PERU. 
249 
generally adopted among the South Americans, in signing official 
document?, being considered full as binding as if the name was 
written. 
The book in which the signatures were written, was entitled : 
LIBRO 1° DE LOS CABILDOS 
DE ESTA CIUDAD DE LOS REYES, 
QUE CORMIENZA, 
EL ANO DE 
1534. 
This would make it appear that the city was founded a year before 
the date given in Herrera, Garcilaso, Calancha, Montalvo, and others, 
who dispute about the day of the month, without having regard to 
the year. This book bears evidence that the municipality was orga- 
nized a year prior to that given by them as the year in which the 
city was founded, and shows that they have made a chronological 
error as to the year ; but very little doubt can exist that the city 
must have been founded before the municipality existed. 
The theatre is a handsome building, although much out of repair. 
It was brilliantly lighted the night we visited it, and was crowded 
with numerous officers in full uniform. Among them were many 
Chilians of rank. The ladies in the boxes were in full costume, and 
made a great display of jewels. In the parterre there were many 
"tapadas." The horrors of the Inquisition formed a prominent part 
of the subject of the play. For the performance I cannot say much. 
Near the Alameda, on the north side of the city, is a large oblong- 
enclosure of nearly eight acres, with thick stone walls, and a large 
gateway at each end. It was intended for a naval school, and theatre 
to exhibit sea-fights. It contains large reservoirs, which were in- 
tended to be filled with water from the Bimac, and to have possessed 
a tiny fleet, some of which it is said were actually constructed. 
This was a favourite project with one of the last Viceroys, and a 
vol. i. 63 
