Señor Benjamin Saldaña Rocca,—I have heard that you are about to begin a legal action denouncing the criminal deeds committed in the Arana “possessions” on the tributaries of the River Putumayo, and as I was an eye-witness of many of these tragedies I will recount to you what I have seen.
We had scarcely arrived at La Chorrera when Señor Macedo ordered us to the section of José Inocente Fonseca, who was then on a correría. The food given us was a little fariña and water, but Fonseca and his numerous concubines ate abundant viands. We stopped at night at one of the many tambos[119] in this region, the hammocks were slung, the sentinels were posted, and those who did not mount guard lay down to sleep. Within a few hours I heard people arriving, and three Indians entered, each one carrying on his back several small bundles, wrapped up in what looked like baskets. The chief was awakened, and he told them to unroll what they had brought.
I thought they were fruits or something of that sort, but what was my horror when on unwrapping the coverings there appeared first the head of an Indian, second that of a woman, and third that of an infant, and so on for the rest. The emissary as he unwrapped the heads explained, “This is that of So-and-So, this other that of his wife, the third that of his son,” and so on. Fonseca, with the utmost unconcern, as though they were cocoa-nuts or other fruits, took them in turn by the hair, examined them, and then threw them away. I do not record the names of the victims, Señor Saldaña, for they were Indian names, difficult to remember. This took place in Ultimo Retiro, among the nation or sub-tribe of the pacific Aifugas Indians, in March, 1906.
On the sábado de gloria Fonseca observed several Indians going out of the house to fetch water. Taking his revolver and carbine, he turned towards them, saying to us (there were present Juan C. Castaños, Pérez, Alfredo Cabrera, Miguel Rengifo, Ramón Granda, Sparro, Lorenzo Tello, and many others whose names I do not recollect now), “Look, this is how we celebrate the sábado de gloria here,” wantonly let fly at the Indians, killing one man and hitting a girl of fifteen years. This girl did not die immediately, being only wounded, but the criminal Miguel Rengifo, alias Ciegadiño, finished her with a carbine bullet.
When Fonseca returned from the correría and went to his section-house, Victoria, one of his nine concubines was accused of infidelity in his absence. Enraged, Fonseca tied her up to a tree by her opened arms and, raising her skirt to her neck, flogged her with an enormous lash, continuing until he was tired out. He then put her in a hammock inside a warehouse, and as the scars received no treatment in a few days maggots bred in them; then by his orders the Indian girl was dragged out and killed. Luis Silva, a Brazilian negro, who is at present in the section Unión, is the man who executed this order. After murdering Victoria as I have described they threw her body into the banana plantation.
The floggings of Indians were carried out daily, and from time to time some Indians were killed.
(Signed) Anacleto Portocarrera.
(Sworn before) Federico M. Pizarro, Notary Public.
Iquitos, September 28, 1907.
Señor Benjamin Saldaña Rocca,—By the articles published in your worthy newspaper, La Sanción, I understand that you accept the voluntary statements of those who, like myself, have witnessed some of the awful crimes committed in the Putumayo by the brigands of Arana Hermanos. I shall now relate to you what I have seen and what they do there to-day.