TREATMENT OF INDIANS. 



75 



sister up to making this attempt) then came forward, and said I must 

 pay him half a dollar more, as the governor had kept back that much 

 of the price. This being " no go," he tried to steal away his mule 

 while our backs were turned ; but being prevented, he went off, got 

 drunk in about fifteen minutes, and came back maudlin ; embracing, 

 kissing, and weeping over his mule, crying in piteous tones "Mi macho, 

 mi macho" (my mule, my mule.) We shoved him aside and rode off, 

 followed, I have no doubt, by the curses of the community. 



This was all very annoying to me. I afterwards mentioned these cir- 

 cumstances to the commandant of the fort at Chanchamayo, telling 

 him how much I would prefer to pay double price and get voluntary 

 service. He said that my sympathies were all thrown away upon these 

 people, that I must go to the governors for the means of transportation ; 

 for that the Indians would not let me have their beasts at any price ; 

 and related instances of his having to use threats, and even force, to in- 

 duce a sulky Indian to give him and his beast food and shelter when in 

 the Cordillera, and the approach of night made it impossible to go on. 

 Several travellers in these parts have also told me that they have been 

 compelled to shoot the poultry of an Indian, who with a large stock, 

 would refuse to sell at any price ; but who, after the thing was done, 

 would good humoredly accept a fair value. 



Ijurra also related instances of oppression and tyranny on the part of 

 the governors, particularly in the province of Mainas, where commerce 

 is carried on by transportation of the goods on the backs of Indians. 

 A travelling merchant goes to the governor and says, " I have such and 

 such a cargo ; I want so many Indians to transport it." The governor, 

 generally a white or Mestizo, sends for the Curaca, (the lineal heredi- 

 tary governor of the tribe of Indians of that district, who has great 

 authority, and without whose assistance the whites probably could not 

 govern at all,) and orders him 'to have so many Indians detailed for a 

 journey. The Curaca drums them up, directing them to toast their 

 corn and prepare their " fiambre" (food for the road) for a journey of so 

 many leagues ; and they are taken from their occupations and sent off, 

 for probably many days, at a pay of anything that the governor may 

 direct. 



If a man wishes to build a house or open a farm, he may be sup- 

 plied with laborers for six months, at a hire, per month, of as many 

 yards of cotton cloth as will make each a shirt and pair of trousers ; 

 the patron or master furnishing them with food ; but, as may be 

 imagined, this is of the coarsest and commonest description that will 

 support life. 



