238 A VOYAGE TO Book VIII. 



sides. (Plate VII.) This is their dress in ail weatliers, 

 "whether walking or riding. The peasants, whom ti.ey 

 call Guasos, never pull it off but \\ hen they go to rest, 

 tucking it np in such a manner, that both their arms 

 and Mhole body are at full liberty either for labour 

 or diversion. This is an universal garb among all 

 ranks when they ride on horseback, an exercise very 

 common here; and the women are particularly famous 

 for their skill in horsemanship. 



This dress, though so plain and uniform in itself, 

 serves to distinguish the rard^ and quality of the 

 "wearer; as its price is proportional to the work on it. 

 Some wear it as a covering, some for decency, and 

 others for shew. Accordingly if those of the common 

 people cost only four or five dollars, others have stood 

 the owners in an hundred and hfty, or two hundred. 

 This difference arises from the fineness of the stuff', or 

 from the laces and embroidery, with which they are 

 decorated. They are of a double woollen stuff', ma- 

 nufactured by the Indians, and generally of a blue 

 colour, embroidered with red or white, sometimes in- 

 deed, the ground is white, embroidered with blue, 

 red, and other colours. 



The peasants arc suiprizingly dextrous in ma- 

 naging the noose and lance ; and it is very seldom, 

 that, though on full speed, they miss their aim with 

 the former. Accordingly these are their chief arms, 

 and they will halter a wild bull with the same agi- 

 lity as any other creature; nor could a man, how- 

 ever cautious, avoid being taken in their noose. I 

 shall relate an instance of their address, with regard 

 to an Englishman whom we knew at Lima, lie 

 was in the long-boat of a privateer, then lying in 

 Conception bay, intending to land at Talcaguano, 

 Avith a view of jjlundering the neighbouring villages; 

 but a body of the country militia made to the shore 

 in order to oppose them. Upon this, the English 

 iHivd upon them with their niusquetry, imagining 



that 



