Cn.Ul SOUTH AMERICA. 6i 



With regard to the perfons of the women of 

 Lima, they are, in general, of a middling ftature, 

 handfome,' genteel, and of very fair complexions 

 without the help of art ; the beauty of their hair, 

 has been already mentioned, but they have ufually an 

 enchanting luftre and digni'y in their eyes. 



These perfonal charms are h*?ightened by thofe of 

 the mind, clear and comprehenfive intelleds, an 

 eafinefs of behaviour, fo well tempered, that whilft ii 

 invites love, it commands refpeft; the charms of 

 their converfation are beyond expreffion ; their ideas 

 juft, their pxpreffions pure, their manner inimitably 

 graceful. Thefe are the allurements by which greajC 

 numbers, of Europeans, forgetting the fair profpecls 

 they have at home, are induced to marry and fettle 

 here. 



One material objedlion againft them is, that being 

 too well acquainted with their own excellencies, they 

 are tainted with a haughtinefs, which will fcarce ftoop 

 -to the will of their huibands. Yet by their addrefs 

 and infmuating compliance, they fo far gain the 

 afcendency over them, as to be left to their own 

 difcretioru There may indeed, a few exceptions be 

 found but thefe poiTibly are rather owing to a want 

 of capacity. Another obje6tion may be made to 

 their being more expenfive than other ladies : bur 

 this arifes from the exorbitant price of fluffs, laces, 

 and other commodities, in this country. And with 

 regard to the independence they affe61:, it is no 

 more than a cufloiiT long eflabliihed in the country. 

 To which may be added, that beings natives, and 

 their huibands generally foreigners, it is very natu- 

 ral, that the latter ihould not enjoy all that autho-' 

 rity, founded on laws fuperior to cudom and hence 

 this error remains uncorredted. The hufbands con- 

 form to the ni4aners of the country, as their cha- 

 rader is not in the lead; affedled thereby ; and this 

 complaifance is rewarded by the difcretion and affec- 

 tion 



