the reverend fathers, and of the converted Indians, an hospital was established in the province of Caxamarquilla, at which a priest was stationed with the title of president, and whose duty it was to direct and superintend all the missionaries. By the means of these arrangements, and of the regulations adopted by the founders, the above tribes have been kept in peaceful obedience.
The Cholones Indians are corpulent, well made, and industrious. Their most common pursuits are agriculture, hunting, and fishing. Their wives cultivate cotton, which they spin and weave to clothe the family the husband nourishes. The Hibitos are less corpulent, and their wives comelier, more cleanly, and more liberal, than those of the Cholones, whose great quality is economy.
Their ordinary diet consists of wild boars, monkies, salt fish, plantains, mani,[1] yucas, and wild fruits. The dress of the Indians who inhabit the mountains differs from that of those who reside in the towns. The former simply cover themselves with a cuzma, or short cotton shirt reaching to the knees; but the latter add an outer garment, either of cotton or of coarse baize. The women wear a long cotton gown, reaching to the ancles, and confined by a band at the waist; over this garment they throw a mantle of baize. On festivals, and particular occasions, they are clad in a gown, made after the Spanish fashion; and this they likewise wear when they set out for the province of Patas, to carry to their husbands a supply of coca.[2] These Indians are in the constant habit of bathing in the rivers, before sunrise, with a view to the preservation of their health. The disease which makes the greatest havoc among them is the small pox; for which reason, as soon as the slightest symptom of its having broken out appears among them, they retire precipitately to the mountains, where they disperse themselves in every direction, and remain until they are certain that the disease has been extinguished. They are utter strangers to ambition, avarice, theft, and dissensions, which seem to be defects and vices inherent in a civilized state of society. In their stead, incontinence, and drunkenness, by which a rustic life is more particularly characterized, are very prevalent. The masato is their favourite drink.
- ↑ This fruit, which is of the size and shape of a pine-cone, is eaten either boiled, or as a conserve.—Ulloa's Voyage.
- ↑ The leaves of this plant, to which a slight reference has already been made, are chewed by the Indians, who, for that purpose, combine with them a kind of chalk, or whitish earth, called mambi. The coca is so highly nutritive and invigorating, that they are enabled by it to labour for entire days without taking any other nourishment. When they can no longer procure it, they find a gradual decay of strength. It is said by them to preserve the teeth from decay, and to fortify the stomach.—Ulloa's Voyage.
