Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-08-22
ODDITIES OF LIFE And DEATH
in A NEIGHBORING REPUBLIC.
Ecuador They Have Uncommon Ways OF Doing the
Commonest Things
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Special Correspondents,

Special Correspondence,
Guayaquil, Ecuador, June SAL
though Indians the world over are pro-
verbal for their fondness Of brilliant
oolors, you never meet one In this coun-
try wearing anything but somber black.
From head to foot there is not trace
Of any other color about them. II is
pathetic and perpetual sign OF mourning
FOR Atahualpa, the last Of their kings,
who was treacherously strangled by
Plzarro, or course the Indians Of to-
day know Of this only by tradition, but
II has become a sort OF a religion with
them, inculcated by parents In the
minds Of their children, and even In
f0nts in arms are wrapped in black.
These strange people, direct, descend
ants OF the meas, constitute the labor
ing population Of Ecuador, and are
about the saddest looking people on the
face Of the earth. Laughter singing or
storytelling Is never heard among
them they have no folk-songs, no tales,
no sports no Jokes, but are at all times
silent. unsmiling and sulenly sub
misslye to any injustice that may be
put upon them. Pizarro "builded bet
ter than he knew or rather worse
when he murdered the brave and be-
loved Atahualpa, crushing at one fell
blow the proud spirit Of his people
through all future generations; and
what that unparalleled crime failed TO
accomplish has been completely carried
out by nearly four centuries OF oppres-
sion Today the once-powerful Incas
ure mere beasts Of burden FOR anybody
who desires to command their services,
accepting without protest whatever IN
adequate payment may be rendered,
and il no payment al all is forthcoming.
there is no appeal These silent, under
sized, poorly nourished people do not
seem 20 have much strength In their
arms, but win carry enormous loads on
their backs. A broad strap is passed
around the forehead to help sustain the
burden, and another across the Shout
ders, One-hundred bounds is eonsld-
cred a moderate load. and with this on
their backs they win start OF on a
slow but even log-tIot and keep 1t up
for hours without firing
LEGAL MARRIAGE EXPENSIVE.
The Indians, and in fact nearly all the
lower classes OF Ecuador seldom in
dulge IN the luxury OF legal marriage,
probably because they carinot afford il,
the fees charged by the priests for per-
forming that ceremony being very cx- |
brilliant compared 20 their inlntess- |
NAL wages. Even among the artstoc- !
racy Il Is not uncommon for young peo- |
pie 20 go about among their friends So |
licitlng contributions toward paying the |
marriage fee, You can seldom stroll |
through the streets and markets OF |
Guayaquil and quito, without meeting |
somebody with little basket. generally |
a young Lothario, who importunes you, |
For love OF the Virgin most illus,rious |
Senior give me a medic six cent) to-
ward the payment Of my marriage fee.
QUEER FUNERAL CUSTOMS.
In this queer country the dead are
generally buried la the middle OF the
nighi-Why heaven only knows. except
that 1t Is Ia customhre, and customs
here rule from century TO century with
iron hand, being less altciable than the
celebrated laws OF the Modes anu Per-
SLAMS. for the latter ala change In course
OF a few hundred years Women even
wives mothers and nearest relatives
are not permitted 20 attend their dear
departed to the tomb. but that Is the
universal custom throughout nearly all
spanish-America. Unutterably dismal
II looks 10 see a procession Of chanting
priests or monks, followed by men car /
rying candles and torches. winding
slowly through the darkness OF night 10
The Campo Santo. Field Of Saints" as
The eemelery Is called. Among those