TRADE OF LA PAZ. 



113 



about in the heavy atmosphere, seek their rest and all is still. The 

 white wild goose sits by the side of the snow-water pool on the top of 

 the Andes, and the dove sleeps on the puna by the side oi the cactus 

 thorn. 



The most inveterate chewers among the Indians say, that the coca 

 raised on the tributaries of Madre-de-Dios is superior to that produced 

 in Yungas, on the waters of the Beni — the Yungas plant being at a 

 greater elevation above the sea. In Peru, the planter goes well down 

 into the flat lands, where the coca plant seems to flourish better than 

 on the side of the Andes, in the ravines. Yet, seven thousand baskets 

 of Yungas coca have been sold to Peru in one year ; the usual price is 

 five dollars the basket. Fruits, coffee, chocolate, tobacco, cigars, and 

 about five hundred thousand dollars in gold and silver, are also exported 

 to Peru ; in exchange for which the department of La Paz imports 

 from Peru rum, wine, sugar, sweetmeats, peppers *of different kinds, 

 meats, potatoes, and cheese. 



The value of the imports of foreign manufactures into this department, 

 in silks, coarse cotton and woollen cloths, calicoes and fine cotton goods, 

 iron, earthen, and glass-ware, amounts to about five hundred thousand 

 dollars. The value of the Cinchona bark and copper exported is three 

 hundred thousand dollars, with two hundred thousand dollars in gold 

 and silver. The difference is exported to keep up the balance of trade, 

 which makes the foreign trade of this department worth about one 

 million per annum, exclusive of the internal traffic with Peru. 



The city of La Paz is the largest in Bolivia, and has the most trade, 

 owing to its position between the provinces of Yungas and Arica. But 

 the foreign manufactures imported by this country, do not all pass 

 through La Paz. The roads from Arica and Cobija lead direct to the 

 southern department, and the trains of mules and jackasses cross float- 

 ing totora bridges on the Desaguedero, such as we saw the llamas pass 

 near the Lake of Titicaca. The distance from La Paz to Cobija is two 

 hundred and thirty-two leagues. 



In the first part of December, when the flowers begin to bloom in the 

 ravine, it is the custom of the inhabitants of La Paz to repair to the 

 al ained a before breakfast. Some go on foot, dressed in silks and satins, 

 broad cloth and white kid gloves. The ladies without bonnets, their 

 hair parted in the South American style, appear to much more advan- 

 tage than those in French fashions. The gentlemen are also more 

 natural in their vacuna-made hats than in those of Paris. Indian ser- 

 vants walk behind the family with rugs, which are spread for the ladies 

 to sit upon. Gentlemen make a grand show with spirited horses, but 



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