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NARRATIVE OF A 



and appear without any covering on their heads when 

 walking out or on a visit. They are fond of adorning 

 their hair with flowers, and with high tortoise-shell combs, 

 some of which are very costly and beautifully wrought. 

 Caps are never worn; nay, they are so much disliked, 

 that even the elderly ladies prefer an exposure of their 

 grey locks to wearing them. If they go out in the evening, 

 the head is protected by a shawl or handkerchief; when 

 travelling, or on horseback, they wear a hat surmounted by 

 a profusion of feathers. The pride and luxury of a Gua- 

 temala lady is a richly embroidered veil, a costly fan, and 

 a valuable set of jewels. Their passion for the latter is 

 remarkable, as also for finery of every kind. They are 

 generally well formed and graceful, and very proud of a 

 pretty foot. A compliment to this part of a lady's person 

 is the surest mode of winning her smiles. 



On the part of the man, their taste for dress is chiefly ex- 

 hibited when they are equipt for travelling. At such times, 

 their swords, their spurs of massive silver, their poniards 

 with sheaths of the same metal, the trappings of their 

 horses elaborately embroidered with silk, and their other 

 ornaments, imply an expense of not less than a thousand 

 dollars. 



Of both sexes it may be said with justice, that they are 

 amiable, courteous, and attentive to strangers. They are 

 of mild disposition, and have good natural talents, an apti- 

 tude for learning, and a lively imagination. Yet in edu- 

 cation they are exceedingly deficient. Indeed, the means 

 of acquiring it are scarcely within their reach, there being 

 in the city but one establishment for the instruction of 

 youth, besides the University. Thus, learning and litera- 

 ture with them are at the lowest ebb. Hospitality is one 

 of their virtues, gambling one of their faults. They are 

 also somewhat addicted to cock-fighting and bull feasts. 

 They have a peculiar, but not a disagreeable, mode of 

 speaking, and soft mellifluous voices, with a whining ac- 



