New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-12-08
IN GUATEMALA PASSES.
FOLLOWING A MOUNTAIN TRAIL USED III
INDIAN BURDEN BEARERS.
Panzos. october 90

IT. ho, evhaustod every means OF sending word
n Mr. schafcr, the agent OF the Flo Dolce Na''E'
lion Company 70 have animals ready loF our "s0'
hut although cur messages had been feoc|eu "'o
animals were not there. An epidemic OF smallpox
had devastated the village. had driven animals ana
,bar owners far into the mountains. We sent an
1rdian seven leagues to procure the necessary mes'
and II was not until evening OF the third DAY '"at
he returned. driving the weary beasts before Aim'
The ONLY cart road Of any extent In Northern
Guatemala connects Panzos with Coban by way OF
Tactic and along the upper Polochc River. The
coffee raised around COtan and further west Is carted
n Panzos over this road but the thousands OF qulntas
from the valley and slopes Of the Sierra de Chainl
range have road nor cart facilities, ana the OILY
means of transportation Is upon the backs OF Indians
and mules. Tie coffee Is packed IN sacks weighing
from 1l2 to $50 pounds. The sack Is ncl0sed IN Il
frame OF sticks, strong cord Is passed. around ana
under the frame, and the upper end Of the cord Is
attached to piece Of skin. tanned with the hair on
which is shaped to fit the forehead. The Indian
sqnats In front OF IT, places the piece OF skin on his
forehead, the cord passing back and over the shoul
ders. lie slowly rises bending his body mt the hpS.
balancing the burden upon his back while his arms
hang perpendicular from the shoulder. In TINS posi-
ton the weight is evenly divided between the neck
shoulders and back, and with such a burden the
Indian starts of on !cgtrot which he will maintain
for hours on level ground making from twenty to
thirty miles n day without apparent fatigue.
The Indian carries bag Of coffee from the INCA
and returns 20 1t with a bag OF salt OF equal OF
greater weight and for this service he receives two
reals (25 cents a day and furnishes his own 1904
II the round trip requires eight days-four days each
way--he receives but Tn Peso" (S1) for the time.
As we made our way into the mountains from
pa.zcs We followed the Indian trail and passed
many small companies always In single file descend
Ing the mountain from the Interior with tbelr fragrant
cargo their stocal, eXprc'SionlesS faces giving no
sign o: either pain pleasure or curiosity. They ap
pcarcd be beasts. trottng the uneven ground
and carrying upon bent backs half mule load
mule will carry two sacks one upon each side; but
upon these narrow trails where iuttlns rock In
the perpendicular wall. unless avoided will displace
the cargo and often the jar and rebound VIII force
the mule from the path. Indian whose cargo does
not add to the width Of his body f. saicr and better
We often stopped 10 rest with n group Of Indians by
the side OF mountain stream. ana occasionally
spent the night with them in one o. the large open
sLcds. ranchcrias. which they have constructed on
level places as general rendezvous for the night
Iheae gatherings are intensely picturesque and In
tcrcsng, and the variations Of Indian character can
here be studied 10 the best advantage. The deep
nlght shadows crossed by sharp blades OF Hight
fro blazing logs through which the Indians pass and
rcpass they stack their cargoeS. gather wood and
prepare their simple food OF ortas and frajos. In
these gatherings something Of Intelligence comes into
.ionally the mouth broadens into smile indicating
pleasure. but the animal prcdominaics. the signs
indicate simply animal cnJoymcn. OF food and rest
Apparently they have no ambition beyond their in
mediate wants and these 50 abundantly supplied
by fdugcnt and proyiicnt Nature that there IS little
cause TO labor. and the work they do perform Is
mostly under cOmpIl,on. They must work. II their
labor Is required suffer confinement In the carccl
GalJ until they are villln- to work. Apparently
IL he I'm ReDu!lic md
II tie tide OF immigration which + pouring Into the
United states could bur be turned this way The two
Republics and the immigrant would be bcnchtci By
the arrang 'mcnt.
Under the present system the soldier Is an I'm
portant factor In the labor problem. An arrcniador
lhrcr) needs number Of rabaladors laborcrs aud Is
unable 10 get them. He notifies The Jee Potco. who
sends squad Of soldiers the nearest ranchcadero
placc containing Auts and the brought In and
compelled 10 labor. To avoid iii, many escape to the
nacce,sbl parts OF the mountains or pas over the
border into neirhborlng republic. Many Of the
indians really slaves. controlled rs absolutely by
tie arrcndador as over slave by his master In the
states The law permits the employer 70 pay them
an advance and then compcs the Indians work or
he employer until The advance II repaid second
employer nay pay the amount due The first. make a
stil fuIt'or advance lLduccmcnt 70 tie Indian
who removes to tie hnca Of lis second master, VITO
thereafter control, him absolutely until the entire
amount Is paid. sometime, Indian IS In debt 10
his arrcndador hundred dollars more an immense
u lin. and more than he can ever pay. He f.
virtually slave the chattc Of his master, and only
death can nquidatc the obligation.
A. "A rule this slavery h little felt The Indian
has lis home the mountain, his own land
where BE- raises and beans. and sufficient money
Is paid him for all hi, needs. The desire IS not that
the debt slall DE paid, but that It may remain ~
a strong cord, insuring the presence and labor Of
the Indian to hb employer.
The old law witch permitted the master to nog
the laborcr repealed during the administration Of
President Iaircllas The repeal strongly OPP
posed by all employers Of Indian labor. but de-
manded By the Government rs "A political measure.
Regardless Of TIE motive, It step In the hight
direction. provided tie massc, possessed If in
tcllgcncc sufficient to avail themselves OF tho benc-
fits Of humane laws. The beneficial elect Of The
new law /, not yet apparent The IVdan Of Cen
tral America has long suffered under the brutal
ard dcla.ing treatment of the Conqucs adors ana
their successors, that time and clcvang tlnucnccs
can alone lit him into The position Of average in
tcllgcnt man.
one Of the most DIFFICULT problems to determine
IS the degree Of morality and the religious condition
Of these people. The children married very young
the boys at eleven twelve ana the girls at nine
or ten 1t IS uncommon th.ng TO n troop
u women, from twelve to thirty years old, each Will
a baby upon Ecr back and load OF some Kind upon
her head. The effect Of this early marriage and
child bearing Is premature old age. Hardly year
Of the sunshine of love before the burdens Of life
heavy. tie freshness OF youth fades, and then
follow the long years Of drudgcry, lOvelc,s and Joy
less. ng I'm unregrcttcd death. Most of the
indian children black tEoir supposed parents.
but an occasional ono Of lighter shade. with light
eyes and golden hair, hints Of OTHER than Indian
blood / met one Of this KIND 50 sirklnrly beautiful
rs to attract attention anywhere l saw her Just as
the evening shadows began TO ill The valleys, and
IN the sOltcncd light II the setting sun, which seemed
10 give an added glow TO her auburn hair. Her
feet and legs bosom and neck bare and her
head supported "A water jar Of the pattern made in
Egypt long ago, While her proportions were per.
feet ns n Juno Venus Washed and clothed,
criticism could find no fault with her