New-York tribune., 1891-12-26
SOUTH AMFRICAN TRADE.
WHAT SORT OF GOODS ARE REQUIRED.
HOW AMERICAN MERCHANTS CAN sUrrLY IT
A LETTER FROM A TRAVELLER


LETTER FROM A TRAVELLER.
Washington. Dec. 25.-A gentleman who has
travelled extensively through Peru, Ecuador and
Bolivia writes rs follows TO the Bureau Of American
Republics concerning the classes of goods required In
those countries:
"The store, are gay" he says, with foreign stufs
Of tho most brilliant colors. coarse, shaggy wooicn
materials finding the most ready sale. There Is
call also for brlghtcoored velvets, brocades ana
silks which the richer 'cholas, or halfbrecd women,
manufacture into skirts. Nearly all the boots and
shoes worn here are of home manufacture as the ma
tives require peculiar shapes many of the styles are
very elaborate. The Indians very peculiar shoes
They are now diScarding their old fashioned pohchos
for new styles woven here Of foreign worsteds.
Hoes, spades sLovels, mattocks, pickakes, rakes'
sickIes and trowels could be imported into BOLIVIA
have seen specimens of nearly all OF these imported
from the United states and from Germany, but
think 1t would be very hard TO make these people adopt
u modern plough Iron plough points, however, would
find sale. ! will bring samples of all KINDS OF
hardware found in the market.
There is an enormous demand for anilne dyes
there is not ylloge in Peru Bolivia where these
are not sought after Brght-colored crcwels or
worsteds are equally popular. and there Is good
market for figured fowered ribbons, brightcoored
cbesp cotton bandkerchefs bleached and unblesched
muslns and cheap cloths and chevios. In the mines
much mercury is consumed, chemicals used In the
laboratories reagents, and teitubes re'orts Dsih
ers and her glass material crucbes, assaylng ovens
and the like. Canned meats, lobster and salmon are
in great demand. especially at mining centres Cheap
carthenware and stoneware oInamented with gaudy
designs find a ready sale, as well as cheap DRINKING
glasses, knives and forks and brass spoons. As 10
hardware besides the implements mentioned above
think there would be little demand for anything but
locks and scissors Imitation silver tea sets are popular
Wood is very scarce. should think fortunes could DO
made in The lumber trade with this country. sihan
wooden pole here forty cents, and wood Tor bul
ing purposes is very expensive. For this reason tables
and chairs are expensive, and should THINK money
could be made in the furniture business Tue beds IN
This country are usually made OF iron. In the country
however one usually finds the beds and tables Hhde
oi mud hedges with a mud bench around the room 10
sit upon This shows the scarcity Of wood. For flel
ama sheep and asses dung is used, and where small
scrub bush called 'toa,' occurs. this also is burned
aAmerlcan watches held In high esteem. Much
petroleum l. consumed foreign steflrine eandies ana
enormous ouantlties OF alcohol The latter trade Is
the principal industry of Bolivian merchants. The
Indians drink alcohol by the quart and quantities are
used for cooking on account Of the scarcity Of fuel
AZ do not think foreigners could compete Win the
ro,,vas In making saddles sadde-bags and the Ike.