PART VII. 



TOPOGRAPHY. 



HISTORICAL AND CHOROGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTION OP THE PROVINCE 



OF CHICHAS Y TARIJA. 



POVERTY in human affairs has the same efFe6l as the in- 

 verted lenses in optical tubes : it diminishes and confuses the 

 objedts. To what may be denominated its inherent qualities, 

 opinion, which tyrannizes over the conceptions, has added 

 others still more sensible. The poor man is, necessarily as it 

 were, obscure, uncivil, dejedled, and deficient ; and, to 

 crown his misfortunes, he becomes ridiculous*. It suffices not 

 to him to be virtuous, to merit the esteem of his fellow-crea- 

 tures : it is necessary that he should be a prodigy ; — that he 

 sht)uld work miracles. This consideration, which is so mor- 

 tifying to all those whom fortune has wronged in the unequal 

 distribution of her favours, is to the philosopher a source of 

 flattering and consolatory meditations. Aware that honour, 

 riches, and, occasionally, posthumous fame even, depend on 

 certain accidents, the combination and government of which 

 are not within his reach, he ceases to disquiet himself about 

 obtaining them, or to affli£t himself at their privation. Tran- 



* Nil habet infelix paupertas durius in se, quam quod ridicules homines facit. — 

 jfuven. Sat. vii. 



quil 



