APPENDIX. 



81*7 



The Various manufactures, that might interfere with those of 

 Spain, were not permitted. They were prevented, under severe 

 penalties, from raising flax, hemp, or saffron. In climates most 

 congenial to them, the culture of the grape and the olive was pro- 

 hibited; on account of the distance of Peru and Chili, and the dif- 

 ficulty of transporting oil and wine to these remote regions, they 

 were permitted to plant vines and olives, but were prohibited the 

 culture of tobacco. At Buenos Ayres, by special indulgeace of 

 the viceroys, they were allowed to cultivate grapes and olives 

 merely for the use of the table. 



They were compelled to procure from the mother country, arti- 

 cles of the first necessity; and were thus rendered dependent on 

 her for the conveniences of life, as well as luxuries. The crown 

 possessed the monopoly of tobacco, salt, and gunpowder. 



To these oppressive regulations and restrictions was added an 

 odious system of taxation. From the Indians, was exacted a tri- 

 bute in the shape of a poll tax, or a certain servitude in the mines, 

 called the mita. A tenth part of the produce of cultivated lands, 

 was taken under the denomination of tithes. The alcavala, a tax 

 varying from two and an half, to five per cent, on every sale and 

 re-sale of all things moveable and immoveable, was rigidly exact- 

 ed, though in some cases a commutation was allowed. Royal and 

 municipal duties were laid on imports and on the tonnage, entrance 

 and clearance of vessels, under the different appellations of almox- 

 arifasgo, sea, alcavalla, corso, consulado, armada, and armadilla. 

 To these may be added the royal fifths of the precious metals, the 

 most important tax in the mining districts. Besides all these, 

 there were stamp taxes, tavern licenses, and sums paid for the sale 

 of offices, of titles of nobility, papal bulls, the composition and 

 confirmation of lands, with a number of others of inferior grade. 



Under the Spanish monarchs, who had early obtained from the 

 pope the ecclesiastical dominion, and thus had united in their royal 

 persons, all civil and religious authority, a most oppressive hierar- 

 chy was established with its numerous train of offices and orders, 

 succeeded by the inquisition. 



The posts of honor and profit, from the highest to the lowest, 

 were filled almost exclusively by natives of old Spain. 



The principal code of laws thus maintain the supremacy of 

 Spain over those distant regions, almost locked up from the rest of 

 the world, emanated from the council of the Indies established by 



