knowledge of government business; whether with
a right conscience, God knows. There are others who have great
cleverness for the management of a suit between litigants; and are
so keen in entangling the parties that they cannot be disentangled
with their laws, and recourse can be had to God alone. There are
at present some of them who are printers, and they have sufficient
intelligence. In their own political and civil government I have
seen many Indians who are very capable, and who can discourse so
powerfully, with their natural logic, that they convince. But as
it is natural for them to be concerned only about the present time,
they need some one to direct them so that they may not make any error
in what they discuss. In short, their understandings are fastened
with pins and attached always to material things, for they do not
understand things with any depth. I believe that this is the reason
why there is so little fruit produced from the constant repetition
of sermons; for they are perplexed with abundant instruction, or
else do not understand it. And although the sermon be very clear, and
preached in their own native language, not one of them can yet repeat
the substance of what he hears, although he understands it when it is
preached. They are, however, very clever at handiwork, because of their
great indifference in everything. On that account they can play well
on all musical instruments; and their inclination for music is very
great, and they make instruments. There are good singers among them,
and these have positions, with a fitting salary attached, in all the
churches, from the cathedral to the poorest ministry; and thus they
are being trained, from the time when they sing soprano. They are
fond of verses and representations. They are excellent translators,
and can translate a Spanish comedy with elegance into verses of
their own language. And thus, although all, both men and women, are
fond of reading, they are indefatigable when verses are concerned,
and they will act them out as they read them. Accordingly it results
that they are clever for all things, in whatever duty they are set;
and they would be more so if they were less lazy, or if their greed for
temporal possessions were greater. On this account, they have always
been, are, and will be poor, without caring for more than the food of
the present day. I do not know whether this is a special providence
of God for these poor wretches; for when they hav