) 1 Jo l Pfiff, COMPILED BY MRS. O. W. SCOTT. ell ~ PRICE, . . PIVE CENTS. WOMAN’S FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY, METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, 36 BROMFIELD STREET, - - - BOSTON, MASS. Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2017 with funding from Columbia University Libraries i« https://archive.org/details/southamericafactOOscot SOUTH AMERICA FACTS Questions and Answers FOR MISSION BANDS AND JUNIOR LEAGUES. BY PvIRS. O. W. SCOTT. BOSTON, MASS.: WOMAN’S FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, 36 Bromfield Street. THE COUNTRY. II. THE GOVERNMENT. III. THE PEOPLE. IV. CHILDREN. V. LITERATURE AND EDUCATION. VI. RELIGION. VII. MISSIONS. SOUTH AMERICA THE COUNTRY. 1. Q. Will you describe South America? South America is a vast triangular penin sula connected with North America by the Isthmus of Panama. Its length from north to south is nearly five thousand miles, and its greatest width is about three thousand miles. Its area is nearly seven million square miles. 2. Q. Of what is it composed? Of eleven political divisions (fourteen states), nearly all of which are republics. Brazil is the largest of these, having an area equal to that of the United States, not includ- ing Alaska. 3. Q. What is its climate? Three-fourths of this country lies in the torrid zone, though as a whole it has every variety of climate. 4. Q. How is it watered? Three great rivers, the Amazon, Platte and Orinoco, water the three immense plains which make up most of its widespread surface. 5. Q. For what is the Amazon famous? 4 It is the largest river in the world. It rises in the Peruvian Andes, near the Pacific coast, flows east-northeast and empties into the At- lantic. This river, with its various tributaries, represents twenty-four thousand miles of navigable waters. 6. Q. What is said of the country along its banks? Most of it is dense forest, in which wild ani- mals, reptiles and birds make their homes. There are a few settlements here and there. 7. Q. Describe the Platte. It is also a magnificent stream and is over sixty miles wide at Montevideo. 8. Q. Describe the mountains of South America. The grand Andes chain extends the entire length of the country on the west. Some of its peaks are the highest on the globe, except- ing the Himalayas. It divides into t\yo branches near the centre of the country. Cotopaxi is a famous volcanic peak. There are also mountain ranges near the east coast. 9. Q. What is said of the forests? They are dense and cover nearly two-thirds of the country. Many kinds of valuable trees are found. 10. Q. What statement did Professor Agassiz make? He explored the valley of the Amazon and 5 tells us that he “found within an area of half a mile square over one hundred species of trees, among which were nearly all of the choicest cabinet and dye woods known to the tropics, besides others suitable for shipbuild- ing.” 11. Q. Mention one valuable tree. The India rubber tree. It grows from ninety to a hundred feet high. After fifteen years’ growth it is tapped annually, and its sap — which hardens gradually — is gathered by hundreds of natives. From Brazil come four-fifths of the world’s supply of rubber. The United States takes over twenty-five thousand tons every year. 12. Q. What are other South American trees? Palm trees of great beauty are found. “From it the people of the tropics obtain food, shelter, clothing, fuel, fibre for cordage, cables, etc., sugar, oil, wax and wine.” In various parts of the country the bread fruit tree, the mango, the soap tree, the cow tree, which yields milk nutritious and abundant ; the camphor tree, the banana, etc., etc., are found. One of the most valuable is the cin- chona tree, from whose bark quinine is made. 13. Q. What fruits are common?^ From Brazil come many oranges to the United States, while limes, pineapples, ba- 6 nanas, lemons, cocoanuts, grapes, and many other tropical fruits are abundant. Brazil nuts are well known. 14. Q. How is Brazil further distin- guished? It's productions include sugar, coffee, cot- ton, spices, etc., besides the famous India rub- ber. There are also mines of gold, silver, iron and lead. Diamonds and other precious stones are found there. 15. Q. What animals are common to South Ameria? Of wild animals the South American tiger, or onga, is the most formidable. Venomous snakes infest forests and thinly settled por- tions. Monkeys are numerous. The rivers abound in fish and alligators. Stock raising is a source of wealth. Wild horses are found on the broad plains and are broken for use. They are very cheap. This is the one country in the world, perhaps, where “beggars on horseback” are found. 16. Q. What is “the only native domesti- cated animal in South America?” The llama. These animals somewhat re- semble the camel, but have not its size, strength or intelligence. They move with a graceful, swan-like motion, and will carry loads of about one hundred pounds. 17. Q. What birds are found? A great variety of water fowl, and in the forests are birds of brilliant plumage — par- rots, toucans, macaws, and many others pe- culiar to this country. These brilliant birds are rarely sweet singers. 18. Q. What is said of humming birds? There are myriads of them. The Spanish call them “winged flowers;” the Portuguese, “flower kissers.” These birds furnish feathers for the wonderful feather flowers sold in Bra- zil. 19. Q. Are flowers found in profusion? Their variety and beauty are endless. Orchids fill the forests with splendor. The scarlet passion flower, tall fuchsias, pearl white camellias, honeysuckles, etc., are very common. All seasons have their variety. THE GOVERNMENT. 20. Q. What is the government of South America? Of the fourteen recognized political divi- sions all are republics but Guiana, which is divided between the British, Dutch and French. 21. Q. What conditions weaken these re- publics? Intestine wars and frequent bankruptcy. It was Dom Pedro, last emperor of Brazil, 8 who said, while in this country and viewing the Corliss engine at the Philadelphia Cen- tennial, “Its revolutions remind me of those in my own country.” 22. Q. What causes these revolutions? They are for individual interest, and are often produced by parties who study the con- ditions from outside and plan the revolution as they would a speculation of any kind. 23. Q. What evils result? The state suffering from these oft-recurring civil wars loses lives and property, cripples her commerce and paralyzes her industries. 24. Q. In what lies the hope of these states? If they would lay aside their bitter rivalries and form one united nation they would gain in wealth and power. 25. Q. What progress was made in Brazil under Dom Pedro II, the last Portuguese emperor? He was a wise and liberal ruler, and under his guidance schools, railroads and various industries were introduced. Slaves were emancipated in 1888 and liberty of worship was favored. 26. Q. What occurred in 1889? The imperial family was banished and the Republic of the United States of Brazil was inaugurated under a provisional govern- 9 ment. In 1890 a decree was passed declaring that “all religious denominations have equally the right to liberty of worship.” 27. Q. Which of the republics is most advanced? Chili, the most powerful nation on the west coast. It has been comparatively free from revolutions since 1851 and its government is very stable. 28. Q. What are the facilities for travel in South America? Large cities like Rio Janeiro have street cars and cars drawn by mules. Brazil has over six thousand miles of railways. The water ways furnish means of travel. Among the mountains and on the thinly settled plains, horses, donkeys and llamas are used. THE PEOPLE. 29. Q. Describe the people of South America. South America, like Mexico, points back- ward to former races. Recent discoveries point to a people civilized and of great achievements in art and science, who once lived and flourished in the western portion of the country. They were conquered by the Incas. This race (the Incas) was plainly of Asiatic origin. They had a knowledge of 10 civil government, architecture and art. They held sway over an empire now occupied by Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador and Chili. Most in- teresting relics of them are found. 30. Q. Name one of the most famous. It is a highway built as a route of travel, extending from Quito, on the north, down through Peru into Chili. “It was twenty feet broad, nearly 2,000 miles long, and sections of it were made of heavy flags of freestone, per- fectly joined. Miles of it were cut through solid rock, bridges of plaited willow swung in the air across rivers, precipices were ascended by staircases cut in the rock, and gullies were filled up with solid masonry.” Every five miles were posts or small houses for forward- ing government dispatches. 31. Q. Who conquered the Incas? The Spanish, under Pizarro, about 1535. This portion of South America was under their control about 300 years. After an eight years’ war, independence was secured in 1818. 32. Q. What is said of the pure aboriginal race now remaining? They are copper colored like the Indians of Mexico. Along the western coast are found the best of the remaining aborigines. They are sometimes called “the Spartans of South America.” These Indians are found in all 11 parts of the country, but are slowly disappear- ing. 33. Q. Describe the masses of the people. There are pure Spaniards and Portuguese, Negroes, French and Italian, but the mixed races are most numerous. Much of the country is still unexplored, and Indian tribes exist who are without a vestige of civiliza- tion. 34. Q. Which is the ruling race? Principally the descendants of the early Spanish settlers, except in Brazil, where the settlers were Portuguese. 35. Q. What is one great hindrance to progress? The Indians and the mixed races are lack- ing in ambition and industry. It is easy to exist, and they are satisfied with very little of this world’s goods. 36. Q. How do different races regard each other? As on an equal footing. The white, black, brown and yellow seem to have no prominent class distinctions; and yet South America was the last civilized country to free its slaves. 37. Q. What can be said of the homes of the people? Like the people, they vary greatly. From the huts of the former slaves and the degen- erate Indians, one rises in the scale until he 12 reaches the palace built around its flower- filled court. Many of the better class of city houses are built with overhanging balconies, where the ladies of the family gather for evening gossip. 38. Q. What is the appearance of the na- tive Indian? He is rather short and stout, with broad face and a shock of coarse black hair, dresses in coarse cotton trousers and shirt, and wears a poncho, or gay colored blanket, with a slit in the centre, through which his head is thrust. 3854. Q. What is a common source of poverty among the lower classes? The lottery. Gambling is a passion among them, and they easily part with their last bit of money in the excitement of a venture. 39. Q. What harmful habits exist? Drinking, a sin which hamoers the poor here as everywhere, and the constant use of tobacco, which women as well as men smoke. CHILDREN. 40. Q. Are children well cared for? As a rule the babies in the homes of rich and poor alike are made welcome. In Bra- zil the first important event in baby’s life is 13 its baptism, which occurs when it is a few weeks old. 41. Q. In what way is it important? Friends and relatives are invited, there are two or more god fathers and mothers, and a feast is furnished at their expense. 42. Q. What occurs at the church? Salt is put into the mouth, oil on the head, and the priest makes the sign of the cross upon its forehead, with a few Latin words: the name is given and baby is fairly launched. 43. Q. How is baby dressed? For the first and only time it wears a long white dress at its baptism. Ordinarily its at- tire is very scanty, but always for six months it wears a cap night and day. 44. Q. Are the children fond of play? In Brazil and throughout equatorial South America children seem too lifeless^ and dull to attempt lively games, and there seem to be none in vogue. Where the weather is cooler they show .more animation. 45. 0 . When does school life begin? When about five years old. Then, if the parents are able, the child is taken to a board- ing school, whose teachers are expected to guard, watch, clothe, feed and teach it. The children are put in groups, and the care they receive is like that given in a reformatory. 46. Q. What is the system of education? 14 Children study aloud, as in the Orient, and are obliged to memorize. No attempt is made to develop strong characters. Sacred history is always taught, and they are obliged to memorize prayers to the Virgin and other saints. 47. Q. What if the parents are wealthy? Then teachers and governesses are em- ployed at home. 48. 0 . What kind of homes are these? Beautiful with all that art and nature can give. Especially gay are the gardens, with trees, shrubs and flowers covered with blos- soms. 49. Q. What occasion is always cele- brated? The child’s birthday. The house is dec- orated, delicate dishes are prepared, friends are invited to a feast and many presents are given. 50. Q. Mention other pleasant customs. The children of the better class, Spanish and Portuguese, have the habit of greeting parents and older people with great respect and tenderness. To kiss the hand and say, “A bencao men pai ” (a blessing, my father), is a common greeting. 51. Q. How do children fare in poorer homes? The very large proportion of children in 15 South America are among the poor and their homes are dark and dirty. In many of them they never set a table. When the dried beef and beans are ready the little ones are called and seated on the floor. Perhaps beans and dry farina — the coarse meal made from manioc root — is all they have. But nearly always in the tropical part of the country children can get some kind of fruit. 52. Q. Mention another relief. Nearly all the year they can live in the sun- shine out of doors, bareheaded and bare- footed. They are really “children of the street.” 53. Q. How does this lead to harm? In every large city there are many beggars, and little children — the more the better — are taught to help their parents beg. Perhaps a blind man has his little daughter beside him always. Such cases are sad, as they are nu- merous, usually leading to bad lives. 54. Q. How do children help in happier ways ? There are washerwomen who go to the rivers or brooks to beat the clothes white on rocks near by. With them go groups of merry children, some to care for the babies, some to help in other ways; all to enjoy pad- dling in the water. 55. Q. Are they taught to be industrious ? 16 The poor women and their daughters make lace, which is bought for a small price. They learn habits of neatness and industry in the mission schools. 56. Q. Are they able to learn readily? Many of the children learn to sing and play easily, and foreign languages are readily ac- quired. The teachers introduce games also to develop physical strength and overcome indolent habits. 57. Q. What else is taught by Christian schools? Besides all branches taught in our own land, teachers find it necessary in Brazil and at other points to train the children to be patriotic. All through South America chil- dren must be taught to love their country be- fore they can become worthy citizens and help make one great nation. 58. Q. What is their personal appearance? Children in South America are, in many parts of the country, very handsome. Even the little Indian-Spanish child has beautiful eyes and teeth and hair, with a rich brown complexion, and pleasant, quiet ways. The girls have a brief childhood, marry when only fifteen or sixteen, and are old at thirty. Idle- ness, where they are not driven to work, is a characteristic among young people. 17 LITERATURE AND EDUCATION. 59. Q. Does South America rank high in its literature? There are no literary centres, as in our own land, and different languages and dialects pre- vent a national literature. Brazil has had many authors, poets, journalists and orators. In Rio Janeiro is a public library containing 200.000 volumes, besides many valuable Span- ish and Portuguese documents in manuscript. 60. Q. Are there newspapers in Brazil? Reviews, weeklies and dailies are printed in Rio, and public men and matters are dis- cussed with the utmost freedom. Great men are caricatured and criticised, even as with us. 61. Q. What are the opportunities for education in that city? Educational institutions are numerous and well organized. There is a national college here and a polytechnic college. 62. Q. What is true of Buenos Ayres' It has two large public libraries, also a uni- versity, with about fifty professors and 800 students. Since 1872 a series of normal schools has been supported, where teachers are trained. This city has more daily papers than Boston or New York. 63. Q. Mention other educational centres. Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay, has many schools and a national university. It 18 has more daily newspapers than London and a large number of weekly and monthly publi- cations. “The men read the newspapers and the women fill their leisure with music and gossip.” Books are seldom found in family circles. Valparaiso, the principal seaport of Chili, has numerous free schools and a college, but the people of this republic are in the main very ignorant. It has four daily newspaper;,, one of which is more than a half century old. Lima, the capital of Peru, has a university which claims to be the first ever established in the New World, dating back seventy years before the “Mayflower” reached New England shores. The national library contains 40,000 volumes and a collection of Peruvian antiq- uities. Here are found ancient ruins and most interesting relics, but here, too, the Spanish rule was cruel and destructive. In this city it never rains. 64. Q. With the exception of these and other large cities, what is the mental condi- tion of the people? It is deplorable. Even where there are ad- vantages many of the inhabitants are not really intelligent, and among the poor Indians and the masses of mixed races ignorance is dense. Patagonia, largely unexplored, holds still lower forms of humanity. 19 RELIGION. 65. Q. What is the religion of South America? The Roman Catholic. 66. Q. How and when was it introduced? In 1498, when Columbus took possession of the land in the name of Spain and the pope. 67. Q. Does this religion teach the people to worship Christ? It professes to do so, but uses so many mediums that the common people do not come to Him. The Virgin Mary and the saints are their deities. 68. Q. What represent these deities? Images of the Saviour, of Mary and the saints are found in churches and homes. The ignorant masses worship these images and become idolaters. 69. Q. But have they not our Bible? Yes, but the priests do not allow the people to have it. 70. Q. What do they teach as absolutely necessary for salvation? Baptism, the sacrifice of the mass, pen- ances and indulgences. 71. Q. To what does this lead? Utter dependence upon the priests. 72. Q. And what results? The church grows enormously wealthy and 20 powerful, the people grow poor, superstitious and helpless. 73. Q. For what must the Roman Cath- olic Church answer? For wonderful opportunities in the New World and the Orient, which it has used largely for its own aggrandizement, and not to elevate and save the millions. 74. Q. What can counteract these evils? Nothing but God’s own word honestly and openly taught and freely circulated among the people. 75. Q. Is South America especially noted as a Catholic country? In no other part of the world is this re- ligion so firmly established. This is true, though all denominations are now tolerated. 76. Q. Where is Catholicism most in- tense? In Peru. Holy Week in Lima illustrates this. The entire city is under a religious spell. “On Thursday before Good Friday a stillness creeps over the city. Railroad trains move stealthily without whistle or bell. No carriages, carts or beasts of burden are seen upon the streets. Musical instruments are closed. Flags are at half mast. The people, dressed in mourning, move in and out of the churches. Images of Christ and the Virgin Mary are conspicuous. At night in every 21 church an image of the Crucified One is displayed, and men, women and children kneel to kiss its hands and feet. For more than forty hours church services, ceremonies and processions prevail. Then come the round of cannon, bells, bands, firecrackers and rockets, while business of all kinds is resumed. On Easter Sunday the theatres and bull rings are thrown open, and masquerade balls and other forms of amusement claim all attention.” 77. Q. What statement is made by one who knows the facts? “Nevertheless the power of the priesthood, we are credibly informed, is on the wane. They owe the loss of it, in a great measure, to the gross abuse of their positions and their shamefully immoral lives.” MISSIONS. 78. Q. How was Protestantism first car- ried into Brazil? By religious teachers sent by Calvin and his friends from Geneva. They were soon scat- tered by persecution and some were killed. 79. Q. What church first established a mission? The Methodist Episcopal Church begun work in 1836 in Rio de Janeiro, being the first to enter that field. For some reason this work 22 was abandoned until later, and the South American Conference was not organized until 1893. In 1897 the portion on the Pacific coast was set off as the “Western South American Mission Conference.” 80. Q. In what republics are its stations? Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Bolivia. The West Mission Conference has work in Chili and Peru. 81. Give some statistics, of the work. The South American Conference is divided into four districts. There are thirty-nine sta- tions and seventeen missionaries of the Gen- eral Missionary Society. Native preachers take a part of the stations. In 1898 there were 1,983 members, 1,289 probationers, 3,236 Sunday-school scholars. These churches pay about one-half their annual expenses. 82. Q. What threatened to interfere with Protestant missions at one time? The Spanish-American war. Spanish sub- jects were among the supporters of Christian work and were for a time liable to foreign in- fluences, but these difficulties were overcome. An evening paper in Buenos Ayres raised the question as to the secret of the superiority of North American civilization, and the answer was “La Biblia” (the Bible). 83. Q. What are the prospects of the South American Conference? 23 There are many encouraging features. New church buildings are contemplated, a most encouraging school for boys from tenement houses in the slums of Buenos Ayres is being sustained. Epworth Leagues are uniting the young people, the Bible is being circulated more widely and a spirit of courage and en- enterprise prevails. 84. Q. Describe the Western Mission Conference. Missions in Chili were commenced in 1887 by Rev. William Taylor. They are conducted on the “self-supporting plan.” There were eight missionaries in Peru and thirty-five in Chili in 1898-99. The conference has four districts, 519 members, 540 probationers, 1,226 Sunday-school scholars. In this conference are Santiago College, Concepcion College, American College (Concepcion), Iquique College, Temuco School and an Orphans’ In- dustrial Home. 85* Q. What is the Woman’s Foreign Missionary Society doing in South America? Its work was begun in 1874. There has never been a large force of missionaries, but schools have been established in Asuncion, Buenos Ayres, Montevideo, Rosario and Callao. 86. Q. What is the hope of woman’s work? 24 The possibility of retaining girls until their habits are formed and they develop a Chris- tian womanhood. “The longei the girls re- main in school the more active and earnest they become.” 87. Q. How has the school in Callao, fPeru, prospered? Through opposition and persecution a splendid success has been won, especially among ladies in good social position. With money for suitable buildings its permanence is assured. 88. Q. What is the summary of the woman’s work in South America? This society had in 1898-99 nine mission- aries, one Bible reader, four boarding schools, with 385 pupils, and nine day schools, with 51 1 pupils. 89. Q. What is the general outlook for South America? The various denominations now success- fully at work there are fully convinced that no heathen land needs the presence and power of the Holy Spirit more than does this nominally Christian country, filled, as it is, with images, idolatrous ceremonies, super- stition, immorality and ignorance. To this great population of a rich and beautiful land must be repeated the old remedy applied to one possessed of evil spirts, “And they brought him to Jesus.” Flag Series Facts from Foreign Fields. No. i. China. No. 2. India. No. 3. Japan. No. 4. Africa. No- 5. Korea and Tibet. No- 6. South America. No. 7. Mexico. No. 8. Italy. By Mrs . 0 . IF. Scott. Price, 5 cents each. 50 cents per dozen. • CHILDREN’S MISSIONARY FRIEND. T'HIS is a twelve-page illustrated paper, published 1 monthly, subscription price 20 cents per an- num. Ten copies or more, addressed to one person, 10 cents each. Sample copies sent on application for use in canvassing. SEND TO PAULINE J. WALDEN, 36 Bromfield Si., Boston, Mass.