Ch. VL SOUTH AMERICA. 40J 



comfortable cloathing, that they give themfelves no 

 manner of concern about lengthening their own, though 

 half their bodies continue naked* They fhew the 

 like difregard for riches; and even that authority or 

 grandeur within their reach is fo little the objeA of 

 their ambition, that to all appearance it is the fame 

 thing to an Indian, whether he be created an alcalde, 

 or forced to perform the office of a common execu- 

 tioner. 



And thus reciprocal efteem among them is neither 

 heightened nor lefiened by fuch circumftances. The 

 fame moderation appears in their food, never defiring 

 more than what fuffices ; and they enjoy their coarfe 

 fimple diet with the fame complacency as others do 

 their well-furnifhed tables. Nor do I indeed queftion 

 but if they had their choice of either, they would pre- 

 fer the latter ; but at the fame time they ihew fo little 

 concern for the enjoyments of life, as nearly ap- 

 proaches to a total contempt of them : in fhort, the 

 mod fimplcj, mean, and eafieft preparation, feems beft 

 adapted to their humour. 



Nothing can move them, or alter their minds ; 

 even intereft here lofes all its power ; it being com- 

 mon for them to decline doing; fome little a6l of fer- 

 vice, though offered a very confiderable reward. Fear 

 cannot ftimulate, refpe6l induce, nor puniPiiment com-' 

 pel them. They are indeed of a very fmgular turn *, 

 proof againft every attempt to roufe them from their 

 natural indolence, in which they feera to look down 

 with contempt on the wifeft of mortals : fo firmly 

 bigoted to their own grofs ignorance, that the wifeR: 

 meafures to improve their underftanding have been 

 rendered abortive fo fond of their fimplicity and in- 

 dolence, that all the efforts and attention of the 

 moft vio:ilant have mifcarried. But in order to eive 

 a clearer idea of their tempers, we fhall relate fome 

 particular inltances of their genius and cuftoms •, as 



D d 2 odier-T 



