1839.] FORTIFICATIONS. 119 



veneration to the shrines of their ancestors, they lack the 

 spirit to preserve them from the ravages of premature decay ; 

 their peculiar traits and characteristics as a people are fast 

 disappearing ; their trade is in the hands of foreign merchants ; 

 and their government, nominally a republic, is, in fact, the 

 worst kind of oligarchy. 



Formerly, the city wall of Lima had nine gates. But six 

 of these are now open, the remainder having been walled up. 

 At each of the gates is stationed a custom-house guard, 

 mainly to prevent the introduction of unstamped silver. The 

 wall was also designed for a fortification, and was once put 

 in a condition to be mounted with artillery. It is now en- 

 tirely valueless in this respect, and the only work of defence 

 really worthy the name, is the pretty little castle of Santa 

 Catalina, at the eastern side of the city, between the gates 

 of Cocharcas and Guadelupe, and about two hundred yards 

 from the wall. The castle is flanked by two bastions, and 

 its internal arrangements exhibit more of cleanliness and 

 regularity than are usually met with. 



Few of the private houses in Lima are more than one 

 story high, and those exceeding that have the upper walls of 

 cane, or wattled reeds, plastered over with clay, and white- 

 washed or painted. The lower walls are usually built of 

 adobes. The better class of dwellings correspond with one 

 another in the style of building. The fronts are mostly quite 

 plain, but occasionally a house may be seen with a finely 

 ornamented facade. There are two doors in front : one called 

 the azagiian, forming the principal entrance, and the other 

 leading to the cochera, or coach-house. Above the door to the 

 cochera, or on the side of the main door, there is often a small 

 chamber, with a window, closed by a wooden railing, looking 

 towards the street. At this window the ladies of the family 

 frequently place themselves, to see and be seen, and if young 

 and pretty, to be admired, even if they do not admire in their 

 turn. Entering the azaguan, you find yourself in a broad 

 court, called the patio, on either side of which there are small 

 rooms Faring the azaguan is the main dwelling-house, 



