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

@@-IE country Of Bolivia. that great
state which has. alone of South
American republics, no access to
the sea. whose barren mountains and
expansive untrodden forests have been
explored only by unconquered indians. Is
hardly more known than is the interior
Of Darkest Africa. There Is no other
country IN the world ruled by G white
race SO ignorant Of civilization OF so
mach q part OF the mysterious past as
thla
Here IN a few settlements dwell the
descendants Of the Spanish couquerors
and the italian and South European lu-
migrants who form the dominant cnste.
The IRolans. unchanged from what the5
we're during the dive Of the Incas. still
treasuring their pagan faith under the
formalities Of Catholicism, forming the
majority Of the population. becoming each
year more conscious Of their mower. ,re
waiting till the unending feuds Of their
decadent conquerors shall restore them
the dominance they lost four centuries
ago.
Yet this vast country. where conditions
never change. was formerly the scene of
much activity. From its mountains. filled
with their stores OF silver and gold, In
calculable treasures were sent each year
70 Spain. And here today-in Bolivia
are the richest silver and tin mines Of the
world. and IN her mountains nre found
the rare chinehilla, whose fur is worth
almost its weight in gold.
10 was In company. with a fur tier
who was in quest Of this most valuable
little rodent that the writer braved the
hazardous, ana ofttimes periIous, Jour
nsy from New York TO Oruro. IN Bolivia,
q town which Is IN the very heart OF the
allver-mining region and the trading post
for the chinchilia fur. Here. on this vast
plateau which lifts itself to the dizzy
height OF from 1900 to 1900 feet above
the Sea- the ehinchina has its home. aud
Ga no other place on the earth Is It to
be found. TIL within the past dozen
years this gquirrelsized animal Inhabited
the mountains Of both Chill and Peru. but
the beauty and softness of its sllken COAT
placed a premium upon ITS head, with the
result that it Is being rapidly exter-
minated and its territory Is now confined
within q radius Of 500 miles And the
trader In quest OF the chlnchiIla must
suffer indescribable hardships-and often
risks to life-ln obtaining the much
coveted pelts to supply the civilized mar
kets OF the world.
Leaving the New York steamship at Co
Ton. on the coast of Panama, we crossed
the isthmus By rail- and embarked at the
City Of Panama for Antofagasta, Chill,
stopping en- route az the unique aud in
teresting ports Of Guayaqull. IN Ecquador,
and Cailao, Peru After landing at An
tofagasta there was a delay Of several
days, during which pack mules and a
camping outfit were being got ready for
the tWo-week trip up the slopes OF the
andes, over the nitrate desert, to Oruro.
We found Antofagasta a port Of some
importance, situated right upon a desert
coast, where ali its population Of some
10000 souls are dependent for their
water supply upon the condensation of
water pumped up from the sea. And
what a strange. mixed life Is herei
mlngllng OF Spanish. German, italian
French English. indian and negro. The
money power OF Antofagasta Is principally
controlled by the English. the rich mines
and nitrate beds yielding up their wealth
70 an the Golfers Of the British capitalist.
But John Bull is not the only foreigner
who Is growing rich through the natural
resources OF South America, q country 80
UNACCEPTABLE to modern civilization and
business methods. In the lOwlands for
tune-aeekers from all countries are dew
astafing the almost impenetrable forests