/{•^■t-yi'S'jyr^U 



THE INDIANS. 



favour; they have been unjustly dealt with, they 

 have been trampled upon, and afterwards treat- 

 ed as children ; they have been always subjected 

 to those who consider themselves their superiors, 

 and this desire to govern them has even been 

 carried to the direction of their domestic ar- 

 rangements. But no, — if they are a race of 

 acute beings, capable of energy, of being deeph 

 interested upon any subject, they would do more 

 than they have done. The priesthood is open 

 to them ; but they do not take advantage of it. * 

 I never saw an Indian mechanic in any of the 

 towns; there 4s no instance of a wealthy Indian ; 

 rich mulattos and negroes are by no means rare. 

 I have had many dealings with them as guides 

 and carriers, and subsequently as labourers, and 

 have no reason to complain, for I was never in- 

 jured by any of them ; but neither did I receive 

 any particular good service, excepting in the 

 instance of Julio. For guides and carriers they 

 are well adapted, as their usual habits lead 

 them to the rambling life which these employ- 

 ments encourage. As labourers, I found that 

 they had usually a great inclination to over- 

 reach ; but their schemes were badly made, and 

 consequently easily discovered. I never could 

 depend upon them for any length of time, and 



* I heard, from good authority, that there are two instances 

 of Indians having been ordained as secular priests, and that 

 both these individuals died from excessive drinking. 



