Page:The Present State of Peru.djvu/292

250 condescension which is so contrary to subordination, and even to the sound policy of nations, be considered as the effect of paternal love?

In continuation:

When I was at Cuzco, my daughter was still at the breast. Her nurse is a creolian negress, named, who was purchased for that end. She appeared to be the picture of humility when she entered the house. She watched over the little one with an almost maternal love; was never absent from the nursery; and had no other will than that of her mistress. With this propitious commencement I departed to prosecute my business, and flattered myself that on my return I should find things in the same posture. But how erroneous were my expectations!

One of the particulars which began to disgust me in, was, that she not only addressed in the familiar language of thee and thou, but that the latter called her my mamma, and slept, eat, and played with her, in preference to her young sisters, and even to her mother. I am aware that it is the same with almost all the wet-nurses; but it is not on that account less true, that this usage instils much vulgarity into the mode of thinking of the infants, and contributes still more to render the nurses haughty and overbearing. In reality, is the person who commands in the house: all the servants pay her a marked homage, and are more obedient to her, than to my wife, or myself. Her will is a law; and if, perchance, I chide her for a fault, I am confounded by the clamours of my aforesaid step-mother, of , and of all the parentage.

Now that the child is somewhat advanced in growth, and should