Page:Guatimala or the United Provinces of Central America in 1827-8.pdf/236

231 Englishmen, is far too great to allow of its continuance. In this case, the old plans must probably be once more resorted to, since the prejudices of the natives will oppose an insuperable obstacle to the introduction of new ones. Yet still the difficulties of the undertaking will be considerable, and if; with the many advantages the Spaniards possessed, as despots of the soil, they could gain but little, our superior energy and skill is not sufficient to produce results so brilliant as have been supposed.

The Europeans of Guatimala, steadily assert that the Indians were not forced to work in the mines contrary to their inclination; but a few lines which we find in Juarros, who is at least an unexceptionable witness on this point, proves the contrary to be the fact. He says in alluding to the Alcalde-Mayor, who was appointed for the purpose of superintending the working of the mines, and receiving the king's fifths: “This officer was invested with plenary jurisdiction both in civil and criminal matters, within the boundaries of the mines, and had the power of compelling a fourth part of the Indians, within a circuit of twelve leagues, to work in them.”

With privileges such as these, it is truly surprising, that the Spaniards, while extracting wealth from Mexico and Peru, should have failed to enrich themselves from mines so flatteringly