242 



THREE YEARS IN THE PACIFIC. 



it does not follow, for 1 have seen it remarked, that priests 

 bear about the same relation to religion that lawyers do to law ; 

 which I think is illustrated in this city. I fear, as has been 

 said of the Niobe of Nations," it contains <^ too many priests 

 to leave any room for religion." Although the whole popula- 

 tion may be looked upon as formal Catholics, very few of 

 them are strictly or really devout. Their notions of religion 

 are confined to the church ceremonies and the confessional. 

 Nevertheless, that there are very many pious and truly Chris- 

 tian people in Peru, cannot be doubted ; this may be inferred 

 from the numerous temples of public worship, and the charita- 

 ble institutions of the country. 



Amidst the civil wars which distracted Peru in the years 

 following the death of Pizarro, commenced the exercise of 

 Christian charity, which rejoices in relieving the sufferings of 

 the destitute. Several of the institutions founded at that time 

 still remain, and form an interesting, if not a very striking 

 contrast with the prevalent licentiousness of the age. 



About the year 1597, Luis Pecador, more pious and phi- 

 lanthropic than his name suggests, began collecting alms for 

 the purpose of instituting a Foundling Hospital. In 1603, 

 the proper licenses being obtained, he commenced receiving 

 the little unfortunates, (the sins of their fathers being visited 

 upon them,) on a dumb wheel, fixed in the wall of the house 

 destined for their reception. Colored children were educated 

 as servants, and were placed, when eighteen 3^ears of age, with 

 eligible masters. In 1648, the number of foundlings main- 

 tained was so great, that seventy nurses were employed j 

 though the population was not more than half of what it is in 

 the present day, furtive births were more numerous. In 1791, 

 this "Casa de Huerfanos" employed one hundred and five 

 nurses! 



The « Colegio de Santa Cruz de las Ninas Expositas," was 

 founded in 1659. It was destined for the reception of all 

 Spanish white female children, whom their parents cruelly 

 abandon, to hide their own shame, and those who are desti- 

 tute through the indigence of their fathers. They are re- 

 ceived from the tenderest infancy, nursed, clothed, educated, 



