188 



CLIMATE OF LIMA. 



ways shamefully dirty ; when they appear 

 in the streets all this filth and dirt is covered 

 by a large Spanish cloak, thrown over their 

 shoulders in the true style of the country, 

 muffled up to their eyes. 



My stay in Lima was from the the 16th of 

 September until the 10th of November, which 

 are winter months, and allowed to be the most 

 unhealthy time of the year. It certainly never 

 rains at Lima, but the heavy dews which fall 

 night and morning are very prejudicial to the 

 health of Europeans, and may be compared to 

 what we call Scotch mists in England; they are 

 very apt to give cold, which if caught generally 

 terminates in tertiana.^ 



During these winter months, which are from 

 June till November, every thing in the houses 

 becomes very damp, and all iron or steel work 

 rusts. The baneful effects of this dampness may 

 in some measure account for the prevalence of 

 so much smoking, which is not confined to the 



A severe ague. 



