300 



INDIANS 



I HARSH TllEATMENT. 



Dec. 



Prior to the conclusion of the war between Brazil and Bue- 

 nos Ayres (1828), the settlers at Carmen lived tranquilly — 

 undisturbed by Indian aggression (retaliation ?) but since that 

 time, they have been kept in continual alarm. Prisoners are 

 often brought to Carmen to be ransomed, whom the Indians 

 have taken from other places. They are generally women or 

 children ; and as the Indians often find out who their prisoners 

 are, the ransoms asked are proportion ably exorbitant. Men are 

 usually put to death, if they do not die of their wounds. There 

 is a tribe of friendly Indians living near Carmen, at the out- 

 skirts of the town, who do much hard work for the inhabitants 

 for very trifling remuneration ; but they are shamefully abused, 

 cheated in every way by shopkeepers and liquor -venders, and 

 harshly treated by other persons, who seem to consider them 

 inferior beings — unworthy of any kind or humane considera- 

 tion. Should one of these poor creatures fall by the knife of a 

 passionate white man, no notice is taken of it by the authorities ; 

 the murderer boasts of his deed, and the poor relations suffer 

 patiently the loss and the insult, which they dare not avenge. 

 Having quitted the free tribes, seduced by promises never 

 fulfilled, they would not be received among them again ; and 

 their own numbers, originally small, are reduced daily by 

 disease and abominable drugs, which the publicans sell them 

 in what is said to be spirituous liquor (agua ardiente). 

 Mr. Wickham saw a poor Indian woman, between forty 

 and fifty years of age, almost killed by a blow on the head 

 from an ox's skull (with the horns), given by a wretch, who 

 had drawn his knife upon her husband for preventing his 

 kissing a pretty girl, their daughter, who was walking with her. 

 This scoundrel was seen by Mr. Wickham, a few days after- 

 wards, betting at the race-course with the principal people of 

 the place. 



Thanks to the influence of Harris and Roberts, and their 

 connections (both being married to daughters of Spanish 

 settlers), our officers and men were exceedingly well treated. 

 Every door was open to them ; and the fruit in every garden 

 was freely, as well as sincerely offered. Letters had been for- 



