408 The Andes and the Amazons. 



Other places of interest are the National Library, with 

 its learned librarian, Dr. Vigil, its carved cedar ceiling, 

 and its vellnm-covered volumes on Spanish-American his- 

 tory ; the Museum; tlie Exhibition Palace, which, with the 

 Zoological Gardens, covers nearly fifty acres; the fine pen- 

 itentiary; two or three of the seventy churches; the Uni- 

 versity (the oldest institution of learning in America), and 

 eight colleges ; the Bull-ring, which is capable of seating 

 10,000 spectators ; and the Alamedas. The Alamedas 

 and Zoological Gardens are very commendable, but they 

 are quite deserted by Limenians, who prefer the Bull-ring 

 and the corners of the streets.* Worthy of a visit, also, is 

 the old Spanish bridge, which spans the sacred Eimac 530 

 feet, and has survived all the earthquakes during 250 

 years ; for Lima, in imitation of London, Paris, and Rome, 

 is thi-eaded by a little stream. Nine months in the year, 

 however, the Eimac is not knee-deep. The entrance to 

 the bridge is under an imposing arch, bearing the motto 

 Dios y la Patria. 



The majority of the dwelling-houses are of adobe, with 

 flat roofs and partition walls of plastered cane ; but stone 

 and iron are superseding mud. One of the best examjjles 

 is the residence of Henry Meiggs — a remodeled palace of 

 the viceroys. All the public structures are relics of vice- 

 regal times, save the Exhibition Palace, which, however, 

 was the work of an Italian. In fact, take out what for- 

 eigners have done for Lima, and nothing would be left — 

 not even the Bull-ring, for that was built by a viceroy; 

 nor the railway-station, for that was a suppressed convent. 

 The old mud wall, which till lately surrounded the city, 

 has been leveled, and the ground purchased by Mr. Meiggs, 

 who contemplates a circular boulevard. 



* Outside of Lima the favorite places of resort are the baths of Chorillos 

 and Ancdn, on the coast. The Oroya Raih-oad has opened several attrac- 

 tions, as Chosica and Tarma. 



