Indian Vices  (IN THE PERSONA OF FATHER OCH)

By nature Indians are very lazy and sworn enemies of work. They prefer to suffer hunger than to fatigue themselves with agriculture. Therefore, they must be forced to do this by their superiors. With six industrious Europeans one can do more in one day than fifty Indians —Joseph Och , Missionary in Sonora: Travel Reports of Joseph Och, S.J., 1755-1767 Mining: The Indian is naked, swinging quarter to half hundredweight steel-edged crowbars. He climbs beams with notches set step by step, carrying ore in plaited baskets on his shoulders. They are given one half-bushel of maize per week. This is their payment unless they have a family– then they are given two half-bushels. Two men using a wheelbarrow could haul out more than can thirty lazy Indians working an entire day.