52 



A VOYAGE TO 



Book VII. 



by the two companies of horfe-guards, the halbadiers, 

 followed by the membersof the tribunalsin their coaches, 

 the vice-roy's retinue, and the nobility of both fcxes. 



On twelfth-day in the morning, and the preceding 

 evening, the vice-roy rides on horfe-back thro' the 

 town, with the royal ftandard carried in great pomp be- 

 fore him. This is performed in commemoration of the 

 building of the city, which, as we have already obferv- 

 ed, was begun on this day, folemn vefpers are fung in 

 the cathedral, and a m^afs celebrated ; and the ceremo- 

 ny is concluded with a cavalcade^Jike that on new year's 

 day. 



The Alcaldes chofen for the current year, give pub- 

 lic entertainments in their houfes, each three nights fuc- 

 ceffively; but that the feafls of one might not interfere 

 with thofe of another, and occafion refentments, they 

 agree for one to hold his feafls the three days immedi- 

 ately fucceeding the eledioii, and the other on twelfth 

 day and the two following. Thus each has a greater num- 

 ber of guefts, and the entertainments are more fplen- 

 did and fumptuous. The other feafts in the courfe of 

 the year, arc not inferior to thefe either with regard to 

 numbers orexpence at lead the" numberof them muft ex- 

 cite a high idea of the wealth and magnificence of Lima. 



CHAP. V. 



Of the Inhabitants of IjIMA. 



HAVING, in our accounts of feveral towns thro* 

 which we pafled to Lima, included alfo the in- 

 habitants, we fhail obferve the fame rule with regard to 

 Lima ; for though amidfl fuch an infinite variety of 

 cuftoms, there is always fome refemblance between 

 thofe of neighbouring people, yet the difference is alfo 

 c^nliderable, and nowhere more fo than on this conti- 

 tent, where it doubtlefs aiifes from the great diftance 



between 



