Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume X.djvu/481

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LIMA 475 the cathedral, the archbishop's and the govern- ment palaces, and the town hall, all constructed by Francisco Pizarro, whose ashes repose be- neath the grand altar of the first. The cathe- dral is of stone, 320 ft. long, and surmounted by two towers 133 ft. high. The interior is sumptuously ornamented, the decorations in- cluding a magnificent portrait of St. Veronica by Murillo. The edifice, which cost in the first place $594,000, was greatly damaged by the earthquake of 1746, and was rebuilt by the viceroy Count Superunda. There are 56 other ecclesiastical edifices, of which 15 are public chapels, five are parish churches, and the re- mainder are attached to convents and monas- teries. San Pedro, one of the most splendid churches, founded in 1598, is of immense size, has IV altars, and is decorated in good taste; while some others have services and ornaments in gold, silver, and diamonds and other gems of incalculable value. The total number of persons engaged in religious services in Lima is 1,800. Many monasteries and convents have recently been suppressed. The government palace, once the property and residence of Pizarro, is large but unsightly ; it contains the president's dwelling, with the several govern- ment offices, and the national printing office. The mint, which dates from 1565, is provided with modern machinery. The Lima university, founded in 1551, is the oldest in America; the present building was erected in 1576, but for some years past no lectures have been given in its halls, and the university no longer holds the exclusive privilege of conferring degrees. The eight national colleges are : the colleges of law, theology, medicine, and obstetrics, the school of arts and trades, the naval and mil- itary, intermediate, and normal schools. There are also about 70 public and private schools, and an orphan school. The first establishment founded by the independent government, in 1822, was the public library, now containing about 40,000 volumes. There are numerous charitable institutions, many being sustained by foreigners. The two military establish- ments are St. Catharine's . barracks and the powder manufactory, the latter with machinery Drought from Europe. The general cemetery, outside the gate of Maravillas, is one of the finest on the continent. Chief among the pub- lic promenades is the Paseo de los Descalzos, laid out in delightful avenues and alleys, with a road for carriages and equestrians, the cen- tre is occupied by an enclosed garden with gorgeous flowers, and set off with 100 iron urns on pedestals 6 ft. high, and 12 colossal marble statues, symbolizing the signs of the zodiac, resting on plinths of beautiful stone. The Alameda Nueva or del Acho, with three parallel alleys, one of which is for equestrians, has a fine marble statue of Columbus unveiling an Indian woman. Few American cities have a larger number of handsome statues than Lima. That of Bolivar in the Plaza de la Constitucion is a magnificent bronze equestrian statue, weighing 11 tons, mounted on a marble pedestal, with bassi-rilievi of the battles of Ayacucho and Junin. The principal places of amusement are the theatre, built in 1614; the circus of the Plaza de Acho, the largest arena for bull fights in the world, having accommo- dations for 9,000 spectators ; and the Coliseo or cockpit. Bull fights are still in high favor in Lima, and the weekly performances are attended by vast crowds comprising all classes. Cock fights, despite frequent prohibitions, are still passionately persisted in; and, although those interested in the game are mostly of the lower orders, many amateurs from the better classes attend the fights each afternoon. The abattoir, outside the gate of Monserrate, a place for slaughtering sheep and cattle, was purchased by the government for $320,000 in 1855, and the proceeds are paid into the na- tional treasury. The only public market of importance occupies a portion of the. Con- cepcion convent. The manufactures are very limited. In the environs are several potteries in which common ware is made. About 1860 a factory was established for the manufacture of paper by machinery from the pulp of the yuca plant, which abounds in Peru. There are also manufactories of aerated waters and of tallow and sperm candles; and an indifferent kind of glue is made in small quantity. The high price of all kinds of labor renders the competition of native with foreign manufac- tures impossible; hence, although the various trades are represented by some skilful artisans, these find little encouragement save from the poorer classes. Photography has attained rare perfection here as elsewhere in the tropics, the chief elements of success being the pure sky and bright sun. Printing has also made considerable progress within a few years ; there are now (1874) in Lima, besides the national printing office, several other establishments where work is executed in the best modern style, in three of which, with steam presses, are printed daily papers having a comparatively large circulation. Four lines of railway lead from Lima to Callao, to Chancay, to Chorrillos, and to Oroya, the distances being 7, 60, 8, and 130 m. respectively; three others, to Huacho, Piura, and Pisco, are to be completed in 1876 ; and each has telegraph wires open to public service. Lima is the chief centre of the Peru- vian commerce, which is carried on through the port of Callao. The original elements of the population were Indians, whites, and Africans, the intermixture of which has pro- duced a great variety of hybrids. Since the importation of Africans ceased (1793), the num- ber of negroes has greatly decreased, and the race is now represented by a few aged individ- uals of unmixed blood. Since the abolition of slavery in 1855 large numbers of Chinese have been imported, most of whom, after re- covering their liberty, either keep gaming houses or eating houses, or become money lenders. The Indians are for the most part