NOTICES OF PERU. 187 



to six ; tomatoes and beans are measured in gourd dishes of an 

 arbitrary size, according to the views of the venders. For once 

 the scene is amusing ; frequently the market women have their 

 young children slung in the shawl or poncho, on the back, 

 while seated flat on the ground, with one foot resting beneath 

 the ham of the other leg, which is extended, and bare nearly 

 to the knee. The hair is worn in three long braids, hanging 

 down behind. The heaps of fruit of every kind are sometimes 

 so numerous, and disposed so irregularl)^ over the ground, that 

 it requires care in wending the way, not to stumble into a heap 

 of eggs, or a basket of cherimoyas. A constant talking, carried 

 on in long, drawling, nasal tones, seems to indicate an amiable 

 docility, though they are generally alive to their own interests, 

 and not unfrequently sell articles for less than one half of the 

 price first demanded. Several kinds of excellent fish are sold 

 in this market ; the corvina, the flounder, and the pampano, are 

 best ; the latter, caught only at Chorillos, is not always to be 

 obtained, and is so highly esteemed, that one weighing eight 

 or ten pounds, readily commands five or six dollars. The beef 

 possesses more flavor, and is perhaps better than at any other 

 place on the coast. The mutton is excellent. Poultry is dear, 

 and with the exception of ducks, is very inferior in flavor. 



The purlieus of the plaza are peopled with dogs and buzzards, 

 that hover round to pick up whatever falls in their way. Bul- 

 locks are slaughtered in the open road, just outside of the town, 

 and the meat, after being dressed, is brought to the shambles 

 on jackasses, or in carts. 



Along the eastern side of Callao, is a "tapia" (mud wall), for- 

 merly used as a defence, but now entirely abandoned. A canal, 

 running along side of the Lima road, supplies the place, as well 

 as the shipping, with water ; for the latter, it is brought to the 



' Peso, equal to 



$1 00 



Dos reales, do. 



25 



Real, do. 



in 



Medio, do. 





^ Cuartillo, do. 



3 



There is neither copper nor paper money in the Republic. 



