The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1925-11-18

prepared By the National Geographic So
ciety. Warrington. D. c.
A PAZ, metropolis of Bolivia. and
what might be called Its "de
L. 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 dramatic SUI
prise in the situation Of the town. The
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 a few yards solved
the problem, bringing him to the brink
of huge canyon on the floor Of whirh,
1900 feet below. lay the populous 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 RECEIPT
years Cog railways have been builf
from the upper plain to the canyon
floor and travellers now roll directly
down to the city-losing nothing of the
scenic effect, and gaining the Increased
feeling of security that steel and iron
give over tossing stagecoaehes-
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; and on Intimate acquaintance
ship the place retains the unique
charm of this first impression. No
other New World city resembles 1t, and
1t mas few rivals on earth In pic
turesque diversity. Although protected
from the icy blasts which sweep across
the bleak plateau above, La Paz Is
city of the clouds, elevated nearly two
and half miles above sea level, and
the traveller bound thither will do well,
when coupling to prepare for a land
where it 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 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 homespun. the latter slit at the
knees and pieces of cotton cloth in
serted, permitting greater freedom Of
action in hill climbing. The men are
usually barefooted, but their heads are
we'll protected from the severe cold by
skull caps of vienna wool worn under
meath felt hats.
Through the streets llama drivers
urge their laden focks- Slowly and
gracefully the strange little noun
taineers descend the steep hills Of La |
Pax, casting furtive glances to either
side. Stately, silent footed, wearing an
of great curiosity, the
lamas. with their big cousins, the
camels, are the only burden-bearers
With pride unbroken. They carry their
heads with regal air. In coloring |
hey ars black. brown. tan or white,
,ften wearing brighter touch in ear
'ibbonS and small ornamental bags
lung about the neck.
One of the most colorful sights Of
he streets of La Paz is the Chola girl. /
If mixed Indian and Spanish blood. the
Jhola form the greater portion of the
population Of La Paz. Industrious
md loyal. the men are good citizens
nd excellent soldiers. The women
re often merchants in q small way.
mt devote most Of their attention to