52 A VOYAGE TO Book VII 



perfectly answerable. This cavalcade is very pompous, 

 bfiiig; pretcded bv the two companies of horse-guards, 

 thelialberdicrs, followed by the members of the tribu- 

 nals in their coaches, the viceroy's retinue, and the 

 nobility of both sexes. 



On twelfth-day in the morning, and the preceding 

 evening, the viceroy rides on horseback through tlie 

 town, MÍíh the royal standard carried in great pomp 

 before him. This is performed in commemoration of 

 the buikling of the city, which, as we have already 

 observed, was begun on this day ; solemn vespers are 

 sung in the cathedral, and a mass celebrated ; and the 

 ceremony is concluded with a cavalcade, like that on 

 new-year's dav. 



The alcaldes chosen for the current year, give pub- 

 lic entertainments in their houses, each three nights suc- 

 cessively ; but that the feasts of one might not interfere 

 Avith those of another, and occasion i>esentments, they 

 agree for one to hoid his feasts the three days immedi- 

 ately succeeding the election, and the other on twelfth- 

 day and the two following. Thus each has a great num- 

 ber of guests, and the entertainments are more splen- 

 did and sumptuous. The other feasts in the course of 

 the year, are not inferior to these either with regard to 

 numbers or expence; at least the number of them must 

 excite a hiiih idea of the wealth and maoniiicence of 

 JLima 



CHAP. V. 



Of the Inhahitanls of Lima. 



HAVING, in ouraccountsof several townsthrough 

 which Vtc passed to Lima, included also the in- 

 habitants, we shall observe the same ruie with regard 

 to Lim.i'; for though amidst such an iniinite variety of 

 customs, there is always soiue resemblance between 

 those of neigbboi;ri;ig people, >el the düieicnce is also 

 consi.u r:-\bie, and no v\ here more so than on tois conti- 

 ucui;, where ii doubiless anscs from the great üisi anee 



be I v, ten 



