Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1895-03-29
OUININE GATHERERS.
HOW THE HARDY CASCARlLLERoS OF.
PERU OBTAIN THE BARK.

the Ctnchona Trees Are Located ana
Stripped-The Natural Home of This
Wonderful Medicine.
twas while serving ON the South Amer.
lean station, with the comfortable old
craft snugly moored in Callao harbor, that
the writer, in company with party of
friends, took a ~ inland to witness the
operations of tho celebrated cascarilleros
or cinchona bark searchcrs. The noun
tains of Peru are the natural home of this
wonderful medicinal tree, which is easily
distinguishable from surrounding foliage
by its beautiful lanccolate leaves and mag
nifcent proportions. They frequently
reach height of 80 feet, straight as a
lance, and covered with foliage The
leaves are large and of Q deep, glossy
green, relieved by delicate pink lines, pro-
ducng beautiful effect in the brilliant
sunshine of that favored land.
The life of cascarillcro is one of peril
constant toll and incessant hardship. But
it is his livelihood, and, with hungry
mouths to feed, the poor but fearless ma
tive cuts loose from his wretched noun
tain habitation of bark bidding his dusky
family circle farewell, not knowing wheth-
or he will ever meet them alive again or
not. Little does the consumer of the drug,
who purchases it within the portals of
some luxurious establishment, realize the
danger and suffering involved in procur-
ing the powder soon to be taken so lightly
or carelessly for some real or fancied trou
BILE
The hunter plunges rcsolutely into the
dark and mighty forest, striking well
known trails, which lead far beyond the
pale of civilization or even tracts of Coun-
try utilized by the half savage hunter of
game. With scarcely a change of cloth
ing, encountered with nothing save the
rude implements of his calling, the casca-
rillero pushes on through tangled depths
of jungle over rough and wind swept
mountains, Drawing furious torrents and
improvising frail swinging bridges of trees
and tough crCepcrs. Ever on the alert,
with muscles developed and sinews hard
oned like steel, facing beasts of prey and
slipping from beyond the Shiny, fatal
coils of huge serponts lurking amid the
oozy morasses and foothills, the poor fell
low eludes perhaps death in a dozen fright
full forms to meet his fate through torture
dying by inches.
Although the pay of the quinine hunter
is ridiculously small, it sullicGs to meet
the simple requirements of himself and
family, and as Il class they are happy and
contentcd with their lot in life. 1t is
vocation that is handed down from father
to son, the elder schooling his progeny in
all secrets pertaining toforest life and the
search for the highly priced bark, but de-
spite long years of experience, coupled
with ansintimate knowledge of the intri-
cato trails leading to the cinChona voca-
tions, many Indian hunters yearly lose
their lives amid tho bewidering depths of
the dark, untrodden jungles of the vast
wilderness.
Occasionally number of hunters will
pool their interests, starting out in com
pany as greater protection against disas
ter. Upon reaching a desirable spot,
where the signs of paying trees are consid-
cred good, preparations for camping are
at once made detail looking after that
duty while particularly keen eyed and
1.-the hunters pick out the loftiest trees
from the tops of which they sean the for
est, quickly locating clumps of the pre-
cious cinchOnas.
Then it is the musical, deep toned voices
of the cascarilleros ring out in careless
chorus through the silent recesses of the
far spreading forest. The ring of axes and
echoes of sturdy blows dealt lofty mon
archs of the Cordilleras mingle in unison
with the weird Indian chant, while the
blazing campfres throw out a CHEEKY wei
come to any wayfarer, who, regardless of
race or color, always is accorded a wei
come to the camp of the quinine hunters.
At night when all labor is necessarily
suspended, the members of the exped ton
gather about the well kept fire, when
many wild and stirring tale of thrilling
adventure is recounted by the dusky
searchers as they loll at ease OH the long,
velvety grass of the plateau.
The task of gathering cinchona bark oc-
cupies all the working hours between sun
rise and set. The camp is early astir, with
no time lost in culinary preparations. The
making of savory messes and aroma of
strong, fresh coffee is confined to the two
or three white men occasionally accom-
panying the party of hunters This may
comprise botanist sent on by some Eu-
ropean concern to study the flora of the
comparatively unknown region, an adven-
turous traveller or hard pressed prospect
or in search of the precious metals All
the frontier camp of cascarilleros.
Armed with knives and keen edged
hatchets, the tree is quickly felled with all
hands cutting stripping and clearing the
trunk from all foreign growth cucumber,
ing the trunk. This is task of no small
magnitude, frequently consuming days OF
constant and patient labor. The SHARP
edges of lsnCelike leaves, mingled with
thorns and huge briers, lacerate and
wound the hunters flesh, who are not
Overburdened with clothing, their dark
bodies exhibiting a network of scars and
wounds, the result of their encounters
with parasites and creepers as well as at
tacks from savage beasts providing under
cover of the jungle.
The bark is removed, cut into tiny curl
ing strips and piled in some convenient
spot where one or more of the party are de
tailed to look after the drying process
This comparatively easy duty is generally
awarded to one more or less disabled by
wounds or accident in falling from somt
lookout tree or station. The thin portions
curl up, drying rapidly, while the large
thick slices retain their shape and are easi!y
packed for transportation. When all art
pronounced ready by the "torlejo," Of
head hunter of the party, the bark is neatly
dashed together with deftly plated seizingI
Of plated grass and bound with broad
tough leaves as protection to the cure(