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PERU. 



coffins are open, exposing the dried-up remains of the saints, clothed 

 in leather jackets and shoes, which the sacristan made no difficulty 

 about disposing of for a trifle. Two skulls and a hand were obtained. 

 There is some good carving about the choir of the Cathedral. 



A hospital is attached to this church. A novel sort of hearse was 

 seen employed here, with four drawers as temporary coffins. 



HOSPITAL HEARSE. 



The market of Lima is kept in an open square. It is a strange 

 place to visit, and the scene that is witnessed there cannot fail to 

 amuse the stranger. It is well supplied, and many purchasers fre- 

 quent it. There are no stalls, and mats are used in their stead. The 

 meat is laid on them in rows, and the vegetables heaped up in piles. 

 Some of the piles consist of only one kind, but they are generally all 

 mixed together. The meat, as at Callao, is cut with the grain, and 

 into small pieces, to suit the purchasers ; and poultry is cut up in a 

 similar manner. But what will most attract a stranger's notice, are 

 the cooking establishments. These are in great request ; stews, fries, 

 and olla podridas, are in constant preparation by some brawny dame, 

 who deals out, with much gravity and a business-like air, the small 

 pieces to the hungry Indians who stand by waiting for their turn. The 

 fried dishes seemed to claim their preference, if one could judge by 

 the number in waiting. The expertness of the woman who officiated 

 was truly wonderful, twisting and twirling the dough in her hand, 

 placing it upon a stick, dipping it in the hot oil, and slipping it as soon 

 as cooked dexterously into the dish for her customers. Then again 

 was a frier of pancakes close by, equally expert. The variety of 

 dishes cooking was surprising, and those who fried fish exhibited 

 undoubted proofs of their freshness, by consigning them to the pan 

 before they ceased to live. 



I was surprised at the variety offish, meats, vegetables, and fruits ; 

 the latter particularly. These were in season, and included oranges, 



