LOS SENDEROS DE LA IDOLATRíA: EL VIAJE DE VáZQUEZ DE ESPINOSA POR LOS ALTOS DE ARICA, 1618

this article examines a colonial description of the area known as the altos de arica, produced by the carmelite friar antonio vázquez de espinosa in his "compendio y descripción de las indias occidentales ". the text essentially constitutes a sample of 17th century scientific literature about the new world which possesses ethical undertones ofthe spiritual conquest ofthe lndians. although detailed, the chronicler's descriptions have been questioned. in spite of its possible limitations, vázquez de espinosa 's observations convey valuable information regarding the state oflndian conversión inandean communities ofthe corregimiento of arica. the abandonded state ofparochial churches, the absence ofprelates or high ranking church officials, and the deplorable state oflndian conversión show that, in spite of the efforts by the colonial church, indigenous populations still managed to hold on to their traditional religious practices.