Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-05-09

uuueI IleluS OF potatoes, wheat
and corn, which act as irrigation
channels and benefit the land.
One to three worms are eXtri-
Gated by the Indians from their
burrows on each farm and identi-
cal rites are performed on all the
adjoining homesteads where fam
lily groups coax sad vegetation
from the indifferent soil.
The recent worm rites" near
the mountain-locked village of
Ancoma were seen by more than
hungry condors Scores of South
Americans from cities as far
away as Lima, Peru and many
from La Paz scaled the trail from
Sorata TO photograph the color
full ceremonies.
Bedeckcd in condor feathers.
beating drums and wailing in
melancholy fashion on the pam
pipes of the region, the Indians
carefully excavate one long worm
after another from the cold earth
Of a selected area. The entire
burrow of the creature is uncov-
cred 10 prevent the worm from
expanding in self-defense and
breaking itself into small pieces.
To really save" a worm for it's
flight TO heaven" the victim
must be brought out whole.
Wearing feather busters for
hcadpicces. and decorated with
red and green parrot feathers
from the lowlands, other Indians
search for the unbelievably large
eggs of the worm.
Some Of these eggs are as large
as those laid by hens and some
have been found that weigh
as much as six ounces. Discov-
cry Of these egg nests is a signal
for whoops Of JOY because worm
eggs play part in the pagan
ceremonies almost as important
as the mother. worm herself For
what greater honor could be paid
worm than for its egg TO be
eaten by G farmer chief?
Before the worm is finally fed
to the condors, tits carried in
wild dances on the shoulders OF
five or six Of the youngest wives
in the mountain country. The
farmer braves" cavort about the
bellies in tumbling acrobatics and
strike the COY attitudes called for
in the frothy tempo Of the ritual.
Always the worm is told in
plaintive songs that it is q lucky
thing and soon 10 soar TO para
disc Sucking yellow glue from
the softworm eggs, the farmer
chief, after the dancers arc near
~ exhausted, finally gives the
signal for the worm TO be placed
on the ground and orders the
crowd 10 retire a hundred yards
The condor. which has been
watching from above with greedy
telescope eyes, now dives like a
fighter plane for the succulcnt
morseL In some Of these feasts
dozens of the giant birds fall
upon the luckless worm at the
same time. When this happens
the lucky creature has dozens Of
chances Of reaching heaven.
The simple pagan philosophy
that causes the Indian farmers 10
XIII the friends which help them
till their fields is hard for white
men 10 understand because il is
Just the reverse of what a civil
lied person would consider a re-
ward for faithful service. Eth
nologists, however, defend the
sincerity Of the practice.
The great earthworms OF South
America arc similar 20 those
found frequently in Bass River
Valley. South Gripsland. Victoria,
and in Natal. Southern India The
longest one ever discovered in
South America was il feet in
length.
Blind. gooey, disgusting things,
the irrgating worms have been
given the fancy name Of Megas-
colides Australis and are SO
harmless that small children Of
ten play with them without any
fear Of being bitten or stung.