Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-10-06
From The ~ Y, Sunday Mercury.
LIMA, TIE CITY OF THE KINGS, AS
1T WAS AND Is.

the city Of Lima, the proud city Of the Incas
LIN which they worshpped the glories of the
Sun with a devotion that assimlated the fire.
worshippers Of the East-and the sepulchre of
Francis Pzarro, the discoverer and conqueror OF
Peru, whose atrocities and crueltes render his
name as infamous as the pens of kotzebue and
Sheridan chose to make it.
Captain Foster, when he last visited Lima, was
in command of the steamship City OF Pttsburg,
then engaged to ply between Panama and San
Francisco The vessel took fire from spontane-
Gus combustion, among the coal with which she
was supplied, and burnt to the waters edge, in
despite of all attempts that were made to save
her; and, what remained of her, sunk in some
thirty fathoms Of water. The ships company
and passengers escaped barely with their lives.
Whilst remaining in Lima, waiting orders from
home, Captnin Foster explored the city, its
churches, converts, monasteries, and other insti-
tutons and edifces, and embodied his collection
of facts in his log book. From that interesting
production, we copy the annexed extract Its in
terest will be acknowledged by all. Captain
Foster, when at home, resides in the beautiful
village of Harlem.
Lima, the City OF the Kings.
The British steamer being detained for three
DAYS at Callao, afforded us good opportunity to
visit the city
THE CATHEDRAL.
Entering through one of the rear doors, you see
on the left of the passage leading to the aisle
magnificent painting, representing the consecra-
ton of the edifce. The figures in the foreground,
life size, are most admirably executed; on the
margin we find, in Spanish:
"The most illustrious d. d. Genazalo dc o
Campo, 4th Arch Bishop of this Holy Church,
oficiated at the conservation Of this temple on
the 10Th October, 1926, with the solemnity be-
fitting so august ceremony. The services com
menced at in the morning, and terminated at
in the evening. 1914
They have at some time attempted to wash this
paintings but, in SO doing, have left large streaks
of mud which obscure many portions of it.
Knowing that the remains of the great captain
and conuueror of Peru, Francis Pizzaro, were de-
posted in this edifice, we made application to
our conductor to point out his tomb. N person
whatever being admitted into the vaults, unless
by written permission from the Bishop OF Lima,
the parties applying must be of known character,
ere they can be successful. Gold, however, will
open doors of adamant Two candles were
lighted, u door in the aisle leading to the vaults
was unlocked and we descended several steps.
Passing through dusty, dismal looking room,
in which for generations church lumber of all
description had been accumulating, we turned
into an inner vault The first skeleton pointed
to us was that of Pizzaro. 1t rested upon
brick shelf raised about four feet from the
ground The remains originally had been placed
in stout coffin, the top and sides of which had
fallen apart and gone to decay, though strongly
suspect the Peruvian revolution for independence
had some agency in despong it; for it is well
known the churches in Lima were robbed OF their
gold and silver ornaments; and, it is not likely
that the skeleton Of the once great conqueror
would escape examination. With the exception
of the lower jaw which has disappeared, the
skeleton is almost perfect. The ligaments, which
are skin dried and shrvelled, adhere firmly to
the bones; is this TO be wondered AT, when
we consider the purity and dryness OF the at
mosphere of Peru. On the right foot is an old
fashioned shoe, partly decayed. The toes OF
the left foot are perfect. The left hand to the
wrist has been either distracted, or has nouldered
away. The right hand is perfect; but, all the
fingers except the middle one are gone. by per-
mission of our guide, wrenched one off; also
button from the vest and doublet. These Tor
warded TO Lieutenant Maury, at Washington.
Near TO the thorax is a part OF the neck, run,
blackened and partly gone TO dust. The dress
consists of fine linen shirt; white satin single
breasted Jacket closely buttoned; the sleeves reach
10 the wrist and the buttons are entire. There
also remains a black silk satin doublet; the
buttons are perfect and strongly sewed The
breeches or small clothes, which appear to be
black velvet, still remain. The edges OF all the
garments are blackened and gone to decay.
winding sheet is passed around the corpse and
over the dress Ii is turned up from the feet TO
the middle of the skeleton, and the upper part is
turned down to the middle, further proof that
the skeleton must have been desecrated at the
epoch Of the revolution.
On the skull Of Pzzaro benevolence Is small,
secretiveness and firmness are very large.
On shelf above that on which the remains of
Pizzaro are deposited, is a metal box containing
the remains Of one of the lncas Turning into
the inner vault, which is Of great extent, you
behold the mortal remains Of the Viceroy who died
in Lima. The skeletons, dressed in garments
which once were rich and costly, are much black
cned and gone to decay. The winding sheets OF
all these as that Of Pzzaro, were turned up from
the feet and down from the neck to the middle,
by those who we're in quest of treasure.
Pizzaro was assassinated in his house, on the
right of the Gale dc Bonegones, as you enter II
from the great square of Lima. Antonio de
Herrera the great Spanish historian in bis His
tory Of Spanish America, gives detailed account
of the conspiracy by the followers Of Almagro,
and by them of the murder Of Pizzaro.
Our guides offered TO conduct us to the vaults
in which the remains Of the Archbshops Of Lima
were deposited. Having, however, witnessed
enough Of CHASTITY skeleton, we declined the offer
Dne apartment III lne Idlneufhi COuNhlnn Nut
portraits of all the bishops Of Lima. The first
bishop, from the inscription on the canvass, was
"Geronns dc Loayss, ofthe order fist. Domingo,
OF Carthagena, &C., in the year 1888 T"
"Died, the 25th October, 1878, in the Hospital
Of st. Anna"
This religious hospital, or convent Of St. Anna,
f Of small extent at the bishops demise, must
have swollen in after years 10 mighty dimensions,
as il now covers an extensive area Of ground
Lima is no longer a city ofsplendor. Her glory
has long passed away. Her former riches are
now tinsel Churches of wonderful extent and
elaborate architecture, and costly mansions once
occupied by wealthy families, are falling into
ruins. Repairs are hardly ever thought of.
Revolution and anarchy have been the bane Of
the republic, impovershing oPulent families, and
driving them into exile, so that much splendid
misery exists in this once proud city Of the lncas.
Visiting the establishment Of an American.
The artist exhibited TO me a collection
Of ancient furniture once the property Of Spanish
mobiles, and which he recently had purchased Of
an old lady, residing in her own palace, for a
mere trfe One article a bedstead, which,
for richness Of workmanship and ingenuity OF
design, could not be surpassed. Accompanying
this we're many yards Of canvas, on frame about
eight feet high, covered with paintings of no ordi-
~. IL - al ,ns.x