s 



Ch. II. SOUTH AMERICA. 219 



procured from Quito-, and, inftead of fluid water, our 

 pot was filled with ice we had the fame refource with 

 regard to what we drank : aiid, while we were eat- 

 ing, every one was obliged to keep his plate over a 

 channdifn of coals, to prevent his provihons from 

 freezing;. The fame was done with reo-ard to the wa- 

 tcr. At firft v^e imagined, that drinking ftroug liquors 

 would diflufe a heat through the body, and confe- 

 quently render it lefs fenfible of the painful fharpnefs 

 of the cold 5 but, to our furprize, we fek no manner 

 of ftrength in them, nor were they any greater pre- 

 fervative againft the cold than common vvater. For 

 this reafon, together with the apprehenfion that they 

 plight prove detrimental to our health, befides the dan- 

 ger of contrading an ill habit, we difcontinued their 

 ufe, having recourfe to them but very feldom, and thea 

 fparingly. We frequently gave a fmall quantity to 

 our Indians^ together with part of the provifions 

 which were continually fent us from Quito ; be- 

 fides a daily falary of four times as much as they 

 iifually earn. 



But, notwith (landing all th.efe encouragements, we 

 found it impolTible to keep the Indians together. On 

 their firft feeling the rigours of the climate, their 

 thoughts were immediately turned on deferring us. 

 The firfl inftance we had of this kind was fo unex- 

 pected, that, had not one of a better difpofition than 

 Vhe reft ftaid Vv'ith us, and acquainted us of their de- 

 fign, it might have proved of very bad confequence. 

 The a^fair was this : there being on the top of the 

 i^ock no room for pitching a tent for them, they ufed , 

 every evening to retire to a cave at the foot of the 

 mountain, u'herc, befides a natural diminution of the 

 cold, they could keep a continual fire and confe- 

 quently enjoyed more comfortable quarters than their 

 mafters. Before they withdrew at night, they faftened 

 on the outfide the door of our hut, Vv^hich was fo lov/, 

 that it was impoflible to go in qr out without ftooping ; 



