No. 114.
Mr. Wing to Mr. Fish
Quito, Ecuador, December 23, 1871. (Received Feb. 16, 1872.)
Sir: For some days past there has been considerable excitement in Quito in regard to difficulties with the Indians near Riobamba, a city situate between here and Guayaquil, and very near the present point to which the carriage-road hence to the coast has been finished, It seems that in 1868 quite a threatening affair of the same nature occurred in or about the same locality, but was promptly suppressed.
The building of roads in Ecuador has necessitated the employment of Indian laborers, many of whom, it would appear, were exceedingly loath to accept such occupation. This, together with the means adopted to make them accept such service, has doubtless created some recent feeling among them.
Moreover, there is certainly a certain distrust of the whites among them, that has been transmitted from the very days of the Incas.
These facts in connection with their actual aggregate condition of poverty and quasi servitude, superadded to that secret fraternity existing among nearly all the tribes of South America, whereby the knowledge of events is rapidly heralded from point to point, have welded them to great extent into separate but well-defined and compact masses. From what I am told I have but little doubt concerning the thorough acquaintance of the Ecuadorian and Peruvian Indians, with the achievements and actual exhibitions of power made by their Bolivian brethren at a very recent period, and in a very emphatic and sanguinary manner. There have lately been several “doctors” or “medicine men” in Ecuador, who were, reported to be from Bolivia. Whether that fact has [Page 173] anything to do with the present troubles here, is of course a matter of mere fruitless conjecture.
One thing is sure, and that is, that the Indians largely outnumber the whites, and that the possibility of a future Indian coalition has more than once been descanted upon in various sections of South America. But let these matters be as they may, however, about a week since, an Indian in the densely populated regions about Riobamba refused to pay the school-tax of two reals (20 cents) demanded by an official collector (a “blanco” or white man, of course) of the government. An altercation ensued, and the collector was beaten off by the Indian and his friends; subsequently he returned with two assistants, whereupon the Indians in large numbers attacked and captured them. They were then put to death after the most horrible tortures, and in the most painful and degrading manner. This was followed by an indiscriminate torture and slaughter of all the whites within immediate reach. Several of the methods adopted proved that these usually humble, passive Indians equaled, if they did not surpass, their red friends of North America in the devilish ingenuity of their barbarity. Personally they had never had any previous practical experience, but either through innate ferocity or familiar tradition they were not lacking in any element of aboriginal cruelty.
So soon as the government here was notified of these occurrences, a strong and well armed (with Remington rifles) force of soldiery was ordered to the disturbed section. Meanwhile, however, the difficulty increased, and murder succeeded murder, while from all the surrounding country the Indian population flocked to the scene of action.
At present the air is thick with rumors, many of which are, I think, unfounded or at least greatly exaggerated.
It is reported that the city of Riobamba (12,000 population) is invested by an infuriated force of six or eight thousand Indian men, while some 12,000 or 20,000 (men, women and children) are encamped in the mountains beyond. This I am not inclined to believe, though there is undoubtedly a force of some thousand Indians in the near neighborhood of Riobamba, armed with stones, bows, lances, &c. I presume, also, that it is true that they have routed a force of volunteers, sent out from that city against them. Notwithstanding their spare diet, however, I do not comprehend how they can long subsist together in so large a body. Starvation alone must, I think, soon disperse them. President Moreno has no doubt of the immediate result of the contest between the troops (largely outnumbered as they are) and the revolting Indians, or he would have gone in person, to the insurgent region, as he always does in case of very serious disturbance.
One evil result to be apprehended from the subjection and defeat of the Indians consists in the fact that the great majority of them will possibly retreat to the wilderness and find refuge there. This will leave a large and fertile area of country almost entirely desolate and uninhabited, not to mention the fearful sufferings that will necessarily overtake this unhappy and fated people during their long and hazardous flight, sufferings most apt to fall upon the weakest and most helpless and innocent of their number.
I will not conclude this dispatch at present, but hold it open for such further items as may reach me before the closing of my next mail-sack.
Since writing the above I have learned that previous to the arrival of the troops the Indians had burned several villages in the vicinity of [Page 174] Riobamba, and committed many atrocities and murders. They fled to the mountains at first sight of the soldiers, and are still reported as retreating in large bodies composed of men, women, and children. Practically the revolt is at an end, but I am as yet unable to ascertain what is to be the final issue so far as the Indians are concerned.
Several of the reputed leaders have been captured, and will doubtless be shot at once.
The troops are still at or near the field of disturbance.
It is extremely difficult to secure reliable data, however, in a country so devoid of ail news facilities as this, and with the exception of the accompanying documents (1) no statement has thus far emanated from the government.
It will be observed that the province of Chimborazo has been de clared in a state of siege.
These disturbances have transpired at the very base of the historic “King of the Andes,” made famous by the researches of Humboldt, Boussingault, and other illustrious explorers.
There has also been a collision between a small body of troops and a mob of Indians, near Otavalo, in the province of Imbabura, resulting in the death of several of the opposing parties. This affair, however, does not appear to have had any connection with the movement in Ohimborazo, but arose concerning certain Indian children being conveyed to a mission-school without the consent of their families, who do not seem to have understood the destination of the children; and contrary likewise, I am informed, to the policy and instructions of the government, which did not propose to enforce a compulsory education, but only to afford the means of a voluntary one.
I may say that in this country the Indian has been utilized until he has become a necessity to its material development and improvement. Certain attempts have been made, and are being made, to instruct and Christianize him. In many respects, however, his present condition is a most unfortunate and unenviable one. In its every phase, and in all parts of the New World, the Indian problem seems to present extraordinary difficulties, to merit profound consideration, and to require a, patient, forbearing, and yet systematic and resolute policy.
I have, &c,