222 



THREE YEARS IN THE PACIFIC. 



slattern, to be soon thrown aside. Slipping into a saya y man- 

 to at dawn, a lady is dressed to comply with the requisitions 

 of the church, without losing time at her toilet. It was, there- 

 fore, a cruel whim in San Martin, to wish them to resign it! 



This is strictly the walking dress, and is always worn when 



shopping," or as they more emphatically express it, " cheap- 

 ening." It is not considered a full dress, nor is it ever worn 

 at night — in fact, ladies never promenade at night. 



It requires very little tact to distinguish a foreign lady, in 

 saya y manto, from a Limanian. The walk of the foreigner is 

 constrained and clumsy, while that of the true Limena is all 

 grace and ease; she treads with the true grdcia^ which it is 

 difficult to describe. Grdcia" expresses all that is agreeable 

 in the air and presence — all that polish and ease of manner, 

 which distinguish accomplished persons. 



The making of sayas is a business followed by men ; being 

 first lined with calico, white or colored, it is plaited over a 

 straight board, and stitched. The time expended in their con- 

 struction renders them expensive. A hundred dollars is not 

 an unusual price for a fine saya ; one lasts, however, a year, 

 which must be some consolation to fathers who, with moderate 

 fortunes, rejoice in many unmarried daughters. 



Standing at a door in a fashionable street, is an easy way of 

 observing the costume and characteristics of a large city. At 

 Lima, I found in the course of a day, that all to be seen in this 

 respect passed our hotel. 



In the morning, glided by in one direction or another, sayas 

 y mantos of every color and age, from the new, lustrous satin 

 of the wealthy young maiden, through the grades of lack-lustre 

 of the middle aged, the frayed of the old, and the ragged and 

 broken of my lady's maid. The colors and ages of the wear- 

 ers were as various as the sayas themselves. In compliance 

 with promises of penance, some wore a girdle of leather, about 

 two inches wide, with a long end hanging almost to the feet 

 If "las Suelas de San Augustin," as this girdle is termed for 

 some unknown reason, be the measure of sins, the old women 

 have more to answer for than the young ones. 



Again ; there are a few females devoted to religion and the 



