398 THREE YEARS IN THE PACIFIC. 



jolly friar, styled Fray Tomas, chatting over their mates of 

 chicha, and smoking cigars. Fray Tomas is a remarkable little 

 man, not only for his short stature and well filled rotundity, 

 but for his neat manner of dressing. He usually wears a black 

 silk vest, carelessly buttoned, so as to display to advantage a 

 neatly embroidered shirt bosom and ruffles, black velvet small 

 clothes, secured at the knee with gold buckles, black velvet 

 pumps, tied In bows of black ribbon, and his well proportioned 

 calf covered in black worsted hose. His upper garment is a 

 striped gingham surtout, short in the waist, and reaching be- 

 low the knees. A low, straight stock, with purple edging, is 

 worn about his neck, and a heavy gold chain and seals hang 

 from his waistband, like a kedge anchor from the bows of a 

 frigate. When he walks out, he wears a thin black cloth cloak, 

 and a clerical hat rolled up at the sides, which shelters his lit- 

 tle face, at the same time hiding his thin black hair and ton- 

 sure ; besides, he carries a gold mounted Molluca stick about 

 four feet long. Altogether, Fray Tomas is a trig, merry son 

 of the church, of fifty years old, who leads an easy life, saying 

 mass, exhibiting the sacrament, and etnploying his leisure in 

 playing cards, smoking cigars, and drinking chicha. He is 

 courteous and talkative, and delights in mixing the Nectar 

 del Peru," ns he styles it, of different brewings, always desir- 

 ing the opinion of the company, whether It be not improved. 



Like most of the clergy in Peru, he is skilled in Latin and 

 church history, and besides, has somewhat of an antiquarian 

 taste, which he indulges occasionally upon inquiries about the 

 huacas and graves of the children of the sun, and always dwells 

 with particular gusto upon the chicha sometimes found in them, 

 which he repjesents as becoming much stronger than brandy. 

 Speaking of the huacas, the question was agitated, whether 

 they were tombs, or depots for treasure, or strong holds. Fray 

 Tomas thinks they are the depots for treasure, because the 

 burying places are always found in the plains, and that nothing 

 but treasures are ever found in the huacas, while in the graves, 

 jars of chicha, or some implements of industry, are only met 

 with. I expressed a desire to visit a huaca which is near the 

 town, to satisfy my curiosity upon the subject. At this mo- 



