The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1860-11-07
(For The Star ofths North.
An Incident in my Life.
BIT cAaLos.


Juan Caverillo, tie Jesuilical high priest
of Cuzco, was my most intimate friend
and the many acts of kindness done me by
him showed that he was sincere My
official position secured me the respect OF
the army and officers of the Government.
while the fact of my being The only Young
American ever in Cuxco, won me the atten-
ton Of the ladies of that place Not only was
! universally known, but all seemed 10 vie
in extending the hospilalities Of their several
mansions. But the priesthood in general,
and the Jesuils in particular, were my firm
friends, acinated; though by the laudabe
desire OF converting me from my heresies
] have neither time nor space 10 relate how
many conversations were held with me on
the subject-how appeals were addressed
10 my judgment as well as my ambition
how entreaties were mingled with threats
nor how arrangements had been made
by the ladies' of the City TO have me pub
licly baptized in the Cathedral, where the
Bishop was 10 associate as my Godfather
and La sonora Valdivieso as my God-mother
Suffice j: 10 know that nothing was left uu-
done TO secure my conversion, The Cuzco
mans regarding the presence of Protestant
ia their midst as an evil not 10 be borne
Converts and monas,eries opened at my
request, privilege never granted TO even
the parents of the INNS. Even the myste-
ries OF the 'sfgar' were revealed TO my
curious eyes Let me give you faint idea
of it.
Every year the female portion of The
community are required 10 spend nine days
in the fJar, in order 20 get purified They
are placed in damp. subterranean cells,
from which even the light of day is ex-
Guided About twenty Indians, negresses,
hybrids, and white women are put in each,
no distinction being made as 10 position or
color. The coarsest kind of food is given
them, while none but their confessors have
access TO their dismal abode AT midnight
they are awakened, and required 10 scourge
their naked backs with an iron instrument
constructed for that purpose; and the dark
masses of clotted blood on the brick floor
and on the surrounding walls, aitested the
severity with which the scourge had been
applied.
Juan Caverillo agreed TO show me the
rubierranean passages, (construc:ed 300
years ago. and by means of which the
priests communicate in the different con.
vents 10 this connection may state, that
Cuzco was the seat of the Spanish Inquisi-
zion. Ny companion first took the precau-
tion Of swearing me 10 secresy during his
life. Armed with long torches, we de.
scended the vanIts of San Diego, and
iraveEsed the long, gloomy galleries. which
the fitful glare of the torches only served 10
make darkness visible" and occasionally
revealed to my shuddering view, long, shiny
lizards, which crawled in immense num-
bers, in the green mold at my feet After
unbarring huge iron door. we were ush.
ered'inio small, arched room, where stood
thres athletic men, who, were completely
masked. They seized me, and despite my
struggles, succeeded in forcing gag inio
my mouth and blindfolding my eyes. II
was then carried some distance farther,
closely followed by my supposed friend
Juans who only gave mournfni smile
while my assistants were binding me. On
shs termination Of the journey, was freed,
and found myself in a huge, underground
apartment, The size OF which was unable
20 discern, owing to the semi-obscurity
Bands Of whiie,ro5ed priests and youshful
n.aidsns chantsd in low and solemn tone
the aSxlvanae Dlos,1 and he aRaEIsns14