Lima

le ma, the capital city of Peru. It is located on the Rimac River, seven miles from the Pacific. Callao, at the mouth of the river, is the seaport. Railroads lead from Lima to Callao and other coast points. A railway extends from Lima to Concepcion far up on the Andes. Lima was founded by Pizarro in 1535. The old city was surrounded by adobe walls, after the fashion of European cities. They were removed in 1870 to make room for handsome boulevards. The city is well laid out, chiefly in squares. Buildings are usually of one story, as the city is subject to earthquakes. Lima has long been considered a city of considerable culture and refinement. A university was founded here half a century before Harvard was established. It is the oldest institution of learning in America. The usual academic course, with schools of theology, law, medicine, art, and music, is maintained. In 1880 the invading army of Chile destroyed the national library, then containing 60,000 volumes. A new library has been built up, almost as large as the old one, but many old books, treasures in their way, cannot be replaced. The casual visitor would be interested in an amphitheater for bullfights, accommodating 9,000 spectators. The fish market of the city attracts 1,000 housewives with their market baskets daily. There is a marble statue of Columbus unveiling a figure of America, and a bronze equestrian statue of Simon Bolivar, the Liberator. Pizarro lies buried in the Cathedral. There are manufactures of tallow candles, glue, gold lace, silver filigree, and coarse woolen fabrics. The present population is about 140,000. See Peru