ULLOA’s-VOYAGE TO SOUTH AMERICA.
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from them that, under a pretence of the excurfions of the Portuguefe, who ufed tofeize thefe Indians and make them woik in their miries, and of the favage Indians whofurrounded them in a manner on all fides, the fathers have taught them the ufe ofarms, make them fpend their holidays in military exercifes, have a large body of well-difciplined troops, magazines well furnifhed with military ftores, together with millsand other neceffary machines for making their own gunpowder. They likewife let usknow that, to prevent the manners of their difciples from being corrupted, the Jefuitsexclude them entirely from all communication with ftrangers, whether Europeans orIndians, and fuffer none to enter into their miffions, who may report either the ftrengthor the weaknefs of their condition, or penetrate into the myfteries of their policy.
BOOK I.
Reafonsfor this Voyage ; Navigation from the Bay of Cadiz to Carthagena in Ameriea, and
a Defcription of the latter.
CHAP. I. — Motives of this Voyage to South America , with Remarks on the Navigation
r pHE heart of man is naturally inclined to attempt things, the advantages of which ap-pear to increafe in proportion to the difficulties which attend them. It fpares no pains,it fears no danger in attaining them ; and inftead of being diverted from its purpofe, isanimated with frefh vigour by oppofition. The glory infeparable from arduous enter-prifes is a powerful incentive, which raifes the mind above itfelf; the hope of advan-tages determines the will, diminifhes dangers, alleviates hardffiips, and levels obftacles,which otherwife would appear unfurmountable. Defire and refolution are not, however,always fufficient to enfure fuccefs ; and the beft-concerted meafures are not always prof-perous. Divine Providence, whofe over-ruling and incomprehenfible determinationsdireft the courfe of human actions, feems to have prefcribed certain limits, beyoitdwhich all our attempts are vain. The caufes his infinite wifdom has thought proper toconceal from us, and the refult of fuch a conduct, is rather an object] of our reverencethan fpeculation. The knowledge of the bounds of human underftanding, a difcreetamufement and exercife of our talents for the demonftration of truths which are only tobe attained by a continual and extenfive ftudy, which rewards the mind with tranquillityand pleafure, are advantages worthy of our higheft efteem, and objefts which cannotbe too much recommended. In all times the defire of enlightening others by fomenew difcovery has roufed the induflry of man, and engaged him in laborious refearches,and by that means proved the principal fource of the improvement of the fciences.
Things which have long baffled fagacity and application, have fometimes been dif-coveied by chance. The firmeft refolution has often been difcouraged by the infuper-
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