L28 THE WHITE CREOLES. [1839. 



ing drink's. The wealthy devote their whole time to idleness 

 and amusement, and the poor, who are compelled to earn 

 their own livelihood, pursue some light handicraft, which will 

 afford them plenty of leisure for gossip and recreation. 



But what Nature has denied to the men, she has bestowed, 

 with a liberal hand, upon the Creole women. In the streets 

 of Lima, at almost every hour of the day, you may discover 

 rich and rare specimens of female loveliness and beauty. The 

 fair Limefia can boast of a complexion of velvety softness 

 white and clear as the purest Parian marble, and beneath 

 whose polished surface the delicate tracery of each vein and 

 artery is distinctly visible. Eye-brows exquisitely pencilled, 

 and long silken lashes, shade a pair of orbs dark as the moon- 

 less night, that charm and fascinate, alike when kindling 

 in anger, or glowing with the fire of an unworthy passion, as 

 when beaming with the blessed light of an honest and holy 

 love. Masses of luxuriant hair, black as the plumage of the 

 raven, fall in long wavy plaits down the finely arched neck, 

 and over the nicely rounded bust and shoulders. Teeth of 

 pearly whiteness, a form of small but elegant proportions, and 

 a neatly turned foot and ankle, complete the picture, and 

 form a tout ensemble not often seen in other climes, and, 

 when once seen, not easily forgotten. 



To these personal attractions must be added, a captivating 

 deportment, ease and grace of manners, amiability of temper, 

 and, generally speaking, a far greater degree of intelligence 

 than is found in the other sex. The glowing breath of the 

 tropics, indeed, has given to every passion and emotion, a 

 depth and intensity not common in colder countries, and if 

 the Peruvian seiiorita hates, the feeling is not idly manifested ; 

 but if she loves, it is with an unselfish abandon, a generous 

 and trustful confidence, and a whole-souled devotion, that 

 \ould startle the prudishness of northern dames and belles. 

 One knowing anything of the national character, would not 

 be apt to fancy that the Creole women were notable house- 

 keepers. In fact, almost everything is left to the domestics, 

 particularly in Lima ; and but little attention is paid to clean- 



