184 



THE INDIANS. 



stition. An adherence to superstitious rites-, 

 whether of Roman Catholic ordination or pre- 

 scribed by their own undefined faith, appears to 

 be the only part of their character in which they 

 show any constancy. Each village has its priest, 

 who is oftentimes a vicar, and resident for life 

 upon the spot. A director is also attached to 

 each village, who is supposed to be a white 

 man ; he has great power over the persons with- 

 in his jurisdiction. If a proprietor of land is in 

 want of workmen he applies to the director, 

 who agrees for the price at which the daily 

 labour is to be paid, and he commands one of 

 his chief Indians to take so many men, and pro- 

 ceed with them to the estate for which they are 

 hired. The labourers receive the money them- 

 selves, and expend it as they please ; but the 

 bargains thus made are usually below the regular 

 price of labour. Each village has two Jtdzes 

 Ordinarios or Mayors, who act for one year. 

 One Juiz is a white man, and the other an 

 Indian ; but it may easily be supposed that the 

 former has, in fact, the management. These 

 Juizes have the power of putting suspicious 

 persons into confinement, and of punishing for 

 small crimes ; those of more importance wait 

 for the Correigam, or circuit of the Ouvidor of 

 the captaincy. Each village contains a town- 

 hall and prison. The administration of justice 

 in the Sertam is generally spoken of as most 



