344 CHARLES WILKES. 



or relatives, the law of custom would protect her 

 from discovery. In this dress, it is said, a wife will 

 pass her own husband when she may be walking 

 with her- lover, and the husband may make love to 

 his wife without being aware it is she. 



"The saya is a silk petticoat with numerous small 

 vertical plaits, containing about thirty yards of silk, 

 and costing fifty or sixty dollars. It is drawn in 

 close at the bottom of the dress, so that the wearer 

 is obliged to make very short steps, (ten inches.) 

 It is a little elastic, and conforms to the shape, 

 whether natural or artificial, from the waist down. 

 The manto is a kind of cloak of black silk. It is 

 fastened to the saya at the waist, and brought over 

 the head and shoulders from behind, concealing 

 every thing but one eye and one hand, in which is 

 usually seen a cross or whose fingers are well orna- 

 mented with jewels. Before the manto is arranged, 

 a French shawl of bright colors is thrown over the 

 shoulders, and brought between the openings of the 

 manto in front, hanging down nearly to the feet. 

 The loose saya is also much worn : this is not con- 

 tracted at the bottom, and in walking has a great 

 swing from side to side. 



"The walk of the Lima ladies is graceful and 

 pretty, and they usually have small feet and hands. 



"The houses are built of sun-burnt brick, cane, 



