The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1891-02-12
IN THE LAND OF SILVER.
WHERE GOLD AND GAME ARE
BOTH ABOVE PAR.
The Peruvian Takes His Wife TO- War, Likewise
His Children, and When Their Noses
Bleed He Cries ssBrsv0!'-Peru.
Wan Pen cilings.

Bleed He Cries ''Brsvo!''-Peru-
Wan Pencilings.
Gayly bedizzened military men are
as numerous in these parts, as flies in
midsummer, says q traveller writing
from Peru, averaging about one BRASS
mounted warrior to every ten '.com-
mon" ones. While the rank and file
OF the Peruvian army is almost exclu-
sively 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 been educated to their vo-
cation 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 induce him to carry a
musket. This prejudice of caste was
strongly exemplitied few years ago
In the defense of Lima against the
CHILEAN army, when doctors, lawyers,
merchants, priests-everybody, regard
less of calling or condition-rushed
into the rank as did the citizens of the
United States in 81; but not mothers
son of them could be coaxed or COM
PEELED to put on uniform. They were
glad to fight in defence of their homes
and country, but refused to be degraded
by wearing the toggery OF common
soldiers.
The Indians constitute the infant try,
and, being accustomed from childhood
to travel on foot in the mountainous
interior, they have acquired wonderful
rapidity and endurance on the march.
With each company of soldiers there
goes squad of women who are called
rabonas-a dozen of them to every
twenty or thirty men. These female
volunteers serve without pay. 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
the march, in camp and in battle.
They share the same fatigues and ex-
posures as their lords and masters, be-
sides 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 enumer-
ated in the rosters OF 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 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 service that may be re-
CURED.
The custom of allowing rabonas to
go with the army grew of the habit
the lncas had of taking their wives to
war; but as time went on the marital
ties among this class became lessened
by common consent. The rabonas of
to-day are not much like Mama Della,
their ancentress, who instructed the
Indian women of the olden time in the
arts of spinning, weaving, sewing and
the care OF children; for these are
about the most miserable and degraded
specimens one can flnd-hardly de-
gree 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 faithfulness unto death. Their
powers of endurance are extraordinary.
Often they have to march twenty or
thirty miles between daylight and
dark, many of them carrying babies
on their backs.
There is hardly a 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 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 a tree, glad to be re-
LEVIED of the membranes.
The Peruvian soldiers are all volun-
teers, 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 Indians
wherever they can-at their homes
on the highway, or in the chichareas.
These are locked up until there are
enough to send to headquarters, when
they are taken before the proper re-
cruiting officers and made to sign a
statement to the effect that they "volun-
teer' to serve their country as long as