The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-10-07
HUNTING THE (HIN(HIlIA.
Dynamite Used in the Capture Of the
Little Fur Bearing Rodent.

Killing chinchilla with the aid OF dyna-
mite is one OF the lucrative pastimes of
the South American Indians. which en-
riches the commerce OF the world very
considerably. This season more than ever
before chinchilla has been the fashionable
fur used In the manufacture of cloaks.
nuns and for the trimming of costly
hats
High In the mountains the nimble-foot-
ed chinehilla are caught and killed by
half-savage Indians. Tact and skill are
needed to allure the cautious little ami
NAL from its hole in the earth. Originally
the Indians used to use cactus prongs,
which are long and sharp. to capture
them I'm their holes by tmpaiing them on
the end of this natural formed spear,
this punctured the skin and impaired
lrs value. The trappers tried TO smoke
the chinrhiila out by making great fires
near the entrance OF the BURROWS. but
the smoke. II was found, caused the skin
10 turn yellow. which seriously depre-
cia,ed its value Now the more pro-
gressivs Indians use dynamite.
After locating the chlnchiiia they form
network OF grass and hardy plants,
which is placed around the hill on the
side Of which the animal digs its holes
a dynamite cartridge. with n time fuse
attached, Is then discharged In the center
OF the net, which frightens the chnchilla
80 that they leave their holes and scam
per inside the net The Indians then
dash into the arena with clubs and kin
them by striking them over the head
This is considered the easiest and best
method Of killing them. as II does not
In any way damage the skins. which
vary in value from 81 TO SIS each When
Il Ia considered that as many az 100 ami
mails are killed in one sortie OF this char
scteT the value OF the skins 10 the In
dians. who are shrewd commercial trad
ers; may De Imagined.
Some ~ the tribes own ferrets, which
thay usc 20 good advantage. They pay
as much as s. for one. The ssrrets are
tAkcn 10 the mountain tops and sent
through the burrows, chasing thu chla-
chliia 0at into this open. where they are
eiubbea 10 death with CELEBRITY hy the
waiting Indians The skins are removed
Immediately and placed on shrubs 20
dry The cycnlnE meal u the irappers
often consists Of the hodiea 81 the slain
rodents. the meat 81 which IL white and
teaaer me hearts Of the latter are
giyon 20 the serrsts an a requitsl for
their work
great part " the trapping l. done a,
nlrat. the chlnchlllA seldom being visible
10 tho DAYTIME The alxhts are cool and
clear. ard there nesnE bat ilttle vegesA-
tion a. she hejght waerc the chlnchllsa
are caught The mountains aFs FOR a long
period each napfh Illuminated hy the
rays 81 the moon. snahliaS the lndgAas
60 move about stth great agility Tor
their prey The chinehiiia lives prin-
cipaly en- herbs. asd often Nhen they
come aut % feed ara trapped ~ the In
dlans
Faur times year the tribes dsecend
into the semf-eiFiiizel village al the bass.
81 tbs m9an,Sins Eiga their skins There
thrY are mss by use asentS q the various
European fpr houses. 0ne Amert,aa
ha4se has its representative fhErs TOO.
TAc aceGsion q the Indians arrival Is
psual}t made a rei. giaus festival
George hsr1iE the only American
AEtng therf. says he paid one tribe "a
thistN Indians for the nfm ~ whom he
Is employed as much a. - ese--la native
money, which Is equivalent 90 sslga m
American wonay-~lAst year for sklns.
This tas Indians converted principally
ins1 nalc ard Hama stocks. b which
Z they estimate theiF wealth