The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-11-17

: over their shoulders, that learned wouI
. cost from three to 1--WE hundred dollars. :
Each carried richly bound prayer boo,
. and cambria handkerchief in her hand,
female attendant following viii the :hurcl
mat. The ladies here never wear mats o
any description, the saya is a substitute
, and when that is not worn, a silk shaw
takes its place. The Indian and lowe
classes Of Peruvian women wear Pansm,
hats, like the men in the United States. anc
always have on silk Stockings; cotton one,
are unknown here. Mrs. Will,
in Lima, attracted much attention ON &C
count of her bonnet, which the ladies' eyec
quite critically; even the nuns being divert
ed from their devotions. ...
The Convent OF San Francisco. which
stands on the banks of the Rimac. is the
oldest and most extensive in Lima; with it:
church and cloisters il covers hurteen acres
OF ground. Its church is nexfin sze to the
cathedral, and at one time was the richest
in Peru. This contains many thapes,
shrines, and affairs. rich with gorgeous dec.
orations Of gold and silver, ebony, precious
stones, velvets and damasks, elegantly dis.
posed. The splendor OF its Principal
chapel inspires the beholder witha sort Of
religious awe.
There are six clustered cUrts, with
galleries to each; in the centr, are fruit
trees and fountains. These galleries are
lined over head with elaborate carved work
and gliding, the side walls co'ered with
thousands Of oil paintings, all aecuted in
Italy, many Of which are set in 'ecesses in
the wall, and enclosed by doors ,r screens,
which are only opened upon goat festival
occasions and saint days-in me Of the
private chapels Of this convent, | counted
two hundred and twenty. five heads upon a
single canvass.
There are but few friars here at present,
but Lima is said to have formerly maintain.
ed FIVE hundred, living in the gnatest luxu.
AIRY and RIGHTEOUSNESS. | visied several
in their cells; took tea with on, wine and
segars with another, and wa invariably
treated with marked attention aid hospital
ity. One rather remarkable ,bject in the
church, was shrine and imae Of black
virgin Mary, with white infant saviour in
her arms. Posing through This convent,
without a guide, one is in dagger Of being
lost in its labyrinth of passags.
| was quite fortunate in fdming an &C
quaintance with young English officer 10
Brazil, and also finding him a, Lima on
my arrival there; he was a catholic, had
letters from the bishop OF Ri, to the off.
oial Of Peru, and with him gained ad-
mittsnce every where. | visied about forty
converts, monastaries and mneries; many
of them falling into ruin, bu still showing
evidences Of former SPLENDID During the
revolutions Of the past Gentry, they have
been plundred, levied upon, and the num-
Der Of their order reduced, so tist now, in
most instances, they are TOO poor to make
necessary repairs.
In the Convent Of St. Augustine is
formed the largest and richest collection OF
paintings in Peru; many of them by the
first Italian masters, and from two to three
hundred years old. 1t is absolutely pain
ful to see the neglect with which they are
regarded; no care whatever is taker OF them;
they hang upon the damp wall o; are piled
up in corners, like old rubbish, covered
with dust and mould, and in few years
more will be ruined past a redemption.
Their value seems quite unknown 10 the
order, as any one OF them can be purchased
for a mere triae. Unlike Italy and Euro.
psan countries. Peru has never been visi- |
ted and culled by greedy picture dealers;
and am confident that the collection by
the old masters, is greater among the con-
vents Of Peru, than in Italy ITSELF These
paintings during the palny days Of the
church, were purchased at an expense Of
millions on millions OF dollars.
Besides its many converts, Lima con.
Iains fifty-seven churches, and twenty five
chapels, belonging 10 hospitals, colleges, |
&c. With the exception OF Rio Janeiro,
here is more continuous ringing and chi
ming Of bells, than in any City, ! have ever
visited.
The convent bells are tolled almost every
hour in the day for some ceremony or other,
md at midnight they summon with iron
ongue the nuns and frias TO their vigils. |
Every church and chapel has its clock.
md as no two in the city agree in point Of
irne, one or the other is continually on the
70. From the number of churches and
;hapels in Lima, it was common saying
,ears ago, "that Peru and its capital, the
;iiy Of Kings, would send more souls and
aints to heaven, than the mines would yield
dollars to the world"
The inquisition, with all its horrors, was
at Lima. in 1869. and exercised
no same functions as in Spain, until il was
Ibolished by San Martin, in 1921. Its
palace is now occupied as prison; one Of
Is halls. however, is devoted to public
museum; among other things, this contains
variety Of Inca rnummies, taken from
different hualcas; old Indian relics, paint
ngs and curiosities, with valuable collec-
ion Of native minerals There, saw the
,ofin Of General Lamar, very elaborate
piece of work, built OF rosewood, and
mounted upon high pedestal; it was car
led in the great procession. when his re-
mains were brought back to Peru. The
military coat Of General Salavary, pierced
With balls, is exhibited in glass case; the
collection Of portraits of distinguished men
If Peru, is very large; the ex-Kings and
Presidents, over forty in number, from
Pizaro down, are shown in full length |
portraits. Simon Bolivar's is an excellent
painting, and occupies a conspicuous posi-