LIMA LADIES. 



177 



cigars ! then the sayo and manto^ met my view, 

 so that altogether the most striking novelties 

 appeared to exist in the ladies ; and I cannot 

 say that I admired any one of them, either sitting 

 astride on horseback, smoking through a pretty 

 pair of lips, or an elegant figure shown to its 

 every turn by the sayo and manto. Rich and 

 various were the colours of these latter dresses ; 

 but I could not help comparing them to walking 

 mummies, instead of the fairer part of the 

 creation. 



Passing by these groupes of one-eyed mum- 

 mies, we entered the gates just as the oration 

 bell tolled — one. In an instant all was as silent 

 as death ; our horses stopped as if by instinct ; 

 all heads were uncovered till the prayer was 

 over, which occupied about two minutes, and was 

 made known by the toll of a third bell, when 

 all was animation again, and onward we pro- 

 ceeded till our arrival at the house of Mr. W. 



^ For a description of this dress see page 183. 



N 



