S6 A VOYAGE TO Book VIL 



purchafe. So that it is not uncommon to fee a Mu- 

 latto, or any other mechanic drefTed in a tiifue, equal 

 to any thing that can be worn by a more opulent 

 perfon. They all greatly afFe^fl fine cloaths, and it 

 may be faid without exaggeration, that the fineft fluffs 

 made in countries, where induftry is always inventing 

 Ibmething new, are more generally feen at Lima 

 than in any other place ; vanity and oftentation not 

 being reftrained by cuflom or law. Thus the great 

 quantities brought in the galleons and regifter Ihips 

 notwichilanding they fell here prodigioufly above 

 their prime cofl in Europe, the richeft of them are 

 ufed as cloaths, and worn with a carelefnefs little fuita- 

 ble to their extravagant price ; but in this article the 

 men are greatly exceeded by the women, whofe paffion 

 for drefs is fuch as to deferve a more particular account. 



In the choice of laces, the women carry their tafte 

 to a prodigious excefs , nor is this an emulation con- 

 fined to perfons of quality, but has fpread thro' all 

 ranks, except the lowell clafs of negroes. The laces 

 are fewed to their linen, which is of the fineft fort, 

 though very little of it is feen, the greateft part of if, 

 efpecially in fome dreffes, being always covered with 

 lace ; fo that the little which appears feems rather for 

 ornament than ufe. Thefe laces too muft be all of 

 Flanders manufacture, no woman of rank condefcend- 

 ing to look on any other. 



Their drefs is very different from the European, 

 which the cuftom of the country alone can render 

 excufable ; indeed to Spaniards at their firft coming 

 over it appears extreamly indecent. Their drefs con- 

 fifts of a pair of Ihoes, a fhift, a petticoat of dimity, 

 an open petticoat, and a jacket, which in fummer, is 

 of linen, in winter of fluff. To this fome add a 

 mantelette, that the former may hang loofe. The 

 difference between this drefs and that worn at Quito, 

 though confiding of the fame pieces is, that at Li- 

 ma it is much ihorter, the petticoat which is ufually 



