ULLOA S VOYAGE TO SOUTH AAfERICA. 57^ 



5t was immediately removed by a royal proclamation, by which it was declared that com- /^ 

 merce in the Indies fliould not exclude from nobility or the military orders ; a very wife 

 meafure, and of which Spain would be ftill more fenfible, were it extended to all its 

 dependencies. 



At Lima, as at Quito, and all Spanifh America, fome of the eminent families have 

 been long fmce fettled there, whilft the profperity of others is of a later date j for being 

 the centre of the whole commerce of Peru, a greater number of Europeans refort to it, 

 than to any other city ; fome for trade, and others from being inverted in Spain with 

 confiderable employments : among both are perfons of the greateft mei;it ; and though 

 many after they have finifhed their refpeftive affairs, return home, yet the major part, 

 induced by the fertility of the foil, and the goodnefs of the climate, remain at Lima, and , 



marry young ladies remarkable equally for the gifts of fortune as thofe of nature ; and 

 thus new families are continually fettled. 



The Negroes, Mulattoes, and their defcendants, form the greater number of the inha- 

 bitants ; and of thefe are the greateft part of the mechanics ; though here the Euro- 

 peans alfo follow the fame occupations, which are not at Lima reckoned difgraceful to 

 them, as they are at Quito ; for gain being here the univerflil pafTion, the inhabitants 

 purfue it by means of any trade, without regard to its being followed by Mulattoes, 

 intereft here preponderating againft any other confideration. 



The third, and laft clafs of inhabitants, are Indians and Meflizos, but thefe are very 

 fmall in proportion to the largenefs of the city, and the multitudes of the fecond clafs. 

 They are employed in agriculture, in making earthenware, and bringing all kinds of 

 provifions to market, domeftic fervices being performed by Negroes and Mulattoes, 

 either flaves or free, though generally by the former. 



The ufual drefs of the men differs very little from that worn in Spain, nor is the dif- 

 tinttion between the feveral claffes very great ; for the ufe of all forts of cloth being 

 allowed, every one wears what he can purchafe. So that it is not uncommon to fee a 

 Mulatto, or any other mechanic, drefTed in a tiffue equal to any thing that can be worn 

 by a more opulent perfon. They all greatly affedt fine cloaths, and it may be faid with- 

 out exaggeration, the finefl fluffs made in. countries, where induflry is always inventing 

 fomething new, are more generally feen at Lima than in any other place ; vanity and 

 oflentation not being reflrained by cuflom or law. Thus the great quantities brought 

 in the galleons and regifler fhips, notwithflanding they fell here prbdigioufly above their 

 prime coft in Europe, the richefl of them are ufed as cloaths, and worn with a careleff- 

 nefs little fuitable to their extravagant price ; but in this article the men are greatly ex- 

 ceeded by the women, whofe paffion for drefs is fuch as to deferve j^ more particular 

 account. 



In the choice of laces, the women carry their tafle to a prodigious excefs ; nor is this ^f.^. 

 an emulation confined to perfons of quality, but has fpread through all ranks, except 

 the lowefl clafs of Negroes. The laces are fewed to their linen, which is of the finefl 

 fort, though very little of it is feen, the greateft part of it, efpecially in fome dreffes, 

 being always covered with lace ; fo that the little which appears feems rather for orna- 

 ment than ufe. Thefe laces too muft be all of Flanders manufafture, no woman of 

 rank condefcending to look on any other. 



Their drefs is very different from the European, which the cuftom of the country 

 alone can render excufable ; indeed to Spaniards at fheir firft coming over it appears 

 extremely indecent. Their drefs confifts of a pair of fhoes, a fliift, a petticoat of dimi- 

 ty, an open petticoat, and a jacket, which in fummer is of linen, in winter of ftuff. To 



4 E 2 this, 



