382 Voyage of the Novara. 



on the other side of the Andes became conspicuously evident 

 in the course of the discussion. Of Italy and her plains they 

 had at least heard tell, since Peru maintains a pretty active 

 trade with Genoa. If I am not mistaken, the great revolu- 

 tionary leader and popular idol of Italy v/as once captain of 

 a ship along the Peruvian coast, and left here many a friend 

 and well-wisher to his cause and himself. Of Austria, on the 

 other hand, there were simply dim rumours flitting about as 

 of some shadowy land, or the vanished empire of the Incas. 

 Singular to say, it was precisely the renowned Concordat 

 made with the Papacy which had brought such discredit on 

 Austrian policy among the Roman Catholic population. I 

 dare not repeat here the strong language which was used, not 

 alone in the journals but to myself personally, by educated 

 Peruvians and foreigners settled here. 



In fact, all the misery that Peru has suffered since its sub- 

 jugation by the Spaniards, and its present drooping condition, 

 is here universally ascribed to the overwhelming influence of 

 Spanish monks and priests in secular affairs. It has not yet 

 been forgotten that monks stood at the head of the Inquisi- 

 tion, — that for centuries the people groaned under their op- 

 pressive sway. Conscious of their own fate, and the condition 

 to which the clerical weapons reduced the puerile half-civil- 

 ized races which inhabit Mexico and Central America, the 

 lively imagination of the Peruvians led to consequences 

 resulting from such a state-policy far more disastrous than 

 could possibly be the case among a free-souled peoj^le like tlie 



