QUITO.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 188, 23 June 1862, Page 5

QUITO.

(From Bentley'x Miscellany.')

The squares of Quito are adorned with fountains, but the majority of them do not play, although nothing could be easier, as there is such an nbundance of water. Unhappily the numerous gulleys running down the streets are not under police supervision, hence washerwomen employ them for lavatory purposes, while all the filth of the houses is poured into them by the careless servants. The . bolsiconaSj or grisettes of Quito may also be ssen washing their feet in the accquias of the most frequented streets. The Spanish title is derived from the word bolsa, a purse, which 'these young ladies have in their petticoats, and this class comprises all women who earn their livelihood, and who wear the same uniform. It is simple, but coquettish; over a substantial petticoat is a long silk or calico skirt, covering the chemise, but not entirely concealing it; and over the shawl again a piece of cloth, called a rebozo, which is drawn over the head. The striking contrast of colors form the originality of the costume; and their numbers give a liveliness to the city, which would appear dead without the bolsiconas.

The public amusements of Quito are not extensive, consisting only of religious processions and masquerades of tho Indians. The latter are vestiges of social life from the time of the Incas, but have been so often described that we will not dwell on them. As the police system is bad, thefts are frequent, but murders are rare. Only three took place at Quito in 18G0, while at Guayaquil they amounted in the same year to thirty. This speaks in favor of the inhabitants of the tierra fria, and probably the atmosphere in which they live softens do am insubordinate passions. The delicious climate of Quito —the realisation of perpetual spring—allows bathing to go on in running streams all the year round, and this is fortunate for the inhabitants, who do not possess a single establishment for warm baths. Thus for the physical wants of the population of Equador, and now for their moral aspect.

Quito possesses a public university and library. The latter, comprises some 15,000 volumes, obtained from the old Jesuit monastery ; but the taste for reading does hot distinguish the Equadorians. Throughout the country there is not a single bookseller, though mass-books and the romances of Alexandre Dumas and Paul de Kock may be purchase 1 at the linendrapers' shops. The few persons who are not satisfied with such literary pabulum, order their books direct from Paris and Lima. That Lima, the Soutli American Partlicnope, should, be a source of liglit to Equador, proves the intellectual prostration of the country. Pious publications issued by the"Jesuits, political diatribes, and reprints of conservative articles are the sole symptoms of mental activity to be found beyond the Chirnborazo. The only paper Unit appears is the National, which is the official journal of the Government, and merely reprints Ministerial decrees.

Quito, on the other hand, is the only city in the New World which has for a long time possessed a real school of painting. Another art that exists, though it pan hardly be said to flourish, is wood carving. The Indians, or half-breeds, specially attend to this, and generally carve \Sirgins, crucifixes, and other notabilities of the Calendar. Still, their art is not very far-fetched, and they generally ought to write under their animals what they intend them for. The cheapness at which these articles are sold, explains their mediocrity; but, if properly/encouraged, the sculptors of Equador would make their figure in the world, for the Indo-American race has a minute patience like that, of the Chinese, and in certain branches of art patience is almost genius.