Callao, Peru

and visits to

Lima

"Dear Papa,

Well; I have made two liberrties in this port and seen about everythingthat there is to be seen.   Went ashore last Monday and took in the bull-fight given in honor of the American Fleet.

Went to the Government palace where is located the senate chamber the ceiling of which, came fromthe"Chamber of Tortures" in Madrid Spain.  I looked up at a crved ceiling that as looked down upon such tortures that we of modern times would not think it possible to devise.  Also saw the spot, where during the Spanish rule they lined the prisoners up and shot them down like dogs."

Booklet showing panarama phtos of the city of Lima, Peru

                        Page 1 - 2                                                             Page 3 - 4                                                        Page 5 - 6

Letter of Feb. 27, 1908

"The Peruvian indian houses are all built of bamboo covered with mud thickly laid on.  Also the fences are made of big slags of mud which last about as longas one of our wooden fences would for the reason thaaat the temperature is almost always the same."

"The monetary system is the gold standard, and I don't think they have much money in reserve for they have no paper money at all.  Their dollar is called the sol and is worth fifty cents fo our money.  It weighs about a ton when you have your pocket stuffed with them."

"They haven't many horses but use the donkey or Burrow, it looks queer to see a man riding on top of a burrow with tow boxes strapped on either side of the animal and he perched ontop.  This is the way the Peruvian indians travel around selling fruit, milk and other things."

"There are two means of reaching Lima from Callao, an American trolley road, which takes you the distance of sevenmiles for the proce of ten cents our money.  The other road is an English steam one an is very slow.  The engines and cars looked odd to me, for it is the first time I have seen an English out fit.

"A view of one of their beautiful drives."

"I have secured a set of their coins, and a few trinkets, as well as a working knowledge of their currency.  Callao has a population of 35,000 and Lima 104, 000.  Also saw a statue of General Bolognesi, who fouoght against Spain, and who was the instrument through which they gained their freedom."