INTRODUCTlOlSr. 



79 



is described in the following mannel* by a Bpanisli 

 writer: — ^^Those who go Uj the orders of the king, to 

 work in Patosi, abandon their country with despair in 

 their hearts^ being persuaded that the greater part of 

 those who descend into the mines, are seized with 

 asthma, and die in the course of a few months. The 

 day of their departure is a day of sadness. These 

 victims of restraint present themselves before the 

 priest, who, clothed in his sacerdotal habits, waits for 

 them at the door with the cross in his hand; he sprin- 

 kles them Avith holy water, then reads the usual 

 prayer, and says a mass for them, which they pay for, 

 in order to obtain a happy voyage; they then repair to 

 the public square, accompanied by their friends and 

 relations, whom they embrace, and then take leave in 

 the midst of sobbings and tears; followed by their 

 wives and children, with countenances sad and 

 downcast, they commence their journey. This afflict- 

 ing scene is still further heightened by the sound of 

 their small drums and bells, which usually give the 

 signal for their departure.^'* Such is the price at 

 which the gold of the new world has been purchased! 

 Who would not say, far better than the cursed metals 

 had never been disturbed in its subterraneous caverns, 

 if these be the only terms on which it can be procured. 

 But the fact is not so—it is the compulsion chiefly, 

 which excites this horror among the oppressed In- 

 dians; for there are many who voluntarily engage 

 themselves to work in the mines, although the occu- 

 pation is certainly unhealtiiy — but the risk is encoun- 

 tered, when a prospect of reward is held out — -nor is 



* Travels of Sobreviela. 



