130 THE MIXED RACES. [1839 



part of the population, but the zambos are lazy, sensual, and 

 vicious. 



The divers shades of blood, and the peculiar and distinct 

 characteristics, found among the different races composing 

 the population of Peru, have tended in a great measure to 

 produce the disaffection and turbulence which have so long 

 prevailed in the country. For many years, it has been every- 

 where known as 



"The field of freedom, faction, fame, and blood;" 



and it will, doubtless, continue to remain so, till the prejudice 

 of birth and caste is done away. Something has been already 

 gained in this respect, and we have much to hope for, so far 

 as regards the future, in the prevailing religion. The Cathol- 

 icism of Rome is a sad leveller of distinctions, out of the pale 

 of the church ; and its worship teaches — nowhere more forci- 

 bly than in Peru — the important truth, that there is a power 

 before which the hereditary taskmaster and the hereditary 

 bondsman are alike equal.* In Lima, when the great bell 

 of the cathedral announces the raising of the host, during the 

 performance of high mass, business and conversation of all 

 kinds are suspended; every sound is hushed ; the humble tire- 

 woman uncovers her head, and kneels beside the proud senora 

 whom she serves — and the old decrepit beggar utters the 

 same prayer with the haughty cavalier who bears a prince's 

 ransom on his shoulders. A similar effect is witnessed, at 

 evening, as the church bells sound for the orapion; and 

 when the prayers are ended, each one makes the sign of the 

 cross, and salutes his nearest neighbor, — 'whether he be slave 

 or freeman, rich or poor, — with the kindly greeting, " Buenas 

 noches !"t 



Until quite recently, the prevailing style of dress in Peru 

 was Spanish, blended, in the interior, and among the lower 



* The charter of Independence says that " no man is born a slave in Peru •," 

 but the National Congress have, practically, legislated to the contrary. There 

 are between four and five thousand negro slaves in Lima alone. 



| Good night ! 



