Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-17
TRUE TO TRADITION.
Indians of South America Still Re-
tain Odd Superstitions
THAT BEGANIN THE DAWNOF TINE.
Pizarro Broke Their Spirit and They Are
Slaves to This Day.
THE SUPERNATURAL POWER OF COCA
CORRESPONDENCE OF THE DIsrArcB.l

rcoRRKsPoNpENcE OF THE DIsfArcB.1
LA PAz, BOLIVIA, July 16-The study
of Indian character, as shown in the Ayma-
raes and Quichuas of Bolivia, is exceed
ingly interesting. Though far out-number-
ing the whites, the government finds no
trouble in keeping them under absolute con-
troll. whatever revolts and disturbances may
arise among the Cholos and other citizens.
Grave, silent and sad, when not intoxicated,
and never noisy in their most hilarious
moments, always at work, gentle, servile
and peaceable, they are willing hewers Of
wood and drawers of water, not one iota
above the mules and llamss they drive; in
deed, the latter, as rule, are better fed and
more kindly treated, because of more COM
mercial value.
Not only Is this true of the poems on the
great estates, but those who are free to come
and 60, work or starve, as they will. are
slaves no less, and to more cruel masters,
cational proviso in the suffrage law of
Bolivia, and as no means are provided for
educating Indians, they are forever de-
barred from having any voice in the affairs
of the land of their fathers. The ruling
class, descendants Of the Spanish conquer
ors, assert, but without truth or reason, that
an Indian is incapable of education and un-
fitted by nature for any higher plane in life
than that he now occupies. as mere beast
of burden.
RELICS OF PAST GREATNESS.
The works of the Incas that still remain,
magnificent temples, terraced mountains
and splendid roads, effectually refute this
statement, and even In these days, after
three centuries and half of slavery, there
are occasional shining examples of Indians
who have struggled out of their environ
ment into the highest positions. The COM
mon herd, however, since the spirit of their
ancestors was so thoroughly broken by
Pizarro and his gang, will make no protest
whatever may be put upon them; and the
temptation to keep them in servitude is too
great to be resisted by the lazy conquista-
dores, who may thus enjoy the fruits of un-
paid labor. Having "Christianized'' the
original owners of the soil, in the lump, as
it were, and rendered them obedient to the
laws of church and state, the philanthropy
of the white race goes no farther.
When the Spaniards came to this conti-
nent, about $50 years ago, they found nearly
all the vast territory that is now occupied
by Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Chilli in
habited by three great tribes, the Aymaraes,
Chinchas and Huancas, united under one
form Of government. The Aymaraes were
the ruling race, and from their number came
the Incas, or emperors. They occupied the
highlands of Peru and Bolivia and were
men more advanced in civilization than
either of the others. The Chinchas lived
along the coast; the Huancas were scattered
among the mountain valleys, and the
Quichuas came from the north, Quito having
been their ancient capital. Gradually the
Aymaraes conquered the other tribes, and
their system of colonization seems to have
been wiser than any that havesuperseded it.
According to tradition, the Aymaraes
had existed since the beginning of the
world; but were sunk into barbarism and
perpetually at war with one another, when
the Sun, their tutelary divinity, sent his
own children to earth to redeem and in
struct them. Two sun-deities came, Nance
Capac and Mama-bella, his sister, who was
| also his wife. The island in Lake Titicaca
where they were believed to have made
| their first appearance, has ever since been
regarded as holy, and to this day shows the
remains of their most sacred temples. From
this point Nance Capac travelled northward,
carrying a golden staff; at a certain place
the stick sank into the ground, sign from
the Sun-god that there he should tarry and
found city; which was called Cuzco and
afterward became the imperial capital of
the Incas.
The same idea of a savior of divine
parentage runs through many form of re-
ligion. As an historical character Nance
Capac does not greatly differ from Jesus of
Nazareth, Osiris of Egypt, the Scandinavian
Odin, the Chinese Fohi, or the Hindoo
Buddha. He was the first of long line of
Kings, who gradually subdued the sur
rounding tribes and established sun-worship
in place of whatever might have been the
more ancient religion. They built four
highways that still remain, leading from
Cuzco to the four cardinal points, and
erected magnificent temples, palaces, walls
and forts.
WERE HUMANE CoNoUERoRs.
When their armies had conquered a
province, they brought the idols of the tribe,
together with the chiefs and their families,
to Cuzco, where they were treated with every
mark of kindness and respect; and when the
chiefs had been thoroughly instructed con-
cerning the power of the Inca and the spirit
of his regime, they were sent back to their
former homes and were often restored to their
official positions as representatives of the
Government at Cuzco. Taxes were reduced
in the conquered provinces, the poor cared
for, the children instructed in the language
of the empire, and though. greatest respect
was shown for the more ancient forms OF
worship, the people were carefully taught
the religion of the Incas.
To make sure that there would be no
future rebellion among the conquered ma
tion, colony of several thousand Aymaraes
was sent to 1--we among them and as many
of the subjugated people were brought to
the towns whence these colonists were taken,
where they were given great advantages.
including large tracts of land exempt from
taxation, and were made to feel in every
way that the transfer had been for their
benefit. Thus it happens that 50 many
Quichuas are found down here among the
Aymaraes and vice versa. Though living
side by side for centuries, these two great
nations have preserved their original dis
tinctness, never uniting in marriage and
seldom associating, and such a thing as the
admixture Of either race with European
blood was never known.
DRESS OF TWO NATIONS.
Though much alike in personal appear
ance, except that the Aymara men are taller
and more powerful than the Quichuas aud
their women are if possible uglier, one can
distinguish scions Of the two races at q
glance, wherever met, by "the cut of the
gib," so to speak. The Quichua men wear
very short trousers, barely reaching to the
knee, ponchos, or blankets, striped with
brilliant colors, their heads thrust through
q slit in the middle, and hats, if any, a
great deal too small tor their heads. Each
woman of the tribe is always seen with
bundle at her back, made by q blanket
= foch in, sha