INHABITANTS OP PERU. 



303 



they are analogous to our own*. The short sketch we have 

 given of their amusements and pubhc occupations, may serve 

 to illustrate the history of man, and extend the information 

 we possess relative to the societies of the inhabitants of Peru 

 in general, and of the casts in particular which constitute 

 among us a third estate. The knowledge of their inchnations 

 and defefts, cannot fail to interest the curious by the novelty 

 and singularity of the principles that govern them, and the 

 politicians by the certain data which these principles afford to 

 their combinations. We have ventured to introduce a few 

 applications and corollaries, not so much to give a higher zest 

 to the subjedt matter, as to show that all the ideas of philoso- 

 phy, and the relations of history, are useless and inefFe6lual, 

 if we do not dire6l them, by comparison, to the knowledge 

 and advantage of ourselves. 



One of the above unfortunate class of beings makes the sub- 

 je6l of Plate XVL His haggard and forlorn look, and the 

 wretched garb he wears, betoken the misery of his condition, 

 surrounded as he is by affluence, in the territory to which he 

 has been transported ; and afford a striking and melancholy 

 contrast to the splendour, exhibited in several of the preceding 

 engravings, of those who oppress and hold him in chains. 



* These are to be found under the distiniSt heads of Public Diversions, ani Cus- 

 toms and Manners. 



PART 



