Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-01-03
SOCIETY IN LIMA.
Etiquette Among the Aristocracy Of
the Peruvian Capital.
COMPOSITION OF HEARMY.
All the Omcers Are White Men and the Sol
diers Indians-How the Latter Are Made TO
Volunteef-Female Soldiers and Their Chill
dren-DslIghts Of the Latter.

| ~
From The star's Travelling COMMISSIONS.
LIMA, PERU, 1890.
| THESE PARTS gaily bedizzened military
linen are as numerous as flies in midsummer,
averaging about one brass-mounted warrior to
every ten common" ones While the rank
and ME OF the Peruvian army is almost exclu-
"vely made up Of Indians and negroes, the line
and stan represent some of the best families in
the republic. All the officers are sons of the
aristocracy, 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
orcss, on duty or on. A Spaniard, whatever
MS station in life, is proud to wear sword; but
nothing can induce him to carry a musket.
Ihis prejudice Of caste was strongly exemplified
lew years ago in the defense of Lima against
the CHILEAN army, when doctors lawyers mer-
chants, priests-everybody, r. gardless of call
ing or condition-rushed into the ranks much
as did citizens Of the United States in 81: but
not mothers son Of them could be Goa xed or
compelled to put on uniform. They were glad
| 70 night in defense of their homes and country.
put refused to be degraded by wearing the tog-
gerry OF common soldiers.
INDIANS AS INFANTRY.
The Indians constitute the infantry, and
being accustomed from childhood to travel on
foot In the mountainous interior they have &C.
CURED wonderful rapidity and endurance on
.ne march. With each company Of soldiers
there goes squad of women whu 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
10 ta1 ThoU
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, be-
sues a9ing mostof the foraging for the messes
" winch tney oeiong, not to mention the cook
ing washing and other necessary work. They
are always with the men. are officially enum-
eiateo In the rosters Of troops also in the re-
ports oi casualtles-so many men and so
many rabonas killed and wounded-for they
shar .ne soldier death as uncomplainingly as
the woundeS carr so,er and aru,,, my nurse e
the dead and perform any other nsefnl Services oS
that may be required.
THE RABoNAs AND THEIR HABITS
The custom of allowing rabonas In On with
| the arnv orov 80 .ho IL. a.
.n'. gre" VI 'ne haolt the lncas had OF
.aAins 'neir wives 70 war, but as time went on
the marital ties among this class became
iessened by common consent The rabonas Of
| To-Day are not much like Mama Della, their an
| "1N AlASti uStcu TIC lHuItu women OF
the olden time In the arts Of spinning weav-
ing, sewing and the care Of children, for they
are about the most miserable and degraded
specimens one can find-hardly q degree
ABOVE the dogs with which they sleep. Among
| them the ceremony of marriage ia almost
unknown but they have virtues, nevertheless,
not least Delng cheerfulness under difficulties.
ana falthfulness unto DEATH Their powers Of
endurance are extraordinary. Often they have
TO march twenty or thirty miles between dav-
hght and dark, many of them carrying babies
w;,h tn1t o a mere Is hardly a company
heels of the yabonas TSa nh;lSro, ~ .ne
iment have the hardest time he;nn hu,oaIosS.
from birth as well as nameless. generally With
out rest or shelter and often without food
When one of them dies on the march the
mother strips off the rags and throws the moor
little body into the sand or leaves it under a
tree, glad to be relieved of the encumbrance,
HOW THE sornrrps vor rx-,,,
rhs perrv;, : .oIS;s.s . ~. m -1,-
''u so'u'e,. "te III 'oiuhteers, De-
cause as IN most repuphcs, conscription is for
oioden Dy law. But the way they volunteer"
UNDUE. wnen more soldiers are needed men
thov "a,' ~ !, nv capture nhoiahs Wherever
the chichareas. These are iocIaS mn u VI ~
there are enough to send to headouartere vben
they are taken before the proper recrnit;no Of
ficers and made to sign a statement to the ef-
feet that thew .yolunteer'' In serva the;r co,,,
try as long as she NAV need them OF conrse
they cannot read, and '.sien' by making a
cross, but thus the laws demands are sat;s6ed
dozen or more volunteers" are then Iasbe i
together, each having his hands tied behind
him, and thew are driven To the onrrison liz
sheep to slaughter house. Uniforms are mt
on them, muskets given them and they a.
turned over to the tender mercies of dr;Ii ser-
geant, who puts them through the simnIest
tactics until thew At least knov bov 20 90 ~ "
gun and to fire Il,
The Lima penitentiary. which bv the vav ~.s
built by Philadelphia architect on the ,lon
of the Philadelphia house Of correction Con-
tains about one hundred and fifty prisoners. who
are serving out life sentences for murder. The
iperai governments long ago abolished capital
punishment, but political offenders are still
trled by military courts and shot when ad-
judged guilty OF conspiracy or treason. Hang
ing 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
INDIFFERENCE TO COUNTRY 1rr,
Tbonpb lima 10 sn-rorna., -.
,...;c "a - ~ some most
ion"n'io anu insluns spo's tnere seems to be
an universal indifference to country life; except
during certain season, when it is the custom
of those who can afford it to flock To MiraAorao
(the Newport Of Peru, or to make themseIves
uncomfortable for sake of little sea bathing at
Chorillos, the local Long Branch. There are
plenty Of other places within abort d;stoncas
from the crowded city. which we're il New YORK
Boston. San Francisco, Chicago or any other