The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1854-03-03

| TIE people are generally oISStpateo, eACePt oh
Sunday afternoons, when both sexes seemed dis
/ posed 10 frolic. During the week they are other
wise employed.
Leaving the Juaja valley, we passed through
rough, hilIy country. In barley stubbes, ewes
are giving their young. A woman planting beans
after the plough, has her baby sung over her
shoulders. By the noise it made doubt its par.
iaity to beans The plough is drawn by oxen
| yoked by the horns. 1t is made OF two pieces OF
wood the handle and coulter of one piece,
into which is ointed the beam. The coulter is
shod with square plate OF iron without shear
so that the furrow is made by throwing the soil
on both Sides like the North Carolina bull-tongue
On hlli some Indians planting beans, while
others are carrying up water in large jars from
stream, for the purpose of irrigang the vegetables
just peeping out of the ground.
| The small towns Of Guayocachi and Nahum
pucyo are inhabited solely by Indians and have
a rulnous appearance; The streets are pasture
grounds, and decayed old houses as roost-
ing places fer buzzards. We had thunder, rain,
and hail the hail stones large peas, soft
like snowbas. Lightning flashed all around us
in the valley, while the black clouds brought up
by the southeast winds were hurried back by
northwest squalI. Thermometer 45o. The In
dams ga ther the dung of animals for fuel; wood
is too scarce to burn here. The green waters Of
the Juaja rush down through deep ravlnes its
power is used for flour mill the grain is
mashed. The branches of few large cedar
trees give shade to the door of the polite old Mes
tizo miller. Descending the river we come TO
beautiful white-washed new stone BRIDGE with one
arch thirty feet above the stream. Paying toll
OF shilling per mule, we crossed the JuaJa into
the small town Of lscuchaca. Near the river
there are patches Of ucerne. and peach trees in
blossom. native of Copenhagen, ir Denmark,
came forward and invited US to his house. The
people had told him his &c countrymep =" had
rived. He was siversmiih and apothecary. but
had been employed by the Peruvian Government
10 construct this beautiful stone bridge, which he
had finished, and married the first pretty girl on
the street leading therefrom, daughter of retired
officer Of the Peruvian army. The bridge across
this stream was formerly built Of wood. During
a revolution one of the parties set it on fire, and
the ends Of the beams while burning set fire TO
the stone foundation The Copenhagen man
gathered quantity OF this stone, made fire OF
it in his forge, and heated piece of iron red hot
He called it brown slate coal, rather hard, not
good for blacksmith work; but the same is used
for running an engine at the mines of Castro-Vir
reyna, in which he is interested. There are rher
NAL springs Eear, and specimens OF magnetic iron
were collected from mountain one and hall
league to the northeast of the town. The "matico"
bush is found here. Many stories told Of The
effects of this medicinal plant, which has been in
use as tea among the Indians, and as poultice
for wounds.
Iscuchaca is pleasantly situated amidst wild
mountains. which seem to lock it up. The Jua
winds its way towards the Atlantic while we climb
a steep towards the Pacific.
Many fine mules are dashing down the narrow
road. The drover tells me he is from lea, bound
to the Cerro Pasco mines, where he trades mules
for silver lea is situated inland from Pisco on
the coast. Among the mountains at the top of
dangerous and precpltate pass, there is a wooden
cross erected by the people in the neghborhood.
Travellers invariably take off their hats as they
pass, praying for safe passage, or feeling thank
full for The women often decorate these en-
blems with wreaths of flowers, cross themselves
devoutly, and pass on. Jose begged me to hang
the mountain barometer to one arm OF the cross. |
While took the reading oft he looked on in great
admiration.
The small Indian town Of Guando is the first we
have seen built Of stone. 1t is situated high up on
the mountains, and presents most dilapidaied APP |
prarance. On one side OF a narrow street, little
schoolboys were seated saying their lessons TO The
teachers, who were on the opposite side. AS we
passed between them the boys al! rose and bowed
politely. Among the inhabitants unusual
number Of elderly women. The temptation was
great to ask their ages but, some dislike ques-
tions Of that Sort might make enemy without
getting a fact.
We ascend the top OF the mountain and see per.
peturl snow in all directions, overhung with heavy
black cumulus clouds, above which the Cirrus
shoots upwards; in the zenith the sky is clear and
Of the deepest blue. Spring water 44o, air 450.
Richards shot at four wild geese with his earbine
and single ball two Of the geese flew off, leaving
the others much frightened. The geese flew across
a small snow-water lake. These birds white,
the end Of wings and tail being black, with red bills
and legs large the domesticated goose, though
not SO tender. TadpoIes, but no fish, were to be
seen. Wild ducks kept at distance. The lama is
pasturing and giving birth TO its young close under
The perpetual snow-line. The Alpaca and Huana-
COS species of the lama are in numbers also. La
mas occupy the useful position among the aborgn-
al race Of Sout America that the camel does to the
man in Arabia. These animals carry {
Dads Of one hundred pounds over roads too dan
yerous for the mule the ass, climb mountains
iificut for man. They are principally used for con.
7eyng silver from the mines. The Indians are {
,ery fond of them. Though they drive with whip,
I IS seldom used. When one lags behind or Lies
lown the road the Indian talks TO it and persua
les it to forget its fatigue and get up again. They
lang little bells about heir graceful necks and decor
lie the tips of the. with bits of coored rIband
Their dispositions, like those Of their masters are
yente and inoffensive, except when too much hur-
led then they cast saliva Mt The Indians, or at c
ZACH other. This is their only offence. 1t is
hought TO be poisonous. They require very little :
ood, which they pick up on the mountain, and are
much more temperate than their drivers. They |