MOLLENDO. 



however, having rarely been seen before to enter 

 the cabin, many a smile was raised on board the 

 ship at the expence of the captain and his guests. 



The town of MoUendo, which is the sea-port of 

 the great city of Arequipa, sixty miles inland, con- 

 sists of forty or fifty huts built of reed mats ; with- 

 out any coating of mud, as the climate requires no 

 exclusion of air. Each hut is surrounded by a 

 deep shady verandah, and is covered by a flat cane 

 roof. There are no windows ; and, of course, no 

 chimneys; and the doors, like the walls, are of bas- 

 ket-work. The original ground, with all its in- 

 equalities, forms the floors — in short, a more pri- 

 mitive town was never built. The inhabitants of 

 this rude sea-port were kind, and remarkably gentle 

 in their manners. All the women were small, but 

 elegantly formed; with fine black eyes and a bright 

 copper complexion ; very Peruvian-looking ; and, 

 though extremely lively, and even merry when en- 

 couraged, they seemed so timorous and sensitive, 

 that at first we were afraid to speak to them, lest 

 they should fly off like so many startled deer. 



We wished next day to walk over the country, 

 and, if possible, to reach the top of one of the hills 



