Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1853-06-08
LIMA, PERU.
~ lps.

the coast Of Peru, in the harbor Of Callao. one
Of my shipmates and | started to visit the
Venice Of the Aziecs," as the city of Lima
has been apsly termed. Having donned our
shore dsess. we jumped into the train at
Callao and after sharp run Of twenty min
utes. we arrived at the city gates, where a
motley crowd Of every size. color. class, and
dress met us. Here might be seen bevy Of
Senoritas. with their Saga Nantas,' or
shawl and hood; disclosing but single, jet
black eye; while their close fitting attire DIS
played forms. the perfection Of grace and
symmetry, and the rich white satin fringe Of
their po.ti--, oh beg your pardon reader,
--drdpery. descended SO as 10 form very
pretty hiding place for their small, and beau
tifully formed feet, encased 10 light silk, or
morocco CATERS; while there. by way of an
tithesis, a group Of little imps Of darkness
stood gazing, With countenances strongly ex-
pressing wonder and awe, at the locomotive.
which they seemed to think had some init
mate connection with "Sir Jimmy Square
foot. as hls Satanic Majesty is termed a. foat
Near them some larger specimens of the
race, whose war cry was death to the canine
species, were pursuing their murderous oc-
cupation. and giving US striking examples of
the insecurity Of life.
Descending from the train, we walked about
a mile and half along dirty, narrow street.
and following the crowd, we soon turned into
broad Gale. or street, and stopped ct the
American Hotel this we found to be
Spanish establishment. with .. French cuisine,
and sailing under American colors. After
surveying the various peculiarities Of the
building internally. we strolled ont to view
the thousand and one novelties which greet
the eye of the stranger at every step in this
renowned "Ciudad de los lglezias." or City
Of Churches
Nloran's Hotel was our first stopping place;
very extensive, but crowded, building. 'front.'
ing on the Grand Plaza, and Wis visiog the
Cathedral. After passing through the long
range Of booths situated before the Hotel and
exercising our wit and repartee on the singu
larity of the sight, we crossed the ar-famed
Rolla's Bridge. every ftone of which is me-
morable as connected with some incident in
the bloody contests of bis day. Turning
sharply to the right, we pursued our way
along delightful promenade, shaded on
either side, by long rows Of a species of Fir
tree; on the left side. charming meadow
spread out it's bright green carpet; wbilo on
the right, a river meandered gracefully along
the whole course of the walk The sweet
breath of the flowers. the joyous carollng Of
feathered songsters, the novelty. and the
great contrast between the whole. and our
seattle, made us 10th to leave such an en-.
chanting spot. Blu. this. like all truly pleas
ing incidents in life. terminated abruptly. and
retracing our steps. we soon were buried in
the contemplation Of those magnificent relics
of pristine grandeur. the Churches. The
first we entered was that of St Francis Xavier,
the great apostle Of tho Indies. But the
padre being at that time engaged in evening
service We could not take more than assing
glance at the interior of the structure We
stood just inside the threshold. and the scene
was one calculated to hold lasting place in
the records Of memory. The chef d 'oeuvres
ofsculpture and architecture the picturesque
costumes of the natives, kneeling on their
splendidly wrought cushions the men in
their gaudy pouchos; the females in the pc.
culiar dress of tho country. the Saya y
Mamtd; ~ the evening hour; the subdued
light; and the rich, manly tones Of tho ven.
cradle PADRE as be breathed forth the prayers
of El Rosario" in the beautiful Castilian
tongue; all united to charm us, and thus
stood We for fifteen minutes. gazing on the
scene so novel aud attractive to the eve of
the stranger!
From thence we issued forth to the crowded
street, where, taking prominent stand, we
halted, to amuse ourselves with the medley Of
sights and sounds SO strikingly illustrative of
peculiarities. Here the merchant hurries
along, with anxious look, or a self satisfying
chuckle his very air betraying the deep, alb
sorbing interest he takes in all financial OPP
era.ions; there the cowled monk plods his
way slowly along, his eyes bent upon his
mother earth, his carriage humble; while past
him sweeps the naughty Don, whose every
step denotes sci-disant king; following
closely upon him the stalwart mestizo brushes
along, child slung to her back, aud waiter
o. "dulces." (alias sweetmeats, on her head,
the various names Of which she sings out in
coarse masculine voice. or perhaps riding
don't know exactly how to express the idea.
but on close inspection, both feet Mould mol
be found on the same side of The donkey !
while before her is slung jar Of water or
'aguardiente, on either side. The latter is
species of drink peculiar to Spanish coun-
tries, but much resembling our common whis-
key.
think for Juvenile precocity, Lima owns
no rival. Before the boy or girl has attained
the heighth of two and a half feet be or she
is attired in the heighth Of fashion, and
meeting each other, they salute and converse
with gravity and grace that would become
matron and man of the world. saw one
couple taking promenade who particularly
attracted my attention. Neither Of them
were more than two feet high but to judge
by the lady's vivacity the style of her dress
the coquetry Of her manner, and the exquisite
grace with which she tripped along; and the
Partisan attire Of the gentleman. together with
his self. possessed, semi dandyish, semi gen.
teel air. and to hear the serious tone in which
they discussed the fashions, the beauty of
some of the reigning bellies, the last masquer-
ade, or the opera: one would imagine him .
self in the metropolis of the hilliputiahs -
Aud when il is remembered that neither of