The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-11-29

asa ueevaii sss earth frena. esrtain deposits (known by the Inca word kuipao which contains proportion of salt This scarcity of salt, and the natural craving of the system for thlb mineral have been the means of msk- ing the eating of this earth vice similar to the cocaine Or opium habit. When taken in such quantities the ston1aoh Of the individuai becomes much distended and deatn eventually rs4uits from It..
 The rather insignificant locking yucca. q shrub which grows ofxiineria iy to . height of from four to six feet. is prcbably. the most practical ana useful of Ail the veestai products Of this region. The root of this plant. which fesalnbiAs sonhswhat our sweet potato. ts really the astaff of life" Tor the average Indian household. Baked. tt serves as substitute Tor bread: fried or boiled. t is as good as. our potato; kneaded into a dough and bai. ed with minced meats. fruits. etc. f makes sple endid pastry, whiie the juice, after treatnent by certsin pro. cesses.- is made into IfAasAto, the bevefs age common to nearly all the tribes of Peru. - . These tribes of Indians seem to be aggregationk of numerous families with one leader or chief who ls recog. nized as such by all the tribe. Among the families gre snbstribes, which in turn have their leaders Or sub chiefs, though the members of the entirr group in that vicinity are under the head tribe.
 PoIysamy. ct
 All of the tribes also practice poly. Eamy, q mans standing and wsaItA being determined by the number Of wives he may have. though this nun. Der rarely exceeds ten. The wives are taken by the men with little ceremony from members Of their own tribe or captured from other tribes. and one is usually the favorite for q varying length of time. Upon the women. as in all primitive stages of development falls the burden of the rough daily work in the yucca fields, where there are any, or around the household. The man does the fighting for the pro- teetion of his wives and family, hunts game. and has general direction of his household. There is usually very iit- tie jealousy or quarfeling among them
 CaMnibalfsnn.
 About the Putunaavo River district thers stili roam certain tribes who practies cannibalisnl,s not only enjoy- ing the flavor of human flesh but also believing th&t they partake of the strength. both physical and intel IectuAI, of their victims. Prisoners ok war are almost always disposed of in this manner. amid great festfvity, the prisoner being allowed for days previ- ous all the food and delicaciss of the village that he can consume, in order that he may become properly fattened. The indifference which these prison CTS display toward the fate that awaits them, even when they know the exact time of their doom, Is re. niarkable. They eat great quantities of all that ia given thems that they may mako the better feast for their. captors and perform duties as slaves. often going unaccompanied for eon- sid6rahls distances from the place of captivity and returning without At- tempting, to escape.
 Slavery.
 The average Peruvian would no doubt show resentment at the state lnent that slavery exists in Peru. get. such is in reality the case with most of the rudiAns who come in contact with the whites. For the greater part. however, they are not treated harsh- ly. and in their eubriissfve way. with enough to eat and drink. seem to be contented ana probaDiy az welt off as when roaming the woods Their condition might be termed systeFn of peonage. Ths. 1ndians enter the ena-. ploy of som fubber- -gatherer. ekten willingly though not infrequently by force, and immediately become iadebf-' ed to him for food ete. According to Peruvian lawha person so indebted Co another can be held and obliged to