the Soiith-Sem 



c As ic lias been found by long Experience, that the 

 c Commerce of ihs Spaniards is very prejudicial to the In* 

 € dians, either in regard that they treat them very; fe- 

 * verely, putting them to hard Labour, or that they lean- 

 c dalize them by their licentious and diforderly Life; a 

 c Decree has been obtain' d from his Catholick Majefty, 

 c forbidding all Spaniards to enter that Miffion of the Moxos^ 

 c or to have any Communication with the Indians it is 

 c compofed of; fo that, if through NecefTity, or by Ac- 

 c cident, any Spaniard comes into that Country, the Father 

 c MifTioners 3 after having charitably received him, and 

 c exercifed the Rights of Ghriftian Hofpitality, fend him 

 4 afterwards into the Countries belonging to the Spaniards. 

 This is a fpecious Pretence; but the Example of Paraguay 

 feems to difcover another End; for it is known that the 

 faid Society have made themfelves Matters of a great: 

 Kingdom^ lying between Brazil and the River of Plate^ 

 where they have fettled fo good a Government, that the 

 Spaniards have never been able to penetrate* into it, tho* 

 the Governors of Buenos Ayres have madefeveral Attempts^ 

 by Order of the Court of Spain. In fhort, befides their 

 good Difcipline, they have got among them Europeans to 

 make Arms, and all other Trades necefifary in a Common- 

 wealth, who have taught others of the Natives. They 

 breed up the Youth as is done in Europe, teaching them 

 Latin, Mufick, Dancing, and other proper Exercifes, as 

 1 have been told from good Hands. I do not defcend to 

 the Particulars of that Government, of which I can only 

 fpeak by Hear-fay, and muftu avoid deviating from my 

 Stibjeft. 



The Curates are but one half of the Misfortune of the 

 Indians of Peru-) the Corregidores or Governors treat them 

 in the harfheft manner, as they have always done 3 not- 

 withftanding the Prohibitions of the King of Spain. Her- 

 rera, An. 1551, fays, 'The King commanded, that no Vice-* 

 roy, or other Minifter Jhould male ufe of the Service of In- 

 dians, without paying them their Wages. The fame Author- 



M m again 3 M 



