272 



INDIAN AND OTHER 



A warrior belonging to one of the barbarous nations, inha- 

 bitants of the mountainous territory, is introduced in Plate XV. ; 

 but in a costume appropriate to a particular tribe, such as 

 could be displayed, with a proper observance of decorum, in 

 the capital of Peru, by the civilized Indians, by whom a group 

 of these warriors was represented, in the procession which has 

 been so often referred to in this work. It will be perceived by 

 the engraving, that the performers in the spe6tacle, consti- 

 tuting the group in question, were masked ; no doubt with a 

 view to save themselves the pain and trouble of having the 

 nose perforated, so as to display the pendant which decorates 

 that part. 



To return to the subje6t of the narration. When compared 

 with the Maldivians above-cited, and with many other nations 

 of Asia, Africa, and Europe, our Indians may be reckoned 

 continent. With the exception of the caciques, who in some 

 instances have two wives, the rest hold in abhorrence poly- 

 gamy, as well as contra6ls of marriage entered into with those 

 who are near of kin, to the fourth degree inclusive. They 

 are solicitous to form an alliance with a family distin6l from 

 their own, demanding of their parents their future consorts, 

 with the interposition of the cacique, or, which is more com- 

 monly the case, by virtue of a contract made between the 

 heads of the two families, the young couple are united, and 

 brought up together from their infancy, cohabiting when they 

 are of an age to enter into the matrimonial state. The mode 

 in which they are reared, has the efFe6l of producing such ten- 

 der loves, that there are not wanting Artemisias, who bury in 

 their entrails the ashes of their defun6l lords. These bonds 

 are not, however, indissoluble ; and the husband is as free to 



quit 



