Page:The Present State of Peru.djvu/228

200 Bethlemites. Besides these convents, there are four hospitals belonging to the Benedictins, the Geronims, the Franciscan missionaries attached to the college of Ocopa, and the minor brothers who collect alms for the holy places of Jerusalem. The monasteries belonging to the nuns are fourteen in number; and to these may be added the five receptacles for devotees who have not taken the veil. One of these establishments is for Indian women of noble extraction. Among a great variety of confraternities, there are five principal congregations of seculars. Next follow two colleges for females, namely, that of la Caritad, for the education of young girls, and that of Santa Cruz, for female orphans. Each of these establishments has not only sufficient funds for its support, but is likewise enabled to portion off those who are on the foundation, according to the condition of life they may think proper to embrace. At a small distance from the receptacle for the support and education of orphans, there is another for women, in which they are gratuitously lodged. There are also four establishments for the exercises of St. Ignatius, three for men, and one for women.

Peralta reckons eleven hospitals only in the city of Lima, including the hall of St. Louis, situated in the interior of the magnificent infirmary of the great convent of Franciscan monks, and destined for the maintenance and cure of sick and disabled domestics. Without, however, taking this establishment into the account, there are at this time fifteen hospitals, open for the reception of the sick. That of St. Andrew is destined for Spaniards and their immediate descendants; that of St. Ann, for Indians, with two separate infirmaries, one