Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-07-09

EiOes known as the Quchua (Keech-wah
ind Aymara- The Quichua claim 10 be the
descendants Of the old Incas They are
found about the northeastern shores of
Lake Titicaca and in the states to the south
or La Paz- The Aymaras inhabit this high
plateau. and their villages of mud huts
may be counted by the thousands IN this
part Of Bolivia. They ara a people of them
selves, with curious habits queer customs
and a life and character peculiarly their
own II | should say that slavery still pre-
walls in Bolivia l suppose the statement
would be disputed. 1t is true neverthe less
These Indians are TO a great extent slaves
This is a feudal country and the men and
women are bought and sold with the farms
OF which they live. The fact that thew
could perhaps leave upon paying their debts
does not alter the matter. 1t is known that
their attachment TO their homes Is such
thdt they VIII not leave and the PROPRIETOR
do-s not hesitate TO agree to deliver his
human goods with the property The most
OF the lands mere are owned by the Cholos
OF hdII breeds, who have Spanish and In
Dian blood in them, and by the whites who
are the descendants of the Spanar1s who
conquered the country. Upon each farm
there is community of these Indians who
throughout the whole year give three days
OF edcn week to their master and are allow
e1 the remaining days for themselves. They
receive no wages for working for the owner
of the plantation and are supposed to do
the work in lieu of the ground rent for the
spot on which they have built their mud
nuts and FOR the little patches which they
are allowed 70 farm for themselves If
tfeir master has use for only part of the
time ne has the right 70 hire them out to
others. and II they do not obey him he can
within certain limits, infict punishment
upon them They expect to be whipped,
ana l have heard it said here that Indian
servants gTJmnia WhaU ha-
ished for a long time because they con-
slider it a sign that their master has ceased
TO Ike them An Indian hare has in few
things any right that any one else is bound
70 respect, and it is, indeed, not an uncom-
mon thinS % see one struck to make him
move faster or understand more quickly
indian Feuds and Indian Fights.
Notwithstanding their il-treatment the
Indians seem to stick TO their masters
They are absolutely without ambition and
Seem 10 be content with their lot They
will work for their masters for nothing
rather than receive pay from a foreigner.
and they will fight to the death the Indians
Of a neighboring plantation with whom
they are angry or Of whom they are jeal-
ous. Feuds often exist between thu In
clans Of the farms of a neighborhood, and
gun fights and sling fights are common.
Inc sling Is the natural weapon of the Ay-
Tara- He has the skill of David, and is
never afraid to attack his Goliah at such
times. He uses the sling to stone his sheep
from straying from the flock, and from be-
mind his nut often watches for his enemy
and sends a stone crashing through his
Train He considers his masters griev-
aEces his own, and will engage in any bat
lie 20 which he may be instigatsd by him.
1 heard OF a case Of this kind last night. A
foreign merchant of La Paz had bought a
small plantation with a certain number of
Indians. adjoining the estate of d rich Bo-