Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-03-23

A great many professional men, espe-
cially doctors, dentists, engineers and
artists, have been educated abroad Every
transaction here requires many formalities; !;
even the account books of the merchant
must receive the legal rubric, as nearly
every trial is decided upon the written
evidence only, pleading at the bar being
almost entirely unknown.
THE CHURCH AND STATE
Are entirely separate. There are no more
nuns, but Sisters of Charity act as edu-
Gators to the poor and nurses in the hos
pitals. Protestant ministers are gaining a
foothold, but very slowly, as everything is
against them. The unconquered Indians
still retain many of the peculiar religious
rites of their ancestors.
Recently banks and bankers have null
tiplied to a great extent. Paper money,
heretofore almost unknown, is fast sup
planting the coin of the country. This
places a great power in the hands of the
bankers. They are allowed to issue bills
far above their specie reserve, charging
from three-fourths to one and half per
cent. a month for loans. The profits,
therefore, are very large, some banks pay
ing dividends as high as 80 per cent. per
annum.
THE POLICE
Do duty only at night, leaving the citizens
to take care of themselves by day. Four
policemen are stationed at the four corners
of each plaza. Every fifteen minutes
bell rings, which causes the guardians of
the city to blow their whistles and change
places. By this system it is impossible for
70 .ia III l..
short, stout bayonet, the policeman is often
armed with lasso, and by the dextrous
use of this formidable weapon the prowl-
ing thief is easily pinioned, when trying
to escape. Petty thefts are the chief
crimes, for the natives are neither quarrel
some nor dishonest. Those who will steal
little things sometimes make the most
trusty messengers, to whose care you need
not hesitate to trust any amount of money.
Travellers are sometimes carried over
the mountain passes in
Upon the backs of natives. These carriers
are sure-footed, and capable of great en-
durance, usually making better time than
mules. A sitla is nothing more than
bamboo chair, fastened to the back of the
carrier by two belts worn crosswise over
the chest, and third passing over the
forehead. On level road the men have
gentle trot that does not Jolt the rider
much, keeping a pace of four miles an
an hour for half day. Even when climb
ing in the mountains they seldom slip or
fall, and very few accidents ever occur,
unless they happen to get too much rum.
But it requires good deal of time and
patience to accustom ones self to human
back riding; though many of the natives
prefer the sitla to the saddle.
Though the lower classes work indis-
criminately, the women do the heaviest
share of it, carrying burdens over the
mountains equal to the men, and one or
two children besides. Indians will walk
for three days, men and women together,
having upon their backs heavy loads of
produce or long strings of fish. Arrived
in town, the women will sit all dav in the
market place, peddling off the stuff, while
the men are patronizing the gambling
booths. At night, if there is any money
lett, they will all get drunk together, and
then spend two or three more days on the
road, travelling home with tired feet and
empty pockets.
IN The VICINITY OF BOGOTA
Are several quintas (small farms) which
are devoted entirely to the raising of
orchids. These lovely parasites grow wild
all over Colombia, in infinite variety of
form and color. The growers send natives
out into the woods and hills to collect
them, paying from cent to 80 cents for
each plant, and selling the same in Europe
at prices ranging all the way between $50
and $500. | visited an orchid ranch
where a young Englishman is doing a
profitable business. He has 1000 small
wooden boxes, and into each box is nailed
stick, the latter wrapped with sphagmum
moss, among which the plant is tied.
Another curious industry practiced here
abouts is the gathering of Cinch Iancifolia
or chincona bark. A few years ago such
quantities were exported from Colombia
as seriously to affect the European market;
but now the supply is practically ex-
hausted except in the remote interior dis
tricts.
1t is now near the close of the rainy sea-
seon and ones perambulations must be cir
cumscribed, for torrents are sure to fall
every afternoon, beginning generally be-
tween two and three o'clock and keeping
| it up through most of the night. Though
| there is no Weather Bureau in South
America, one has little difficulty in calcu-
lating what is coming. First white mists
begin to creep slowly up the stupendous
gorge between Guadalupe and Serrate, the
twin mountains behind the town, making
their bold, dark cliffs appear yet more
rugged by contrast with paths of sunlight
here and there and the pale advancing
vapors. Slowl Y the mists creep higher and
higher, until both peaks are completely
| shrouded; and then suddenly the floods
descend, as if the very windows of heaven
were opened, delug ing everything in a
moment and turning the cutters into
brawling rivers. FANNIE B. WARD.