578 ULLOA*S VOYAGE TO SOUTH AMERICA. 



tween thofe of neighbouring people, yet the difference is alfo confiderable, and no where 

 more fo than on this continent, where it doubtlefs arifes from the great diftance between 

 the feveral towns ; and, confequently, I may fay, from the different geniufes and difpo- 

 fitions of the people. And though Lima is the capital of the country, it will appear 

 that it is not a model to other places, with regard to drefs, cuftoms, and manner of 

 living. 



The inhabitants of Lima are compofed of whites, or Spaniards, Negroes, Indians, 

 Meftizos, and other cafts, proceeding from the mixture of all three. 



The Spanifh families are very numerous ; Lima according to the loweft computation, 

 containing fixteen or eighteen thoufand whites. Among thefe are reckoned a third or 

 fourth part of the moft diftinguifhed nobility of Peru ; and many of thefe dignified with 

 the flyle of ancient or modern Caftilians, among which are no lefs than forty-five counts 

 and marquifes. The number of knights belonging to the feveral military orders is alfo 

 very confiderable. Befides thefe are many famihes no lefs refpectable, and living in 

 equal fplendour ; particularly twenty-four gentlemen of large eftates, but without titles, 

 though moft of them have ancient feats, a proof of the antiquity of their families. One 

 of thefe traces, with undeniable certainty, his defcent from the Yncas. The name of 

 this family is Ampuero, fo called from one of the Spanifh commanders at the conqueft 

 of this country, who married a Coya, or daughter of the Ynca. To this family the 

 kings of Spain have been pleafed to grant feveral diftinguifhing honours and privileges, 

 as marks of its great quality : and many of the moft eminent families in the city have 

 defired intermarriages with it. All thofe families live in a manner becoming their rank, 

 having eftates equal to their generous difpofitions, keeping a great number of flaves and 

 other domeftics, and thofe who affeft making the greateft figure have coaches, while 

 others content themfelves with calafhes or chaifes, which are here fo common, that no 

 family of any fubftance is without one. It muft be owned that thefe carriages are more 

 neceliary here than in other cities, on account of the numberlefs droves of mules which 

 continually pafs through Lima, and cover the ftreets with their dung, which being foon 

 dried by the fun and the wind, turns to a naufeous dirt, fcarce fupportable to thofe who 

 walk on foot. Thefe chaifes, which are drawn by a mule, and guided by a driver, 

 have only two wheels, with two feats oppofite to each other, fo that on occafion they 

 will hold four perfons. They are very flight and airy ; but on account of the gildings 

 and other decorations, fometimes coft eight hundred or a thoufand crowns. The num- 

 ber of them is faid to amount to five o;* fix thoufand ; and that of coaches is alfo very 

 confiderable, though not equal to the former. The funds to fupport thefe expences, 

 which in other p!irts would ri^in families, are their large eftates and plantations, civil 

 and military employments, or commerce, which is here accounted no derogation to 

 families of the greateft diflindion ; but by this commerce is not to be underftood the 

 buying and felling by retail or in fhops, every one trading proportional to his character 

 and fubftance. Hence families are preferved from thofe difafters too common in Spain, 

 where titles are frequently found without a fortune capable of fupporting their dignity* 

 Commerce is fo far from being confidered as a difgrace at Lima, that the greateft for- 

 tunes have been raifed by it ; thofe on the contrary, being rather defpifed, who not 

 being bleffed with a fufficient eftate, through indolence, negleft to have recourfe to it 

 for improving their fortunes. This cuftom, or refource, which was eftablifhed there 

 without any determinate end, being introduced by a vain defire of the firft Spaniards to 

 acquire wealth, is now the real fupport of that fplendour in which thofe families live j 

 and whatever repugnance thefe military gentlemen might originally have to commerce, 



II it was 



