SOUTH AMERICA.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 July 1915, Page 12 (Supplement)

SOUTH AMERICA.

LIFE IX THE BOLIVTAX REPUBLIC. MJN'LVti ACTIVITIBS. A COUXTRY WITH A TUTURE. When it was learned that Mr. Horace Grocott, now resident in Dunedin, had recently returned from Bolivia, where he had spent live years, u representative of the Star sought, and was readily granted, an interview. Mr. Grocott, who is a fund of information on the subject of life in Bolivia, explained that he and his wife had spent live years in evangelical work in the Bolivian Indian (Mission, whose headquarters are in England and Xcvv Zealand. | TOPOGRAPHIC. j "To commence with, Mr. Grocott, could you give a topographical description of Bolivia?" asked the reporter.

"That is easily done,'' said the missionary. " First of all, it is necessary to understand that the western half of flic Republic of Bolivia consists of a high .plateau, having lofty peaks which attain a height of 20,000 ft. ifbove sea level, many of these peaks being volcanic. To the east, in the region comjnonly referred to as the Chaco, are found vast undulating prairies. To the ninth east lies the Belli region, which corresponds with the Putumayo region of Peru, and forms part of the basin of the Uiver Amazon, and these waterways are navigable from the .Atlantic right into the interior of Bolivia. In fact, tlie inhabitants of Bolivia look on these waterways forming in the near future the chief outlet to the commercial world. Some estimate of the width of the streams referred to may be gauged from the fact that a bullet lived from a Winchester rifle by a person standing on one bank will scarcely reach the other." NATURAL IHSTORY.

"What, about the natural history of Ibis loimtry?" asked the reporter." Unfortunately,'' replied .Mr. Grocott. "Ihe, natural history of the country is but little known. There are vast forests of magnificent timber trees covering large tracts of the country, and this gives promise of Ibeing one of the finest rubber-producing areas yet known. Already several commercial enterprises have reaped rich harvests through their connection with these rubber plantations. The. scenery ( ( , 'be met with in (he plateau region, is of the most aweinspiring description. The road from the Chilian coast attains an altitude, of KtOOOft. above sea level, while within Ihe Bolivian border the railway attain-' an elevation of l.'i.tOOft., climbing up and up and up the steep slopes of the Andes. On the way extensive nitrate mines are passed, and a lake of borax, glistening like a mass of freshly fallen snow, fills a valley not less than twenty-four square miles in extent. The traveller passes by the bases of three mighty snow-capped volcanic cones, from whose peaks dense volumes of yellow smoke roll skywards. Subsequently he emerges on a perfectly level plain, and for over three hundred miles he crosses the bed of a mammoth upland sea. On all hands many huge mountain masses form a gaunt and weird background, especially when bathed in the glow of ,an Andean sun. Within two days travel from here one reaches the fertile tropic valleys of the Yungas.' RAILWAYS.

" Of late years Bolivia has made great advances in the matter of railway construction." continued Mr. Grocott. " Four of her principal cities are now connected by the iron way. Two lines connivt the' Republic with the Pacific coast, another running down into the Argentine Ttepublic Hearing completion. The fourth, which is to run to .the River Chimore, in the Beni region, has been commenced. From the Brazilian quarter a line is rapidly Hearing the Bolivian border. The famous trunk line -the dream of the enterprising Yankee --with which it is intended to connect the Yukon with Patagonia, finds an important link in Bolivia. The difficulties of railway construction in the Andean region miist be seen to be realised. The grades are of the steepest. From Asco-tam-oii the Bolivian-Chilian border, !.">.- OO'ift. about >ea level. to the coast, whit'h is a twelve-hour train journey, tho j train is on a continuous down grade, -.team power not being required on the I whole journey, except for starting and j braking purposes.''

INDUSTRIES. "What progress has Bolivia made industrially Y" <|iicric<i the pressman. " IJciliviari industries are vet in an ciubivo'stago," said Mr. droc'ott. " R»livia. however, probably holds lirst 'place as a. prodii-ccr of tin. silver and cupper. Other metals of minor importance are I also mined. Mori of these industries are in the hands of foreigners, and in such mining centres as Oruro, Uncia. Colqucchaca and iPotisi many British, Crf'nnan and Austrian niincowners are to he found. Bolivia undonldedly has a great future ill stole as U prodlieer of mineral-. The natives -both white and Indian— report • betas' (veins of silver, copper, cte.l being plentiful, and proI dun- specimen- in proof of their discm eric-. The. traveller sees in the rushi:i"- mountain streams undoubted evidence of the presence of mineral wealth. These streams, liiy their color, exhibit ; the presence of irol, alkalis, petroleum, I ctr. American oil explorers have rrI e.-ntly -eciired rich petroleum areas. • 'JL'iir development of mining is grcallv ' leunpered, however, through lack of ! suitable roads. At 'present transport ' is. eoudiicted principally per medium of '-. mule- with pack saddles. The Chain j region will one day rival the Argentine 1 as"a wheaCpiodu dug and cattle-raisin? I di-irict. Traveller- through liolivia comj iceiit on the abundance and richness of ! the g:n-sc- which wave on its limitless I prairies, and Bolivians boast that the | leather produ-ed in that part of the ' cfiuntrv is 'better than Knglish.' ' As j e'-id.nce of the ]io.-sibilities in the timber trade, it may lie mentioned that at ; a. recent exhibition of the natural product- of .the Republic held in the city of La Pa/,, upwards of W specimens of beautiful joinerv timber from the Belli region neve shown. At present the Republic barely produces j-iillicient cereals for it- mui needs, and a certain quantity of llmir is annually imported from

i Chile, but tiic country undoubtedly has A future a- a producer of foodstull's. ! fVhabaniba. for example, has IKMI square. ' miles of the most fertile soil possible, | every acre of which is well watered." THE OOVKRN'MENT OIF THE I COl NTI!Y. i Tn reply to the question a- to whether he bad any comments to oiler on the government of the country, Mr. Orocott said that although conditions were in many respects most primitive, the ■Republic of Bolivia boasts n f an up-to-date Constitution. There is universal manhood suffrage, based on a reading

and writing test. The Constitution id modelled on that of the United States of America, with this difference: Every two years 50 per cent, of the Bolivian Deputies retire automatically, and an election of half the House takes place, so that as each Congressman holds office for 'four years there is never sucii », thing as a general election. Bolivia, like every .South American Kepublic, has ex-periem-ed many (hitter political revolutions. It can now, however, safely be said that s'lie has emerged into a more sercno and calmer era, but care and caution are necessary, and the strong hand of government must never relax its hold. The .present Government is distinctly liberal and progressive. The President, Ismael Montes, is a veritable strong man, and Is distinctly broad in his outlook. The 'Bolivian army, though small, is well equipped and is mobile, and has been trained by German officers. The GbvcTii'ment is keen on education, and has given much encouragement to the educational work of the mission by the granting of school supplies and stores free. A great dillieulty is experienced in providing teachers for the schools. Though primary education is compulsory, it ha* been found impossible to provide teachers for every disThe Government has, however, recently established ia training college for tcacvheis. so that the difficulties which have been encountered hitherto will gradually be overcome. In tho Bolivian Republic there are upwards of two millions of people, but of these only lit per cent, can read and write.

BOLIVIA'S iI'LOPLK. AVlien one considers (lie nature of the population, .sonic, estimate of the ilillieulties encountered in n oclion with the education of the people can be funned. It is not easy to give a correct idea of the Bolivian people. it has to be rememibered that the area of the country is six times that of Xew Zealand. At least a dozen languages are spoken within its borders. To the east, in the Ohaco, several large Indian triibes. which are virtually nations, are found. Of such are the Chiriguanos, Tobas, M'alacos. etc. To (he nortll-east dwell the Guaranis, Uraeareys and lesser communities. Very numerous tiny tribes or large (families Vnrk in the dark forests or by the mighty watorways'of the Beni. The Bolivian nation proper (that which knows itself to be Bolivian) inhabits the plateau. There are six fair-sized cities in IV livia. and but one of these lies below the 8000 ft line, that is. Santa Cruz, in the Ohaoo region. Potosi. world-famous for its (silver, is situated at the astounding height of 10,000 ft above sea level, while the capital city, La Paz. is situated at a. no less height than Vi,sooft. The nation ciin.'be roughly divided into .Spanish and Indian half-castes and pure Indians. The half-castes are commonly spoken of as Cholos, n nd from this class the 'artisans and official class are recruited. Among the Indians the Quechua races predominate, but the Aymaras form a not unimportant section.' The Oholcs and Indian divisions are of about equal strength one to the other. The former ars the more progressive, and among these virtually (he ■whole of the educated population (13 per cent.) arc to be found. Indeed, some very highly educated, intelligent and polished gentlemen are included in this class. The cities, towns and villages are mainly peopled by the Cholos. The language spoken by the majority of these is the Quechua—the language of the Indians. SjVanish i-s the official tongue, nevertheless only a small (percentage of the peojile converse in it, and even in the draw-ing-rooms of the aristocracy the expressive Indian tongue forms the principal medium of communication. As a ride the Indian avoids the towns and villages, preferring the open country. QueehutUi are found in the warmer valleys, while, the Aymaras dwell on the, chilly heights, weil above the 11,000 ft Unc.

SOCIAL LIKE OF THE COMMUNITY. "Have you anything to say with regard to the social life of the community?" ipieried the reporter. "(.lb, yes," said Mr. CrocoU, "but I regret to say it is very had, especially among the Cholos. Whole families eat, sleep and work in the same room. There is much drunkenness and immorality, and consequently disease, Cross ignorance prevails, and superstition goes unehecked. As n matter of fact, ignorance and superstition go hand in hand. The Indian is somewhat different, lie loves the solitude ami the, fresh air of the mountain peak, and there is <prrhaips less drunkenness and immorality among the Indians than among higher castes, for he is a hard worker. The whole ,population is agricultural and pastoral, with the exception of a minoritv. who lind emplovnient in the mines. Thc-lndian dot's the bulk of the delving and shepherding: the Cholo is the trader.'' KEUOIOUS LIKE. ••Then with regard to religion, Mi'. (jiocottY'' "As a class the Indians and Cholos are nominally Roman Catholics, but ill truth, while'the religion of (be Cholos approximate,, mole to that of the I'agan, that of the Indian actually is such. The Indian worships his native mountains, and renders votive olleritigs ro Mother Earth. The taint of the sun worship of his ancestors is still perceptible, and he still looks with all'ection itpou'.Mama tjuilla.' I Mother Moon). The practice of -witchcraft is c|iute extensive, and frequently enough -bring.- about the death of (he dupe. Both chises of people, the Indian in particular, arc almost practice neglected in sickness and illhealth -abandoned' exactly expresses their condition. Hitherto they have experienced absolutely no lictyi in sickness, and I'requeiitlv Uic most trivial ailments end in the, death of tile victim. An epidemic of measles, for example, will virtually decimate the juvenile population of a town or village. I'lom no source has there been any attempt at inlclicc tmil or moral uplifting. The spirit of despair would almost seem to have, seized these people. The expression • current among them is: "We are a finished people'; meaning, they are dying out.' 1 MISSION' -WORK, -What is the, nature of the. work of the mission with which you were associated Y" .asked the reporter. "The Bolivian-Indian Mis-ion has been in existence some six years. It has four stations, and it works both among the Cholos and the Indian classes. The stall' consists of six married couples, and their energies are directed along the lines of preaching, teaching and healing. It never lacks employment. One of the workers anil his wife are native Bolivian converts. This worker has rcceutlv coin pleted (he translation of the whole of the New Testament into the. yiiccluia--the. language of the Indians. The language ilillieiilly has been a very real one. liotii the Otietima, and the-Spanish nici-t be acquired by each mission worker, and the former of these tongues, while not easy of acquirement, can boast little of

a literature of its own. Its vocabulary j is extremely limited, and scarce lias more than the material objects within its range." (BOLIVIA'S XE-liiU A MORAL ONE. '•Undoubtedly Bolivia's crying need is a moral one. Again and again her best sons have said: "We need a moral foundation.' Just what the lack of such a foundation (means one scarcely dares attempt to describe. President Montes himself thas deleaved that European nations have a moral force behind them, which accounts for their intellectual and commercial greatness. It is surely an earnest of Bolivia's future greatness," concluded Mr. Grocott, "when the chief of her sons a.re striving after and scck-