1839.] POPULATION OF PERU. 127 



at the point of the bayonet, and in 1839 Santa Cruz was 

 driven into Bolivia. Peru was then involved in a war with 

 Bolivia, which was at length brought to a close, through the 

 mediation of Chili, by the treaty of Puno, concluded on the 

 7th of June, 1842. Since that date One military chieftain 

 after another has gained the ascendency, and assumed to di 

 rect the government. At this time General Castilla exercises 

 the functions of the presidential office.* He belongs to the 

 centralists, but the plan of government they propose to adopt, 

 if honestly and justly administered, is probably the best cal- 

 culated to secure the internal peace and tranquillity of the 

 country, at least while so great a laxity of morals prevails in 

 public and private life, and the masses seem so unwilling, or 

 so unable, to comprehend the great principles of self-govern- 

 ment. 



(5.) Different estimates have been made, and different ac- 

 counts published, in regard to the population of Peru. It 

 cannot vary far from 1,700,000. Full three fourths of the 

 inhabitants are Indians, or of Indian extraction, and the re- 

 mainder are white Creoles and Negroes. The white Creoles 

 are of moderate stature, yet well-formed, and slender in figure. 

 Their complexions are almost colorless, but usually quite fair ; 

 their hair and eyes are black ; and their features strongly 

 marked. The men are as feeble in mind as in person ; they 

 look prematurely old ; they are effeminate, irascible, incapa- 

 ble of long-continued physical or mental exertion, and as im- 

 patient of contradiction as a Milesian. Though not entirely 

 destitute of frankness, yet they know how to dissemble. They 

 are just the men for demagogues to excite and inflame; just 

 the men for emeutes and conspiracies. Smoking, gaming, 

 and cock-fighting, are the chief occupations of their lives, yet, 

 withal, are they singularly abstinent in the use of intoxicat- 



* President Castilla is by no means firmly seated in power. Several conspir- 

 acies have recently been formed, through, the instrumentality of Generals San 

 Roman and Torrico, both prominent federalists, and noted revolutionists, to over- 

 turn the existing state of affairs. One project was set on foot as late as the month 

 of February, 1849, but the conspirators were arrested before they had time to 

 mature their plans. 



