Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-06-09

ward FIVE days after we came to an anchor
in the bay of Montery, California -
The Spanards have there small fortress
with garrison perhaps of fifty men who
are placed there, they say, entirely Tor
the protec,ion of some two or three reii-
gious missions established in the vicinity
for the purpose OF converting the wild
children of the forest to the catholic faith
but am inclined to think that their
object is not quite so humane and hlslnie-
rested as they would wish one to believe
for where mild persuasion. (which is.
think, the only weapon that should ever
be used in such cases. fails to effect their
purpose, they do not hesitate to use the
most arbitrary and unieeling means to
accomplish j, as an evidence OF this
mention the following Circumstance. Ram
bling in the woods one day with gun
in search of patridges (Which by the by
are there very pleuty) | fell in with two
Indians who were employed cutting wood,
with each a heavy 'pair of irons on his
legs; asked themain Spanish (for you
must know have learnt to make myself
understood in that languagel why they
were in irons they said they had attempt
ed to run away and return to their nation in
the interior, and were caught and shackled
as saw. advised them to beat of their
disgraceful letters with their axe, and
Showed them how it might be done they
looked so significantly at each other, that
AIN convinced they had never thought of
such thing before, but I have no doubt
they very soon followed my advice.
As the Spanish force is much TOO small
to cope with the Indians in the field, they
have adopted the following singular stra-
tagem to keep them under. which has had
so far. the desired effect. The priests col.
lect all the young females and put them
into strong building erected for that pur-
pose, where they are taught TO spin, weave,
sew, &c. They are strictly guarded and
never suffered to leave their prison, until
the holy father gives them away in mar
rage, at which time he always stipulates
for the female children that may make
their appearance on the stage OF life. BY
thus keeping the women in their power,
the men are restrained from acts Of VIC.
lence.
As Monterey and Virginia lay in the
same parallel of latitude, the climate and
productions of course ought not 70 be We
very different; wheat, and all the fruits
Of Virginia are there in the highest per-
lection. We rem aimed but few days 10
refresh ourselves, lay in SUPPLY OF WOOD,
water, &c. and on the 23d of Octobe r, an
chored for the third time in the harhor OF
Lima.
Ifyou do not expect particular descrip-
ton OF Lima, shall bc..g'ad of it, for J'ou
will no, then be disappoiuted,whe you see
bow briefly ! pass it over You may re-
member that It was founded Ivy the tamo US
Pizarro, who built hmselfs great palace
and was murdered in it by gang OF con-
sprators. 1t is situated two leagues from
the sea in beautiful, vale called the HI
nae IN the bank of river oithe same name;
is surrounded by wall 90 feet high has
about 90 thousand inhabitants, OF whom
there NAV be Co thousand whites; ls
GRO ded with public buildings, among
which are upwards of 10 churches, all nm
menseiy rich, in every one may be seen
at least one Virgin Mary with crown upon
her head of pure gold ornahlsnted with
the richest gems. Large columns support
ING Images, tables, Candle sticks, anu va
rous other affairs, all OF massy silver may
be seen in any OF them. There IS, as you
may suppose, no want OF inconsistencies Con-
vents ana nunneries, and you like you
may 90 and make love through tneir iron
srat,s to pretty nun at noon day. he
women are generally handsome, but So
extremely ignorant, that their first Inqul-
ries were almost always about the fashions
in London, believing thai all who speak
English must of course belong to that
place. They are utterly without modesiy
in either manners or conversation.
axx 4 Il y II
Twill mere then do the Limanians the
Justice to say that they are polite aud nos
pi,able to strangers, at least they were SO
to US, thougnn is very evident that they