^10 



TOPOGRAPHY. 



huanos, and conceived the project of proceeding with them to 

 Peru, to appropriate to himself the produce of its rich mines. In 

 ' reality he set about this undertaking ; and having entered with 

 his troop of barbarians, desolated the country through which 

 he passed, stealing the cattle, burning the crops and habita- 

 tions, and putting to death all those he encountered, whether 

 Spaniards, Indians, or Mestizos. In testimony of the guilt 

 of his intentions, he loaded himself with spoils ; but found 

 his punishment in the crime itself ; for the Chirihuanos slew 

 him as soon as they perceived that he retreated with the riches 

 they had aided him to colledl. They did not think of return- 

 ing to the country whence they came; but, on the other hand, 

 being delighted with the fertility and abundance of the new 

 land which presented itself, took up their abode in the plea- 

 sant vales of Tarija. From that position they continually in- 

 fested the roads of Peru, Tucuman, and Buenos-Ayres, which 

 were scarcely rendered passable by the prote£lion of an armed 

 force, insomuch that the travellers laboured under similar ap- 

 prehensions, and were obliged to take all the precautions that 

 accompany the caravans of Arabia and Tartary. 



As, in the progress of this history, the Chirihuanos Indians 

 will occupy a considerable space, it may not be amiss, in this 

 place, to give an idea of their origin and customs. These In- 

 dians, according to the commonly received opinion, do not 

 constitute a part of the numerous Quechua nation, which 

 peopled the extensive empire of Peru at the time it was first 

 entered by the Spaniards. Their language, their costume, 

 and their chara6teristic bravery, leave room for a fixed per- 

 suasion that they belong to the nation of the Tobas, the ab- 

 origines of the provinces of Parahuay. They are not idolaters ; 



neither 



