288 WASHERWOMEN OF BUENOS AYRES. 



eight miles from the shore. This violence 

 continues about two hours ; it then generally 

 passes ofF^ and terminates in a fresh gale from 

 the SW. leaving the air particularly cool and 

 refreshing. 



All the washing at Buenos Ayres is performed 

 on the beach^ or I should say on the rocks^ for 

 there is no beach, by black slave girls ; and the 

 clothes are spread on the rocks to dry. On land- 

 ing, it has all the appearance of a fair, and I 

 cannot give a better description than cfuoting 

 one from a work entitled A Five Years' Resi- 

 dence in Buenos Ayres/' written by an English- 

 man. The washerwomen of Buenos Ayres 

 present a singular spectacle to a stranger ; they 

 pursue their avocation on the beach, and this 

 soap-sud army extends for nearly two miles. 

 All the washing of the town is performed there, 

 by black women slaves, and servants : at a 

 distance upon the water, it looks like surf break- 

 upon the shore ; they wash well, extending the 

 linen upon the ground to dry. Robberies 

 amongst them are punished by ducking. A wed- 



