Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1909-09-02
THE CATHEDRAL
PO7OS/ BOLIVIA

/ AuO ldVOIlIo LhuBuh III DOAlNia 40
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
before 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 go, 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 for being the highest lake
in the world, and at Tihuansen, sta
ton between La Paz and the lake.
These ruins, which cover large area
Of ground, are celebrated because, &C.
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-
stitute the most picturesque part OF
the life in the cities. In other South
American countries, as in Paraguay.
Uruguay, Argentine, Chilli and Peru.
you never see such odd-looking crea-
lures in the streets Of the capital.
The Indians have advanced more and
their costumes are more or less those
of the upper class. One efIect 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-
ponds upon their wealth and station.
The. SWEETEST wear very -high-laced and
dainty French-heeled shoes. made
there for that class, and you wonder
how they walk so we'll with them over
the rough stones. The less stylish
wear neat patent leather slippers
without stockings, and the poor either
20 barefooted or use sandals roughly
made. The women, most Of whom
above IA years Of age seem to have
babies. carry them papoose fashion,
suspended on their back, and walk
to town with them, as much as IL
miles in a day, driving herd Of
llamas.
Owing to the height Of the great
plateau on which La Paz Is situated,
at $4,000 feet elevation, very little ex-
ertion makes you short Of breath, and
as the streets are more or less pre-
cipitous, everybody is painting
good part OF the time. Some people
are more seriously affected. !, 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.
disaRreeable at this altitude to one
not accustomed to the penetrating
chiIliness, to put 1t mildly. without ar
tifcial heat. With such atmospheric
conditions, taking your morning bath
IN anow water right down from the
white peaks you see out Of your win
aow. IL about so degrees less pleasant
than a bath at sea level in the same
latitude.
The countries on the Atlantic side,
Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay, have
benefited greatly from European I'm
migration. and the Pacific coast coun-
tries s-s doing al they can to foment
n In the southern part Of Chill
there are numerous German colonies,