ORDER OF THE SUN. 



83 



stituting the Order of the Sun took place on this 

 day in the palace. San Martin assembled the of- 

 ficers and civilians who were to be admitted mem- 

 bers of the order, in one of the oldest halls of the 

 palace. It was a long, narrow, antique room, 

 with a dark wainscotting covered over with gilt 

 ornaments, carved cornices, and fantastic tra- 

 cery in relief along the roof. The floor was 

 spread with rich Gobelin tapestry ; and on each 

 side was ranged a long line of sofas, and high- 

 backed arm-chairs with gilded knobs, carved work 

 round the arms and feet, and purple velvet cover- 

 ing on the seats. The windows, which were high, 

 narrow, and grated like those of a prison, looked 

 into a large square court thickly planted with 

 oranges, guavas, and other fruit-trees of the coun- 

 try ; kept fresh and cool, by four fountains play- 

 ing in the angles. Over the tops of the trees, be- 

 tween the steeples of the convent of San Francis- 

 co, could be seen the tops of the Andes capped 

 in clouds. Such was the great audience hall of 

 the Viceroys of Peru. 



San Martin sat at the top of the room, before 

 an immense mirror, with his ministers on the 



