NOTICES OF PERU. 



'275 



CHAPTER X. 



Sunday in Lima— Books — Machero — Misturas — Puchero de Flores — Street of 

 peril — Scene on the Alameda — Cock-pit — Theatre. 



Sunday, in Lima, is devoted to pleasure and recreation by 

 all classes. In the morning, the plaza is the centre of attrac- 

 tion. About nine o'clock, the tables under the port^les present 

 a most motley display of small wares, old prints, old books, 

 new books — chiefly translations from the French, and French 

 editions, among which are usually seen, Spanish versions of 

 several of Scott's novels, and the Spy by our countryman 

 Cooper. Sometimes the plays of Calderon are severed from 

 the binding, and sold singly, to accommodate purchasers. 

 There are cases and tables loaded with the smoker's appara- 

 tus ; — segarreros, macheros, mechas, flints and steel ; and 

 others with German toys, rough hardware, and imitation jew- 

 €lry. 



Every man in Lima carries in his pocket the means of 

 lighting his cigar. The segarrero has been already described. 

 The machero consists of a tube about three inches and a half 

 long, and a half inch in diameter, made of gold or silver. 

 Through it is strung a match, which is composed of spunk, 

 {artemesia Chinensis) brought from Guatamala, put up in 

 long rolls about a half inch thick and one or two feet long. 

 This is cased with calico^ or silk ; sometimes beautifully em- 

 broidered, or sometimes braided with various colored ribbons. 

 The ornamenting of mechas" falls within the province of 

 the belles, who present them, perfumed with sweet smelling 

 roots and gums, in compliment to the beaux. The end of the 

 match which is fired, passes through the tube, and is hooked 

 by a chain to a button or plug, which, excluding the air, ex- 

 tinguishes the fire after it is no longer required. To the other 

 "Cnd, is appended a silken cord tastefully knotted at the ex- 

 tremity, or instead, a gold chain terminated with a small figure 



