Ch.VI. south AMERICA. 415 



little ftrefs is to be laid on what they fay. The na- 

 tural dread, which more or lefs rifes in all men at the 

 approach of death, is what the Indians are lefs fufcepti- 

 ble of thap any other people. Their contempt of 

 thofe eviH, which make the ftrongeft impreffions on 

 the minds of men, is fuch, that they view the approach 

 of death without perturbation : and the pain of the 

 diftemper afFedts them more than the danger of it. 

 This I have often heard from feveral of the priefts : 

 and their words are confirmed by daily inftances. For 

 when the priefts perform the laft offices to dying per- 

 fons, their anfwers are delivered with that compofure 

 and ferenity, as leave no doubt but the inward ftats 

 of their mind correfponds with thefe external ap- 

 pearances, being the principal and caufe of them. 

 The like is even feen in thoie whom their crimes have 

 brought to die by the hands of juftice; and among 

 mapy other examples, I happened myfelf to be an 

 cye-witnefs of one. Whilft I was at Quito, two male- 

 fadlors were to be executed one a Meftizo or Mu- 

 latto, and the other an Indian : both having been 

 brought into the prifon-chapel, I went to fee them 

 the night before the execution. The former was at- 

 tended by feveral priefts, who, in Spanifli, exhorted 

 him to die like a Chriftian, and fhew a becoming 

 fervor in his love to God, faith, and contrition, and a 

 deteftation for the crimes he had committed. On 

 which, his afpedl and whole deportment fhewed a 

 fenfe of his condition. The Indian had alio ec- 

 clefiaftics about him, performing, in his own lan- 

 guage, the like kind offices. But to all appearance 

 ne was lefs concerned even than thofe about him, and 

 feemed rather to be tilling a chacura, or tending a 

 herd, than on the eve of eternity. His appetite was 

 fo far from leaving him, as was the cafe of his com- 

 panion, that he was more eager, and, after difpatching 

 his own, would have cleared his fellow-fuiferer's 

 platq ; fo that they were obliged to ufe Ibme force to 



prevent 



