Identifier: putumayodevilspa00hard (find matches)
Title: The Putumayo : the devil's paradise, travels in the Peruvian Amazon Region and an account of the atrocities committed upon the Indians therein
Year: 1913 (1910s)
Authors: Hardenburg, W. E. (Walter Ernest), 1886-1942
Subjects: Casement, Roger, Sir, 1864-1916 Peruvian Amazon Company, Ltd Rubber
Publisher: London : Fischer Unwin
Contributing Library: Robarts - University of Toronto
Digitizing Sponsor: University of Toronto

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cloak of religion, and of what, as regards certainof its attributes, is practically petty idolatry ; whilstthe moral character of the village priests leavesmuch to be desired. There seems little reason whyboth sects should not exercise their sway. Pro-testant public worship or proselytising is againstthe Peruvian laws, but is tolerated. Nevertheless,bitter hostility is shown to it in the upland regions,which are absolutely under priestly control. Inthe Amazon lowlands and rivers this obstacle wouldpossibly be less formidable. The occurrences of the Putumayo have arousedpublic feeling in Lima, where a pro-indigena^or native protection society, has been established,based upon a former, feebler association of similarcharacter ; for there has always existed a partyprotesting against the abuses practised upon theIndians. The change of Government in theRepublic has brought promises of betterment.Telegraphic communications to the London Presshave announced, on the one hand, that the Peruvian
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INTRODUCTION 63 Chambers of Congress have moved a resolutionprotesting against the attitude of Great Britain andthe United States, and, on the other, that in-humanity in the Putumayo has been absolutely,abolished. Apart from electioneering devices, itcannot be doubted that the Government has beenaroused. But those acquainted with social con-ditions in South America will greatly doubt if, apartfrom mutilations and assassination, the social con-dition of the Indian will yet be bettered or theruinous system of peonage replaced by civilisedlabour conditions. If peonage and forced labourstill exist in the more civilised upland regions, asthey do, the conditions are not likely to be banishedin the Amazon forestal lowlands. The subject mustnot be allowed to sink into oblivion, and thepressure of public opinion must be sustained. If the occurrences which have been exposed leadto an awakening of the commercial conscience asregards investments in countries where poor nativelabour is employed, a

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