BETAGH S ACCOUNT OF PERU. 9 



the heat of this climate in America, and the fame degree of latitude in Africa : for 

 which there are two reafons ; the one is the cool temper of the air, proceeding from 

 the congealed fnow on the mountains, which diffufes itfelf every way ; the other is the 

 humidity of the vapours, which hang over the plains, and which are fo frequent, that, 

 when I came firfl to Lima, I often expected it would rain. Thefe vapours are not fo 

 coarfe, low, and gloomy as our fogs ; nor feparated above, like our fummer clouds ; 

 but an exhalation between both, being fpread all round, as when we fay the day is 

 overcaft : fo that fometimes a fine dew is felt upon the outward garments, and difcerned 

 by the eye upon the knap of the cloth. This is an happy convenience at Lima, the 

 people being thus fcreened one half of the day from the fun ; and though the afternoon 

 be fun-fhine, 'tis very tolerable, being mixed with the fea breezeS, and not near fo 

 hot as at Lifbon, and fome parts of Spain in Europe, which are thirty degrees further 

 from the equator. The want of rain in this part of the continent obliged the poor 

 Indians, before the conqueft, to make drains and canals, for bringing down water 

 from among the diftant mountains ; which they have done with fuch great labour and 

 Ikill, that the vallies are properly refreflied, producing grafs, corn, and variety of 

 fruits, to which the aforefaid dews may alfo a little contribute ; and therefore this 

 fhewS, that there is no judging from circumftances, whether a country be habitable or 

 not, fince, in this refpedt, nothing would feem more conclufive than the abfolute want 

 of rain. A Spanifh hiftorian has given us the natural caufe of this perpetual drought : 

 he obferves, that the fouth-wefl winds blow upon the Peruvian coaft all the year round, 

 and the ocean is therefore called Pacific, becaufe the winds never difturb the waters : 

 thefe eafy gales always bear away the vapours from the plains, before they can rife and 

 form a body fufficient to defcend in a fhower ; but, when they are carried farther and 

 higher, they grow more compaft, and at length fall, by their own weight, into rain. 

 They have plenty of cattle, fowl, and fifh, and all provifion common with us, except 

 butter, inftead of which they always ufe lard ; they have oil, wine, and brandy enough, 

 though not fo good as in Europe. They drink much of the Jefuits herb camini, brought 

 from Paraguay by land ; for all Eaft India tea is forbid : they make a decoction of it, 

 and fuck it through a pipe ; it is generally here called mattea, being the name of the 

 bowl out of which, they drink it. Chocolate is their ufual breakfaft, and a grace-cup 

 after dinner ; fometimes they drink a glafs of brandy for digeftion, but fcarce any wine 

 at all. In the kingdom of Chili they make a little butter, fuch as it is ; and their way of 

 doing it is remarkable : the cream is put into a fheep-fkin, and kept on purpofe for that 

 ufe ; two women lay it on a table, and fhake it between them, till it comes. 



The Spaniards are no friends to the bottle ; yet gallantry and intrigue are here 

 brought to perfecftion ; for they devote fo much of their time to the fervice of the fair 

 fex, that it is unmannerly not to have a miflrefs, and fcandalous not to keep her well. 

 As for the women, they have many accomplifhments, both natural and acquired ; 

 their converfation is free and fprightly, their motion graceful, their looks winning, and 

 their words engaging : they have all a delicate Ihape, not injured with ftiff-bodied flays, 

 but left to the beauty of nature ; fo that there is no fuch thing as a crooked body 

 among them. Their eyes and teeth are particulariy excellent ; and their hair, being 

 generally of a dark poliflied hue, is finely combed, and platted and tied behind with 

 ribbands, but never difguiled with powder ; for the brightnefs of their fkins round the 

 temples appears very well fhaded through the hair, like light through a landfcape. 

 Though amours are univerfal at Lima, yet the men are careful enough to hide them ; 

 for no indecent word or adion is allowed in public. They have two feafons for fhefe 

 entertainments j one is at the fiefta, or afternoon's nap, which is commonly with the 



VOL. XIV. c miflrefs 5 



