The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-06-08
WOMEN OF BOLIVIA.
SAID TO BE THE sruRDrEsT IN
 THE WORLD.
They Eat Little Meat Because Its
 Quality is Too Tough to Enjoy.

| l New York Tribune. <
 .The sturdiest women of the world are | probably the women of Bolivia said l Louis B. Jenning yesterday, who. with | party of young men, recently returned l rom visit to that country. The pco- pie of Bolivia are of necessity mainly vegetarian in their diet for beef iS scarce. and consequently very expensive. In fact, the beef to be had there is not | good, for the country is mountainous l and all of the cattle develop hard mus | cles. This is especially true of the sheep. l which are trained athletes The nut ton has the consistency of rubber and Is as tough as leather. Northerners who are In the habit of depending on meat find no satisfaction in steaks, chops and roasts in Bolivia. We fared we'll with out meat after futile efforts to eat it. The only part of the beef which was at | all possible was the tenderlon, and even that was not so palatable as tre fruits and vegetables.
 Delicious fruits at low prices abound in the markets of Bolivia. The break lasts consists of fruit. and plenty of it :. We had bananas. prickly pears, or tumas, which are the best of the native fruits, and of which one can buy ten for a cent; i; peaches. grapes, luscious strawberries. fresh figs, fragrant pineapples. alligator pears, chirimoyas, pepinos and star ap- ples.
 'Chirimoyas have soft, sweet pulp and large black. seeds. and are enclosed | In thick skin They are broken in halves and eaten with a spoon. Pepnos grow on palm trees and look like cucum- l ber5 on the outside. but inside are much | like muskmeIons. with thick, very sweet l pulp. These must be cut first to let the | milky juice out They are then eaten ike canteloupc. The star apple, is 5a | fine fruit It is beautiful to look at. | about the size of an apple and has d l smooth and shining skin, graduating in | hFs fott -v~v.la af | a dark shade at the other. When the thick leathery skin is broken open the | centre Is found to be pure. whi:s. the pulp becoming darker toward the souter skin until 1t Is a deep purple next to 1t. The pulp is soft and milky.
 | The two cereals of the country which are the most popular are quina and can agua. The former Is white and the lat ter black. The grains are smaller than 1 rice. but somewhat like 1t. Quinua is washed and boiled in milk. It is consld- l cred very wholesome. Canagua is toast ed and ground into black flour and eat en after 1t is soaked in water or made into drink resembling coffee. Another cereal. sort of barley. appears in all the shades of the rainbow. a phenomenon | no one seems able to explain. Potatoes grow in the same varied tints.
 All kinds of vegetables grow Iuxuri- antly In the fertile valleys, and the peo- pie seem to live wholly on them, the cereals and the fruits Coffee is made 1 1 oil in character. It has a different color and different aroma from the coffee known here. In the course of time one grows to like it. although the only milk to be had to drink in 1t is American con- densed milk.
 Chickens and ducks. native fish and Imported corned beef are the popular meat and fish courses of a dinner Mutt ton stew or broth is about the only thing to be had as soup Chickens are the special feast day piece de resistance and are raised by all classes of people, The bread is coarse and made of dark wheat The imported canned meats and fish are more popular than the home products of the same kind.
 ! The ice crop never fails. and there is no ice trust in Bolivia. Ice is obtained in abundance from the immense glacier fields in the upper ranges of the noun tains which supply the markets through out the year from their solid beds and columns of ice
 Living in Bolivia is cheap. We lived luxuriously in La Paz, the capital of the country, at the best hotel for 8 a week each for room and board. Most of the natives have gardens, and their expenses must be reduced to the minimum
 Women keep the shops and the mar 1 kets, and some of them are rich, owning their own plantations. on which they raise fruit, vegetables. chickens, ducks, rabbits, etc. They have the right to ac- luire their own property and to hold It or sell 1t as they please until they are | lHeH tnelr nuSDdnQS nave dover right and must sign a deed to make sale of property valid.
 'The people are divided into three classes-the Spanish, or aristocrats; the native Indians or laboring class, and the Cholos or half-breeds, who are the shop keepers. The last are usually quite rich as they are exceedingly thrifty. They build beautiful homes, dress extravagant- ly and wear great many jewels It is the, Cholo woman who is the most active in the home and in business. The Indian women bear the hardest burdens Con- sdering their opportunities, the women are the most progressive, and welcome all lstter-dav innovations.
 The Spanish women dress in Parisan styles, years behind the times. The Cho- los have a style of their own and are very fond of imported stuffs, but all their gowns are made after the same pattern. The skirts are short, showing the white boots and many -hued stockings. and petticoats are made of silk of many colors, and numbering as many as ten Tor eleven, all of different colors full and stiff. standing out until the top one Is almost horizontal. Of course the idea is to show the ruflss of all of these pet ttcoats. Their hats are of plain felt of some bright hue and tn air jackets are of bright velvet.
 "The Indian women are more easily atisfied and seldom wear any under garments, shoes or hose but each wears several skirts and a jacket. The wild tribes wear no clothing.
 "The houses are all built of adobe, even those of the richest class. This is due to the lack of transp ortatiOn facilities for heavy stones from the mountains or heavy timbers from the luXuriant forests. The roofs and stairWayS Ire of brick Lnd tile, and the houses are all low and built around a series Of courtyards, with an entrance through the centre. The front courtyard Is surrounded by the drawing rooms and verandas for entertainment of guests: the second. by the dining room and bedroom of the family; the third by the kitchen and the servants quarters, and the fourth by the horses. mules. ducks, chickens, rabbits. etc. the outside walls about the whole presenting d solid line of adobe. Contrary to the fashion in Mexico, the windows look outward as well as into the courtyard.
 "Thc women of the highest class are beautiful. and those of mixed breeds are often fine looking. All are healthy, sturdy and happy looking lot of people. Tho laboring class has great powers of en- durance. carrying on their backs heavy burdens such as in this country are con , veyed by trucks.
 'The Indians of Bolivia are short in stature, deep chested and capable of great endurance Consumption is never heard of in the country, nor, indeed. are many other diseases that are common elsewhere. The climate is sort of con | tiOuonG nd all ha