254 



PERU. 



like so many Scythians, and they stared at us 

 with an interest at least equal to that which they 

 inspired. 



Nothing else of particular interest occurred in 

 our journey, except that, when we reached the 

 outskirts of Lima, we observed a dead body placed 

 by the road side, with a small cross laid on the 

 breast. Upon inquiry, we were told that this was 

 the corpse of some unknown person, exposed un- 

 til money enough should be received from chari- 

 table passengers to pay for its interment. 



On reaching the city, we found that the ebul- 

 lition caused by the recent events had by no 

 means subsided. Doubts and difficulties present- 

 ed themselves in fearful array before the eyes of 

 the inhabitants. The Spaniards, who formed 

 the wealthy class, were sadly perplexed : if they 

 declined entering into San Martin's views, their 

 property and their persons were liable to confisca- 

 tion ; if they acceded to his terms, they became 

 committed to their own government, which, it was 

 still possible, might return to visit them with equal 

 vengeance. The natives, on the other hand, who 

 had better reason to be confident, were even more 



