PERU. • 243 



negroes. The union of the two first produces the cholo ; of the two 

 last, the zambo; and of the first and last, the mulatto. The Spaniards, 

 or whites, are a tall race, particularly the females. They have brown 

 complexions, but occasionally a brilliant colour, black hair and eyes. 

 Some of them are extremely beautiful. The cholos are shorter, but 

 well made, and have particularly small feet and hands. All classes of 

 people are addicted to the smoking of cigars, even in carriages and at 

 the dinner-table. It does not seem to be considered by any one as 

 unpleasant, and foreigners have adopted the custom. 



The cholo women partake of the dark brown skin of the Indian, 

 have low figures, short round faces, high cheek-bones, good teeth, and 

 small hands and feet. Their whole figure is robust. 



There does not appear to exist any accurate account of the popula- 

 tion of Peru; but it is generally believed to have decreased, particularly 

 as regards the whites and negroes. The best information gives but 

 little over a million inhabitants, viz. : about one hundred and twenty- 

 five thousand whites; natives and cholos, eight hundred thousand; with 

 ninety thousand negroes and ranchos, of whom about thirty-five 

 thousand are slaves. This does not vary much from the number given 

 by the geographies forty years ago. The country appears, from all 

 accounts, not only to have decreased in population, but to have 

 diminished in wealth and productiveness. A much less proportion of 

 the soil is now cultivated than formerly under the " Children of the 

 Sun." 



There are half a dozen newspapers published in Lima, two of which 

 are issued daily. They are, like the Spanish, small sheets. They 

 have a good deal of control over public opinion. Few or no advertise- 

 ments are seen in them. These are deemed unnecessary in Lima, 

 and all the amusements, such as the theatre, cockfighting, &c, are pla- 

 carded on the portals. A high price is asked for the newspapers. 



On the 30th of May there was a grand procession, on the festival 

 of Corpus Christi. It was preceded by a party of negroes, dressed in 

 the most gaudy colours, singing, dancing, and keeping time to a 

 native tune, somewhat like Mumbo Jumbo, to testify their joy that the 

 blessings of Christianity had reached them. Then followed some 

 priests, bearing lamps covered with artificial flowers, and swinging 

 censers. Next came the shrines of the Virgin and saints, covered 

 with tinsel and gold, mounted on large pedestals, and borne on the 

 shoulders of men. After this came the host, and on its passing every 

 one uncovered and kneeled down. Then came the military, who were 

 all out, and offered us a fine opportunity of viewing the recruits, the 

 greater proportion of whom were Indians. The government had been 



