ETHNOLOGY OF THE PRESENT DAY. 281 



loose garment of thin black silk, make up the attire. Perfumes and scented 

 waters are great favorites with the ladies ; they also adorn themselves 

 richly with precious stones and flowers. The manner of living in Bolivia 

 (Upper Peru) is still very plain ; the character of the people, like their cus- 

 toms, is steadfast and honorable. In mental culture and religious enlight- 

 enment they are nearly like the Lower Peruvians. (PL 30, Jig. 12, female 

 dress in Lima; ^^5. 9 and 10, female and male dress in Bolivia.) The 

 Spaniards, met with in small numbers in Chili, have laid aside their pride. 

 The Creoles, fiery and spirited in this country as everywhere, are in pos- 

 session of the greatest part of the landed property and the public offices. 

 Among the men, European dress is in use ; a poncho (cloak), however, is 

 sometimes worn. Women wear fancy-colored bodices, and a frock of 

 colored flannel or black velvet over a hoop petticoat, frequently of immense 

 size. When going abroad they put on a man's hat, covering it with a 

 muslin shawl. Young girls, however, usually wear the dress of Lima. 

 (PL 30, fig. 15, men and women ; fig. 16, girl of La Concepcion ; fig. 17, 

 Chilian of the lower ranks.) A peculiar class are the Spaniards who 

 inhabit the central plains of the pampas, and who are true Bedouins. 

 They are called Gauchos, and live dispersed in the desert. Every Gaucho, 

 a man often sprung from noble Spanish families, is patriarchal lord in the 

 midst of his farm. His hut is surrounded by an inclosure for the herds ; 

 his bed consists of skins, his clothing partly of the same material. The 

 only food is beef roasted on a spit over the fire. Vegetable diet is despised ; 

 and cheese and butter are not made by them. They are scarcely more 

 civilized than the savage Pampan Indians, who sometimes rob them of their 

 cattle. In love of liberty as well as in bodily activity, the Gauchos resem- 

 ble the Arabs ; that gentleness of manners prevailing in the tents of the 

 latter is sought in vain, however, among them. They are gloomy, suspi- 

 cious, and indolent. Only when engaged in breaking in horses or in 

 ferocious fighting is their eye animated. Not a step is taken on foot; they 

 carouse on horseback before the doors of the taverns when in town ; even 

 mass is heard by them in front of the open door of the chapel without 

 dismounting. Card-playing and singing to the guitar are their principal 

 recreations. They are excellent soldiers, and endure extraordinary pri- 

 vations. Of late years they have frequently been the instruments in the 

 hands of designing party men for the attainment of the revolutionary 

 objects of the latter, and under the hands of these savages the noblest 

 chiefs of the republic were wantonly sacrificed. 



Argentina is superior to the other republics of South America, in possess- 

 ing by far the best educated city population. This is especially the case 

 with regard to Buenos Ayres, one of the handsomest and most important 

 commercial cities of South America, exhibiting a Moorish character in its 

 architecture. Assumptions by privileged classes are seldom remarked here. 

 The very first officers of the state live unostentatiously and very plainly. 

 No restraint is imposed upon the women ; they are virtuous and respected. 

 Citizens live very well, but temperately, regularly attend their magnificent 

 churches, and are very sociable. A strong intermixture of Indian blood is 



453 



