54 



ARRIVAL AT CUZCO. 



to his wife, who met him with the horse. She was a smiling negress f 

 very black, with beautifully-white teeth, who had been a slave, but 

 bought her freedom when her former master died. He left her money, 

 which the cascarillero married and spent for her. 



We rode into Porcotambo late by moonlight. An Indian girl took 

 me into the sub-prefect's room, where he and his wife were in bed. I 

 drew back surprised, but not in time to escape being seen. He and his 

 lady called out to come in. I apologized through the door ; this was 

 not considered necessary; they both insisted upon my entering. As 

 they sat up in bed, I, in a seat close by, answered their many questions, 

 while the servants prepared supper and bed for me in another room. 

 The amount of fancy-work about a lady's nightcap was becoming to dark 

 hair and eyes. Women, I find, are much interested in steamboat navi- 

 gation and the productions of other countries. This town is remarkable 

 for beautiful seiioras. 



At the end of the sixth day, from the head of the Madre-de-Dios, we 

 arrived in Cuzco, after an absence of twenty-one days. Richards was 

 still much reduced, but gaining health. The prefect expressed his 

 regrets at not being authorized to send troops with me, and asked the 

 favor of a written account of my visit to the east, in behalf of th& 

 Peruvian government. 



