DON FELIX d'aZARA. 49 



the two great remaining classes, viz. the wJiites, or 

 puie descendants of the Spaniards, and the mixed 

 breeds. These last are again subdivided into two, — 

 the Metis, or mixed breed of the Spaniard and In- 

 dian, and the Mulatto, the cross between the Spa- 

 niard and Negro. " The Metis," says he, " appear 

 to be someAvhat superior to the European Spaniard 

 in their height, in the elegance of their form, and 

 even in the fineness of their skin. I also think 

 that these Metis have more ingenuity, sagacity, in- 

 telligence, and vigor than the Creoles; that is to 

 say, the children of Spanish parents born in the 

 country. The Mulatto, too, I find has an advan- 

 tage, both in physical and moral powers, over the 

 mixed progeny of the natives and the Negroes : 

 they are more active, agile, strong, and lively, than 

 their parents. Their habitual vices are a love of 

 play, drunkenness, and pilfering; but some are 

 truly honest." Our author maintains that the Spa- 

 niards have treated these races, and their slaves 

 likewise, with the greatest lenity and kindness; 

 forming, in this respect, a perfect contrast to the 

 Portuguese. The free Mulattoes are, by law, ranked 

 last in the scale, though not in general estimation, 

 which places the Indians below all, and regards 

 the free Mulattoes and the Negroes as equal. 



We shall not attempt to follow our author in his 

 review of the native Spaniards, and shall confine 

 our remarks to a very few sentences concerning the 

 shepherds of the country, who claim descent from 

 Europeans. " These shepherds are occupied in 



VOL. IL I) 



