Ch. V. " SOUTH AMERICA. • 237 



As all the inhabitaiits of the towns, villages, and 

 country, v/ithin the jurifdiftlon of Conception, forra 

 different bodies of militia, fome of which are in pay, 

 and all mufl: be ready on any fudden alarm, there is^ 

 befides the corregidor, a Mneftra de Campo, whp 

 commands in ail the military affairs without the cit^ ^ 

 but we fiiall have oi cafioo to give a farther account of 

 his duty in the fequel. 



This city at firH: belonged to the diocefs of Im.pe- 

 lial j but that being ruined by the perpetual incurfions 

 of the Indians, the epifcopal fee was removed to Con- 

 ception, and the chapter changed. It is now a fuf- 

 fragan of I ,ima, and has a chapter confiiiing of a 

 bilhop, dean, archdeacon, and two prebendaries. 



Tfie jurifdidion of Conception extends from the 

 river Maule on the coaft N. of the city to Cape La- 

 vapies. It has few villages ; but the whole country 

 full of feats, farms, and cottages. 



The inhabitants confift of Spaniards and MePd- 

 zos, who in colour are hardly diitinguiQiable from 

 the former ; both being very fair, and foine have 

 ^ven frefh complexions. The goodnefs of the cli- 

 mate, together with the fertility of the country, 

 have drav/n hither many Spanifli families, boch 

 Creoles and Europeans, v/ho live together in that 

 harmony and friendihip, which fiiould be an exam- 

 ple to the other parts of thefe provinces ; where tlie 

 comforts of fociety are greatly leffened by the feuds 

 ariiing from a mean pride andjealoufy. The men 

 an general are v/el]-;niaped and robuil, and the wo- 

 men handfome. Their cufloms and drefs, iire a 

 kind of compound of thofe of Lima and Qiiito, 

 but more nearly refemble the latter, except that the 

 men ufe, inftead of a cloak, a poncho, which is 

 made in the form of a quilt, about two yards and 

 a half or three in length, and tv/o in breadth, hav* 

 ing an opening in the middle juil fufficient to put 

 their head through, the red hanging down on all 

 2 fides. 



