Ch. VI. SOUTH AMERICA. 421 



ing to the happinefs of his conftitiition, than any re- 

 lief he receives. 



They are alfo fubjedl to the bicho, or mal del 

 valle; but this is foon cured. Sometimes, though 

 feldom, they are alfo feized with tabardillos, or fpot- 

 ted fevers, for which they have an expeditious but 

 fingular cure. The lay the patient near the fire, on 

 the two flieep-lkins whi^h compofe his bed ; and 

 clofe by him place a jug of chicha. The heat of the 

 fever, and that of the fire encreafing the other, caufe 

 in him fuch a thirft, that he is inceffantly drinking; 

 whereby the eruptions are augmented, and the next 

 morning he is either in a fair way of recovery, or fo bad 

 as to be carried off in a day or two. 



They who either efcape, or recover from thefe dif- 

 tempers, reach to an advanced age ; and both fexes 

 afford many indances of remarkable longevity. I 

 myfelf have known feveral, who, at the age of a hun- 

 dred, were ftill robuft and adive ; which unquefiion- 

 ably muft, in fome meafure, be attributed to the con- 

 ftant famenefs and fimplicity of their food. But I 

 muft obferve, that, befides the different kinds already 

 mentioned, they alfo ear a great deal of fait with agi, 

 gathering the pods of it ; and having put fome fait in 

 the mouth, they bite the agi, and afterwards eat fome 

 niachca or camcha : and thus they continue taking 

 one after another, till they are fatisfied. They are lo 

 fond of fair in this manner of eating it, that they 

 prefer a pod or two of agi with fome fait to any 

 other food. 



After this account of the genius, cuflom^s, and 

 qualities of the Indians, it will not be improper to 

 fpeak a word or two of their diverfions and occupa- 

 - tions, premifing, that this account does not extend to 

 fuch Indians as live in cities and towns, or that oc- 

 cupy any public oHice or trade, they being looked 

 i^pon as ufefui to the public, and live independently. 

 Others in the kingdom of Quito are employed in the 



E e 3 manufac- 



