4 



NOTICES OF PERU. 373 



in their respective <«ollas"or earthen crocks, supported on 

 stones, with a fire beneath them. Two or three horses were 

 standing near, dosing, and occasionally switching away the flies 

 with their tails; their bridles were hanging upon the ground, 

 which is the only means usually adopted to secure a horse to 

 any particular spot where the rider may dismount. These 

 were the " rocines" or hacks ; but there was one animal, lighter 

 limbed and sleeker than the rest, tethered by a lazo to a peg 

 in the ground, that stood rubbing his head against a fore leg 

 that was advanced before the rest, and now and then looking 

 in upon the company. A philosophic looking borrico, with a 

 clean face, peered his long head and great ears beneath the 

 shed, and looked calmly upon what was going forward. A 

 great blue eat was purring and rubbing her sides against the 

 children, with her tail curved, and using all her eloquence to 

 influence the charity of the little girls for a morsel of beef. 

 With sneaking looks, and tails between their legs, a half dozen 

 mongrel curs stole cautiously towards the table, and seated 

 themselves at the elbows of their masters. I thought they 

 took advantage of company to draw near, for so soon as they 

 were perceived, and slightly reprimanded, they slunk away, 

 but took the first opportunity to resume their places. 



We sat there nearly an hour, smoking, chatting, and occa- 

 sionally joining in the potations of the ^'chicha de maiz," 

 which was served in silver tankards. The bon vivant told 

 lis, that the old lady had been recommended to visit the sea 

 shore, **to breathe the air," and that he had come to bathe, 



porque teniA la sarna y me rasgaba mucho — aun no me dejo 

 dormir de noche'' — for I had the itch, and scratched much — 

 I scarcely could sleep at night; but I am now cured, though 1 

 am still afraid to drink chicha or smoke cigars. 



Impressed with a favorable idea of the hospitality of our 

 new acquaintances, which is, out of the large cities, proverbial 

 along the whole coast, we bade them farewell. On our way 

 back to the landing, we passed over an ancient burying place 

 of the Indians, which has been pretty generally turned up by 

 visiters in search of huaqueros or earthen vessels, found in the 

 •graves. The whole surface is strewed with skulls and bones, 



