THE ROAD TO BOLIVIA 



267 



ten or twelve women from the mountains, while opposite and facing 

 them were an equal number of surly looking men. Between the two 

 was a rude cross, held upright by a few stones laid against its base 

 and trimmed with artificial flowers. The alcalde explained that the 

 men had been Ijrought there for discipline. They were charged by 

 their wives with drunkenness, abuse, neglect, and improvidence, and 

 the village priest would hear the evidence, render judgment, and ad- 

 minister correction the next morning at 8 o'clock. When asked wdiat 

 sort of correction would be administered, he shook a stout stick, and 



AN INC A CKMKTKKY 



remarked that he would lay that on the backs of the worst ones, 

 while tlie others would be sentenced to various forms of penance. 



Before the railway was built it was a journey of 30 days from 

 Cuzco across the desert to Bolivia, and even now some people jirefer 

 to go tliat way. Thousands of burros and llamas are still engaged in 

 competition with the railways transporting ores, wool, hides, and 

 carrying l)ack into the mountains cotton goods, liardware, and other 

 merchandise. 



The (irrerios are usually accompanied by their entire families, and 



