CUSTOMS AND MANNERS. 



our country are slaves. My wonder was augmented, however, 

 when several of these females, stationed the nearest to us, said 

 to each other reciprocally : " See there, the judge's lady ; 



the countess of , the marchioness of , donna Fula- 



nita de ," &c. naming in this manner all the principal 



titles of the ladies who inhabit the capital. I could no longer 

 contain myself, and was at a loss to ascertain whether what 

 was passing was an illusion or a reality. My host, who had 

 been highly diverted by my astonishment, said to me : " Cer- 

 tainly, friend, you have never seen the like. What think you 

 of such a countess, of such a marchioness, and of such a seig- 

 nora, with a beard more copious than that of the animal with 

 pointed horns, the lascivious spouse of the she-goat ?" Ima- 

 gining that v^hat he said to me was in jest, I drew out my 

 glass, and directed it to the swarthy visages of these ladies ; 

 when, lo ! how great was my surprize ! I saw them covered 

 with beards still more bushy than that of the unfortunate coun- 

 tess Trifaldi. At this time several other personages, equipped 

 in a similar manner, entered the apartment. In rising from 

 the bench to receive them, the company displayed feet * as 

 large as those of Polyphemus, but well made. " What is 

 this ?" said I to my host: Is there in this country such a 

 class of women?" He, obserj/ing my simplicity, and want 

 of apprehension, bit his lips, and could with difficulty refrain 

 from laughter. At length, recovering his gravity, he said to 

 me : " These are of the number of those whose graces and 

 fine airs you recounted to me this morning. Here they are not 



* The Peruvian ladies value themselves exceedingly on the smallness of their 

 feet, and on this account are accustomed from their infancy to wear tight shoes. 



under 



