The Constitution of Bolivia says: “The State recognizes and supports the Roman Apostolic Catholic religion, the public exercise of any other worship being prohibited, except in the colonies, where it is tolerated.” However, this toleration is extended to resident foreigners belonging to other religious sects. The Indians profess the Roman Catholic faith, but this is tinged with the superstitions of their ancestors.
At this point it will be interesting to consider the Indians of Bolivia. The population of the country is composed of Indians and Caucasians of European origin, and a mixture of the two races, generally described as mestizos (mes-tee´zos). There is also a small percentage of Africans, descendants of the negro slaves introduced in colonial times. Naturally, the Indians are in great majority. The Bolivian Indian is essentially a farmer. Scarcely any of these Indians are educated.
Of the various tribes of Indians, the Aymaras are the most civilized. The Mojos (mo´-hos) and Chiquitos (chee-kee´-tose) tribes are peaceable and industrious. They have little ambition, and are held almost in a state of peonage. Inhabiting the southern part of the Bolivian plains are the Chiraguanos (chee-rah-gwah´-nos), a detached tribe of the Guarani race which drifted westward, to the vicinity of the Andes, long ago. They are of a superior physical and mental type, and have made a great deal of progress toward civilization. Of the wild Indians very little is known in regard to either their numbers or customs.
The mestizos, or half-breeds, sometimes called Cholos, are the connecting link between the whites and the Indians. It has been said of the mestizos that they inherit the vices of both races and the virtues of neither.
PREPARED BY THE EDITORIAL STAFF OF THE MENTOR ASSOCIATION
ILLUSTRATION FOR THE MENTOR. VOL. 5, No. 18, SERIAL No. 142
COPYRIGHT, 1917, BY THE MENTOR ASSOCIATION, INC.
PHOTOGRAPH BY E. M. NEWMAN
A PACK TRAIN OF LLAMAS IN LA PAZ, BOLIVIA—TWILIGHT