Urrowed through the bottom of the box. It was just as with the others,
and succeeded as well. I had to make one cross-cut, and in this my
newly-hafted blade behaved admirably; after which, I pulled out the
divided pieces. I was not a little surprised when I arrived at the
inside, and ascertained the contents of the box. It was some time before
I could make them out by the "feel," but when I had succeeded in getting
one separated from its fellows, and ran my fingers over its outline, I
at length recognised what they were. They were _bonnets_! Yes, ladies'
bonnets, and nothing but that--all apparently full "trimmed," and
garnished with their feathers, flowers, and ribbons. Had I at that time
possessed a more intimate knowledge of the costumes of the Peruvians, I
should have been more surprised, perhaps, to find such an odd "item" in
the list of their imports. I should have known that such a thing as a
bonnet is never seen upon the beautiful head of a Peruvian lady. But I
knew nothing of this then, and I was only surprised by the oddity of
such an article occurring in the cargo of a great ship. The explanation
was given me afterwards, thus:--that there were English and French
ladies living in many of the South American cities--the wives and
sisters of English and French merchants resident there, as well as of
various representative officials--and that these, although so very far
distant from their homes, still obstinately persisted in following the
fashions of London and Paris, notwithstandin
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