PERU. 
285 
maid carried the same flower, which they presented to our gentlemen 
in passing. After a hard day's ride they reached Yaso, and took up 
their quarters in the porch of the posthouse ; the landlord and post- 
master's absence was now accounted for, by saying that he had gone 
to church, but would soon be back ; he of course did not come, nor 
was he expected by our gentlemen. They in consequence fared 
badly, for they had nothing to eat. They found here a gentleman 
who had been robbed the day before, by three persons in masks ; 
they had treated him with great politeness, only proposing exchanges 
to his disadvantage; he had nothing else to complain of; they took 
his purse, watch, spurs, and a drink of his brandy. Much to their 
surprise, the guides, who had been so scrupulous about their money, 
showed no signs of alarm. A new difficulty arose with them : they 
had been informed that a conscription was going on, and they were 
afraid to proceed, lest they should lose their liberty, but the assurance 
that they would be protected while with the party, satisfied them. 
The frequency of murder, highway robbery, and a constant resort 
to the cuchillo, has not been exaggerated in the accounts of Lower 
Peru. 
On the morning of the 27th they again set out, having prepared 
themselves to encounter any force. The guides, knowing well the 
dangers that were to be apprehended, showed much solicitude about 
keeping the company together. 
They reached Yanga without accident, and finding the posada 
occupied by a party of soldiers, and a recruiting officer, they were 
directed to a house with a porch, but they found it shut up. They 
therefore, being assured that the owner would soon return, deposited 
the saddles, &c, in the porch. Soon after a woman appeared, and on 
being informed of their situation, and that they had fasted for two 
days, she set about providing for their supper, apparently from 
Christian motives, for during the process she crossed herself several 
times. She proved to be the owner of the estate, was somewhat 
advanced in life, managed her own affairs, and was seemingly well 
adapted to encounter the roughness of the times. The heiress, a 
little girl, (Angelita by name), came galloping on a horse, driving the 
cattle before her, with the air of a veteran, having command over 
both the animal she rode, and those she drove ; they were not much 
struck with her beauty, for her well-plastered face, and wide-spreading 
and matted hair, gave her the appearance of an elf; but she was a 
