230 



the features is not peculiar to every race of 

 men of a very dark complexion : it is much 

 less apparent in the African, than in the natives i 

 of America. 



To this physical sketch of the Chaymas we 

 shall add a few summary remarks on their 

 manner of living, and on their morals. Unac- 

 quainted with the language of the people, I 

 do not pretend to have penetrated their cha- 

 racter during my short abode in the Missions. 

 Whenever I speak of the Indians. I shall add 

 what we heard from the missionaries to the 

 little we observed ourselves. 



The Chaymas, like all savage people, who 

 dwell in regions excessively hot, have an insu- 

 perable aversion to clothing. The writers of 

 the middle age inform us, that in the north 

 of Europe the shirts and drawers, distributed 

 by the missionaries, greatly contributed to the 

 conversion of the Pagan. Under the torrid 

 zone, on the contrary, the natives are ashamed 

 as they say to be clothed; and flee to the woods, 

 when they are too soon compelled to give up 

 their nakedness. Among the Chaymas, in spite 

 of the remonstrances of the monks, men and 

 women remain naked within their houses. 

 When they traverse the village, they wear a 

 kind of tunic of cotton, which scarcely reaches 

 to the knees. It is furnished with sleeves for 

 the men : but the women, and the young boys 



