242 



PERU. 



documents, being considered full as binding as if the name was 

 written. 



The book in which the signatures were written, was entitled : — 



LIBRO 10 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 organized 

 a year prior to that given by them as the year in which the city was 

 founded. 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 w T as intended for a naval school, and theatre 

 to exhibit sea-fights. It contains large reservoirs, which were intended 

 to be filled with water from the Rimac, to float 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 more absurd one could 

 scarcely have been conceived. The water is now used for a much 

 better purpose, namely, to turn the machinery of some adjacent miils. 

 There are three classes of inhabitants, viz. : whites, Indians, and 



