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ble of getting it for money . But when I added , * I am very unwell , my brothers ; do me the favour , aud God will repay you ; ' my feeble voice , pale cheek , and sunken eye , bearing testimony to the truth of what I said ; the sire of the fa * tuily , or the matron , twisting her ball of thread from the silkeu wool of the
vicuna , would then mutter something in Quichua , when instantly an olla ( earthen pipkin ) would be seized by one of the younger members , who would glide away in pursuit of the flock without a question as to payment . This , " he adds , " is savage hospitality ! " As a specimen of the hospitality aud charitable habits of the higher classes , we may take his sketch of Donna Juliana Indalesias . **
August 6 th . I availed myself this day of a general invitation to dinner , given with unfeigned cordiality by Donna Juliana . She is known by the appellation of ' La buena Cristiana , * and never was distinction more deservedly bestowed . ' " For nearly an hour immense silver dishes were carried in and carried out with the various compositions of our repast . The first course consisted , as 5 s usual in this country , of cheese atid fruit , such as melons , apples , figs , chyrtmoyas , tunas
inembrillos , " &c . * Each dish contained sufficient for a party of twice our number , and from every one I observed Donna Juliana take a large plateful , sometimes two platefuls , and saying something in Quichua , hand them to one of her Indians , who placed them in a distant corner of the room . When the cloth was removed , all the attendants , without any word of command , ranged themselves in a rank in the middle of
the room , and suddenly dropping on their knees , sung or said aloud a grace that lasted full four minutes , in which the deep-toned voices of Padre Costas and Friar Francisco chimed in like bassviols ; whilst Donua Juliana , pressing her cross aud beads to her bosom , her eyes devoutly fixed upon a beautiful painting of the Virgip ana CJiUd , which hung opposite to her in a large massive , frame , accompanied the othuis in all the
fervency of thanksgiving . " " The servants now took away the plates which had betu placed upon the sideboard , whilst J ) onna Juliana , jn Qnkhua , / seemed v ° give particular , . directions about each of them . 1 was £ U , ripus to lean ) tjieir tlestinanou , aind faping on a footing of the most fricHKlly intimacy with Donna Juliana aud h « r fatfrer-xpnfcgHor , my inquiry was answeredt * to be given to the poor . ' Every day in the year , at two o ' clock ,
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several poor persons attended at the house of La buena Cristiana , and took their seats upon the staircase ; some of them , aware , no doubt , of the lenient disposition of their benefactress , encroached even to the door of the diningroom , where a scene , rather unusual to a European , certainly to an Englishman , and one of interesting curiosity too , was
daily to be seen—that of a tribe of beggars , assembled en socUU , in a respectable mansion , eating with silver spoons out of siLver plates and dishes , without any watch over the property , or even a suspicion of its being likely to be missing . " " I must not forget to remark that the reserved portions of sweetmeats were for the children who accompanied their parents ; a trifling observation , perhaps , but it has its weight in describing the character of the venerable Lady Bountiful of Potosi . " ( Vol . I . p . 383 . ) Not so picturesque , but equally to the purpose , as a specimen of liberality and kindness , is Mr . Temple ' s
description of his search- for a lodging at La Paz . " * PaisanoJ' said I , to the first decent person who passed , { countryman being the term which strangers use in civilly accosting each other in this country , ) * Paisano . ' * said I , ' pray whose house is that ? ' pointing to a very large and respectable-looking mansion , with a fine old-fashioned gateway to the street .
* That is the house of Don Manuel Valdivien , ' replied the strauger . ' Do you think , paisano , ' said I , * that 1 could obtain a lodging in the house ? ' ' Y porque no ? And why not ? There is plenty of room for you and your horses also : do you wish that I should accompany you ? ' said the stranger . 'What !' said 1 , ' have you any share in the house , or are you acquainted with Don Manuel ? ' 4 No , not 1 , ' said he ; * but seeing you are a stranger , if you need
my services I will accompany you . ' ' Mil gracias , paisano , ' said I , ' I shall give you no farther trouble , for I shall go aud present myself to Don Manuel and acquaint him with my situation . He did & > and was welcomed in the inofct coidinL manner , his horses and
uuiks . ordered into the stable , aud Uim-Mcli accommodated with a red damask bed , aud & \ iect * adorned with brand trimmings of lace . ( See Vol . II . p . 73 . ) It is to be observed that there were miwy inns in the town , though they happened at tluit time to be full of merchants and
muleteers , and not so provided a « to suit au English traveller ' s taste . We have already hinted at the paucity of informa-
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Critical Notices . — Miscellaneous . 33 1
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), May 2, 1830, page 331, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2584/page/43/
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