The Monmouth inquirer., 1925-11-12

prepared by the National Geographic So
ciety. Washington. d. Co
T A PAZ, metropolis of Bolivia, and
what might be called its "de
- facto capital" has been celebrat-
ing the centennial of Bolivian in
dependence by an industrial exposition.
Until recently visitors to this highest
of Andean cities found a dramatic sur
railroad came TO an end supposedly at
La Paz, but alighting, the Traveller
found himself in a bleak mountain
trimmed plain with no habitation in
sight A walk of few yards solved
the problem, bringing him to the brink
of a huge canyon on the floor of which,
1900 feet below, lay the popuous CITY,
Railway engineers had not attempted
to extend rails farther than the canyon
rim, and the city had to be entered by
narrow wagon roads carved in the
cliff walls.
All this has been changed in recent
years. Cog railways have been built
from the upper plain to the canyon
floor and travellers now roll directly
down 10 the city-losing nothing of the
scenic effect, and gaining the increased
feeling of security that steel and iron
give over tossing stagecoaches.
The view of La Paz spread out below
as one rides down the steep grade cut
in the cliff side quite takes ones breath
away I; and on intimate acquaintance
ship The place retains the unique
charm of this first impression. No
other Kew World city resembles it, and
1t has few rivals on earth in pic
turesque diversity. Although protected
from fhe icy blasts which sweep across
the bleak plateau above, La Paz is a
city OF the clouds, elevated nearly two
and a Aalf miles above sea level, and
the ira Teler bound thither will do well,
when coupling, to prepare for land
where 1t is always winter.
Long reached only by muleback over
mountain trails, Bolivia and La Paz
gained characteristics and local color
that modern development has not yet
erased. Water carriers still gather
by the fountain in the center of the
plaza, to fill immense copper jars
which they carry ON their backs. They
are Indians. full-blooded Aymaras, de-
scendants of a people conquered by the
Incas. The origin of their ancestry is
shrouded in mystery, but many ethnol-
ogists believe them to be descended
from the earliest American aborigines
known to us, the builders of Tiahuana-
co, now in sand-swept ruins not far
from lake Titicaca.
Water Carriers and Llamas.
The costume of the water carriers
consists of jackets and short trousers
of hcmespun, the latter slit at the
knees and pieces of cotton cloth in
serted. permitting greater freedom Of
acti9i in hill climbing The men are
usually barefooted, but their heads are
well protected from the severe cold by
skull caps of vicuna wool worn under
meath felt hats.
Through the streets llama drivers
urge their laden fiocks. Slowly and
gracefully the strange little noun
taineers descend the steep hills of La
Paz. casting furtive glances to either
side. Stately. silent footed, wearing an
expression of great curiosity, the
lIamas. with their big cousins. the
camels, are the only burden-bearers
with pride unbroken. They carry their
heads with regal air In cehring
they are black. brown. tan or white.
often wearing brighter Touch in ear
ribbons and small ornamental bags
hung about the neck.
One of the most colorful sights of
the streets of La Paz is the ChoIa girl.
Of mixed Indian and Spanish blood. the
Cbula form the greater portion of the
population of La Paz. Industrious
and loyal. the men are good citizens
and excellent soldiers. The women
are often merchants in small way
bat devote most OF their attention TO