INHABITANTS OF PERU. 



chapel of our Lady of the Rosary, founded, at the expence of 

 the nations in question, in the great convent of Saint Domingo. 

 Those who are allowed to vote are the negro chiefs (capataces) ^ 

 and the tiventy-four, who may be denominated senators, be- 

 longing to each nation. The chaplains of the communities 

 are present at the ele6tion ; and the choice invariably falls on 

 the most ancient individuals, having to boast their descent from 

 the founders. The names of the persons thus elected are en- 

 tered in a book kept for that purpose, without any influence 

 or concurrence on the part of the high judiciary court. 



The same formalities are observed when a subaltern .corpo- 

 ral, or any one of the twenty-four brethren, is appointed for 

 either of the nations partially ; but these individuals, on their 

 admission, are made to contribute, the corporal ten piastres, 

 and the brother twelve. The one half of this money is applied 

 to the worship of our Lady, and the other half to the purchase 

 of the refreshments distributed among the electors, whose de- 

 cisions are entered in the book above cited. 



These dignities procure their possessors much consideration 

 on the part of those who belong to their tribe ; but in what- 

 ever concerns their slavery and services, are absolutely useless, 

 and do not afford them any relief. It is deserving of a smile, 

 or rather of compassion, to see the sovereign of an African, 

 nation set out, with his subjects, at two or three o'clock in the 

 morning, to mow the grass, and occasionally receive at their 

 hands the stripes to which he is sentenced by the major-domo. 



By the means of half a real subscribed annually by each in- 

 dividual, these African nations are enabled to defray the ex- 

 pences of the worship of our Lady of the Rosary. On the 

 Sunday after the feast of Corpus Christi the contributions are 



laid 



