Ch. V, SOUTH AMERICA. 263 



and diftrefied *, for they refufe to apply themfelves to 

 any mechanic bufinefsjConfidering it as a difgrace to that 

 quality they lb highly value themfelves upon, which 

 confifts in not being black, brown, or of a copper- 

 colour. The Meftizos, whofe pride is regulated by 

 prudence, readily apply themfelves to arts and trades, 

 but chufe thofe of the greateft repute, as painting, 

 fculpture, and the like, leaving the meaner fort to the 

 Indians. They are obferved to excel in all, particu- 

 larly painting and fculpture ; in the former a Meftizo, 

 called Miguel de Santiago, acquired great reputa- 

 tion, fome of his works being ftill preferved and high- 

 ly valued, while others were carried even to Rome, 

 where they were honoured with the unanimous ap- 

 plaufes of the vertuofi. They are remarkably ready 

 and excellent at imitation, copying being indeed beft 

 adapted to their phlegmatic genius. And what ren- 

 ders their exquifite performances ftill more admirable 

 is, that they are deftitute of many of the inftruments 

 and tools requifite to perform them with any tolerable 

 degree of accuracy. But, with thefe talents, they are fo 

 exceffively indolent and flothful, that, inftead of work- 

 ing, they often loiter about the llreets during the whole 

 day. The Indians, who are generally iLoemakers, 

 bricklayers, weavers, and the like, are not more in- 

 duftrious. Of thefe the moft active and tractable are 

 the barbers and phlebotomifts, who, in their refpec- 

 tive callings, are equal to the moft expert hands in Eu- 

 rope. The ftioemakers, on the other hand, diftinguifh 

 themfelves by fuch fupinenefs and floth,'that very of- 

 ten you have no other way left to obtain the fhoes 

 you have befpoke, than to procure materials, feize on 

 the Indian, and lock him up till they arc finiftied. 

 This is indeed partly owing to a wrong cuftom of 

 paying for the work before it is done ; and when the 

 Indian has once got the money, he fpends it all in 

 chicha *, fo that while it lafts he is never fob.er ; and 

 f A kind of beer or ale made of maize, and very intoxicating. 



S 4 it 



