The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1877-06-16
fnf IN" Cecil In"
HARD YARNS BY AN OLD SALT.

Eoading tie Duty-.Shipping Sitter as Rice
and VegetaJIes-A RainlesS CoUntry-
Lina-Is Beautiful Ladies, Sc.
In winding up my last yarn, l noticed
the small sea ports along the coast of Chilli
and Peru, as being the outlets for the pro-
ducts of the silver mines. Perhaps it might
be interesting to a few of your readers to
learn the various modes sought to evade
the export duties imposed upon all silver
or other coin exported out of the country.
When the products of a mine has accumu-
lated to several hundred thousands of dol
lars, Information is sent either to Salpa-
raise or Callao to an agent, who visits one
OF the men of war in port, belonging either
to the American, English, or French gov
ernments and enters into an agreement
with the commanding officer to receive the
treasure on board. An order is then sent
to the place where the coin is to be delivered,
for IL large number of bags of rice, specify
ing that on a certain date his ship will be
off the port to receive it. The silver being
run into bars, weighing about fifty pounds
each, are placed into the bags OF rice, (on
which small export duty is imposed) and
freghted off to the shi p on balSaS, hoiSted
on board, where men stand ready to rip the
bags open, allowing the rice to escape
through the scupper holes into the sea
while the silver is carefully slowed below,
to be delivered on board of some vessel
bound to Europe or the United States On
one occasion, while lying in the harbor of
Callao, a boat was seen approaching the
ship, heavily loaded down by the stern, and
when hailed, the person in charge answered
that he had vegetables for the captain,
who, when Informed of the fact, gave orders
that strong and secure purchase should
be rugged to hoist the gcgetdjieS on board,
upon which Jack remarked that Il id
sight OF trouble was made to get bloody
lot of greens on board, but obeyed orders.
hoiSted immense baskets of what seemed
to be I" fresh grub enough for all hands:
but on removing few heads of cabbage
and lettuce, discovered each basket filled
with new Peruvian dollars in all amounting
TO over $4,000. Jack thought this rather
a hard lot of vegetable to digest, but still
very comfortable to have 4 pocket full of.
During the stay of your correspondent
on the coast, there was placed on board of
an English man of-war, several millions
worth of silver, to be delivered to the Bank
of England; but on her passage along the
coast, she struck on rock and sunk, with
all this immense amount of treasure on
board, which, up to this time. has never
been recovered. though many efforts have
been made by different parties, with diving
bells, submarine suits, &c.
Peru differs from Chill very much in
climate, being less healthy or productive
Along the coast it seldom rains, and is irri-
gated entirely by heavy dews. 4 few
hours exposure in the night air will satur-
ate an ordinary Summer suit through and
through, consequently it is very hard upon
the unclimated, while the Summer Solace
is extremely hot and enervating. The Gov
eminent is tickle and unsteady being al
most constantly involved in revolutions,
every military chieftain seeking to seize the
reigns of the Government. Lima was then
the great city of the Pacific coast, located
about nine miles from the sea coast, with
considerable wealth, and has clustered
around its history much to make it interest
ing-the celebrated bridge of Pizzaro, its
grand Cathedral, PasaS and magnificent
Almadas, where is seen every evening the
beauty and fashion of this great city, and
the ladies are renowned as bearing off the
palm of beauty from all other parts of
South America. Most of them being of
Spanish descent, are noted for their grace
full carriage and handsome feet, but the
beauty of their faces are never shown on
the streets or promenades. The siomanta,
which covers the head, exposing only one
eye, is complete disguise. A husband
cannot recognize his wife, though he may
be in her company for hours, unless she
permits the recognition. There is, there
fore, considerable Irritation going on, some
times even between man and wife. While
on the husbands part there is perfect ig
norance of who he is making love to. The
females from the rural districts do not
thus disguise themselves, and are noted for
their love of bright, flashing colors in dress,
and their passion for silk stockings: even
the market girl, with her fruit and veget
ables for sale, must indulge in a pair of
silk stockings, no matter what the other
portion of her dress consists Of They are
also famous riders, leaping the widest
mode of riding would perhaps shock some
of our ladies, as they ride astride Their
costume being of the boomer order and
well adapted for their display Of horseman-
ship. When making their journeys to the
city, they go well armed, with their short
carblne and dagger shaped knife, and good
use can they make of them if attacked
Over their dress and firearms they wear the
Spanish poncho, being large shawl with
an opening in the center, just sufficient for
their heads to pass through, the rest falling
gracefully over their shoulders and afford.
ing perfect protection from the dews of
the sea coast or rains of the interior.
But what has all this to do with the
yarns of an old salt. Did you ever know a
sailor that did not admire the ladies, and
who will not sound their praise whenever
an opportunity offers. Hoping to contiue
myself more to nautical matters hereafter,
am Yours, &C., l..