S2 INTRODUCTION. 



tilities in this quarter with the Araucanians, the only 

 Indian nation in their neighhourhood, with which they 

 could have mingled. La Plata may be considered 

 next; but here, there is some mixture of Indian race, 

 increasing from the middle to the lower classes of so- 

 ciety. Perhaps, the most remarkable and peculiar 

 class of population in Spanish America, are the herds- 

 men, or shepherds, who are found chiefly in New 

 Spain, in Venezuela, and on the La Plata. There is 

 probably a considerable resemblance between the 

 shepherds of these different districts, separated by 

 such vast distances, but where the habits of life are 

 much alike. These men, who have made a retrogade 

 step from civilization, are every where represented as 

 possessing powerful and athletic frames, and bold in- 

 dependent minds, but extremely rude and uninformed. 

 If there be any difference between the herdsmen in- 

 habiting the countries just mentioned, I am inclined to 

 think that those of La Plata are more savage and fe- 

 rocious; which may arise from their leading a more 

 solitary life, and having fewer of the comforts of civi- 

 lization.^ No political change can produce much al- 

 teration in the situation and habits of this class of 

 people; and yet, none has manifested more active de- 

 votion to the cause of independence. The difficulty 

 has been under all governments to bring them under 

 any kind of subordination. War is their natural ele- 

 ment — if Spain should ever succeed in subduing her 

 colonies, these men will be the last to yield. It is 

 not, therefore, so much from reflection, on the advan- 

 tages to America, that they have shown this devoted- 

 ness to the cause of independence; for one of its effects 



* See the accounts of Mawe and Azara. 



