PERU
Area, 695,600 equare miles. Size of Teua, New Meziea.
Arizona, Nevada, and Utah. Population, ",600.000; 6 per
'Quare mile. Railway mileage, 1.760.
The history of the Inca civilization of Peru
was five centuries old when Pizarro appeared
(1581), and had it not been for dynastic dissensions among the Incas he would probably
not have found conquest so easy. The lowborn
swineherd was unable, in spite of his genius for
leadership, to appreciate the remarkable evidences 'Of a civilization differing from that of
Europe, and by treachery, violence, and cruelty
overcame the inhabitants and took possession of
the government, but not until some fifteen years
after his death was the country "pacified."
The Spanish colonial viceroys had for their object the exploitation of the wealth of this region
for the benefit of the Spanish crown, irrespective of any benefit to posterity or humanity.
The inhabitants, which must have numbered five
or six million at the time of discovery, were
reduced to about six hundred thousand in
1796. These, with the descendants of Spaniards
and the mixed races, all despised by the official
class, succeeded in throwing off the yoke of
Spain in 1Bin, and the battle of Ayacucho in
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1824 put an end to the Spanish dominion, not
only in Peru but in all of South America. Since
the achievement of independence Peru has had
eight constitutions and many civil as well as
international wars, but seems now to have entered upon an era of peace and development.
The republic is divided into ~!t departments of
which 10 are on the seacoast. The configuration of the country is much like that of the
other Andean republics, consisting of a coast
zone varying in width from 20 to 80 miles, an
inter-Andine or ,ierra region, approximately
800 miles wide, and the montana or eastern
slope, covered with forests running to the boundaries of Brazil and Bolivia. The coast zone,
with a coast line of 1600 miles, although mainly
of a desert character, is the most developed, not
only in commerce on account of its ports, but
also in agriculture and in industries established
in the valleys of the rivers descending from the
Andes, in which by means of irrigation the Inca
people had brought the land to a state of productiveness com~rable to that of the Vega of
Granada. The mountain region is, of course,
the mining region. The very name of Peru is
synonymous with gold, and the" ransom of the
Inca" has become as proverbial as the" wealth
of Ormus and of Ind." Besides her minerals
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Peru has wonderful riches in rubber, guano,
alpaca wool, cotton, and petroleum, the last having been noticed as far back as 1691 by vessels
passing the northern extremity of the coast, but
only lately exploited, and now in the hand. of &
London company. The eastern or forest region
and river valleys are as yet but little known.
Experiments in 'Wirelel8 telegraphy over this
vast and densely wooded section are being carried on by a German company. Electric power
is generated from many of the Andine torrents
and is much in use. Telephones, long-distance
as well as local, are generally installed.
The first railroad was begun in 1851, and
was later carried through by the American engineer Henry Meigg., who, besides building
several other roads, gave much attention to the
improvement and sanitation of the capital, and
became to Peru what Wheelwright was to Chile.
The railroads with few exceptions are the property of the government, although operated by
English companies. Most of them have terminals on the coast, but there is a trunk line from
north to south on the highlands, partly completed, which will form a link in the PanAmerican system.
The winter months, June to November, on
the coast, are often marked by drizzling rains,
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but there are no virulent fevers as on the humid
eastern slope. All the climates of the world may
be found among the Andes, depending on altitude, but heavy rains are frequent in places
from May to October, while near Cuzco and
that Andean slope the rainy season runs from
December to April. The best time, therefore,
to visit Peru, is from October to May.
lJMA. capital.
Population. 140.000. Altitude. 499 feet.
founded the town in 1~S5. and made it the
capital instead of Cuzco. On the same da;r he laid the foundationa of the cathedral within which his body is now entombed.
The Univer8iJy01San M_
was founded in 1551. and claims
to be the oldest m America. It was reorganized in 1861. and
the eourses are now free. WeU worth visiting are Exposibon
Park. said to be the most beautiful in South America, and
other fine avenues and promenades adorned with statues to
Columb1u. Bolivar. to the Second of May (a national holiday),
B~.
and San Martin. There are numerous handsome
public buildings, and it preserves the air of the old vice-regal
da;rs better than any other city in South America. The climate
is deliciously temperate. The city is situated on a fertile plain
intersected by the River Rimae. which, rising at an altitude of
17,000 feet, reaches the sea after a short course of only 80
miles. There are many ,Pleasant suburbs and seaside resorts
within ~
reach. and It IS rapidly becomi1!ll a modem capital.
and mento Its name of the Pearl of the Pacific. It is connected
by steam and trolley lines and a fine wagon road of ten miles
with CaUao.
P'IlJfTO
Population. Si,OOO. 1887 miles from Panama
At the mouth of the River Rimae with fin~
system of government and floating iron dock, custo~ houae and
other .good public buildings. ~bips of aU nations from English
to Chmese (except Amencan) m port. Many business men prefer to live at Lima, ten miles inland, on the Oroya Rodwoll.
CALLAO.
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which having its terminus at caUao aacends to the mining town
or Oroya. 188 nulea, at aD altitude or 12,179 reet. This is ODe
or the engineering marvels or the world. Oroya is the junction
on the trunk line; from here a railwa)' runs northward through
a mining region. 87 milea, to Cerro de PlUCO. 14.200 feet.
CERRO
DE PASCO.
Population, 16.000. Great copper
mines, U. S. interests.
Railway in
construction 270 miles Irom Goyllarisquisca to the port or
Pucalpa on the Ucayali River, to CODDect with Amaum
navigation.
Population, 1000. 900 miles from Panama.
100 miles south of Guayaquil.
On the Ba.r of
Guayaquil, just &Crees the boundary from Ecuador.
Here
Pizarro landed and began the conquest of Peru. It is a small
port of the second class with custom house, and growing in importsnee, largely on account or its proximity to the petroleum
6elds. Tumbea lies in a green oasis ; rrom here IIOUthward
the CO&'It is generally barren and gray.
TUMBEZ.
PAITA.
Population. 6000. 849 miles from Panama.
Fine
harbor and good wharves hut landing made by row
boats. Chief industries. potteries and straw (Panama) hats.
Market ror petroleum and cottoo from the ioterior. Barren
environs. never rains, Railroad to Piura, 60 miles (15.000
population).
From here a railway will ultimately he 6nished
across the Andes to the Marallon River. whence Ouvial naVIgation will connect the Pacific with Iquitos on the Amazon.
is a port of the 6rst class, but disembarkation
is accotaplished by crane and basket. Is a rew
miles rrom the town or Chidayo, center or sugar and rice iadustry. Depot for guano from UJbo8 16larull. (Railroad.)
ETEN.
PACASMA YO.
Population. 8600. 1081 miles from Panama First-class port. and the beginning or
the old Amazon trail across the mountains,
Landing bl
native row boats; good jetty. Large shipments or sugar and
oranges,
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Population, 1000. 1180 miIea from P&Dama. Fourth port of Peru in point of trade.
RaiIroed to Tru1lllo (ten miles), which bas a university and
",mains of the old civilization. A pletty town.
SALAVERRY.
Population, 2000. 1149 miles from Panama. The
first port of importance south of Callao. Bay .•heltered by islands. Town lies a mile from beacb with which it
is connected by mule tram. Railroad to lea (40 miles). in '"
region celebrated for its wine and brandy, and variety of fruits,
especially watermelons,
PISCO.
MOLLENDO.
Population, 6000. 1771 miles from Panama.
Ooe of the worst barbon on the Pacific. but
of importance ae being the terminus of the railway. of southern Peru, the port of entry for Bolivia. It is also near to the
nitrat6 fielda, Harbor improvemente under way. The railroad runs from bere to P"no on Lake TuWula, the entire dietaoce being S80 miles, and the trip takes about 56 hours to
Lr. Paz.
AREQUIPA.
Population,
40.000.
Altitude, 7560 feet.
Station 106 miles (foW' hours by rail) from
MoDeodo. Chief city of southern Peru. founded by Pi:larro
in 1540. Hae a university and schools of arto and agriculture.
lies at foot of Ml>Unt Mi8/i (20.018 feet), on which is the Harr>ard A8Ironomical Ob.. ~almy.
Extensive trade in wool in
alpaca and sheep. and in tnCUlia skins. Modem electric plante,
Population. 5000. Altitude. 12,540 feet. 00 Lab
Tiueaca; terminus of railroad from Mollendo, CWltom bOU8Cand port of transshipment for Bolivia (whicb see).
PUNO.
JULIACA.
Altitude, 12,528 feet. Station on Mollendo railway for branch \iDe to Sicuani, 121 miles, and by
rail. 50 miles further, to CUZCQ.
Population, 26,000. Altitude. 11.079 feet. Sacred, historic Inca capital, seized by Pi:larro, 1584.
Interesting Inca remains, and old university. one of the Iour
CUZCO.
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01 Peru. The railroad is to be extended 160 mil.. to the northw.. t, to meet the line from CerTOtU PtuCO.8_1/0.
rid
fam0U8 batt1&-fidd 01 .AJIGClIC/ao.
lQUITOS.
Population, 10,000. 1265 miIeI from Lima;
1300 miles from Man&aJ; 6760 miles from New
York. Fouuded by Peruvian government in 1858 as strategic
outpollt. b DOW the thUd port of Peru in foreign commerce,
and oent<:r of the rubber tnide. All the product goes via tbe
Amazon to the Atlantic. The ~
01 this port gives
Peru the unique advantage of havmg an outlet to both east and
wm coasts of South America. Steamers ascend the M araiiora
from I~uitoe W miles, thua ooming withiD ~ miIea 01 the
&1'01 PaiJa (which _).
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