NOTICES OF PERU. 367 



breakfast, and afterwards conversed for an hour or two over 

 our cigars, with our host, in the corridor. 



Don Jose was a man of good sense and considerable reading, 

 and possessed of a fund of entertaining anecdotes. Speaking 

 of politics, and the state of Peru, he observed, <Uhe morale 

 of the mass is not suited for a republican form of government. 

 We want a Frederick II., or a Napoleon ; you were happy in 

 having Washington amongst you. The Presidents of the Unit- 

 ed States have always retired from office poorer than when 

 they were elected. Our Presidents and their officers think only 

 of enriching themselves. The army is a sort of parasite to the 

 body of the people, and the officers of it are constantly striving 

 to destroy each other. The lieutenant is opposed to the cap- 

 tain ; the captain to the major ; the major to the colonel ; the 

 colonel to the general, and the general to the president. All 

 cry, libertad y la patria, y no piensan en mas que agarrar'' — 

 liberty and the country, and they only think of grasping. This 

 expression was accompanied with a gesture more expressive 

 than his words, his hand being spread out like the claw of a 

 bird, and gradually closed as he drew it through the air. He 

 added, "Los que hablan de la patria, son los picaros mas grandes 

 en el Peru" — Those who talk of the country, are the greatest 

 rogues in Peru. 



While we were conversing, the lady of Don Jos6 was en- 

 gaged in a small tienda or shop, selling various articles of dry 

 goods to the people of the place. Even by the most wealthy 

 in Peru, the keeping a tienda is not deemed to be derogatory 

 to their dignity, or standing in society. Don Jose is master of 

 three hundred slaves and a sugar estate, and is estimated to be 

 worth one hundred thousand dollars. 



About eleven o'clock we visited the curate. He was swing- 

 ing in a hammock of Guayaquil grass, and smoking a cigar. 

 He received us very cordially, and after oflfering us Italia and 

 cigars, at once entered upon the subject of politics. He read 

 us a representation that he had just made to the President, set- 

 ting forth the propriety and necessity of annexing Nepena and 

 its vicinity to the province of Chancay ; or in case this propo- 

 sition should not be approved, to appoint a Prefect to rule over 



