Ch. IV. SOUTH AMERICA. 



with regard to themfelves or their daughters, that their 

 mifery may not be perpetual, but endeavour to find 

 them mafters whom they may attend up the country, 

 to Santa Fe, Popyan, Quito, and Peru, whither their 

 inclination or profpeds lead them. 



They who remain in the city, whether bound by 

 one of the above marriages, or, which is but too com- 

 mon, are in another condition very dangerous to their 

 future happinefs, turn Fulperos*, Canoeros, or fuch 

 like mean occupations : in all which, they are fo har- 

 raffed with labour, and their wages fo fmall, that their 

 condition in their own country mud have been mifera- 

 bie indeed, if they have not reafon to regret quitting 

 it. The height of their enjoyment, after toiling ail day 

 and part of the night, is to regale with bananas, ^ a 

 cake of maize or cafava, which fervcs for bread, and a 

 (lice of cafajo, or hung-beef without tafting wheat 

 bread during the whole year. 



Others, not a few, equally unfortunate, retire to 

 fome fmaii eftancia, where, in a Bujio, or ftraw-hut, 

 they live little different from beafls, cultivating, in a 

 very fmall fpot fuch vegetables as are at hand, and 

 fubfifling on the fale of them. 



What has been obferved with regard to the Negro 

 and Mulatto women, and which may alfo be extended 

 to the other Cads, is, as to the charitable part, appli- 

 cable to all the women and whites ; who, in every 

 tribe, are of a very mild and amiable difpofition •, and 

 from their natural foftnefs and fympathy excel the 

 men, in the prafiiice of that Chriftian virtue. 



Among the reigning cuftoms here, fome are very 

 different from thofe of Spain, or the moft known parts 

 of Europe. The principal of thefe are the ufe of 

 brandy, chocolate, honey, fvveetmeats, and fmoaking 

 tobacco J all Vv'hich fliall be taken notice of. 



* Pulperos are men who work in a kind of tent, called in Spanlfh 

 Pulperios, and the Canoeros are watermen who carry goods in Pi- 

 rogues or canoes, « 



D 3 The 



