222 
INHABITANTS. 
the phosphorescent light of a shining beetle, called the cucullo. 
Utter nudity among the children of both sexes is of common 
occurrence. 
Their amusements are scarcely worthy of note. In fact, an 
atmosphere of apathy seems to pervade every thing, and even 
their liveliest songs are sad, and their merriest music melan- 
choly. 
In religious matters they are reverential, but superstitious ; 
and the ceremonies of the church, with its numerous fiestas and 
processions, are loved because they are gloomy and peculiar. 
A striking but commendable feature in the character of the 
northern Indians is the respect paid by children to their pa- 
rents; and the reverence accorded to aged people is no less 
worthy of remark. Between husband and wife cases of infi- 
delity are rare ; and whatever may have been the singular ex- 
tremes of hospitality in times gone by, it is certain now that a 
regard is manifested for female virtue. To the credit of the In- 
dians be it also said, that their progeny is legitimate, and that 
the vows of marriage are as faithfully cherished as in the most 
enlightened and favored lands. Youthful marriages are never- 
theless of frequent occurrence : this is done to avoid a long and 
thankless probation in the military service of the Republic. 
As agriculturists, the Indians are exceedingly primitive ; and 
neither the accidents of foreign commerce, nor the contagion of 
example, have wrought any visible change in their ancient mode 
of cultivating the land. It is sufficient for them to know that 
u the soil nourishes him who tills it," and that no political or 
other contingency can destroy its overwhelming fertility. As a 
cultivator, the Indian is poor, but he is free ; and he loves the 
solitude of his wretched ranchito, because it restores him, even 
as a peon, some of the long-lost liberty of his ancient race. This 
desire for solitude has given rise to that disposition among them 
to inhabit the elevated sections and summits, and to locate their 
pueblas on sites less convenient of access, and less advantageous 
to prosperity. 
Under these circumstances, habituated to long slavery and 
oppression, it is not easy to judge of the intellectual develop- 
ments of which they are susceptible ; but there are abundant in- 
