68 NOTES OF A NATURALIST. 



forces in Peru, and at this time was virtually dictator, 

 with absolute rule over the whole coast region occupied 

 by the Chilian army. 



However open to discussion might be the policy 

 adopted by the Chilians towards the conquered 

 country, there was a general agreement as to one 

 matter of no slight importance. The population of 

 Lima and the surrounding districts is composed of the 

 most varied constituents — native Indian, negro, and 

 the mongrel offspring of the intermixture of these 

 with European blood, to all which of late years has 

 been added a large contingent of Chinese immigrants. 

 It is not surprising that, under inefficient administra- 

 tion, there should have arisen from the dregs of such 

 a population a large class either actually living by 

 crime or ready to resort to outrage as favourable 

 opportunities might arise. On the other hand, the 

 Chilian army, for which there was but a small nucleus 

 of regular troops, had to be largely recruited from 

 among the loose fish of the floating population of 

 South America, and naturally included no small 

 number of bad subjects, ready to make the utmost 

 use of the license of war. For many years past the 

 police of Lima was notoriously inefficient ; robberies 

 were frequent, and there were many spots in the 

 neighbourhood of the city where it was considered 

 unsafe to go unarmed even in broad daylight. It 

 was not unreasonably feared that in such conditions 

 the occupation of the city by the Chilians would have 

 results disastrous for the safety of the numerous 

 foreign residents and the peaceful citizens. It was 

 through the energy and capacity of General Lynch 



