54 A VOYAGE TO EookVIL 



neceffary here than in other cities, on account of the 

 numberlefs droves of mules which continually pafs 

 thro' Lima, and cover the ftreets with their dung, 

 which being foon dried by the fun and the wind, turns 

 to a naufeous dull, fcarce fupportable to thofe who 

 walk on foot. Theie chaifes, which are drawn by 

 a mule, and guided by a driver, have only two 

 wheels, with two feats oppofite to each other, fo 

 that on ©ccafion they will hold four perfons. They 

 are very flight and airy buton account of the gildings 

 and other decorations, fometimes coft eight hundred or 

 a thoufand crown?. The number of them is faid to a- 

 mount to 5 or 6000 \ and that of coaches is alfo very 

 confiderable, tho' not equal to the former. The funds 

 to fupport thefe expences, which in no other parts would 

 ruin families, are their large eflates and plantatioris, civil 

 and military employments or commerce, which is here 

 accounted no derogation to families of the greateft dif- 

 tinftion ; but by this commerce is not to be undcrflood 

 the buying and felling'by retail or in (hops, every one trad- 

 ing proportional to his chara6ler and fubftance. Hence 

 families are preferved from thofe difafters too com- 

 mon in Spain, where titles are frequently found with- 

 out a fortune capable of fupporting their dignity. 

 Commerce is fo far from being confidered as a dif- 

 grace at Lima, that the greateft fortunes have been 

 raifed by it ; thofe on the contrary, being rather de- 

 fpifed, who not being blefled with a fufficient eftate, 

 through indolence, negled to have recourfe to it for 

 improving their fortunes. This cuftom, or refource, 

 which was eftabliflied there without any determinate 

 end, being introduced by a vain defire of the firft 

 Spaniards to acquire wealth, is now the real fupport 

 of that fplcndor in which thofe families live v and 

 whatever i-epugnance thefe military gentlemen might 

 originally have to commerce, it was inimediatcly re- 

 moved by a royal proclamation, by which it was de- 

 clared that commerce in tlie Indies ihould not ex- 

 clude 



