( soo ) 



fuftice with as much zeal and adivity as is ufed among us, priding 

 themfelves thereon, and beiag very anxious to obtain a knowledge of 

 our laws. 



AH tiie cacic^ues have horfes and are rich, and ride, handfomely 

 caparifoned and attended by their pages, through and about their re- 

 fpedtive towns. In fome towns alfo they exercife with tl\c lance on 

 horfeback, run at the ring, and have bull fights, efpecially on the 

 days of Corpus Chrifti, St. John, St. James, our Lady in Auguft, or 

 the patron or patronefs of the town. Many alfo of them will face 

 the bulls be they ever fo fierce, and are excellent horfemen, efpecially 

 thofe of a place named Chiapa de los Indios. Thofe who are caciques 

 now breed horfes, and ufe them and mules for ordinary purpofes, con- 

 veying by their means, wood, maiz, and lime for fale. Many of the 

 natives have likewife taken up the trade of arrieros or carriers, as is 

 in pradiice in Caftille. To conclude, they excel in all manufad:ures, 

 not excepting that of tapefiry. 



Other advantages and profits are alfo derived from our illuflrious 

 fervices. By them our mother country has obtained gold, filver, pre- 

 cious ftones, grain, v/ool, farfaparilla, and hides; all which are annu- 

 ally tranfmitted thither to the benefit of his Majefty's revenue. I do 

 not include the prefents we at various times fent, and that which is 

 exported by merchants and paffengers, for fince the time that the wife 

 King Solomon built the holy temple of Jerufalem with the gold and 

 filver which he caufed to be brought from the Iflands of Tarfis, Ofir, 

 and Saba, ancient or modern hiftory do not record fuch treafures to have 

 been derived from any country, as what have been fent from New 

 Spain; and this I fay, becaufe although it is notorious that from Peru 

 many millions in gold and filver have been obtained, yet at the time of 

 the conqueft of this country Peru was unknown, nor was it gained un- 

 til ten years after. We alfo from the firft continued to fend to his Ma- 

 jefty mofl: rich prefents, for which and other reafons, I rate this 



country 



