262 



PERU. 



himself ; took part in the dances, and conversed 

 with every individual in the room with so much 

 ease and cheerfulness, that, of all the company-j he 

 seemed to be the person least burdened with cares 

 or duties. 



A strange custom prevails everywhere in this 

 country at balls, public as well as private. Ladies 

 of all ranks, who happen not to be invited, come 

 in disguise, and stand at the windows, or in the 

 passages, and often actually enter the ball-room. 

 They are called Tapadas, from their faces being 

 covered, and their object is, to observe the pro- 

 ceedings of their unconscious friends, whom they 

 torment by malicious speeches, whenever they 

 are within hearing. At the palace, on Sunday 

 evening, the Tapadas were somewhat less forward 

 than usual; but at the Cabildo, or magistrates' 

 ball, given previously, the lower part of the room 

 was filled with them, and they kept up a constant 

 fire of jests at the gentlemen near the bottom of 

 the dance. 



31st of July.'^I was under the necessity of 

 leaving Lima at this interesting moment, for the 

 purpose of going to Huacho, a small port to the 



