DETAILS OF HACIENDA LIFE. 415 



micate being twenty-four square yards. When the bell 

 of the church is struck five times, every Indian is obli- 

 ged to go forthwith to the hacienda, and, for a real a 

 day and a ration of three cents' worth of maize, do 

 whatever work the master or his delegate, the major- 

 domo, may direct. The authority of the master or his 

 delegate over these is absolute. He settles all disputes 

 between the Indians themselves, and punishes for of- 

 fences, acting both as judge and executioner. If the 

 major-domo punish an Indian unreasonably, the latter 

 may complain to his master ; and if the master refuse to 

 give him redress, or himself punishes an Indian unrea- 

 sonably, the latter may apply for his discharge. There 

 is no obligation upon him to remain on the hacienda 

 unless he is in debt to the master, but, practically, this 

 binds him hand and foot. The Indians are all improv- 

 ident, anticipate their earnings, never have two days* 

 provisions in store, and never keep any accounts. A 

 dishonest master may always bring them in debt, and 

 generally they are really so. If able to pay off the debt, 

 the Indian is entitled to his immediate discharge ; but if 

 not, the master is obliged to give him a writing to the 

 effect following : " Whatever senor wishes to receive 



the Indian named , can take him, provided he 



pays me the debt he owes me." If the master refuses 

 him this paper, the Indian may complain to the justitia. 

 When he has obtained it, he goes round to the different 

 haciendas until he finds a proprietor who is willing to 

 purchase the debt, with a mortgage upon him until it is 

 paid. The account is settled, and the master gives the 

 Indian a writing of this purport : " The account of my 



former servant being adjusted, which is twenty 



dollars, and having paid me the said debt, I, his pres- 

 ent master, give him this receipt;" and with this he 



