by Edmund Burke
The commodities of Peru, for export, may be reduced to these articles. First, silver and gold; secondly, wine, oil and brandy; thirdly, Vigonia wool; fourthly, jesuit’s bark; fifthly, Guinea or Jamaica pepper. Of the first of these articles we have already treated in our description of Mexico. The mines of gold in Peru, are almost all in the Northern part, not very remote from Lima; those of silver almost wholly in the Southern. The voyagers who treat of this country, are generally pretty diffuse in their accounts of the principal places, where mines are found; but it does not therefore give us encouragement to insist much on these particulars; because they contain very little instruction in themselves; and if they were things in their own nature instructive, it would be little to the purpose to dwell upon what is continually changing. New mines are daily opened, and the old exhausted or deserted. The towns shift with the mines. A rich mine is always founder of a town in proportion to its produce; the town which it subsists, when the mine is exhausted, disappears. Indeed the great mines of Potosi in the province of Los Charcas, are the inheritance of ages; and after having enriched the world for centuries, still continue the inexhaustible sources of new treasure. They are not however quite so valuable now as formerly; not so much from any failure of the vein, as from the immense depth to which they have pursued it, which by the greater labour necessary lessens, the profit on what it yields, in proportion as they descend; besides new mines are daily opened, which are worked at a less expence: so that the accounts we have had of the great number which inhabited the city of Potosi, when Mr. Frezier was in that country, must have since suffered some abatement. It had then upwards of seventy thousand souls, Spaniards and Indians; of which the latter were six to one.
The Spaniards oblige this unfortunate people to send annually a certain number from the villages of the adjacent country, who are compelled to work for a limited time; afterwards they may return. But having lost the sweetness of their former connections, they that survive this slavery commonly settle in the city of Potosi. It is incredible how these mines (the most terrible scourge with which God could afflict the inhabitants,) have contributed to depopulate this country. Worse they are than sword or pestilence; equally fatal to their lives; and where those escape, they are embittered by the circumstance of an ignominious slavery, without any prospect of end or mitigation. The effects of this servitude would be yet more fatal, if it were not for the use of an herb which the inhabitants call Coca, to which they ascribe the most extraordinary virtues, and which they constantly use. It’s qualities seem to be of the opiate kind, and to have some resemblance to those of tobacco; for it produces a kind of stupid composure. It is an antidote against poisons and poisonous effluvia, and makes those who use it, subsist a long time without food. Though necessary to those only who work in the mines, it is used for pleasure by all the Indians, who chew it constantly, tho’ it makes those who use it stink in a most offensive manner. This herb is gathered by the Indians with many superstitious ceremonies, to which they attribute it’s virtues; for which reason it is in many parts of Peru, with equal superstition, strictly forbidden; the Spaniards, as well as the Indians, giving the credit of it’s effects to magic, and allowing to these more than they deserve; for they think the Indians superiority in strength owing principally to them. However, notwithstanding the severity of the inquisition which is established in all the Spanish dominions with great terror, necessity makes them wink at the practice, where the mines are worked.
They make use of another preservative, an infusion of the herb of Paraguay; something of the nature of tea. The consumption of this in Peru by all ranks of people is prodigious. Above 18,000 hundred weight is annually brought into Chili and Peru, and is worth, when the duty is paid, not less than 80,000 pounds sterling. The finest of this species of tea comes from the country of the jesuits.
CHAP IX,
THE Southern part of Peru which lies without the tropic of Capricorn, produces wine in great plenty, but not in a perfection proportionable. The Spaniards dislike and leave it to the Indians and negroes, chusing rather, what may seem odd, to regale in the brandy of the same wine, which is likewise made and exported in large quantities, not only to all parts of Peru, but to Panama, and the ports of New Spain. The greatest quantity is made near a place otherwise of no consequence, called Moquaga; here it is said they make annually of wine and brandy one hundred thousand jars, which Mr. Frezier reckons at three million two hundred thousand Paris pints. A vast quantity in a small territory. The value of this produce is four hundred thousand pieces of eight. Other places trade in wine, such as Pisco, but of a goodness not superior. Oil is likewise had in Peru, but both the wine and oil are mostly the produce of those places that lie beyond the Southern tropic.
Wool makes one of the most valuable commodities of the growth of this country. And it is not more remarkable for it’s fine long staple, than for the singularity of the animal which carries it. It is sheered from a sort of sheep, which they call lamas and vicunnas; the lamas have small heads, resembling in some measure both an horse and sheep; the upper lip is cleft like that of the hare, through which, when they are enraged, they spit even to ten paces distance, a sort of envenomed juice, which, when it falls on the skin, causes a red spot and great itching. The neck is long like that of a camel; the body resembles that of a sheep, but the legs are much longer in proportion. This animal has a disagreeable smell, but it’s flesh is good; and it is extremely useful, not only for the wool, which is very long and fine, but as it is a beast of burthen, strong, patient, and kept at a very easy expence. It seldom caries above one hundred and fifty pound weight, but then it carries that weight a vast way without tiring, eats very little, and never drinks. As soon as night comes the lama lies down, and no blows can get him to move one foot after the time he destines for his rest and food.
The vicunna is an animal resembling the lama, pretty much as the dromedary does the camel. He is smaller and swifter, with a far finer wool, but otherwise exactly like the lama in all respects. The wool of these creatures is almost as fine as silk. Probably the famous sheep of Cachemir, of whose wool they make the little white cloths so much valued in India, is of this species. I cannot ascertain what quantity of this wool is exported manufactured or raw out of Peru, either to New or Old Spain; but I have reason to believe it is not at all inconsirable.
The fourth great article of their commerce is jesuit’s bark, so well known in medicine as a specific in intermitting disorders, and the many other great purposes, which experience daily finds it to answer. The tree which produces this valuable bark, grows principally in the mountainous parts of Peru, and that most and best in the province of Quito. •ondamine informs us, that it grows on the hither side of the Andes, no way inferior to the Peruvian in quantity and goodness; the best is produced on the high and rocky grounds; and it is not singular in this, for it seems in a good measure to be the case of all plants, whose juices are much more strong and effective when elaborated in such situations. The tree which bears it is about the size of a cherry-tree; it’s leaves are round and indented; it bears a long reddish flower, from whence arises a sort of husk, which envelopes a flat and white kernel, not unlike an almond. This bark was first introduced in France by the cardinal Lago, a jesuit, about the year 1650. Hence it had it’s name of jesuit’s bark. It is said to have been discovered by the accident of an Indian’s drinking in a fever of the water of a lake into which some of these trees had fallen, and by which he was cured. This medicine, as usual, was held in defiance for a good while by the faculty; but after an obstinate defence, they have thought proper at last to surrender. Notwithstanding all the mischiefs at first foreseen in it’s use, every body knows that it is at this day innocently and efficaciously prescribed in a great variety of cases; for which reason it makes a considerable and valuable part of the cargo of the galleons.
Guinea pepper, Agi, or as it is called by us, Cayenne pepper is a very great article in the trade of Peru, as it is used all over Spanish America in almost ever
y thing they eat. This is produced in the greatest quantity in the vale of Arica, a district in the Southern parts of Peru, from whence they export to the annual value of six hundred thousand crowns. The district which produces this pepper in such abundance, is but small, and naturally barren; it’s fertility in pepper, as well as in grain and fruits, is owing to the advantage of a species of very extraordinary manure, brought from an island called Iquiqua. This is a sort of yellowish earth, of a fetid smell. It is generally thought to be dung of birds, because of the similitude of the scent, that feathers have been found very deep in it, and that vast numbers of sea fowls appear upon that and all the adjacent coasts. But on the other hand, whether we look upon this substance as the dung of these sea fowls, or a particular species of earth, it is almost equally difficult to conceive how the small island of Iquiqua, not above two miles in cireumference, could supply such immense quantities; and yet after supplying upwards of twelve ship loads annually for a century together for the distant parts, and a vastly larger quantity for the use of the neighbourhood, it cannot be observed that it is in the least diminished, or that the height of the island is at all lessened. But these are matters, which to handle properly, requires a more exact knowledge of all the circumstances relating to them, than can be gathered from travellers.
Quicksilver is a remarkable article in their trade, because the purification of their gold and silver depends upon it. I do not find that any other part of the Spanish America produces it; so that Mexico and Terra Firma are supplied from Old Spain with all they want of that mineral, which is brought them on the king’s account only; except that some arrives from from Peru in a counterband manner. In Peru likewise it is monopolized by the crown. The principal mine of this extraordinary substance is at a place called Guancavelica, where it is found in a whitish mass, resembling brick ill burned; this they pound, and put into a furnace vaulted at the top; it is laid upon an iron grate covered with earth. Thro’ this the fire passes, and volatilizing the mineral, it is raised in a smoak, which finding no passage but through a little hole contrived for that purpose, it rushes through it into a succession of little round vessels, united to each other by the necks; here the smoak circulates, and it condenses by means of a little water at the bottom of each vessel, into which the quicksilver falls in a pure heavy liquid. The men who work in the mines of this mineral, are yet mroe subject to diseases than those who toil in the others, and they make use of the same preservatives of Paraguay, tea and coca.
CHAP. X.
THE manners of the Spaniards and Creolians of Peru resemble, with little difference, those of the Spaniards and Creolians of Mexico, other than that the natives of Peru seem to be of a more liberal turn, and of greater ingenuity, but they are equally destitute of all cultivation. The slavery of the Indians is here yet more severe. The magistrate and the priest devour their whole substance; and every Spaniard insults them with impunity. The traveller takes as much of their provision as he pleases, and decides for himself what he shall pay, or whether he shall pay any thing at all. Complaints are answered with new indignities, and with blows, which it is a crime to return. This cruel irregular bondage contributes to dispeople this country even more than the methodical tyranny of the government. To avoid the plunder he is hourly subject to, the master of the family often raises no more grain than what just suffices for the sustenance of his family; this he buries, and he keeps the secret of his hoard to himself, only drawing out daily just so much as serves for the use of the day. If he chances to die suddenly, the family starves; if a bad season comes, the calculated produce falls short, and they are all reduced to beggary. Yet worse, they are even the slaves of slaves; for the Spaniards encourage their negroes to treat them with the greatest insolence; and they politically keep up a rancour, now grown inveterate between these two races of people. They are forbidden, under the severest penalties, to marry, or to have an unlawful intercourse together. Division is the great instrument in which the Spaniards trust for the preservation of their colonies. The native Spaniard has alone all the lucrative offices, civil, ecclesiastical, and military. He despises the Creolian. The Creolian hates and envies him. Both contemn and maltreat the Indians, who, on their side, are not insensible of the indignities they suffer. The blacks are encouraged to trample on the Indians, and to consider their interests as altogether opposite; whilst the Indians in their nominal freedom look with an envious disdain upon the slavery of the negroes, which makes them their masters.
What is extraordinary, the Spaniards, not content with reducing this unhappy nation under so cruel a yoke, as if they thought it nothing, unless they were thoroughly sensible of it’s weight, suffer the Indians to celebrate an annual festival, in which plays are represented, commemorating the overthrow of their own state. These are acted with all the horrid and aggravating circumstances which attended this event; and the people are at this time so enraged, that the Spaniards find it dangerous to go abroad. In the city of Lima, there is annually celebrated a festival of this kind, with a grand procession, wherein they carry in a sort of triumph the remaining descendant of the yncas of Peru, and his wife; who at that time receive all imaginable honours in the most melancholy pomp, from a race bowed down with the sense of the common bondage of prince and people. This throws the most affecting gloom over the festival that renews the image of their former freedom. To this remaining ynca the viceroy of Peru does homage when he enters upon his government. The ynca sits upon a lofty stage, and the viceroy makes his obeisance upon an horse, who is taught to kneel upon the occasion. This manner of proceeding may be thought of the most refined strain of insolent tyranny, and to be as unpolitic as it is insulting; but it is not impossible that those vents, which they suffer the indignation of the people to take, may carry off a spirit, that might otherwise break out in a much more fatal manner. However it is, whether by the division they keep up, or by these vents, or by the management of the clergy, or by whatever means, the Spaniards preserve their conquests with very little force; the Indians are even armed, and make a considerable part of their militia; it is true, they are interdicted the use of weapons without licence; but licence is procured without much difficulty. They have likewise a large number of free blacks, and they too are formed into companies in their militia. Certain it is, that both in the Spanish and Portuguese colonies, they find slavery compatible enough with great licence in some respects, and both with the security of the masters. Things deserving our consideration; as we do not seem to excell in the conciliating arts of government in our colonies, nor to think that any thing is to be effected by other instruments than those of terror and rude force.
CHAP. XI.
THERE are three cities in Peru famous for their opulence and trade; Lima, Cusco, and Quito. Lima lies in the Northern part of Peru, about two leagues from the sea, upon a river called Rimac, small and unnavigable. This is the capital of Peru, and of all South America; a beautiful city, with the streets laid out with the greatest regularity, cutting each other at equal distances and right angles; the houses, on account of the equality of the climate, are only covered with mats, as they are built low to avoid the consequences of earthquakes, frequent and dreadful in this country. They are painted all over both inside and outside, with flowers and landskips, and other ornamental fancies, not altogether unskilfully executed. To add to the elegance and convenience of this city, most houses have a little garden, which is watered by cuts drawn from the river; so that each man commands a little running stream for his own use; in a hot and dry country as this is, no small matter of convenience and delight. They have a walk by the river side two hundred fathom long, consisting of five rows of fine orange trees. Here the company resorts at five in the evening drawn in their calashes; of which, such is the opulence of this city, they had no less than four thousand in the year 1715. It has fifty-four churches, taking in the cathedral, the parochial, and conventual; twenty monasteries of men, one of which contains seven hundred, and another five hundred friars and servants; twelve nunneries,
one of which has not less than three hundred nuns; and twelve hospitals, besides foundations for the portioning of poor girls. With these the whole number of the inhabitants is said not to exceed thirty thousand.
They tell a very remarkable fact, that may help us to some idea of the vast wealth of this City. When their viceroy the duke de la Palata made his publick entry in 1682, they caused two of the principal streets to be paved with ingots of silver, that had paid the fifth to the king, of between twelve and fifteen inches long, four or five in breadth, and two or three in thickness; the whole of which could not amount to less than sixteen or seventeen millions sterling. The trade of the French to Peru, during the general war in Europe which was caused by the disputes about the Spanish succession, made this city decay not a little by diffusing the commerce, of which before it was the center, amongst the other towns which lie along the coast; but as that privilege has been since taken away, Lima began to revive again, and continued in great splendor until the year 1747, when a most tremendous earthquake, which entirely devoured Callao the port belonging to it, laid three fourths of this city level with the ground. The destruction of Callao was the most perfect and terrible that can be conceived; no more than one of all the inhabitants escaping, and he by a providence the most singular and extraordinary imaginable. This man was on the fort that overlooked the harbour, going to strike the flag, when he perceived the sea to retire to a considerable distance; and then swelling mountain high it returned with great violence. The inhabitants ran from their houses in the utmost terror and confusion; he heard a cry of miserere rise from all parts of the city; and immediately all was silent; the sea had entirely overwhelmed this city, and buried it for ever in it’s bosom; but the same wave which destroyed the city, drove a little boat by the place where the man stood, into which he threw himself and was saved. What is remarkable too in this affair, Mr. Frezier, who was in Peru in the year 1714, and from whom I have part of my materials, on considering the situation of this town and the nature of the country, ventured to prophesy for it the destruction, which we have seen accomplished in our days. Whilst this town subsisted, it contained about 3000 inhabitants of all kinds, had five convents, and possessed the finest port in all Peru. Here were the rich warehouses furnished with all the goods of Europe, which being landed by the galleons at Portobello were brought over land to Panama, and thence transported hither by the armadilla, or fleet, with a convoy of three men of war reserved for this purpose. To this port arrived the annual ship from Acapulco loaden with all the products of the East; from Chili it received vast quantities of corn, dried beef and pork, leather, tallow, plank, and several sorts of woollen goods, particularly carpets like those of Turkey. From the ports of Peru were brought sugars, wine and brandy, naval stores, cacao and tobacco. From Mexico it had pitch and tar, woods for dying, and that balsam, which we improperly call of Peru, since it comes from Guatimala. As the port of Callao is so excellent, and as it is that by which the trade of Lima wholly, and that of all Peru in a great measure, must be carried on, we cannot doubt but that a new city is already built there; and that Lima is restored to it’s former lustre; especially as this latter is the seat of so great a government. For to the viceroy of Peru, both Chili and Terra Firma are subject. His settled salary is 40,000 pieces of eight yearly; his perquisites are great; as often as he goes to Callao, he is intitled to 3000 pieces of eight for that little airing; he has 10,000 for every progress into more distant parts; he has the sole disposal of above a hundred great magistracies; and, in short, the granting of all triennial employments both civil and military throughout the extent of his ample jurisdiction. It cannot therefore be doubted that his perquisites, even his lawful ones, (for there are many others,) at least double the value of his salary. And certainly, whatever the king of Spain may lose by the bad oeconomy in his affairs, no prince in the world has such means of rewarding the services of his subjects, without any immediate burthen upon his own revenues.