402 AVOYAGETO Book VL 



years. Some particulars in this narrative will de- 

 monftrate that they ftill retain a few fparks of the in- 

 duftry and capacity of the ancient Indians of Peru ; 

 whilft others will fhew that they are utterly deftitute 

 of the knowledge of certain fciences which were com- 

 mon among their anceftors and that they are equally 

 degenerated from their wifdom in making laws, and 

 their regular obfervance of them. 



It is no eafy tafk to exhibit a true picture of the 

 cultoms and inclinations of the Indians, and precifely 

 difplay their genius and real turn of mind for if 

 confidered as part of the human fpecies, the nar- 

 row limits of their underftanding feem to clafh with 

 the dignity of the foul : and fuch is their ftupidity, 

 that in certain particulars one can can fcarce forbear 

 entertaining an idea that they are really beafts, and even 

 deftitute of that inftindt we obferve in the brute crea- 

 tion. While in other refpe6ts, a more comprehenfivc 

 judgement, better-digefted fchemes, and conduced 

 with greater fubtilty, are not to be found than among 

 thefe people. This difparity may miflead the moil 

 difcerning perfon : for fhould he form his judgement 

 from their firft a6lions, he muft neceffarily conclude 

 them to be a people of the greateft penetration and 

 vivacity. But v*/hen he refledls on their rudenefs, the 

 abfurdity of their opinions, and their beaftly manner 

 of living, his ideas muft take a different turn, and re- 

 prefent them in a degree little above brutes. 



Such is the difpofirion of the Indians, that if their 

 indifference to temporal things did not extend itfelf 

 alfo to the eternal, they might be faid to equal the 

 liappinefs of the golden age, of which the ancient 

 poets have given fuch inchanting defcriptions. They 

 poffefs a tranquillity immutable, either by fortunate 

 or unfortunate events. In their mean apparel they 

 are as contented as the monarch cloathed with the 

 moft fp lend id inventions of luxury : and fo far are 

 they from entertaining a deftre for better or more 

 7 com- 



