The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-01-07

short. brown grass which grows so AtinT.-
~ on the mountains But no human be
ing Is ever allowed to mount his back. he
Will carry a load to the weight Of 100
pounds. but II another ounce is added be
strenuously objects and lies down, refus-
ing to bulge an inch till the surplus
ounce is removed.
days journey brought rs to an Indian
village-a sort of miserable nomadic set.
Element Of rude huts built about q spring
Of brackish water. The Indians Of Bo-
livia, for the most part, are stupid and
friendly, having little or none OF the
fierce blood Of their wnrlike ancestors in
their veins. Their manner OF life ia not
only primitive, but nlthy In the extreme.
and only the fresh afr, their outdoor life
and constant moving from place to place
keeps them in a healthy physical eondi-
ton.
at this village We found several chin
chilla pelts procured the night before.
For these we paid In gold the average
price OF $40 apiece. While the Indian is
stupid he has learned the tricks Of the
white man IN some things He knows that
the huctuation in silver may be the means
OF n great loss to him IL he takes silver
money IN payment for his wares: conse-
quently, If you would do business with
him you must provide yourself with gold
coin.
That night. while my companion and
smoked and slept at the indian village,
the trappers of our party set out to catch
chinchlllas. for It Is only after dark that
their capture Is possible. They are wary
little animals. burrowing deep into the
earth or hiding in secret srevtces OF
rocks. coming out only after uightfail to
procure food. which consists OF the roots
OF the sparse and stunted vegetation and
thin grass
But the Corazon Indian has become N
adept IN trapping them. often employing
L his assistant the weasel that has been
trained 10 enter ths crevices OF rock or
the subterranean dwelling and chase the
coveted animal out into the traps Of the
enemy. However, the game Is far from
plentiful. and for weeks the Indian may
hunt in vain. returning to his camp with
out q single skin. At other times good
luck may attend him. and during the
first nights hunt be will run into his
trap fine chinehilla. with which be I'M
mediately hurries to market, for be never
waits TO catch a second-the price Of one
pelt procuring for him six months OF la
dian laziness and luxury.
But the hardships and perils TO be sui
fered In Bolivia by the fur trader are past
description. You may ask II be docs not
go armed To be sure, he carries a re-
volver; but OF what avail is a revolver
against gnawing hunger. craving thirst.
sleepless nights. burning heat, painless
deserts. rugged mountains. intense cold.
binding winds and consuming fever7-
fever which. Ike some human monster.
turks behind every bowlder, dips its
fingers into every drop Of water and
scorches your temples With Its dery
brenth!
But at Iast-at last. with several dozen
pelts. dirty. Demonstrated little wads
Of fur. we turned our faces once more
toward the sea. At oruro the skins bad
been put through a preserving process
and packed on the backs OF mules 70
make the descent over the road which
had led us thlther-that rond Of heat and
cold. of sand and wind. OF mountain trail
anC truckless desert. where every Etep
was agony and all about was desoiatinn.
At Antofagpsta the skins were packed
In tin ana Shipped as specie to Paris.
London or New York. where they fell
into the furriers' hands and we're manu-.
featured into NUTS and tippets OF the
latest modes.
And all this for milady Of fashionl
Two days later. seated IN my steamer
chair, looked back at the rapidly dis
appearing coast line Of South America
and cried from my heart with Joy: Good
by. South America. el pals de los reve-
lueionesl Goodbye. Bolivia. el pals mas
atrazadoi-Thnnk the gods. leave your
D. GRAHAM CLARK