SOUTH AMERICA. 



225 



one degree further removed from civilization. His 

 mode of life is something like that of the Arab or Tar- 

 tar. They are either of a mixed breed, or full blood- 

 ed Indians, and are remarkably stout and athletic. 

 Those I saw had a most uncouth appearance; their 

 coarse black and bushy hair, caused the head to look 

 three times as big as itself. The missions establish- 

 ed on the Parana, especially those of the Jesuits, have 

 contributed to supply the plains with this singular po-^ 

 pulation. If they have any religion at all, it is noth- 

 ing more than some of its most gross superstitions, and 

 ecarcely sufficient to place them under any moral re- 

 straint. The neglect of schools, and the absence of 

 all religious instruction, must prepare the way for 

 their final destruction; like all savages, they must, in 

 the end, yield to the more civilized and enlightened; 

 just as the savage tribes have, at last, yielded to the 

 Europeans. Under the Spanish government, the con- 

 trol over them was very little greater, than that which 

 they themselves hold over their roaming herds. 



The character of these people given by Azara, with 

 some deductions for the disposition which he seems to 

 manifest, of making rather an unfavorable representa- 

 tion of all classes of Americans, is in the main correct. 

 He relates a number of anecdotes, which exhibit them in 

 I a curious light; and differing, in many respects, very 

 materially, from the herdsmen in other parts of South 

 America. These accounts are confirmed by Ma we, 

 who resided six months amongst them, and had, there- 

 fore, a fair opportunity of forming a correct opinion^ 

 It is true, he begins by representing them, for the most 

 part, as ^^an honest and harmless race> though equally 

 as liable, from the circumstances of their condition, to 

 VOL, I. 29 



