278 



Chilians have also employed the laqui with success 

 against the English pirates who have landed upon 

 their coast. They are also skilful in the manage- 

 ment of horses, and in the opinion of travellers, who 

 have had an opportunity of witnessing their dexterity 

 and courage in this exercise, they might soon be 

 • formed into the best body of cavalry in the world. 

 Their attachment to horses renders them particu- 

 larly fond of horse-racing, which they conduct in 

 the English manner. 



The negroes, who have been introduced into 

 Chili wholly by contraband means, are subject- 

 ed to a state of servitude, which may be consi- 

 dered as tolerable in comparison to that which they 

 endure in man}^ parts of America, w^here the interest 

 of the planter stifles every sentiment of humanity. 

 As the planting of sugar and other articles of West- 

 Indian commerce has not been established in Chili, 

 the slaves are employed in domestic services, where 

 by attention and diligence they more readily acquire 

 tlie favour of their masters. Those in most esteem, 

 are either such as are born in the country of African 

 parents, or the mulattoes, as they become more at- 

 tached to the family to which they belong. 



The humanity of the government or the inhabi- 

 tants has introduced in favour of this unfortunate 

 race a very proper regulation. Such of them as by 

 their industry have obtained a sum of money suffi- 

 cient for the purchase of a slave, can ransom them- 



having a noose at the extremity ; if they entangle iji them either 

 horse or man, they without difficulty put them to (leattî!^i?e/oi'«' 

 Herodotus, vol. iii. Polymnia, page 205. 



