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The National Geographic Magazine 



mother country, it may be said that the 

 Spanish laws contained numerous and 

 very paternal dispositions in favor of the 

 distant American dominions and of the 

 aborigines whose fate is and has been so 

 cruel. 



In practice it was another thing; the 

 Hispano-Americans were excluded from 

 all the most important posts and lived in 

 a depressive condition as compared with 

 that of the men from the Spanish penin- 

 sula. In regard to the great mass of 

 aborigines, their position was much sad- 

 der than that of slaves. Condemned and 

 forced to Vv-ork in the mines by drafts, 

 called niitas; excluded from the benefits 

 of instruction and deprived of all their 

 rights, they acquired the vices of the 

 conquerors and lost the virtues of their 

 ancestors. 



In order that we may form an idea of 

 the despotism to which the descendants 

 of the Inca Empire were subjected, it 

 may be mentioned that they, a race of 

 beardless men, were compelled to buy 

 shaving razors, and for an Indian to ap- 

 pear on horseback was considered a mis- 

 demeanor punishable by whipping. 



The Spanish possessions in America 

 were closed to all contact with the world 

 and isolated from intercourse and ex- 

 change of ideas with the peoples of Eu- 

 rope. The fundamental principle of 

 government was to exact absolute obe- 

 dience to the king and his representa- 

 tives, and in religious matters, under the 

 withering hand of the Inquisition, free- 

 dom of conscience was condemned. 



Such conditions were not the best 

 preparation for beginning the life of in- 

 dependent republics and to proceed with- 

 out stumbling. 



The people of the United States of 

 North America not only imbibed from 

 their English ancestors the love of order 

 and habits of liberty, but had a vast terri- 

 tory free from obstacles, fruitful and 

 watered by great rivers, and placed op- 

 posite Europe, from whence came a con- 

 stant current of immigration that has 

 greatly contributed to its advancement. 



The Latin republics of South America, 

 although occupying a territory more than 

 double the size of the United States, en- 

 counter the great barrier of the Andes 

 through the continent, from north to 

 south, preventing the communication of 

 the peoples. 



The distance separating them from 

 Europe is almost twice as great and 

 much more difficult to travel. The irn- 

 migrant arrives in this country in a few 

 days and at a small expense, while the 

 voyage to South America is so long and 

 so costly as to prevent him from going 

 there. 



In order to correctly judge the condi- 

 tions and the development of the English 

 colonies after their emancipation, as 

 compared with the progress made by 

 the Spanish colonies, it is well not to 

 forget these circumstances. 



The Spanish conquerors have left be- 

 hind them a legend unrivaled in the 

 world's annals for audacity and perse- 

 verance. If they had displayed less cru- 

 elty toward the vanquished and greater 

 respect for human rights and less thirst 

 for gold, the pages of their history would 

 be the most brilliant of mankind. 



We, their descendants, if we inherit 

 many of their defects, have also the noble 

 qualities that make the Spanish people 

 the most chivalrous of Europe, with a 

 history filled with great examples of 

 patriotism and heroic achievement. 



THE VAST INCA EMPIRE WHICH FLOUR- 

 ISHED FOR 500 YEARS AND IN WHICH 

 PROPERTY IN LAND DID NOT BXIST 



Before I begin to speak of the actual 

 conditions in Bolivia, permit me to draw 

 a sketch of the historic antecedents pre- 

 ceding the organization of the Republic. 



Situated at an altitude of 12,500 feet 

 above the level of the sea and secluded 

 between two great branches of the 

 Andes, lies the mysterious Lake Titi- 

 caca, whose waters form the boundary 

 between Peru and Bolivia. There, on 

 the Bolivian side, is found, among others, 

 the Island of the Sun, from whence pro- 



