258 A VOYAGE TO Book V. 



inllitution originally very excellent ; but now greatly 

 abufed, great defalcations being made in the eftates 

 Before they are reftored to their proper owners. 



Besides thefe tribunals, here is a commififary of the 

 inquifition, with an alguazil major, and familiars ap- 

 pointed by the holy office at Lima. 



The Corporation confids of a corregidor, two or- 

 dinary alcaldes chofen annually, and regidores. Thefe 

 fuperintend the eleftion of the alcaldes, which is attend- 

 ed with no fmalt difturbance in this city, perfons of all 

 ranks being divided into the two parties of Creoles and 

 Europeans or Chapitones, to the great detriment of 

 private repofe, and fociability. This affembly alfo 

 nominates the alcalde major of the Indians, who muH 

 be a governor of one of the Indian towns within five 

 leagues of the city ; and has under him other inferior 

 alcaldes, for the civil government of it. And this 

 alcalde major, together with the others, are little more 

 than the alguazils, or officers of the corregidor or or- 

 dinary alcaides of the city ; though, at firft, they 

 were invefted with much greater power. Befides 

 thefe, here are others, called alcaldes de harrieros, 

 whofe bufmefs it is to provide mules, &c. for travel- 

 lers. And though all thefe are lubordinate to the 

 alcalde major, yet he has very little authority over 

 them. 



The cathedral chapter confifts of the bifhop, dean, 

 archdeacon, chanter, treafurer, a doctoral, a peniten- 

 tiary, a magiftral, three canons by prefentation, four 

 prebends, and two demi-prebends, with the follow- 

 ing revenues. That of the bifhop 24,000 dollars ; 

 the dean 2500 ; the four fucceeding dignities 2000 

 each the canons 1 500 each the prebends 600, and 

 the demi-prebends 420. This church was ere6fced 

 into a cathedral in the year 1545 ; and among other 

 feftivals are celebrated in it, with amazing magnifi- 

 cence, thofe of Corpus ChrifLi, and the Conception 

 of our Lady, when ail the courts, offices, and per- 

 fons 



