LIMA. 437 



more northern port. Those from Guayaquil are usually regarded an the beat both in sue and 

 flavor. Some are grown in the interior valleys, but cannot be brought to market in as good condi- 

 tion as those by sea. Although the supply of flowers is large, both in color and perfection of form 

 tin v are greatly inl< rir to the productions of similar plants found in gardens of the United 

 States, unless perhaps the tuberose and a marigold may be excepted. Roses, single dahlias, 

 two or three varieties of scabius, pinks, larkspurs, sweet marjoram, and several kinds of mari- 

 golds, uro among the most numerous; but there are also annuals of great beauty that I never 

 saw in the United States. Wherever there is the least moisture by the roadsides, yellow and 

 scarlet nasturtiums and Scotch thistles grow profusely ; and about crevices on the rocky hills 

 at the back of the city I found a very pretty oxalis, an ice-plant, a long and tapering cactus in 

 flower, and several other species unknown to me. The castor-oil plant (Ilicinus communia) 

 seems to thrive everywhere. Among the indigenous plants superior to those of the same 

 varieties cultivated by our florists are a scarlet convolvulus and the white garden jasmin. The 

 Amancaes, a beautiful yellow lilly, is already a favorite amongst us. They flower after the 

 winter mists have commenced, usually by the 20th of June ; and the anniversary of St. John 

 the 24th is the festival of Amancaes, when half the populace leave Lima to spend the day in 

 merry-making on the hill of that name. 



Nor does ocean yield her treasures for the wants of man less liberally, but amply rewards the 

 fisherman for his exercise of the patient craft, and the market exhibits many species of the finny 

 tribe. Corvinas (Pristipomas) , bonitos (Pelamys), pejereys (Atherinas), sardines, shrimps, and 

 two or three kinds of mytilus, are all most valuable accessions to the table. Were animals pro- 

 perly slaughtered, and the meats appropriately dressed and exhibited, they would doubtless 

 look as well as they taste when subsequently cooked. But they are abominably hacked and muti- 

 lated, then placed on dirty benches in ugly lumps, and disposed of by slouchy and unclean 

 Indian or negro women. Therefore, even after one duly obtains insurance against being eaten 

 alive by dogs and fleas, if he have delicate digestive organs a walk through the meat market 

 before breakfast is scarcely commendable. Mutton and beef are most abundant; pork is rare; 

 veal, lamb, and young pigs are prohibited. The daily demand is from forty to fifty head of 

 neat cattle, and two hundred and fifty sheep ; portions of each of which are sold at smaller 

 markets in other quarters of the city. 



In so brief a visit it would be difficult to obtain accurate knowledge on all the subjects it is 

 desirable to examine; or, indeed, to obtain any information at all on some of them, except such 

 as vision and a habit of memorial classification will permit one to accumulate. Among such 

 subjects may be mentioned population, in its various classes and their industrial resources, data 

 essential to a proper estimate of a city's progress. Inquiries respecting the aggregate number 

 within the city limits in October, 1849, obtained pretty uniform replies 60,000 souls; but as to 

 the relative proportions of natives (Indians), Creole whites, and negroes, and the several castes 

 arising from the three races, there was but one response to my query quien sabe? and who 

 indeed does know? Indians of unmixed blood are numerous, and are unmistakable with their 

 nearly universal short and stout frames, high cheek-bones, and straight black hair. Spanish 

 lineage, also, is ordinarily well marked ; but intermarriage with descendants of their Norman 

 neighbors, and crossings with Indian blood, have rendered their class less distinctive, both in 

 color and physiognomy. Foreigners may be readily detected by their accent; and even though 

 the color of the skin might place them among offspring of original white or copper-colored 

 parents, negroes are betrayed by their hair and lips. Yet how many there are of each it 

 seemed impossible to make any estimate of, with probable approximation to truth. Dr. Von 

 Tschudi enumerates no less than twenty-two half-castes, and says there are many others not dis- 

 tinguished by particular names, because they do not differ materially in color from those he has 

 S[iurified. 



The census of 1*790, and the tax register drawn up in 1836, gave the following returns for the 

 city 



