NOTICES OF PERU. 



295 



stance of generosity on the part of one gentleman of the pro- 

 fession. He stopped a wealthy merchant on his way to Lima 

 from Chorillos, and after relieving him of his watch and purse, 

 ordered him to dismount. The merchant remonstrated, and 

 argued that it would be a serious prejudice to his business to 

 be detained from Lima, but offered to deliver the horse the 

 next day, without asking questions, to any person who might 

 be sent for him. The terms were accepted, and the merchant 

 was permitted to continue his journey. The next morning the 

 salteador called for his horse, which was honorably delivered ! 

 It must be recollected, that a departure from the terms of the 

 bargain would have been at the peril of life, in case of a second 

 rencontre. 



We sallied out at the Chorillos gate, upon a straight road, 

 flanked on either side by high mud walls, which from the 

 powerful reflection render the road excessively hot. The 

 light color of the road, well sprinkled with pebbles, served to 

 increase the oppressiveness of the heat. We found every body 

 going in the same direction with ourselves. Here we over- 

 took troops of borricos, laden with fruit and vegetables for the 

 Chorillos market, there carts laden with beds and household 

 furniture of some migrating family ; again, parties of gentlemen 

 dressed like ourselves, and now we came up with two or three 

 jackasses that had trotted on ahead of their companions, lying 

 down by the way under baskets of fruit, waiting with serious 

 and dejected countenances for the rest of the drove. Now 

 and then we passed a party of gallindzos and dogs, feasting 

 amicably on the carcass of a borrico or mule that had expired 

 by the wayside. 



The surrounding country was parched and cheerless, with 

 here and there one of those vast earthen mounds called huacas, 

 the remaining monuments of a race even more ancient than 

 the children of the sun. 



After a ride of five miles, we came in sight of the fane of 

 Miraflores, and another mile carried us beyond that quiet vil- 

 lage. Along the tapias, as the low mud walls are called, were 

 seated rows of ladies with their servants, amusing themselves 

 with observing the passing groups. They wore Manila hats, 



