Ch.IV. south AMERICA. 361 



jndice its fale. Thus the fruits rot on the trees, or 

 are eat by monkies or other creatures. 



At the time of its firft difcovery, and the fucceed- 

 ing conqueft, this country was in great repute for its 

 riches ; and not undefervedly, vaft quantities of gold 

 being brought from it. But thefe gains were fooa 

 brought to a period by the revolt of the Indians, 

 though in the opinion of many, who look upon thofe 

 people to be a part of the human fpecies no lefs than 

 themfeives, the infurredion was owing to the exceffive 

 rigour of the Spaniards, in making them work in the 

 mines under inlupportable fatigues. At prefent, all 

 the gold colleded here is by Indians wafhing the fands 

 of the rivers during the time of the inundations and 

 thus find gold duft, or fmall grains of gold, with 

 which they pay the tributes, and purchafe neceifaries ; 

 and they make fo little account of this metal, that, 

 though by a proper induftry they might get a con- 

 fiderable quantity, it is only the poorefl; Indians that 

 live near the fettlements who pradlife it : as for the 

 independent Indians, they give themfeives no concern 

 about it. 



The jurifdidion of this government produces in 

 particular vaft quantities of tobacco ; the cultivation 

 of it indeed is the chief occupation of all the inhabi- 

 tants. After fteeping the plant in hot mead, or de« 

 codlions of fragrant herbs, in order to improve its 

 flavour, and the better to prefcrve its ftrength, it is 

 dried, and tied up in the form of a fauciffon, each of 

 a hundred leaves. Thus it is exported into Peru, all 

 over the province of Qtiito, and the kingdom of 

 Chili, where no other is ufed for fmoaking, in cornets 

 of paper, according to the cuftom of ail thefe coun- 

 tries. This great vogue it owes to the mianner of pre- 

 paring the leaves, which gives it a particular relifh 

 and a flrength to its fiioke, that is very agreeable to 

 thofe who are fond of that amufement. The country 

 alfo produces a great deal of cottony likewife large 



breeds 



