Ch Y. SOUTH AMERICA. 61 



With reo-ard to the persons of the women of 

 Lima, thev are, in general, of a middlino; stature, 

 handsome, genteel, and of very fair coinplexions 

 Mitboiit (lie help of art; the beauty of their hair 

 has been airead) mentioned, but they have usually an 

 enchanting lustre and dignity in their eyes. 



TuEgE personal charms are heightened by those of 

 the mind : clear and comprehensive inteileets ; aa 

 easiness of behaviour, so well tempered, that whilst it 

 invites love, it commands respect; the charms of 

 their conversation are beyond expression ; their ideas 

 just, their expressions pure, their manner inimitably 

 graceful. Tliese are the allurements by which great 

 numbers of Europeans, forgetting the fair prospects 

 they have at home, are induced to marry and settle 

 here. 



One material objection against them is, that being 

 too well acquainted with their own excellences, they 

 are tainted with a liaughtiaess, v/hich vv^ill scarce sioopp 

 to the will of their hiisbaads. Yet by their add res.s 

 and insinuating compliance, they so far gain the 

 ascendancy over them, as to be left to their owii 

 discretion. There may, indeed, a few exceptions be 

 found ; but these possibly are rather owing to a want 

 of capacity. Another objection may be made io 

 their being more expensive than other ladies : but 

 tiiis arises from the exorbitant price of stuffs, laces, 

 and other commodities, in this country. And with 

 regard to the independance they ailect, it is no 

 more than a custom long established in the country. 

 To which may be added, that being natives, and 

 their husbands generally foreigners, it is very natu- 

 ral, that the latter should not enjoy all that autho- 

 rity, founded on la,\s superior to custom ; and hence 

 this error remains uncorrected. Tlie liusbands con- 

 form to the manners of the country, as their cha- 

 racter is not in the least aifectcd thereby ; and this 

 coujplaioancs Í3 resvardud by tlie discretion and ailec- 



tioii 

 1 



