352 



THREE YEARS IN THE PACIFIC. 



— though composed of many states, they move on harmoniously 

 together. We are made up of seven departments or provinces, 

 and the inhabitants of one are against those of the others. The 

 Cuzcanian abhors the Limanian and the Arequipanian both. 

 Our population is a heterogeneous mass of negroes, sambos, 

 mulattoes, mestizos, Indians, and whites; the latter are fewest 

 in number, and the Indians most numerous. All the castes 

 set themselves against the whites, and the Indian's hand is 

 against them all. The greater part of the'population is ignorant, 

 and incapable of judging of its rights. The government is now 

 establishing schools, and it is to the rising generation that we 

 look for a proper constitution and laws. We are not like the 

 United States — her freedom would not suit us. Our people 

 are passionate, and ignorant, and ready to follow the standard 

 of any plausible leader, who chooses to lure them by fair pro- 

 mises and the abuse of the existing authorities. Newspapers, 

 which, in the United States, are the great means of propagating 

 knowledge and correct opinions on almost every subject, are 

 not appreciated. Even men of the better classes live without 

 knowing what is going on around them — even official news- 

 papers are but little read, and foreign gazettes are unheard of. 

 For this reason, inflammatory articles have very extensive in- 

 fluence upon the people. It is therefore necessary, for the 

 tranquillity of the republic, to keep factious and party papers 

 out of their way." 



'^Your commerce is declining.'^ 



^<Yes! and our ports are in ruin; but the present congress 

 is thinking of lowering the duties, and we hope that it will 

 again revive." 



