THE WAR WITH NATURE 75 



It must of necessity have been a case of war to 

 the knife with these white aliens war not only 

 with the wild tribes that cherish an undying feud 

 against the robbers of their inheritance, but also 

 with nature. For when man begins to cultivate 

 the soil, to introduce domestic cattle, and to slay 

 a larger number of wild animals than he requires 

 for food and civilized man must do all that to 

 create the conditions he imagines necessary to his 

 existence from that moment does he place him- 

 self in antagonism with nature, and has there- 

 after to suffer countless persecutions at her hands. 

 After a century of residence in the valley the col- 

 onist has established his position so that he can- 

 not be driven out. Twenty-five years ago it was 

 still possible for a great cacique to gallop into 

 the town, clattering his silver harness and flour- 

 ishing his spear, to demand with loud threats of 

 vengeance his unpaid annual tribute of cattle, 

 knife-blades, indigo, and cochineal. Now the red 

 man's spirit is broken; in numbers and in courage 

 he is declining. During the last decade the desert 

 places have been abundantly watered with his 

 blood, and, before many years are over, the old 

 vendetta will be forgotten, for he will have ceased 

 to exist. 



Nature, albeit now without his aid, still main- 

 tains the conflict, enlisting the elements, with bird, 

 beast, and insect, against the hated white dis- 

 turber, whose way of life is not in harmony with 

 her way. 



