2 WOOL- GROWING. 



The little estates — chacras — are owned by descendants of Spaniards, 

 Indians, or Mestizos, the latter a cross between the two former. 



In almost all cases the cultivation of the soil is performed by the 

 aborigines, at wages from ten to twenty cents a day. 



As we rise above the foliage, the mountain tops begin to look wild and 

 barren, with rocks and red clay ; below we have a beautiful view of the 

 town of Tarma, amidst its green trees and pasture fields. My mule, Rose, 

 pants for breath ; she is so fat and plump that the climbing troubles her. 



On the mountain-side is seated a fine looking Indian, blowing a semi- 

 circular shaped trumpet, made of a number of cow's horns, stripped one 

 into the other, with the joints sealed ; he don't seem to be so particular 

 as to the tune, as he does to the distance he may be heard, and he makes 

 the valley ring. Jose thinks he is trying to blow up a wedding with 

 a fair one among the flowers below. The Indians celebrate harvest- 

 time with merry-making. Their meals are cooked in the fields, where 

 their kitchen utensils are carried. They have music and dancing in the 

 barley stubble. It is amusing to see these happy people enjoying them- 

 selves in the open air. As we pass, the reapers are seated near the road, 

 in a barley field, at dinner, upon the ground, in rows one behind another, 

 laughing and talking among themselves. When we meet them they 

 are very civil, modest, and unassuming in manners.. The men carry 

 enormous loads of barley or wheat on their backs, while the women 

 drive the loaded ass, and sling the children over their own shoulders. 

 Their horses, mules, sheep, horned cattle, pigs*and dogs, are all admitted, 

 together with the family, into the harvest field ; while the father reaps, 

 and the mother gathers, the boys tend the flocks, and the older girls 

 take care of the babies and do the cooking, while at the same time they 

 spin woollen yarn by hand, for stockings. One of them offered a pair 

 for sale at twenty- five cents, which were nearly long enough for trowsers. 

 They are always employed, go to bed early, and rise beforethe sun, as 

 their Incas taught them to do. 



At the top of the mountain, not a house or tree was to be seen, and 

 no sign of cultivation. On tufts of coarse mountain grass, a flock of 

 sheep were grazing ; some of them merinos, and of good size. Their 

 wool is sent to Lima, where it is sold, to be exported around Cape Horn, 

 to the manufacturers in the North. 



To the east is a snow-peaked mountain, and as the moon rises, as if 

 from the Atlantic ocean, we are followed by a cold north wind. The 

 sky is clear and of a deep blue. On our left we see the remains of an 

 ancient Peruvian road, used in the times of the Incas. It is said that 

 good roads are marks of civilization ; could my mule, Rose, give her 

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