300 



MEXICO. 



4 



over the head ; in such a way, that the two cor- 

 ners, which were laid together, hung half way 

 down the back, while the other corners fell one on 

 each shoulder. The handkerchief was of white 

 muslin, with a scarlet border, four inches broad. 

 Over the shoulders was thrown the Mangas, or 

 cloak, which has a hole in the middle to receive 

 the head. That which was worn by the youngest 

 of the ladies was of a deep purple cloth, orna- 

 mented round the neck with tasteful gold em- 

 broidery, eight or ten inches wide. Below the 

 Mangas there peeped out a cotton gown of Eng- 

 lish manufacture, and a pair of untanned yellow 

 boots, made on the spot. On the table lay two 

 pair of French gloves, but the ladies not being 

 used to wear such things, soon tore both of them 

 to pieces, in vain attempts to get them on ; upon 

 which they called out to the gentlemen to assist 

 them in winding handkerchiefs round their hands, 

 to defend them, as they said, from the chaffing of 

 the hard hide bridles. 



It is the frigid custom all over South America, 

 for the ladies, however well acquainted, not to 

 shake hands with gentlemen. As, however, 1 

 had been unusually intimate with this family, I 



