Lima

Lima, the capital of Peru, lies in a broad valley 6 miles E. of Callao, its port, with which it is connected by two railways (9 miles). A small stream, the Rimac, flows through the city, which is laid out in regular lines, with wide, straight streets, thirty-three plazas, and houses mostly of one story. The seat of an archbishop, it contains not less than seventy-two sacred buildings, and the cathedral (rebuilt 1746) is, after that of Mexico, the most noteworthy in Spanish America. Among other buildings that call for mention are the Franciscan and Dominican monasteries, the latter possessing the loftiest tower in the city; and the houses of congress, formerly the headquarters of the Inquisition and of the university. The university (1551) is now housed in the old Jesuits' college; and there are also a theological seminary and several special schools, besides a botanical garden and a national library. The last institution was looted during the Chilian occupation (1881-83), and numerous statues and works of art found their way at the same time to Santiago. This disaster, added to earthquakes and revolutions, has wrought sad havoc in Lima, which remains still picturesque and beautiful, but somewhat shabby and very dirty. The trade is left almost entirely in the hands of foreigners. The manufactures are not of importance, but include the casting of iron, copper-smelting, and the preparation of furniture, silver-ware, gold-lace, and stamped leather. There is a railway to Oroya (128 miles). Lima was founded as Ciudad de los Reyes (the monarchs of Spain and the Three Magi), on 18th January 1535, by Pizarro, who was murdered here in 1541, and sleeps in the crypt below the cathedral. The name was afterwards changed back to that of the Indian village that had occupied the site. Earthquakes have been numerous, the most disastrous, that of 1746, destroying 5000 out of the 60,000 inhabitants. The climate of Lima is agreeable and on the whole healthy, although consumption and fevers are common. Pop. (1876) 101,488; (1895) 100,194.