Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1854-10-14
THE WATER-CARRIERs OF PERU.

LIMA. the capital of Peru, labors under the seri-
Gus disadvantage Of not being well supplied with
water. Rain rarely falls in the neighborhood, SO
that the inhabitart are forced to dercnd upon
artificial means Of Obtaining this indispensable
blessing. Even in what we are accustomed to call
barbarous ages-bctore the existence Of the vast
continent of America was known or conjcctured in
EurOpc-thc Incos Of Peru had given proof Of
their civilization by making many canals and
trenches to convey water into the capitol. The
Spaniards, fully approaching the nature Of these
works, paid great attention to keeping them in
order but they are now in so bad a condition that
the inhabitants are obliged to buy all their drinp-
ing water Of men who procure it from a large foun-
tain in the Plaza .Noyor, and go round the city
with it on the backs Of asses.
OF all asses in Peru, the GguadOr, or watCr-car-
rier, of Lima, is the most laborious, the ~steadiest,
and the most patient. lie begins work at six III
the morning and does not rest till seven in the
evening. \ few aandluls of bran, which he carries
in a little bag hanging on his neck, constitute the
whole of his food for the day, and at night he con-
tents himself with some stray blades Of grass that
he manages to pick up from any odd corner where
he can find them. lie is anything but stupid, in
the sense of being without Intelligence. As soon
-as he reaches the fountain, laden with the two
casks for containing the water, he turns round and
stands still while the negro gets of, fills the casks,
and taxes the pad out Of the bell. They then both
proceed on their way through the city. The poor
animal knows when and where he has to deliver
water. lie knows that after supplying such IL
house, he has to 60 to such another. If he has
occasion to stop, his master may leave him all day.
with the certainty Of finding him still standing
where he left him. Those of the customers who
are ut all good-naturcd leave Il box for him at their
kitchen door, containing all sorts of odd bits that
may suit his palate. lie shows his sense of their
kind consideration by eagerly devouring whatever
they beStow upon him, though it is often scarcely
fit to eat, consisting of bits Of old hats, greasy
papers, bones, and other indigcstible odds and
ends. Ills choicest delicacies are husks of mel.
Ons.
But carrying water is not tho only purpose for
which this useful animal is employed. lie is a
general carrier, used for conveying all sorts of
things from one part of the town to the other and
not unirequently for moving furniture, vast heaps
Of which, in the shape Of chairs, boxes. tables. etc.
are mercilessly piled upo his back. If, as some,
times happens, he is overloaded, or loses his eouili.
brim, the whole collection of moveables comes
down with a crash, and the driver, fearful Of not
gaining anything by his job, revenges himself IN.
On the poor beast without much mercy.
When the ass is employed neither in corrvinc
water nor m~oving-as, for example, on fesyiyoI
days-he gets his recreation by taking the wholo
family OF his proprietor on his back, or racine
with some Of his comrades, whose masters 20 viii
their own from one place Of amusement to another
Some negroes, who are Il little more thoughtful ar
kind than others, endeayor to tighten the labor and
save the strength Of the ass by going on foot with
him when the water-casks are full but these are
exceptions to the general rule. In most cases the
poor animals are subject to much reckless barbara.
ty, which fills the foreigner with indignation on
his first arrival at Lima. To save the trouble al
whipping, the wretches who drive them make a
cash behind with a bone or sharp piece of wood,
and then keep them in constant misery by poking
at the wounded part. When the poor creature
falls from sheer exhaustion, it is not Uncommon
for the brutal driver to slit up one Of his nostrils
as a punishment for the first offence. If the helm
less creature has the audacity to repeat the of
ienee' his other nostril is treated the same abomni
bic way. A third crime Of this sort is punished
by cutting one of the ears, and a fourth by cutting
the other. At last, if the previous barbaritirs have