Ch.V. south AMERICA. S3 



between the feveral towns-, and, confequently, I may 

 fay, from the different genius's and difpofitions of the 

 people. And though Lima is the capital of the coun- 

 try, it will appear that it is not a model to other places, 

 with regard to drefs, cuftoms, and manner of living. 



The inhabitants of Lima are compofed of whites, 

 or Spaniards, Negroes, Indians, Meftizos, and other 

 cafts, proceeding from the mixture of all three. 



The Spanifli families are very numerous ; Lima 

 according to the loweft computation, containing 

 lixteen or eighteen thoufand whites. Among thefe 

 ^ve reckoned a third or fourth part of the moft diftin- 

 guifhed nobility of Peru ; and many of thefe digni- 

 fied with the ftile of ancient or modern Caftiliaris, 

 among which are no lefs than 45 counts and marquifes. 

 The number of knights belonging to the feveral mi- 

 litary orders is alfo very confiderable. Befides thefe 

 are many families no lefs refpedlable and living in 

 equal fplendor-, particularly 24 gentlemen of large 

 eftates, but without titles, tho' moft of them have 

 ancient feats, a proof of the antiquity of their fa- 

 milies. One of thefe traces, with undeniable certainty, 

 his defcent from the Yncas. The name of this fa- 

 mily is Ampuero, fo called from one of the Spanifb 

 commanders at the conqueft of this country, who 

 married a Coya, or daughter of the Ynca. To this fa^ 

 mily the kings of Spain have been pleafed to grant 

 feveral diftinguifhing honours and privileges, as 

 marks of its great quality : and many of the moil emi- 

 nent families in the city have defired intermarriages 

 with it. All thofe families live in a manner becom- 

 ing their rank, having eftates equal to their gene- 

 rous difpofitions, keeping a great number of flaves 

 and other domeftics, and thofe v/ho affe61: making 

 the greateft figure, have coaches, while others content 

 themfelves with calafnes or chaifes, which are here 

 fo common, that no family of any fubftance is without 

 one. It muft be owned that thefe carriages are more 

 , 5 3 neceffary 



