National Republican., 1873-12-02
SCENRs IN PERU.


tCorrespondsucs Of the Chicago Tribunc.i
believe that In no other country In the
world Is there such complete absence Of tho
fitness Of things rs among the Inhabitants OF
Peru. They are constantly doing and saying
the most grotesque and inappropriate things,
with the same upchanging air Of dignity aud
sober earnestncss that makes 1t only the more
ridiculous. To Illustrate;
Daily there passes my door on old Cholo
waterman, carrying his water jars, on the
most dlminutlve and slnnted Of donkeys and
daily Is the same SCENE enacted. As Peru Is
q Catholic country, there is erected In the
centre of four streets large wooden or stone
cross. and 1t is tue universal custom for every
man, woman aud child, whenever they pass
one Of these wayRide crosses, 10 stop, aud,
making the slgn of the cross, to bow before
1t. Some Of the more devout kneel and utter
an ave maria, while every one doffs the hat
aud makes the sign Of the cross. Either this
little donkey Of the aquador, (water. CARRIER
has been brought up priest or else ho pos
seses more devotion than the rest Of his spe-
cies for he invariably stops square before
the cross, sets his fore legs sturdily ct right
augles, puts up his long ears aud straghtens
his stubby tall, aud obstinately and persistenly
refuses 10 move an iuch. The waterman dis
mounts, pulls at him, kicks aud shouts, tugs
NJ hts btluic uuu DtiuUott WIN blOut
cudgel but all 10 no purpose. Standing az
immovable rs q rock, the donkey brsys 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; he Is at his do
votions' Bystanders cry "Look at the
piety Of the beast;" aud the waterman, look
what shalt l do? what can l doi' In the
most hopeless tones then, turning to the
donkey, he says, savagely, to II beast!
stop your braying, you are nothing but an
old fool, and your mother was fool before
you!" This settles the donkey, for he moves
on, amid the jcers Of the lookers-on aud my
own laughter.
antics OF q couple OF sailors, ashore for q
spree after long voyage. In froat Of
Chinese catinFhouse Called Q fonds) these
reeling tars sec standing q donkey, whose
Chinese waterman has gone into the fonda
with his jar Of fresh water, leaving the little
donkey patiently waiting for him. 10
moment ono Of the sailors Is across the street
and has mounted astride the poor donkey,
with his face turned toward tho animals tall
aud his long legs almost or quite touching
the ground. The other sailor takes the poor
beast by the bride, aud by blows and curses
tries to induce the donkey to 70 on, but 10
vain; he will not move or stir, and only plants
his legs more sturdily and sets his head stifiiy
In the air. Ont comes the Chinese waterman
and begins to reason with the drunken sail or
to get off from his donkey and let him load
on the empty water jars. But the sailor Is
drunk enough to want to have little fr0lic,
and refuses to get of or to allow the China
man to pull him of.
The waterman now WAKES mad and begins
to scold going from SI Ianish to shrill Chinese,
and screaming higher and louder. The
sailors understand neither Spanish or
Chinese, so that neither can understand the
other. One sailor pulls at the donkey's bri-
de-rein and the ooe seated upon the animal
jerks the beasts tail up aud down. and digs
his knees Into the doukcy's sides, shouting
aud kicking at him'to go on. A crowd assem-
bles, and some side with the sailors and some
with the Chinaman. After exhausting all his
arts to dislodge the jolly tar, the Chinaman
appeals to the crowd and says 10 Spanish:
q" Gentlemen, pity me and help me! See how
! am hndcred and tormentod by this drunken
Americana. win not some Of you be good
enough to bring his mother, that she may
coax him to get of and leave me 10 20 IN
pcacc9" The Idea Of bringing his mother