Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-03
MIGHT MAKES RIGHT.
Bolivia's Constitution is All Right so
Long as 1t Doesn't
WITH ANYoNE'S WISHES.
A President Who Had Faithless officials
Shot at Banquet.
POISONED ARROWS AND SLAVERY.
CORRESPONDENCE OF THE prsrArcB.1

of South America was origin ally part of the
old Spanish province of Peru, and arrived
at the dignity of separate Republic
through the efforts of the Venezuelan liber-
stor of the continent, Simon Bolivar, and
hence its name, Bolivia. Since Chill has
taken off corner of it, the Republic now
contains 81, $50 square leagues. making it
about twice as large as France and three
times as large as Spain. As nearly as can
be approIimated, in a country where the
the census is never taken and many of the
natives remain to this dav uncounted, its
population is about 1000, 900, hardly one
fourth of which number are whites.
There are several varieties of the native
and mixed races, from the half-breeds to the
still unconquered aborigines that prowl
about the upper waters of the Amazons.
Little is known of these savage tribes be-
yond the fact that they wear absolutely no
clothing, and until a recent period they
were extremely hostile to any white people.
The story goes that their active hostility
was checked by an accident that happened
in this wise.
GOT MORE THAN THEY WANTED.
A few years ago when the Bolivian Gov
ernment was making survey of the
Madeira river, a camp was established on
the bank OF that stream near its celebrated
falls. Soon after its location one of the men
came down with SMALLPOX, and of course he
was Immediately isolated from the rest of
the party, hut having been built for him
hall a mile further into the forest Though
carefully attended by the camp physician
recovery was impossible, and one dav while
the good doctor was bending over his dying
patient the hut door was suddenly darkened
by half dozen naked denizens OF the woods
bent on deadly mischief. The physician
managed to escape, but the sufferer was as
sisted in his exit from this world by the
thrust of wooden spear, and the Indians
carried off in triumph his garments, bed
and everything portable about the hut
They carried of also more than they were
aware of in the shape of the white mans
most dreaded disease, and soon nearly the
whole tribe died of black smallpox. The
rect punishment from the Great Spirit, and
have since let the pale faces religiously
alone.
These savages, and others that inhabit the
almost unknown Amazonian frontiers OF
Peru and Bolivia, kill their game with tiny
poisoned arrows blown through reed guns 10
or II feet long. The arrows are made of
species of lron-wood, or tipped with bit of
flint poisoned at the point. Strange to say,
though the merest scratch of one of these ar
rows causes death in less time than it takes
to tell it, the flesh of the animals killed
thereby can be eaten with impunlty, as the
poison acts only through the blood. produc-
ing paralysis and instantaneous death, but
is comparatively harmless when taken into
the stomach.
KEPT A CLOSE SECRET.
The secret of the poison has never been
reveled. it being kept within the know
ledge of a few "medicine-men" of each
tribe, and handed down from the father to
the son. Sir Robert Thornburg, who has
maded poisons a lie study, says that it is
probably distilled from the sap of the
Strychnos to1Jeru, shrub resembling
that which supplies the Quaker button"
of commerce, from which strychnine is
made. Others assert that it is taken from the
poison glands of venomous serpents More
terrible still to contemplate is the posi-
bility that it is derived from the putreiac-
tion of human corpses
A recent writer states that the dead bodies |
after a battle, and often those prisoners
taken in war, are devoted to this diabolical |
purpose; being stuck full of arrow points |
and left in the sun for weeks or months until |
the flesh is all decayed and the arrows tho |
roughly saturated in putrefaction. After |
being subjected to that process, even those
who prepare the arrows must handle them
with the greatest caution, as the slightest
puncture or Craze of the skin means quick
and horrible death by poison for which
there is no antidote. Instances are known
where arrows of this sort which have lain
or many years in museums, have killed
hos rb0 L., ii
Scarcely one-fourth OF Bolivia's area is
lnder cultivation. In this Republic the
A ndes present their most bleak and forbid
ling aspect, as well as their grandest views.
Between La Paz and Sorata there are more
han 100 peaks, among the highest of which
re Illimani, over 26, 900 feet. and Illyapa,
which attains an altitude of q $50 feet.
BoLIvIA's CONSTITUTION.
Though Sucre. or Chuquisaca, is the real
apital of Bolivia, as incorporated in the
onstitution by the first Republican Con-
ress, the constitution also saws that Con-
ress may be called either at La Paz or
)ruro, according to the exigencies of the
ccasion. The legislative power is COM
'osed of two houses, Senate and Chamber of
Deputies. They convene but once a year,
he ordinary length of a session being 60
avs. The executive power is most en-
in the hands of the President.
,he constitution says that he shall be elected,
nd if there are two or three candidates in
he field, whose claims cannot be decided
OK populi, Congress shall settle the mat
er by its vote. The truth is, however, that
hould such an emergency arise, the ad-
erents of each party would get up revo-
ution against the others; and the candi-
ate who could command the most money,
nd consequently the most men, would seat
imself, whatever Congress might have to
ay about it.
A President is elected for four years, and
annot legally serve two consecutive terms;
ut in this part of the world, where might
5 right, President may succeed himself
Dr. an indefinite period, as long as he can
maintain control OF the army. On the other
and, ii sometimes occurs that two or three
evolutionary leaders make themselves
residents during the term allotted to one
ian; and it is not impossible that the pres
Mt incumbent, who has yet more than half
is term to serve, may soon be ousted by
be rebel leader, General Camacho, who is
ow at arms against him.
A BANQUET OF DEATH.
That was a wise President in the past who
aving learned that his Cabinet were con-
piring with certain revolutionists for his
yerthrow, gave a grand state dinner, to
Thich they were all invited, together with
everal leading malcontents. In the midst
the banquet in stalked q squad of SOL
iers, and at a given signal each shot his
nan, so that on the morrow a new Cabinet
ad to be appointed.
According to the revised Constitution
apital punishment has been abolished ex-
ept for two crimes, assassination or rebel
ion against the Government Though the
arbarism of hanging up men bY the neck