Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1891-01-03
SOCIETY IN LIMA.
THE VOLUNTEER" RECRUITS OF THE
PERUVIAN ARMY.
Female Soldiers and Their Children
Some Details of South American
Etiquette-socia Conditions.


Etiquette-social Conditions.
IREcoRD-UNIoN's Special Correspondent
LIMA, Peru, 1880.
In these parts gaily bedizzened military
men are as numerous as flies in mid.sum-
mer, averaging about one brass mounted
to every ten common" ones. While the
rank and file of the Peruvian army is
almost exclusively made up of Indians
and negroes, the line and staff represent
some of the best families in the Republic.
All the officers are sons of the aristocracy,
who have teen educated to their vocation
in the various military schools. They
wear extremely gaudy uniforms, with
plenty of scarlet cloth, gold lace and brass
buttons, and are never seen in anything
but full military dress, off duty or on. A
Spaniard, whatever his station in life, is
proud to wear sword; but nothing can in
duce him to carry musket. This preiu-
dice OF caste was strongly exemplified a
few years ago, in the defense of Lima
against the Chilean army, when doctors,
lawyers, merchants, priests everybody.
regardless OF calling or condition-rushed
into the ranks much as did the citizsns of
the United States in '6i; but not mothers
son OF them could be coaxed or compelled
to put on q uniform. They were glad to
tight in defense of their homes and coun-
try, but refused to be degraded by wearing,
the toggery of common soldie S.
The Indians constitute the infantry, and
being accustomed from childhood to travel
on foot in the mountainous interior, they
have acquired wonderful rapidity and en-
durance on the march. With each COM
pany OF soldiers there goes squad of wo-
men, who are called rdbonas-a dozen of
them to every twenty or thirty men. These
female volunteers serve without paw, but
are given rations and free Transportation
for the Government not only tolerates but
encourages their presence, as it serves to
make the men more contented. They are
really of much service-on the march, in
camp, and in battle. They share the same
fatigues and exposures as their lords and
masters, besides doing most of the foraging
for the messes to which they belong, not to
mention the cooking, washing and other
necessary work. They are always with
the men, are officially enumerated in the
rosters of troops, as also in the reports of
SoouuithCo 81 AiAohJ iaCh tslu 81 hlady Adp-
onss killed and wounded-for they share
the soldiers death as uncomplainingly as
they do his privations. In battle they
nurse the wounded, carry water and ammu-
milton, rob the dead, and perform any other
useful services that may be required.
The custom of allowing rabonas to go
with the army grew out of the habit the
Incas had of taking their wives to war
but as time went on the marital ties among
this class became lessened by common con-
sent. The rabonas of to day are not much
like Mama Della, their ancestress, who in
structed the Indian women of the olden
time in the arts of spinning, weaving, sew.
ing and the care of children; for they are
about the most miserable and degraded
specimens one can fiud-hardly a degree
above the dogs with which they sleep.
Among them the ceremony of marriage is
almost unknown; but they have virtues,
nevertheless, not least being cheerfulness
under difficulties, and fsi.hfulness unto
death. Their powers of endurance are ex-
traordinary. Often they have to march
and dark, many of them carrying babies
on their backs. There is hardly a COM
pany without score of youngsters follow
ing at the heels of the rabonas, The chill
dren of the regiment have the hardest
time. being homeless from birth as well as
nameless, generally without rest or shelter
and often without food. When one of
them dies on the march. the mother strips
off the rags and throws the poor little body
into the sand or leaves it under tree, glad
to be relieved of the incumbrance.
The Peruvian soldiers are all volunteers,
because, as in most republics, CONSUMPTION
is forbidden by law. But the way they
volunteer" is unique. When more SOL
diers are needed, men are sent out who
capture Indians wherever they can-at
their homes, on the highway or in the CHI
chdreas. These are locked up until there
are enough to send to headquarters, when
they are taken before the proper recruiting
officers and made to sign statement to the
effect that they volunteer" to serve their
country as long as she may need them. OF
course they cannot read, and ''sign" by
making cross; but thus the laws demands
are satisfied. A dozen or more 'volun.
teers" are then dashed together, each hay-
ing his hands tied behind him, and they
are driven to the garrison, like sheep to a
slaughter-house. Uniforms are put on
them, muskets given them, and they are
turned over to the tender mercies of drill
sergeant, who pats them through the sim.
plest tactics, until they at least know how
to carry gun and to fire it.
On this subject W. E. Curtis says: Il
saw drove of about $50 of these volun.
teers come into Lima one day, tied up like
chickens or turkeys, in punches of ten each,
with an escort of twenty men, who them.
selves had probably gone through the
same process of volunteering year or SO
before, and seemed rather to enjoy the re-
monstrances of the conscripts. Behind
the column came seventy-five or more
women, weeping and chattering, and some
of them had children Juggling at their
ID Tho vanop oo,15 ctov xx-itb
husbands if they liked and become ra5onas,
and probably most of them did,"
The Lima penitentiary, which by the
way was built by Philadelphia architect,
on the plan of the Philadelphia House OF
Correction, contains about one hundred
and fifty prisoners, who are serving out life
sentences for murder. The Liberal Govern
ment long ago abolished capital punish
ment, but political offenders are still tried
by military Courts, and shot when adjudged
guilty of conspiracy or treason. Hanging
was never perpetrated in Peru, even in the
darkest days of Spanish cruelty. The
prisoners are mostly engaged in making
uniforms. shoes and other equipments for
the army.
Though Lima is surrounded by some
most romantic and inviting spots there
seems to be an universal indifference to
country life; except during a certain season,
when it is the custom of those who can
afford it to flock to Mirafiores, (the New
port of PERU or to make themselves I'M
comfortable for sake of little sea- bathing
at Chorillos, the local Long Branch. There
are plenty of other places within short dis
tances from the crowded city, which, were
it in New York, Boston. San Francisco.
Chicago, or any other North American
metropolis, would be covered by suburban
villas. People do not even ride out to
these lovely spots for a breath of country
air, but fashion confines itself to the busy
streets, except on All Souls Day, when