The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1909-07-24
The C4WEDRAL
POTOS/ SOL/H/A

The fayorite language in Bolivia is
that of the Spaniard, but among the
natives on the high plateaus of the
Andes "Khesshua' or "Aymara" is re
sorted to- and was used before Span
ish was thought of.
The Khesshuas were the Indians
who reigned throughout this country
lefore the Incas, by whom they were
conquered before the arrival Of the
Spaniards in the sixteenth century
The Aymaras, so far as history and
tradition 60 were the first inhabit
ants, and immense ruins of their cit
les, temples and other buildings of
large size and idols are scattered
around in the region of Lake Titcaca
celebrated fer being the highest lake
n the world, and at Tihuansen, a sta
ton between La Paz and the lake
These ruins, which cover large area
If ground are celebrated because, ac.
cOrding TO archaeolOgists who have
examined them, they indicate the most
ancient and advanced civilization in
America and are thought to be as old
as the earliest monuments in Egypt
and Asia
The descendants of these ancient
races form the working part of the
population and are very primitive in
their dress and costumes and con.
the life in the cities. In other South
American countries. as in Paraguay,
Uruguay, Argentine, Chill and Peru,
you never see such odd-looking crea-
lures in the streets of the capital.
The Indians have advanced more and
of the upper class. One effect of
this is that wages are higher be.
cause the people demand more. In
Bolivia wages are very low and in
the city the men make better cargo
bearers than horses or mules An
Indian carries $50 pounds, which is
a big cargo for a mule, and besides
does other work and costs very little
more than it costs to keep a beast.
The Indian women wear so many
short wooden homespun skirts, which
come just below the knees, that they
stand out as though they wore old,
fashioned hoops. Their fOOtgear de
pends upon their wealth and station.
The swellest wear very high-laced and
dainty French-heeled shoes, made
there for that class. and you wonder
how they walk so well with them over
the rough stones The less stylish
wear neat patent leather slippers,
without stockings. and the poor either
go barefooted or use sandals roughly
made. The women, most of whom
above II years OF age seem to have
babies. carry them papoose fashion,
suspended on their back, and walk
to town with them, as much as Is
miles in a day, driving a herd OF
ilamas
Owing to the height OF the great
plateau on which La Paz is situated,
at 1900 feet elevation. very little ex,
ertion makes you short OF breath, and
as the streets are more or less pre-
cipitous. everybody is painting a
good part of the time. Some people
are more seriously affected l. my.
self, had a severe headache the first
two days after reaching the high al.
titude and fellow passenger lost con.
sciousness before arriving, and re.
turned to low country by the next
train. very much frightened, and not
without reason The climate is quite
disagreeable at this altitude to one
not accustomed TO the penetrating
chilliness. to put It mildly. without ar,
tiacial heat with such atmospheric
conditions. taking your morning bath
in snow water righ, down from the
white peaks you see out Of your win.
low. is about 50 degrees less pleasant
than a bath at sea level in the same
latitude
The countries or the Atlantic side.
arg artlna. Brazil and Uruguay have
benefited greatly from European i'm.
migration. and the Pacific coast coun.
tries are doing all they can 70 famont
It ln tie southern par. Of Chili
shere are numerous German colonies.