Rensselaer Republican, Volume 22, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 July 1890 — The Indians of Ecuador. [ARTICLE]

The Indians of Ecuador.

Phtlftde'phia Becord. The Indians, lineal descendants of tho long since Conquered Ineas, wear no color but black, as a perpetual and pathetic sign of mourning for Atahualpa, the last of their kings, who was treacherously strangled by Pizarro. They constitute the laboring population of Ecuador, and are the Baddest looking people on the face of the earth. Laughter, singing or story telling are never heard among them; they have so sports, no songs, no tales, but are silent, sullen, and morosely submissive to any injustice that may be put upon them. Apparently the proud spirit of their brave and powerful ancestors has been completely crushed out of them by more than 350 years of oppression at the hands of their cruel conquerors and hard masters, the Spaniards. Now they are mere beasts of burden for anybody who desires to command their services, receiving without protest as much or as little pay for their services as may be tendered. They do not seem to have much strength in their arms, but will carry enormous loads on their backs. A broad strap is passed around the forehead to help sustain the burden, and another across the shoulders. One hundred pounds is considered a moderate Tbtul, and with this on their backs they will start off on a slow but even jog trot andk eep it up for hours without tiring.

The Indians, and in fact nearly all the lower classes, seldom indulge in the luxury of legal matrimony, simply because they can not afford It, the fees charged by the priests for performing that ceremony being very exorbitant. Even among the aristocracy it is not uncommon for young people to go about among their friends soliciting money to pay the marriage fee. You can seldom go throbgh the streets and markets without meeting a man with a little basket, who importunes you: “JFor the love of the Virgin, most illustrious senor, give me a medio towurd the payment of my marriage fee.”