The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-01-26
PERUVIAN SOLDIERS.
Men Who Love the Sword But
Not the Gun.
The Ranks Filled by Force = Women and
Children Share the Hardships With
the soldiers-social Customs.


are as numerous as flies in midsummer,
averaging about one brass-mounted warrior
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 represents some Of the
best families in the republic. All the Off
GERS are sons of the ari stocracy, who have
been 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, SAYS a correspondent
of the Pittsburg Gazette, writing from Lima,
Peru.
A Peruvian. whatever his station in life,
is proud TO wear sword, but nothing can
induce him to carry musket. This preju-
dice of caste was strongly exempliied a
few wears ago, in the defense of Lima
against the Chilean army, when doctors,
lawyers, merchants, priests-everyhody. re-
CARELESS of calling or condltion-rushed
into the ranks much as did citizens of the
United States in '61; but not mothers son
of them could be coaxed or compelled to put
on uniform. They were glad TO fight in de-
Tense of their homes and country, but re-
fused to be DEGRADED by wearing the toggery
of common soldiers.
AMAZoNS OF THE SOUTH.
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 company
of soldiers their goes squad OF women who
are called TabonaS-a dozen of them to every
twenty or thirty men, These female yOlun-
teerS serve without pay, but are given IA
tons and free transportation; for the Gov
eminent not only tolerates but encourages
their presence. as 1t serves to make the
men more contented. They are really of
much Seryice-0n the march, in camp and in
battle. They share the same fatigues and
exposures as their lords and masters, besides
doing most III the fOrHglng for the meSSes to
which they belong, not to mention the cook
ing, washing and other necessary work
They are always with the men, are off,
cally enumerated in the rosters of the
troops, as also in the reports of casualties
so many men and so many rabonas killed
and wounded-fOr they share the soldiers
death as uncomplainingy as they do his
privations. In battle they nurse the wound
ed, carry water and ammunition, rob the
dead, and perform any other useful services
that may be required. The custom of al
lowing 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 les
sened by common consent.
BABIES IN THE RANKS.
Their powers of endurance are extra0rdi-
nary. Often they have to march twenty to
thirty miles between daylight and dark,
many of them carrying babies on their backs.
There is hardly company without score
of youngsters following at the heels of the
rabonaS The children of the regiment
have the hardest time, being homeless from
birth as we'll AS nameless, generally with
out rest or shelter, and often without food.
When one of them dies on the march the
mother strips off tho rags and throws the
poor little body into the sand or leaves it
under tree, glad to be relieved OF the in
cumbrance.
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 soldiers
are needed, men are sent out who capture
In dams wherever they can-at their homes,
on the highway, or in the chicareas. These
are locked up until there are enough to send
to headquarters. when they are taken before
the proper recruiting officer and made to
sign a statement 10 the effect that they vol
unteer' 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 volunteers" are then dashed
together, each having his hands tied behind
him, ana they are driven to the garrison,
like sheep to a SiaughteT-houSe, and are
turned over to. the tender merces OF drill
sergeant.
HOW THE CRIMINALS FARE.
The Lima Penitentiary-whch, by the
way, was built by Philadelphia architect
on the plan of the Philadelphia House of
Correcton-c0ntains about 100 prisoners,
who are serving out life sentences for muir
der. The Liberal Government long ago
abolished capital punishment but political
offenders are still tried by military courts
| and shot when adjudged guilty of conspiracy
| or treason. hanging was never perpetrHted
| in Peru even in the darkest days of cruelty.
| The prisoners are mostly engaged in making
| uniforms, shoes and other equipment Tor
| the army.
Though Lima is surrounded by some most
| romantic and inviting spots there seems to
| be universal indifference to country life.
| except during certain season, when il is
| the custom of those who can afford it to
| flock 10 Mrafiores uhe Newport OF Peru
! or to make themselves uncomfortable for
| the sake of little sea-bathng at ChorillOs,
the local Long Branch. There are plenty
| OF other places within short distances of the
| crowded city, which, were it 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 q
breath of country air, but fashion confines
Itself to the busy streets except on All Souls
day, when everybody promenades in the
great pantheon just outside the city limits,
and on the ODD day of June, when the
LimaiGn world proceeds to the hill Of Aman-
caes to pick daffodiis.
THE DISTRACTIONS OF WAR.
In Lima the splendid trees of the parks
and bouevards. even those of the botanical
gardens, were chopped down for fuel by the
Chilean soldiers during the Chile Peruvian
War. The entire museum of Peruvian curl
osities-one of the largest of its kind in the
wOrld-waS packed up and shipped to SAINT
iago The most valuable books of the ma
tional library. including vast collection of
old MISREPRESENTATION relics and other
priceless relics were thrown into sacks and
sent after the museum. Musical instru-
ments were hacked in pieces by swords and
ctr ipo1 int ont frnt, .bni,.
frames, ana many smaller pictures, statues
and articles OF vertu We're carried of as
private plumber. Peru's greatest painting,
Marini's Burial of Atahualpa, the Last of
the Incas," was stolen from the wall where
it hung. but the protests of the diplomatic
corps finally induced the Chieans to leave
it. Churches, as well as private houses,
were stripped, and what could not be de-
stroyed or carried away was consumed by
fire, the purpose of the invaders being to
deprive the PeruvianS Of everything they
priced.
But despite the present poverty of the old
capital evidences OF the refined taste of its
people in music and art is everywhere ap-
parent. Its aristocratic circles are extremely
exclusive, and their social laws are very rigid.
However rich aud respectable foreign res
ident may be he finds 1t difficult to obtain
any sort of social standing among the high
est set; but If he comes for temporary
stay with good letters of introduction he
will be well entertained. This is especially
true in regard to English and American Off
GERS, who are In great demand at balls, din
ners, etc, whenever their ships are in the
harbor for here, as elsewhere, the ladies
hav an especial liking for gold lace and
brass buttons.
THE SOCIAL. DISPLAYS.
Since the terrible war there have been few
public balls and receptions and for the same
reason. poverty, there is not nearly so much
display in dress and jewels as formerly.
However, the glitter of "gaud and gear is
still dazzling on first nights at the opera, and
other fiesta occasions; for the ladies of the
present generation inherited many splendid
gems from their fair ancestresses, bought in
the golden days of Peru, when money was
poured out like water From the same
source descended the priceless lace and the
Oh, nlI Fach "A fol,r