LIMA. '711 
valley of Rindc ; an Indian word, and the true name of 
the city itfelf, from a corrupt pronunciation of which 
word the Spaniards derived Lima. Rimac is the name by 
which both the valley and the river are ftill called. This 
appellation is derived from an idol to which the native 
Indians ufed to offer facrifice, as did the yncas after they 
had extended their empire hither ; and, as it was fup- 
poled to return anfwers to the prayers addreffed to it, they 
called it by way of diftinflion Rimac, or “he who fpeaks.” 
Its fituation is one of the moil advantageous that can be 
imagined ; for, being in the centre of that fpacious val¬ 
ley, it commands the whole without any difficulty. 
Northward, though at a confiderable diftance, is the Cor¬ 
dillera, or chain of the Andes. The river waffies the 
walls of Lima ; and, when not increafed by the torrents 
from the mountains, is eafily forded ; but at other times, 
befides the increafe of its breadth, its depth and rapidity 
render fording impoffible ; and accordingly a very elegant 
and fpacious ftone bridge is built over it, having at one 
end a gate, which forms the entrance into the city, and 
leads to the grand fquare. The form of this city is tri¬ 
angular ; the bafe, or longeft fide, extending along the 
banks of the river. Its length is 1920 toifes, or exactly 
two-thirds of a league. Its greateft breadth, from north 
to fouth, that is, from the bridge to the angle oppofite to 
the bafe, is 1080 toifes, or two-fifths of a league. It is 
furrounded with a brick wall, flanked with thirty-four 
baftions, but without platforms or embrafure ; the inten¬ 
tion of it being merely to enclofe the city, and render it 
capable of fuflaining any fudden attack of the Indians. 
It has, in its whole circumference, feven gates and three 
pofterns. On the fide of the river-, oppofite to the city, 
is a fuburb called St. Lazaro. All the Itreets of this fub- 
urb, like thofe of the city, are broad, parallel, or at 
right angles, fome running from north to fouth, and 
others from eaft to weft, forming fquares of houfes, each 
150 yards in front. The ftreets are paved, and along 
them run ftreams of water, conduced from the river a 
little above the city ; and, being arched over, contribute 
to its cleanlinefs, without the leaft inconvenience. The 
houfes, though for the moft part low, are commodious, 
and make a good appearance. They are all of wood, and 
the walls of wattled ofiers or canes, covered with clay, 
and painted ; as the belt fecurity againft earthquakes. 
Thefe houfes are in lefs danger than if built of more 
compaft materials ; for the whole building yields to the 
motions of the earthquakes, and the foundations, which 
are connected with the feveral parts of the building, fol¬ 
low the fame motion, and by that means are not fo eafily 
thrown down. The wood of the canes is very folid, and 
little lubjefl to rot. Moft of the principal houfes have 
gardens for entertainments, being continually refreffied 
with water by means of the canals. 
Lima is the fee of an archbiffiop; and is divided into 
five parifhes. The convents are very numerous. All the 
churches, both conventual and parochial, and alfo the 
chapels, are large, conftrufled partly of ftone, and adorned 
with paintings and other decorations of great value ; the 
whole is covered with plate, or fomething equal to it in 
value; fo that fervice in thefe churches is performed with 
a magnificence fcarcely to be imagined ; and th«a orna¬ 
ments, even on common days, with regard to their qua¬ 
lity and richnefs, exceed thofe which many cities of Eu¬ 
rope pride themfelves with difplayihg on the moft extra¬ 
ordinary occafions. The viceroys, whofe power extends 
over the greater part of Peru, ufually refide at Lima; this 
government is triennial, though at the expiration of that 
term the fovereign may prolong it. This office is of fuch 
importance, that the viceroy enjoys all the privileges of 
royalty. He is abfolute in all affairs, whether political, 
military, civil, criminal, or relating to the revenue, hav¬ 
ing under him officers and tribunals for executing the fe¬ 
veral branches of government; fo that the grandeur of 
this employment is in every particular equal to the title. 
For the fafety of his perfon, and the dignity of his oflice, 
he has two bodies of guards; one of horfe, confiding of 
160 men, a captain, and a lieutenant. The corporation 
of Lima confifts of regidores, or aldermen, an alferez real , 
or fiieriff, and two alcades, or royal judges; all being no¬ 
blemen of the firlt diftindtion in the city. Thefe have 
the direction of the police, and the ordinary adminiftra- 
tion of juftice. The alcades prefide alternately every 
month ; for, by a particular privilege of this city, the ju- 
rifdiclion of its corregidor extends only to the Indians. 
Here is a court for the effedts of deceafed perfons, which 
takes cognifance of the goods of thole dying inteftate, 
and without lawful heir; and likewile of thole entrufted 
with the effefts of other perfons. Another tribunal is 
that of commerce, or the confulada. Lima has alfo a cor¬ 
regidor, whofe jurifdidtion extends to all Indians both 
within the city and fifteen miles round it. Here is an 
univerfity, and colleges for the education of natives. 
The number of inhabitants in this city, according to 
the lateft enumeration, amounts to 52,627 ; the monks 
and clergy being 1392; the nuns 1585; the Spaniards, in 
general, 17,215; with 3219 Indians, and 8960 negroes, 
the reft being meftizos, and perfons of other cafts. The 
rich ecclefialtics, proprietors of entailed eftates, military 
and civil officers, and phylicians, advocates, attorneys, and 
artifans, may amount to 19,000; the reft being Haves of 
domeftics. The population has declined fince the ereftion 
of the new vice-royalty of La Plata; and it is likely ftill 
farther to decreafe, notwithftanding an influx of 1400 
perfons of all fexes and conditions, who annually arrive 
as a fnpply ; not to mention the Spanilh girls, who, from 
the province of Piura in the north, and lea in the fouth, 
come hither to difpofe of their charms either in marriage 
or love, thofe provinces being celebrated for female beauty. 
All the inhabitants of Lima, from the higheft to the 
low eft, are fond of fine clothes, and they indulge their 
paffion to great excels. The women’s drefs confifts of a 
pair of (hoes, a chemife, a petticoat of dimity, an open 
petticoat, and a jacket, which, in fummer, is of linen, 
and in winter of fluff, to which fome add a mantelette. 
Women of the loweft condition, whofe whole ftock of 
apparel confifts merely of two chemifes and a petticoat, 
wear bracelets, rofaries, and fmall gold images, about 
their necks and arms, to the value of fifty or fixty crowns. 
The females are, in general, of a middling ftature, hand- 
fome, genteel, of a very fair complexion, with beautiful 
hair, and enchanting luftre, and dignity in their eyes. 
They are naturally gay, fprightly, jocofe without levity, 
and remarkably fond of mulic. 
The temperature of the air at Lima is agreeable; and, 
though the difference of the four feafons is perceptible, 
they are all moderate, and none of them troublefome. 
Spring begins towards the clofe of the year, i. e. towards 
the end of November, or beginning of December; this is 
fucceeded by fummer, the heat of which is moderated by 
the fouth winds; at the latter end of June, or beginning 
of July, the winter begins, and continues till November 
or December, the autumn intervening. As rain is feldom 
or never feen at Lima, the place is equally free from tem- 
pelts, and the inhabitants are totally ftrangers to thunder 
and lightning; there are, however, other inconveniences 
and evils to which they are obnoxious. In fummer they are 
tormented with fleas, bugs, and mofquitoes; but the moft 
dreadful calamity to which this country is fubjedt is the 
recurrence of earthquakes, of which they have had feveral, 
which have almoft ruined the city. Thefe have occurred in 
1582, 1586, 1609, 1630, 1655, 1678,1687, 1690,1697,1699, 
1716, 1725, 1732, 1734, 1745, and 1746; the latter being 
the moft tremendous and deltruttive. As the belt fecu¬ 
rity againft earthquakes, they build their houfes moftly 
of wood, and the walls of wattled oziers or canes, covered 
with clay, and painted. The diftempers moll common at 
Lima are malignant, intermittent, and catarrhous, fevers, 
pleurifies, and conftipations; and thefe rage continually 
in the city. The fmall-pox is alfo known here; and when 
it ocfcurs proves fatal to many. 
The 
