^y6 ULLOA's voyage to south AMERICA. 



On the morning of the following day he returns to the cathedral in his coach, with 

 the retinue and pomp ufual in folemn feftivals and public ceremonies. He is pre- 

 ceded by the whole troop of horfe-guards, the members of the feveral tribunals in their 

 coaches, and after them the viceroy himfelf with his family, the company of halberdiers 

 bringing up the rear. On this occafion all the riches and ornaments of the church are 

 difplayed ; the archbilhop celebrates in his pontifical robes the mafs of thankfgiving ; 

 and the fermon is preached by one of the beft orators of the chapter. From hence the 

 viceroy returns to the palace attended by all the nobility, who omit nothing to' make a 

 fplendid figure on thefe occafions. In the evening of this, -and the two following days, 

 the collations are repeated, with all the plenty and delicacy imaginable. To increafe the 

 feftivity, all women of credit have free accefs to the halls, galleries, and gardens of the 

 palace, when they are fond of fhewing the difpofitions of their genius, either by the vi- 

 vacity of repartees, or fpirited converfations, in which they often filence ftrangers of 

 very ready wit. 



This fhew and ceremony is fucceeded by bull-feafts at the city's expence, which con- 

 tinue five days ; the three firll for the viceroy, and the two latter in compliment to the 

 ambaflador who brought advice of his arrival, and the great honour conferred on him 

 by the fovereign in the government of this kingdom. 



This ambaflador, who, as I before obferved, is always a perfon of eminent quality, 

 makes alfo a public entrance into Lima on horfeback on the day of his arrival, and the 

 nobility being informed of his approach, go out to receive and conduft him to the palace, 

 from whence they carry him to the lodgings prepared for him. This ceremony ufed to 

 be immediately followed by feafls and public diverlions ; but in order to avoid that in- 

 convenience, juft when the city is every where bufied in preparing for the reception of 

 the viceroy, they are deferred, and given at one and the fame time, as above recited. 



The bull-feafts are fucceeded by that ceremony, in which the univerfity, the colleges, 

 the convents and nunneries, acknowledged him as their viceroyal protedor. This is 

 alfo accompanied with great fplendour, and valuable prizes are bellowed on thofe who 

 make the moft ingenious compofitions in his praife. Thefe ceremonies, which greatly 

 heighten the magnificence of this city, are fo little known in Europe, that I fhall be ex- 

 cufed for enlarging on them. 



They are begun by the univerfity, and the reftor prepares a poetical conteft, adapted 

 to difplay either the wit or learning of the competitors. After publifhing the themes, 

 and the prizes to be given to thofe who beft handle the fubjefts they have chofen, he 

 waits on the viceroy to know when he will be pleafed to honour the univerfity with his 

 prefence ; and, the time being fixed, every part of the principal court is adorned with 

 the utmoft magnificence. The prizes, which are placed in order, diftinguifh themfelves by 

 their richnefs, while the pillars and columns are hung with emblematical devices, or 

 pertinent apophthegms on polifhed Ihields, furrounded by the moft beautiful mouldings. 



The reception is in the following order. On the viceroy's entering the court, he is 

 conducted to the reftorial chair, which, on this occafion, glitters with the magnificence 

 of an Eaftern throne. Oppofite to it fits the reftor, or, in his abfence, one of the 

 moft eminent members of that learned body, who makes a fpeech, in which he ex- 

 prelfes the fatisfadion the whole univerfity feels in fuch a patron. After this the vice- 

 roy returns to his palace, where, the day following, the redor prefents him with a 

 book, containing the poetical conteft, bound in velvet, and plated at the corners with 

 gold, accompanied with fome elegant piece of furniture, whofe value is never lefs than 

 eight hundred or a thoufand crowns. 



The 



