New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1843-05-20
GOV, IN. Worcester Egis.


~ ernect very soon to be placed in circum-
..aces which will afford but short intervals Of
a r. sor epis,oayy correspondence, design spend
mo some Of my present leisure, IN furnishing Tor
~ ner,sal brief account of the City of Lima,
!, Peru The detention Of the Victoria afforded
he passengers an excellent opportunity to visit
.s,t far. famed City, and for observing the Gus
.on,s and habits of the Peruvians. as exhibited in
r,Bao Lima, and the adjacent region.
Calico is the sea port of Lima. 1t has an ex-
client harbor, and contains about 5000 inhab-
isnts who are principally engaged as custom
house officers, keepers OF cigar and dram shops,
,nst.nen, fishermen, muleteers. and very large
number living upon profits which arise from pan
5ering to the wees and follies Of others.
The city of Lima is built upon TIC south sac q
Of the river Rimac. 1t is situated miles ~; H'
Of E. r. E. from Callao. The road lcaoing
thence, runs in nearly straight line, some paf'S
Of which are bordered with gram. flelos oi Goii'
and grass, and beautiful groves OF lemon ana o.
ange trees The valley or PLAN watered ny 'i!c
Rinac is highly productive. All KINDS OIL 'ropi-
cal fruit and vegetables are ever coming 10 ma
nrjtv-blossoms and ripe fruits are to be seen
mon the same tree. 1t IS impossible 10 look
6rth upon that beautiful valley-on the one SIDE
lcfendcd by the lofty Andes covered with eternal
.now. and on the other washed by the ever dash
mo- waters of the wide Pacific-and not admire
he taste of Pzarro in selecting this spot where
10 found city, near the very place where having
bv perfidy seized the body of the Suca, the old
Indian king-thcn promising to llberate hum
mon condition that he would fill the room Of his
,onfnement with gold, and after it was DONE
cueily putting HIM to death. He laid the ioun-
daton Of Lima, January Is, 1885, (moro than 80
years before a single town was founded Within
The present limits of the United States, st. Au-
Justine, in Florida, having been founded 1861
The streets cut one another at right angles, d.
ydinc the city into squares, of 400 feet Through
the middle OF the principal streets runs a stream
If water about three feet wide and six inches
deem which very much contributes to the health
and cleanliness of the city. Tradition reports
that Pizarro would not have the streets cores
popd to the four points of the compass, but run
70 obiquely that the walls of the houses would
cast shade morning and evening. The walls
ofthe CITY arc seven miles in circuit and from Is
TO Is feet in hight, and were built in 1855
In company with some fellow passengers |
scent the 29th and 30th Of August i'll walking
about the streets of this city, observing the Gus
toms of the Limanians, visiting the churches and
onvenls. The Royal Plaza or square-in this,
as all other Spanish Cities is the great place OF
resort for business. pleasure, religious PROFESSIONS
military parades, &c. In the centre of the Plaza
sanoble fountain, which has been running more
than 200 years. 1t was formerly highly orna-
mented with brass and silver figures OF hons, and
surmountcd by statue of Fame. We usually
associate with fountain the ideas Of life, health
and beauty, but, sad to relate, this fountain has
been the spot where hundreds of criminals for CT
vii and political offences, have been publicly shot.
On the East side of the Plaza stands the Grand
Cathedral founded by PIzarro on the same day
that he laid the foundations of the city. 1t pre-
sents noble and commanding front, and is en-
tered by three spacious doorways. Two lofty
towers rising about 300 feet, overlook city and
counry-thc belfries of which may be SAID almost
literally TO be filled with bells. The largest bell
weighs 81 600 pounds, bat was unfortunately
broken some months since. Catholics Ill Lima
as elsewhere have strange propensity for the
jingle OF bells. At all times Of the day. bells were
ringing and Ginning. The cathedral measures
lSG feet in front and 800 deep Its interior is
verp imposing and grand. The painting, carving,
gliding and decorations are rich and must have
been much admired ages ago. Columns, many
IN number, and rich In curious workmanship, III
sing 80 or - feet, support the roof. Many thou
sands can be easily accommodated. Aswe wan
dered about the spacious cdifcc, we found abund-
ant TO interest and admire. The altar was richly
decorated with silver and gorgeous drapcry. On
every side images of SAINTS and magnificent pant
!ngs arrested our attention. We were informed
that during successive revolutions in the country,
,heCathcdral. as well as nearly every church, had
been robbed of immense treasures of gold and sll-
YER Our guide speaking the Spanish very flu
emily, proved good introduction to a company
Clvoang priests-who very gladly conducted us
through the more private apartments of the build
ing. Curiosity was all awake, as we passed from
nOm to room, the last we entered now serving as
a'chool room for the young priesthood. Around
lSspaclous walls hung complete set of portraits
nent ofthe Catholic church in the country, more
Than three centuries since. We visited many olthe
churches of Lima, and found them all richly dec
Grated with paintings. The riches! and best were
those tthe churches of San Pedro and San hler-
edas Fully to examine them would have rcqulr-
Cd much longer time than we had TO devote to
lie purpose. We visited several churches at the
ame OF mornining and evening mass One Gus
om was most striking and becoming, as exhibit
As the equality of rank among men when they
assemble for the worship of Almighty God-the
Ma and poor, noble and ignoblc, bond and free,
Mei SIDE by side before the altar The interior
VI 'ae churches were not divided of into pcws or
aps, but left open.
un the north side of the Piazza stands the
'ahce OF Plzarro, which occupies nearly an entire
Sasfe. We were conducted through the various
garments formerly the repository of wealth and
aa&ion but revolutions have not spared this
s@de OF the proud viccroys of Spain. Most of
N furniture has been removed. The building.
1ieunds garden, with walks and fountains
la beautifully shaded by the orange, fig, cheri-
.oss and other tropical trees. | wish | could
sasa YOU with specimen OF the "Cherimoya
E4s In SIG If resembles the nine. annlc but In