82 The Andes and the Amazon. 



er-books and French novels (imported, as wanted, for the-re 

 is not a book-store in the city) are the alpha and the omega 

 of their literature ; Paris is considered the centre of civili- 

 zation. They are comely, but not beautiful ; Yenus has 

 given her girdle of fascination to few. Sensible of this, 

 they paint. 



Holinski gives his impressions by contrasting the fair 

 Quitonians with the fairer Guayaquilians : " Les yeux vif s 

 et ardent, le pied fine et mignon, les teintes chaudes et do- 

 rees" distinguish the latter. In the ladies of the high cap- 

 ital there is nothing of this : " Les yeux ne lancent pas de 

 flammes, le pied est sans gentillesse, I'epiderme ne reflete 

 pas les rayons <iu soliel." The ladies on the coast take all 

 possible pains to preserve the small size of the foot ; a large 

 foot is held in horror. Yon Tschudi once overheard some 

 ladies extolling in high terms the beauty of an English 

 lady ; all their praise, however, ending w^ith this exclama- 

 tion, " But what a foot ! Good heavens ! it is like a great 

 boat !" Gibbon is continually talking of beautiful seiioras 

 and senoritas on the Andes; surely the lieutenant is in 

 sport. ^ 



The ladies of Quito give few entertainments for lack of 

 ready money. They spend much of their time in needle- 

 work and gossip, sitting like Turkish sultanas on divans or. 

 the floor. They do not rise at your entrance or departure. 

 They converse in a very loud, unmusical voice. We never 

 detected bashfulness in the street or parlor. They go to 

 mass every morning, and make visits of etiquette on Sun- 

 days. They take more interest in political than in domes- 

 tic affairs. Dust and cobwebs are unmistakable signs of 

 indifference. Brooms are rarities ; such as exist are besoms 



* ' ' The young ladies of Ci;zco are, in general, very beautiful, with regular 

 features, fresh olive complexions, bright eyes full of intelligence, furnished 

 Aviih long lashes, and masses of black hair plaited in two tails." — Markham. 



