Ch. IV. SOUTH AMERICA. 257 



regard to matters of law), four auditors, who are at 

 the fame time civil and criminal judges, and a royal 

 fifcal, fo calledj as, befides the caufes brought before 

 the audience, he alfo takes cognizance of every thing 

 relating to the revenue of the crown. Befides this, 

 there is alfo another fifcal^ called Protedtor de los In- 

 dies, " prote6tor of the Indians," who folicits for 

 them, and when injured pleads in their defence. The 

 jurifdidiion of this court extends to the utmoft limits 

 of the province, with no other appeal than to the 

 council of the Indies, and this only in cafe of a re- 

 je6lion of a petition, or flagrant injuftice. 



The next is the exchequer, or chamber of finances 5 

 the chief officers of which are an accomptant, a trea- 

 furer, and a royal fifcal. The revenues paid into the 

 receipt of this court are^ the tributes of the Indians of 

 this jurifdidion and thofe of Otabalo, Villa de San Mi- 

 guel de Ibara, Latacunga^ Chimbo, and Riobamba ; 

 and alfo the taxes levied in thofe parts, and the pro- 

 duce of the cuftoms at Babahoyo, Yaquache, and 

 Caracol : which fums are annually diftributed, partly 

 to Carthagena and Santa Martha, for paying the fab- 

 rics of the prefidents, fifcals, corregidors, together with 

 the ftipends of the priefts, and the governors of Maynas 

 and Quijos ; partly for the officers of the Commandries, 

 and partly for the Caciques of the villages. 



The tribunal de Cruzada, or Croifade, has a com- 

 miffary, who is generally fome dignitary of the church ; 

 and a treafurer, who is alfo the accomptant, through 

 whofe hands every thing palTes relating to the Croi- 

 fade. 



Here is alfo a treafury for the effedls of perfons 4^- 

 ceafed •, an inftitution long fmce eftabliffied all over the 

 Indies, for receiving the goods of thofe whofe lawful 

 heirs were in Spain, that thus they might be fecured 

 from thofe accidents to which, from difhonefty or neg- 

 ligence, they would be liable in private hands, and fe- 

 curely kept for the perfons to which they belong : an 



Vot. I, S inftiiutioa 



