388 NOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS.

NOTE LIV. p. 270.

_As labor of this kind cannot be prefcribed with legalaccuracy, the talks feem to be in a great meafure arbitrary,and like the fervices exacted by feudal fuperiors , in viiteaprato aut mejfe , from their vaffals, are extremely burden-forne, and often wantonly oppreftive. Pegna, Itiner. potParochos de lndios.

NOTE LV. p. 270.

The turn of fervice known in Peru by the name ofMita , is called Taw da in New Spain. There it continuesno longer than a week at a time. No perfon is called toferve at a greater diftance from his habitation than 24miles. This arrangement is lefs opprelfive to the Indiansthan that eftablifhed in Peru . Memorial of Hern. CarilioAltamirano. Colbert, Collect.

NOTE LVI. p. 27?.

^JL'HE ftrongeft proof of this may be deduced from thelaws themfelves. By the multitude and variety of regulationsto prevent abufes, we may form an idea of the numberof abufes that prevail. Though the laws have, wifely,provided that no Indian fhall be obliged to ferve in anymine at a greater diftance from his place of residence thanthirty miles; we are informed in a memorial of D. HernanCarilio Altamirano prefented to the king, that the Indiansof Peru are often compelled to ferve in mines at thediftance of a hundred , a hundred and fifty, and even twohundred leagues from their habitation. Colbert, Collect.Many mines are fituated in parts of the country , fo bar-ren, and fo diftant from the ordinary habitations of theIndians, that the neceffity of procuring laborers to work