PERU. 



697 



$30,000,000. In 1862 the imports were valued 

 at $27,160,000, and the exports at $32,900,000. 

 The exports, in 1863, amounted to $33,522,174. 

 The shipments of guano, in 1862, amounted to 

 304,662 tons, at 2,240 pounds each, at an aver- 

 age price of $40 a ton. The movement of ship- 

 ping, in the port of Callao, was in 1862 1,207 

 vessels, of an aggregate tonnage of 690,512, not 

 including 129 English mail steamers, having to- 

 gether 106,119 tons. The merchant navy num- 

 bered, in 1861, 110 vessels, of 24,234 tons. 



A source of immense wealth to Peru are the 

 Guano or Chincha Islands. These islands, 

 among the smallest and (for their size) richest 

 in the known world, are situate in latitude 13 

 40' south, and longitude 76 28' west of Green- 

 wich, lying about 12 miles from the little sea- 

 port town of Pisco, on the Peruvian coast. 

 Their extent, superficially, does not exceed two 

 and a half square miles, the northern isle being 

 the largest, the middle somewhat less, and the 

 southern the smallest of the three ; they have, 

 however (notwithstanding their diminutive 

 size), for years past supplied cargoes of guano 

 to an average of four hundred ships per annum, 

 with a freightage of not less than $9,000,000, 

 the value of such cargoes in Europe being up- 

 wards of $30,000,000 in gold. They are, more- 

 over, more densely populated than any others 

 of like extent, having upwards of 2,000 resi- 

 dents, about 600 of whom are Chinese labor- 

 ers in the employment of the Government con- 

 tractor for the loading of the shipping. There 

 are on the north island several stores belonging 

 to Europeans and Americans, from which the 

 shipping can obtain almost all they require. The 

 water and meat supply is obtained from Paraca 

 Bay and Pisco respectively ; the former by water 

 launches owned by private hands, the latter by 

 regular Pisco traders who bring the cattle over 

 to the islands daily, where they are killed as 

 required ; fruit and vegetables find their way 

 through a similar channel. 



Before the war with Spain, the British vice- 

 consul for Pisco resided on the north island, 

 and the Peruvian Government was represented 

 by an acting governor and staff of officials, a 

 captain of the port, and with some forty sol- 

 diers,*who acted in the double capacity of police 

 and military men. The health of the islands 

 as a rule is good ; but during the summer months 

 dysentery prevails, and sometimes assumes a 

 very grave form. The medical profession, in 

 1865, was represented by one native of Ecuador ; 

 upon the staff one German, an old resident; 

 one American, who had charge of the hospital 

 provided for the sick Chinamen ; and one Eng- 

 lishman, who was not really a resident, as he 

 lived afloat, and practised only amongst the 

 shipping. The Pacific Steam Navigation Com- 

 pany's steamers used to call at the islands twice 

 a week, and the mails arrived and were de- 

 spatched twice a month. 



The Government of Peru has for some years 

 been making endeavors to encourage foreign 

 immigration, but thus far with only moderate 



success. It is reported, however, that the Ger- 

 man colony in the Pozuzu, established in 1857, 

 is promising now the most flattering results. 

 The Pozuzu is situated on the highway, des- 

 tined to lead from Lima or from the Pacific 

 Ocean to the rich countries of the Amazonas. 

 The German settlement, although small in num- 

 ber of colonists, is already yielding rich crops 

 of coffee, vanilla, etc., which are exported from 

 the Montana to the mining-district Cerro de 

 Pasco. 



The beginning of the year 1865 found Peru 

 in war with Spain. On December 29, 1864, Gen. 

 M. J. Vivanco had been despatched by President 

 Pezet to the Chincha Islands, to negotiate with 

 the Spanish admiral about the conclusion of 

 peace. These negotiations not leading to a set- 

 tlement of the difficulty, Vice-Admiral Pareja 

 appeared on January 28, 1865, with his squadron 

 before the port of Callao, and presented an ulti- 

 matum. This was accepted by Gen. Pezet, and 

 on January 27th a treaty of peace was signed 

 by Gen. Vivanco on the part of Peru, and 

 by Vice-Admiral Pareja on the part of Spain. 

 The substance of this treaty is as follows : 



ART. 1. The Spanish Government having disap- 



E roved the occupation by its agents of the Chincha 

 slands on the title of "revindication," and the Gov- 

 ernment of Peru having promptly disapproved the 

 acts of violence attempted against the Spanish com- 

 missioner at Panama, the chief obstacle to the 

 evacuation of the Chincha Islands is removed, and 

 they therefore shall be evacuated by the naval forces 

 of Spain, and surrendered to the person whom the 

 Government of Peru may appoint. 



ART. 2. The Government of Peru will accredit a 

 minister near the Government of Spain. 



ART. 3. As the Government of Spain, in its diplo- 

 matic circulars of June 24 and November 8, 1864, 

 has declared that the title of Special Commissioner 

 does not affect the right of Peru to its independence; 

 the Government of Peru will receive at Lima a 

 " Special Commissioner " of Spain, charged with 

 investigating the occurrence of Talambo.* 



ART. 4. Peru will give to its minister in Spain full 

 power to negotiate and conclude a treaty of peace, 

 amity, navigation, and commerce. 



ART. 5. In this treaty shall at the same time be 

 established the basis for the liquidation, recognition, 

 and payment of the amount which Peru, on account 

 of sequester, confiscation, loan of the war of independ- 

 ence, or from any other motive, owes to subjects of 

 Spain. 



ART. 6. The liquidation and recognition mentioned 

 in the preceding article, shall be made in virtue of 

 documented, authentic, and official proofs. 



ART. 7. In doubtful cases, the sum claimed shall 

 be fixed by a committee of six members, three to be 

 appointed by each of the contracting parties. 



ART. 8. Peru shall pay to Spain an indemnification 

 of 3,000,000 pesos, to cover the expenses incurred by 

 Spain since the refusal of Peru to treat with Spain 

 about the conclusion of peace. 



The Peruvian Government approved and 

 published the arrangement which had been con- 

 cluded on the 2d of February. The next day the 

 mutual salute of the Spanish and Peruvian flags 

 took place, and a Spanish ship departed for the 

 islands, to put them in the hands of the author- 

 ities named for that purpose by the Peruvian 

 Government. On February 5th, a part of the 



* Sec AMNUAL CYCLOPAEDIA, for 1SG4, p. 663. 



