250 



CUSTOMS AND MANNERS. 



condescension which is so contrary to subordination, and even 

 to the sound poUcy of nations, be considered as the efFe6t of 

 paternal love ? 

 In continuation : 



When I was at Cuzco, my daughter Clarissa was still at 

 the breast. Her nurse is a creolian negress, named Maria, 

 who was purchased for that end. She appeared to be the 

 pidlure of humility when she entered the house. She watched 

 over the little one with an almost maternal love ; was never 

 absent from the nursery ; and had no other will than that of 

 her mistress. With this propitious commencement I departed 

 to prosecute my business, and flattered myself that on my re- 

 turn I should find things in the same posture. But how erro- 

 neous were my expectations ! 



One of the particulars which began to disgust me in Maria, 

 was, that she not only addressed Clarissa in the familiar lan- 

 guage of thee and thou, but that the latter- called her my mam- 

 ma, and slept, eat, and played with her, in preference to her 

 young sisters, and even to her mother. I am aware that it is the 

 same with almost all the w^et- nurses ; but it is not on that account 

 less true, that this usage instils much vulgarity into the mode 

 of thinking of the infants, and contributes still more to render 

 the nurses haughty and overbearing. In reality, Maria is 

 the person who commands in the house : all the servants pay 

 her a marked homage*, and are more obedient to her, than to 

 my wife, or myself. Her will is a law ; and if, perchance, 

 1 chide her for a fault, I am confounded by the clamours of 

 my aforesaid step-mother Democracia, of Teopiste, and 

 of all the parentage. 



Now that the child is somewhat advanced in growth, and 



should 



