Visit ilmancaes — Fauciti) of Amusements — Bull-Fights. 397 



elegant iron railing richly ornamented. In the winter season, 

 more particularly (June to September), this beautiful prome- 

 nade is in great request, when, after a few heavy falls of dew, 

 the hills and valleys of the environs are covered with verdure 

 of the most delicate shades, and the residents of the capital 

 wander through the lovely glades of Amancaes, which is so 

 overrun with the yellow blossoms of the Amaryllis (Ismene 

 Ilamancaes of Herbert), that this line plant has given its name 

 to the whole valley. On such occasions quite a colony of 

 booths is extemporized, where eatables and di'inkables are 

 consumed, and giants and dwarfs, panoramas and art-saloons, 

 are thronged with visitors, while ballad-singers, musicians, 

 rope-dancers, mountebanks, jugglers, gamblers, and thieves, 

 are never weary of plying their various trades, to the light- 

 ening of the pm'ses of the pleasure-seeking crowds. 



Of public amusements and places of resort there are but 

 few in Lima, and these not of a very refined description. The 

 theatre is an old and downright ugly building, where Spanish 

 comedians play indifferent pieces. An Italian operatic com- 

 pany proved a failure owing to want of subscribers, even the 

 highest talent barely succeeding in gaining sufficient to charter 

 a ship to carry the b^oupe back to Europe. The sole amuse- 

 ment, which never fails to collect a delighted multitude, is a bull- 

 fight. These come off at intervals during the summer in the 

 Plaza del Acho, in an uncovered amphitheatre specially built 

 for the purpose, and constructed of sun-dried brick. On these 

 days all Lima is in a state of excitement, and an incalculable 



