Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-11-26
SCENES IN PERU.-I believe that in no


other country in the world is there such a
absence of the fitness of things
as among the inhabitants of Peru. They
are constantly doing and saying the most
grotesque and inappropriate things, with
the same unchanging air OF dignity and
sober earnestness that makes it onl y the
more ridiculous. To illustrate
Daily there passes my door an old Cho-
10 waterman carrying his water jars on the
most diminutive and stunted OF donkeys;
and daily is the same scene enacted. As
Peru is Catholic country, there Is erect
ed in the centre of four streets large
wooden or stone cross, and 1t is the unlver-
sal custom for every man, woman and
child, whenever they pass one OF these way
side crosses, to stop, and making the sign
of the cross, to bow before it. Some OF
the more devout kneel and mutter an Ave
Maria, while every one doffs the hat and
makes the sign of the cross. Either this
little donkey of the aquador (water car
rierl has been brought up by priest, or
else he possesses more devotion than the
rest of his species; for he invariably stops
square before the cross, sets his fore legs
sturdily at right angles, puts up his long
ears, and straightens his stubby tail, and
obstinatey and persistently refuses to move
an inch. The waterman dismounts, pulls
at him, kicks and shouts, tugs at his bride.
and beabors him with stout cudgel; but
all to no purpose. Standing as immov-
able as a rock, the donkey brays and brays
again, his nose fairly rubbing. the cross,
and, at every blow only plants his feet
more firmly and brays the louder. Little
donkey-boys say LET him alone-h is
at his devotions " by-standers cry "A" Look
at the piety of the beast; and the water,
man, looking around in despair at the
crowd, says What shall do? what
can | do?' in the most hopeless tones
then, turning to the donkey, he says, saw
agely, to it Beast! stop your braying
you are nothing but an old fool, and your
mother was fool before you" This set
ties the donkey, for he moves on, amid thu
ieers of the lookers-on and my own laugh
ter.
have been much amused at the drunk
en- antics of couple of sailors, ashore To-
a spree after long voyage. In front o
Chinese eating-house (called fonda)
5 these reeling tars see standing donkey
whose Chinese waterman has just gone int
the fonda with his jar of fresh water. leav
| ing the little donkey patiently waiting TO
3 him. In moment one of the sailors i
: across the street, and has mounted astrid
5 the poor donkey, with his face tur ned te
' wards the animals tail, and his legs a
g most or quite touching the ground. Th
other sailor takes the beast by the bride
g and by blows and curses tries to Undue
s the donkey to 60 on, but in vain he vii
y not move or stir, and only plants his leg
e more sturdily, and sets his head stiHy
e the air. Out comes the Chinese water
i man, and begins to reason with the drunk
e en- sailor to get off from his donkey an
< let him load on the empty water-jars. B'
d the sailor is drunk enough to want to ha1
% a little frolic, and refuses to get of or
:, allow the Chinaman to pull him off. II
D, waterman now wakes mad, and begins
1t scold, going from Spanish to shrill Chimes
e, and screaming higher and louder: II
to sailors, who can neither unde rstand Spa
d ish or Chinese, retort in oaths and IN En-
* lish SO that neither can understand Il
ne other. One sailor pulls at the donkey
yo bridle-rcin, and the one seated upon Il
IS animal jerks the beasts tail up and dow
it and digs his knees into the donkey's side
to shouting and kicking for him to 60 on.
crowd assemblies, and some side with t
as sailors and some with the Chinaman. Aft