The Land of the Poor People 



35 



The women carry home 'the fuel. 



II. W. Fairbanks 



The houses are made of mud or stone and look cold and 

 cheerless. The people must suffer from cold in winter. 

 The only wood they have is small brush which the women 

 and children gather upon the far hills and bring home in 

 huge bimdles upon their backs. 



In the towns of this country the only fuel now to be had 

 is charcoal. This is brought upon the backs of burros from 

 the distant mountains, where the few remaining trees give 

 work to charcoal burners. The charcoal is peddled through 

 the streets and sold in tiny quantities at each door. The 

 people are too poor to buy much at a -time and are very 

 careful in its use. It is burned in a metal or earthen dish 

 called a brazier, and a double handful may last a family a 

 whole day. 



Rains still fall in this country of the Poor People, as they 

 did long ago. But the waters gather quickly upon the un- 



