41 



inhabitants, and the extreme neatness that 

 reigns throughout their habitations, reminded 

 us of the establishments of the Moravian Bre- 

 thren. Every Indian family cultivates, at some 

 distance from the village, beside it's own garden, 

 the conuco* of the community. In this the 

 adults of each sex work one hour in the morn- 

 ing, and one in the evening. In the missions 

 nearest the coast, the garden of the community 

 is generally a sugar or indigo plantation, under 

 the direction of the missionary ; and the pro- 

 duce of which; were the law strictly observed, 

 can be employed only for the support of the 

 church, and the purchase of the sacerdotal or- 

 naments. The great square of San Fernando, 

 in the centre of the village, contains the church, 

 the dwelling of the missionary, and that humble 

 edifice, which is pompously called the king's 

 house — Casa del Rey. This is a real caravan- 

 serai, destined to lodge travellers : and, as we 

 often experienced, infinitely valuable in a coun- 

 try, where the name of an inn is still unknown. 

 The Casas del Rey are to be found in all the 

 Spanish colonies, and may be deemed an imita- 

 tion of the tamboes of Peru, established according 

 to the laws of Manco Capac. 



We had been recommended to the friars, who 

 govern the Missions of the Chayma Indians, by 



* Conuco de le comuntdad. 



