MECHANICS OF COCHABAMBA. 



145 



factored in the United States, and another train loaded with iron bed- 

 steads from France, while the shops are well supplied with orDamental 

 woods. The difficulty in producing is from a want of a proper teaching 

 of the trades. A boy handles a North American chisel very awkwardly, 

 while the head of the shop stands in the doorway smoking a paper 

 cigar, with a broadcloth coat on his back, and a poncho over that. 



"While the President was in Cochabamba, a young man was presented 

 to him, who it was said " invented" a piano. He was highly praised, 

 and his piano valued as a home production. The tin men are good 

 workers after their own fashion, but they seem indisposed to be employed 

 out of their usual routine. We wanted a funnel, one inch perpendicular 

 at the mouth, for the purpose of catching rain, and measuring the quan- 

 tity of water during the rainy season. The most experienced tinner in 

 town looked at the drawing and measurements, but handing it back, said, 

 " I never work my tin up in that shape ;" though he* willingly made us 

 a common funnel ; there appeared no disposition to be uncivil or dis- 

 obliging, but a very strong indisposition to exert the brain. We see 

 few men saving their hands' labor by practising head-work. 



The tin is found in the Titicaca basin, carried over the Cordilleras, 

 and shipped around Cape Horn to the United States ; , manufactured, 

 then re-shipped, and after doubling Cape Horn a second time, returns 

 by the mouth of the mine, crosses the Andes, and is sold here to make 

 tin pans, funnels, and coffee pots for the original miners. 



There are few jewellers in the city; now and then a travelling Ger- 

 man sets up shop, and does a good business for a while. The bishops 

 and priests carry their timepieces, and visit him before breakfast. 

 Many persons having business with the church, go to the jewellers to 

 settle ; then they have an opportunity of seeing clocks and watches that 

 excite a penchant for antiquities. 



The gunsmiths are tolerably good. There are more old pieces in 

 their shops than new ones. It is doubtful if a Cochabambino ever "in 

 vented" a gun, but they repair stocks and barrels to satisfaction, and 

 charge double prices. 



Indian women purchase of the merchants cotton goods, needles, thread, 

 beads, scissors, brass or silver thimbles, and small looking glasses, which 

 they retail in the plaza under the willow trees and along the shady sides 

 of the streets, working at their needles, or spinning wool and cotton by 

 hand, during any leisure ; others sell shoes. The fruit huxters are in- 

 variably the fattest, and the dry goods sellers the best looking, and 

 always dressed surprisingly neat. The girls from Calacala, who bring 

 potatoes and quinua, have a more country air. 

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