244 PERU. 



ferreting out the Indians in a manner hitherto unpractised. There was 

 much mixed blood among the Peruvian soldiers, cholos, zambos, and 

 some few negroes, while the Chilian troops had very little. Among 

 the Chilians, the regiment of Portales was pointed out, which had left 

 Chili six hundred strong, and was now reduced to four hundred. 



During my stay at Lima, I had the pleasure of an introduction to 

 Mr. Mathews,* whose researches in natural history are so well known. 

 Combined with his being a good naturalist, he has great talent as an 

 artist. His portfolio contained many beautiful drawings of plants, 

 flowers, and birds, from beyond the Cordilleras. He owned an estate 

 of thirty miles square, at the foot of the eastern slope of the Cordilleras, 

 for which I think he had paid one thousand dollars. He is married to 

 a woman of the country, is extremely enthusiastic in his researches, 

 and has lately recovered some of the unpublished manuscripts of Ruiz 

 and Pavon. 



There are several small manufactories of gold lace, &c, but nearly 

 all the goods sold and consumed in the country are foreign. Lima is 

 the great retail place. There has been lately set up a manufactory of 

 glass, but too recently to judge of its success. The mechanical employ- 

 ments are numerous, but all are in a rude state. When it is considered 

 that Lima was founded nearly a century before the settlement of our 

 own country, it shows a marked difference in favour of the enterprise 

 of the Anglo-Saxon race. 



On St. John's day, (24th of June,) the patron saint of Lima, a great 

 festival among the lower classes — the cholos, natives, zambos, and 

 blacks — takes place. It is held in the valley of Amancaes, about three 

 miles north of the city. Previous to the day, a number of tents and 

 booths are erected in the valley, which is about half a mile long, and 

 one-third of a mile wide. These are decked out with flags and 

 banners. There are tents for refreshments, strong drinks, dancing, 

 gambling, &c, in every direction. 



On the road leading to this scene are erected shrines of the saint, 

 where all who pass are expected to pay their contributions. 



On this day, every horse and vehicle in Lima is engaged, and at 

 exorbitant rates. The whole road leading to the valley is crowded 

 from an early hour in the morning. The higher classes generally 

 frequent it early and return soon, while those of the middle and lower 

 classes continue to keep it up until a late hour. Every one is decked 

 with the flowers of the Pancratium Amancaes, which grows in great 



* In the death of this gentleman, science has lost one of her most zealous and enthnsi 

 astic labourers. 



