While in Cajamarca in the Cordilleras
I was sitting with my hosts one even
ing at the door of their house. Sud
denly there was a great noise in the
quiet street, and a horseman rode up.
It was a friend of the family, who was
on his way to settle an account with a
troublesome debtor. When we hinted
that a creditor would hardly he ordina
rily received at such an hour, he touched
something hangingon the pommel of his
saddle, and said that he if ad something
there which would settle the matter.
His debtor was an Indian who lived
not far away in the country, and who
had promised to make for him 300 or 400
large adobe bricks in payment for some
small wares which he had purchased
two years before. He seemed perfectly
willing to fulfill his contract, and when
ever he was reminded of it would prom
ise to he on hand the next day; hut he
never appeared.
The merchant was repairing his house,
and according to the custom of the coun
try had taken the law into his own
hands. An hour after he left us he re
turned, calling out triumphantly, “Well,
I have my man, you see.”
His lasso was unrolled. One end was
tied to his saddle; the other was fastened
about the wrists of an Indian. 1 shall
never forget the captive’s impassive face.
His strong features, framed in long locks
of hair, expressed neither anger nor as
tonishment —only philosophical submis
sion to fate. The next day at dawn 1 saw
him cheerfully at work with the air of a
man who was glad to pay his debts.
