62 A VOYAGE TO Boox VII. 



tion of their ladies, v.hich arc not to be paralleled in 

 any other part of the vorld. 



TiiEY are so excessively fond of perfumes, that 

 they always carry anihergrÍFC' about them; putting 

 it behind their ears, and other parts of the body ; 

 and also in several parts of their cloaths. Not con- 

 tent with the natural fragrancy of flowers, which 

 are also a favourite ornament, they scatter perfumes 

 even on their nose^avs. The most beautiful flowers 

 they place in their hair, and others whi»;h are most 

 "Valuable for their odour they stick in their sleeves ; 

 the elliuvia therefore issuing; from these ladies, the 

 reader will conceive to reacli to no inconsiderable dis- 

 tance. The flower most in use is the chirimoya, of 

 mean appearance, but of exquisite scent. 



To this passion for flo\^ers it h owing, that the 

 grand square, every morning, on account of the 

 vast quantity of beautiful vegetables brought thither, 

 has the appearance of a spacious garden. The smell 

 and the sight are there suííiciently gratified. The la- 

 dies resort thilher in their calashes, and if their fancy 

 happens to be pleased, they make but little difíi- 

 culty with regard to the price. A stranger has the 

 pleasure of sccing-assenibled here not only the ladies, 

 but every body of rank m hose health and avocations 

 will admit of it. 



The lower classes of women, even to the very 

 negroes, affect, according to their abilities, to imi- 

 tate their betters, not only in the fashion of their 

 dress, but also in the richness of it. None here are 

 seen without shoes as at Quito, but tliey are made of 

 so smull a .size, in order to diminish the natural big- 

 ness of the ivei, that they must give inhnite uneasiness 

 in tiie wearing. A desire of being distinguished by 

 an elegant dress is universal. Their linen is always 

 starched to a great degree, in order to display the 

 costly patterns of their laces. Alter this universal 

 passion, their ne.xt care, and indeed a much more 



com- 



