The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-11-06
FARMING In BOLIVIA.
The Indian Agriculturists Use
Primitive Tools.
THEY DIG WITH POINTED STICKS
Magnificent Ceuasry Almost Cncaits-
waited, Though Cotton, Coffee.
Rsbbex and Fruit Thrive.

ine following paper on Farming in
Bo1via. written by Frederic J. Grant.
minister TO Bolivia. by request Of the pro-
motors of the worlds congress Of agricuI-
ture, held, at Chicago last month, was
read at the meeting of the congress:
paper on the sgriculture OF Bolivia
would not be unlike q paper on the agri-
culture OF ancient Egypt or Assy-ia- The
ga me primitive methods are In use here as
have been used in the infancy of agricui-
tuve everywhere. The Indians are the
only farmers. and. in spite OF many efforts
that have been made TO introduce inn
proved methods and improved machinery,
they continue to use the most primitive
implements in the most primitive man
ner.
II have spoken OF Egypt and Assyria,
and may add that in iourneying along
road IN Bolivia one might easily mag
Inc himself TO be in those countries. In
the fields on either side are the dark
skinned Indians. men and women alike,
digging with pointed sticks a few inches
in length or blowing behind slow-going
builocks with plows which show no
change from those Of twenty centuries
ago.
81 say that the Indians are the only
farmers, but they are rarely. If ever, the
owners Of the land which they till. The
farms are owned by families who reside in
the larger cities, and the Indians cultivate
them In consideration of q small patch
which they are permitted to have for their
own use. In addition to the cultivation
OF the farms, the Indians are obliged TO
render TO the owners service in their town
houses. Every fifteen days party of
Indians go from the farm to the town resi-
denee. They act as the servants of the
PROPRIETOR, and at the end of the regular
term of service they give place TO another
party and return to the farm. An Indian
cannot be persuaded to remain in the
town for more than the allotted period of
fifteen days, no matter what may be the
urgency of the case or how great may be
the inducement offered. Having served
for the time expected of them, they insist
upon returning TO the farm
"Agricuiturally, Bolivia is divided into
three distinct regions as follows:
''FIfst-The PLAIN of Titieaca.
"Second-The valleys of the rivers.
''fhird-The plains of the East and
Northeast.
1.-THE first of these, the plain of Titicaca,
is a vast tabIeland surrounding the lake of
the same name. II is. perhaps, 800 miles
in length, with breadth half as great.
At an average elevation of more than
5000 feet above the level of the sea, il pre-
sents climate and a soil which would
provoke the contempt of the American
farmer. It's soil is poor, thin and stony.
being thin layer of decomposed volcanic
ash over q mighty foundation OF solid
rock. The days are often warm, the sun
shining directly down upon the vast and
treeless PLAIN. but the nights are cold, frost
being frequent at all seasons of the year.
49, xEasS swk lob 20 talf. ...l
the Alto, produces q grain known as
quichua. This word is translated as bar
ley. but the grain Is altogether different,
in the nature of the plant and the appear
ance of the grain, from the barley of the
United States. II also produces q large
poor in quality. These potatoes are made
by a process of freezing, working with the
naked feet and soaking in water, into
peculiar substance called chuno. This is
the principal food of the Indians. 1t is
hard in its normal condition and pasty
when boiled 10 make soup. IL is said TO
be very nutritious, but have never been
able to bring myself TO eat it with relish.
"The valleys of the rivers which break
the plain of Titicaca are generally at an
elevation varying from 1900 TO s. 600 feet
Vegetation in these valleys is luxuriant
The soil, which. like that of the Alto, de-
composed valeanic ash. is thick aud rich.
pal agricultural product is the coca, to the
cultivation of which vast plantations are
devoted. Coffee of exquisite flavor is also
grown, but its cultivation is much neg
lected. / know of only one regular coffee
plantation; but the coffee plant is much
used for hedges. The grain produced on
these hedges is separated from the berry
by hand and the product affords suffi-
cient supply for Bolivia, though. so far as
| am aware. none of il Is exported. This
is To be regretted. for, as / have said, the
coffee Is of a delicious flavor. aud If sub
jected TO proper cultivation / believe that
the product would be without q superior
in the world. Fruits OF all kinds are also
grown in abundance in these valleys, the
peach and apple of the temperate zone
growing side by side with the oranges and
lemons OF the tropics. The apples and
peaches are of q very poor quality. almost
the entire product of the latter being used
for the manufacture of n very strong and
very unpalatable brandy which is much
appreciated by the natives. The oranges
and lemons are very fine. The former, in
/ spite of lack OF scientific cultivation, are
equal IL not superior 70 those of either
| Florida or California | should mention
also among the fruit products OF these val
legs the ehirimoga, the granadIla- fruits
unknown 10 the markets of the United
| States. bat of q most delicious iavor-and
! the iimon dHics. or sweet lemon, which is
precisely what ats name implies lemon
| full OF sweetness.
THE vast eastern plain, watered by the
rivers which seek the Atlantic through
| the Amazon. is q tropical country covered
with forests and for the most part in
/ hahi,ej by savages. Cotton of a silky
fibre of great strength is grown here. In
the forests the rubber tree abounds. This
/ Is not cultivated as vet but with the in
creasing demand for rubber and the SUI
perior excellence of the Bolivian pr oduct,
| It's cultivation on q vast scale is q certainty
| of the near future. Ii Is bound TO become
| the greatest source of wealth and revenue
for Bolivia
Throughout Bolivia the methods of
communication are primitive TO the last
degree. There is but one railroad-that
from oruro 10 the coast-and as that is
designed 10 haul the product Of the mines
il does not penetrate 30 the agricultural
regions. The roads are wretehed. and
outside OF the two or three larger cities.
| carts and carriages are unknown. The
beasts of harden are the mule. the burro
or small donkey, ard the llama. not TO
mention man himself for the Indians
carry great burdens over vast distances
and with inconceivabie rapidity.
"As TO the history Of agriculture in
Bolivia, am inclined TO believe that its
story has been one Of retrogression. As I
have said. the implements are of the most
primitive nature. being precisely such SIS
were used when the Spzn.Ards first pene-
trased into the country. As 20 general
methods, there has been a decided retro
erosion. On vast tracts, now lying
waste. are 70 be seen the remains Of dtkss.