American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1826-05-12

Thr valley ;s surrounded on all sides by high
-,oonta;,s and h.n,, watefed by the Rio de'Cosma,
a sh,iow stream which wlnds through every Pait o.
il. it is very fertile Descending the side oil the
mountain one mi hi almost have imagined y !" the
happy valley" they were approao hing, all nature
was so calm and beautiful we heard no sound out
that oil the Iimpld waters, and occasionally the voice
OF the old ady Ling ou, TO US ito take care Tor,
having never sect any one ride our fashion" be
tore, she was tel ribly ALA med Tor us
After arriving SAFELY at the foot OF the mountain.
we rode for some distance under the shade OF the
Uparrobo a tree which bears small yellow Hover
oi most delicious lrag'a
Cosma is a small Indian village, retaining few
houoes, d they are more properly called, Rancho
rss, Of huts or tents which are built Of reed
aud clay The rooms are generally large; the ground
is the ca pet. cobwebs the drspery, and every thing
else to correspond. They had prepared an excel
lent duuer tor u.s. consisting OF fruits and cakes and
Que turkey. filed with birds and onions but was
told they had turned the whole town topsy urvy 10
arrange IL
The warm.hearted hospitality of those simple,
Ignorant cigar smoking ruslics, afforded US great
pleasure, and returned TO our shipin the evening
after enjoying the most charming ride along the
borders of the Rio de Cessna, by the most splendid
moonlight ever witnessed.
We passed several days at Hnacho; situated in
the fertile and beautiful valley of Harura: we found
the finest roses there, and explored the surrounding
country cabalio we often rode through groves Of
orange and lemon trees; and particularly admired
the immense fields of corn, which grows the most
astonishing height, for they reminded me so forcl-
bly, of my own county The inhabitants appear
idle and happy, and the Indians seem 10 be an anna
Bile and industrious Of people; entered mary
of the hu,s and always found them employed in
baidng hats OF kind Of grass, which AT altogether
worn there; They have very curious appearance
being immensely large, aud the crown nearly Two
feet high.
IL some OF the houses found the men, women
and children seated Oh the ground. Tor they have no
hoots. surrounded by cats dogs, Chickens turkeys
du ks, &c. Aud these musical creatures appear to
be the principal nurses 10 the little children, who 81
10 the middle of them in corner would be a
small fire over which they were preparing some
food, which it would be most difficult to describe y
The females foe ked around US, examined our sad
dies and dresses, and kept enchanting, Que
trana !" Que conlta" chow strange, how pretty,)
aud one old woman, putting her arm round my
waist. exclaimed, . No come" (You do not eats) be
cause was not quite as large as herself
They offe ed US cakes and fruits and drink cal
led Ciicha which is made OF corn wheat, and is
much like our beer and some OF the young ladies
PLAYED for US on the guitar, and sung song oil some
twenty or thirty verses, about the " Great Bolvar
La LibertAdor," as he is called
Many families consisting of TWO or three dozen
persons. which they think very few live under the
shade OF their trees, without any canopy out the clear
bright heavens, and the climate |. SO fine, they real
" rqulre no other
We visited large sugar estate, few miles from
the town the machinery is lmpelled by water
powers we saw them grind the cane, boil the juice
and Witnessed the whole process the sugar. both
whi'e aud brown, was excellent, and the cane de
hghttui the poor people live almos; entirely upon
1t, and seldom taste meal.
Now. do not imagine all this will afford you
much amusement, but perhaps it will give you
good idea Of the Indian villages which are scattered
all along this coast, many Of them beautiful, even in
ruins
We are residing august, 1922 at Mira
Flores, pretty little village four miles from Lima
sud five from Chorlllas; we are surrounded BY all
tta is delightful in nature, and are as happy in this
land of the incas, as il we were really "Chldrrn
oil the Sun This village, in days OF Spanish splen
Gour was the summer resort OF all the nobility OF
Lima; il is now nearly deserted, and most OF the
magnificent houses and gardens are n ruins-we
occupy one OF the best, and have every accommo-
dalioo and comfort. Its tranquility is seldom dis
srfbed, except some Feast or Saints Day, by
the ringing oil bells, aud he occasion which fol
lows th- image of St James, ST Francisco. or st.
Somebody, and even their WorshipperS cannot tell
who.
There is one church here where morning and
evening mass is performed, which often Attend
W hen take my evening ride TO Lima / generally
avoid the public road. which is travelled by all the
ror'd for prefer more retired one which winds
round several la re and highly cultivated farms, be-
longing to gentlemen Of Lima; the houses are much
neglected being occupied only by slaves, who keep
the gardens in the finest order; but it is delightful
70 rest under the lemon, and Olives and cherimoyan
Trees which arc laden with blossoms and fruit tow
ering high ABOVE the clay walls which surround all
The gardens, and divide the different estates, many
Of which are watered by the sweet Rimac, whose
waters are led from the upper part Of The valley
and flow along the sides OF the road, and tbroup h