410 A V O Y A G E T O Book VI. 



Qiiichua, vihich was eftablifhed by the yncas, with 

 an order for its being propagated all over the vaft 

 empire, that all their fubjeds might be able to un- 

 derlland each other ; and therefore was diftinguifhed 

 by the name of the Yncas language. Some under- 

 ftand the Spanifh, and fpeak it yet very few have the 

 good nature to anfwer in it, though they know at the 

 fame time, that the perfon with whom they are con- 

 verfmg cannot underftand them in Quichua. Nor 

 is it of any confequence to defire and prefs them to 

 explain themfelves in Spanifh, for this they abfolute- 

 ly refufe : whereas it is quite otherwife with the In- 

 dians born and bred in the towns ; for, if fpoken to 

 in their own language, they are fure to anfwer in the' 

 Spanifh. 



Superstition is general among them ; and they 

 all, more or lefs, pretend to fortune-telling. This 

 weaknefs is alfo of a long {landing among them : and 

 which neither the remonftrances of the priefts, nor 

 their own experience, can radically cure. Thus they 

 employ artifices, fuppofed charms, and ftrange com- 

 poiitions, in order to obtain fome vifionary happi- 

 nefs for the fuccefs of a favourite fcheme, or other 

 weighty concern. In thefe preftiges their minds are 

 fo infatuated, that, to bring them to a fight of the 

 folly and wickednefs of fuch practices, and folidly to 

 embrace the Chrillian religion, is a work of thegreateft 

 difficulty. And even when they have embraced it, 

 are fo fuperficial and fickle, that, if they attend divine 

 fervice on Sundays and holidays^ it is merely from 

 fear of punifhment ; for otherwife there would be 

 fcarce one Indian, efpecially of the meaner fort, 

 among the whole congregation. Pertinent to this, I 

 lhajl relate, among many other inflances, the follow^ 

 ing flory, told me by a priefl. An Indian had, for 

 fome time, abfented himfelf from the fervice of the 

 church and the priefl being informed that it was 

 owing to his drinking early in the morning, on the 



following 



