

 continents were considered as a part of India, the inhabitants 

 were naturally designated Indians, and the aborigines have 

 snarcely yet received another name. 



