Conclusion
The foregoing are but a few portions of the accounts published in Consul Casement’s Report given by the Barbados men whose statements were taken. They have been here selected to show that the worst stories of almost incredible barbarity were more than confirmed. No apology is needed for setting them forth in this book. It is in the interests of truth and justice that one half of the world should know how another, remoter half lives. The history of the affair throws a light on the curious character of people of various nationalities connected with it. The Latin Americans, even those who committed the most appalling deeds, are such people as would under ordinary circumstances receive the traveller with high-sounding phrases of hospitality. Away from the restraining power of civilisation and public opinion, it is seen that men of certain character easily revert to primitive instincts of cruelty and oppression, and hold human life the cheapest thing on earth. The terrible indictment that has been made of Peruvian methods away from the influence of their cities shows how far from the principle of self-government the people of Latin America still are. It is to be recollected, moreover, that these poor forest Indians differ very little from the people who have formed the basis of Peruvian and Latin American nationality generally: whilst the Indians and Cholos of the uplands, who are still subjected to oppression and civic negligence, are those from whom Peru and others of the Andine republics draw, and always will draw, unless a strong tide of immigration sets in, the bulk of their citizens. The governing Peruvians and Bolivians of to-day are formed from that race. They bear its stamp upon their faces and cuticle. This brown race, which has, in Mexico and Peru, produced statesmen and law-givers, is nothing to be ashamed of, yet the mestizos, or people of mixed race, forming the bulk of the Latin American nations, are harsher in their conduct towards the Indian than are white men. Comparatively few women from Spain have entered the New World. The Indians have formed the mothers of the Peruvians and their neighbours, from Presidents and Cabinet Ministers downwards. These poor women, who have been outraged, starved, murdered, or burnt alive, are of their own flesh. What reparation will Peru make to expiate these terrible outrages against man and Nature? How will it compensate the relatives of the murdered, or the scarred and ruined survivors? Furthermore, what reparation will the European shareholders of the now liquidated company make?
The pressing necessity for Peru—as for every other land and nation—is to awaken to the necessity for a new doctrine and science regarding the disposal of the resources of the earth and the enjoyments of its fruits by those who have their being upon it. Until this is done, commercialism and oppression will continue to go hand in hand.
Editor.
Notes
1 Garcilaso was born in 1540.
2 Pronounced Put-oo-my-o.
3 See “Peru” by the present writer, London, 1909.
4 The present writer travelled extensively in this region, which he described in an address to the Royal Geographical Society, and in his book, “The Andes and the Amazon.” London, 1907: T. Fisher Unwin (4th edition).
5 Foreign Office Reports, Miscellaneous, No. 8, 1912.
6 “The Secret of the Pacific.” London: T. Fisher Unwin, 1912.
7 Documentos oficiales del Departmento de Loreto, Lima, 1905, of which extracts were published in “The Andes and the Amazon.”
8 Jorge von Hassel.
9 Name given to the Indians.
10 Slave raids.
11 See Consul Casement’s Reports.
12 These abuses of the Upland Indians are constantly being carried out. Whilst this book was in press accounts were received of systematic ill-treatment, murder, and slavery of the natives in the Montaña of Cuzco and elsewhere, published in El Comercio of Lima under date of June and July, 1912. These districts are by no means remote from centres of government.
13 The ignorance or hypocrisy of the Peruvian Legation in this connection was fully brought forward in Truth.
14 The general public are insufficiently aware of the extensive and valuable work carried on by this society (Denison House, London), in the protection of native races against slavery all over the world, nor of the public support it merits.
15 The most serious charge was one brought by the Peruvian director of the Company, Julio Cesar Arana, against an English army officer who had travelled on the Putumayo and witnessed the atrocities committed upon the Indians. According to this charge, which was supported by a document, recorded in a minute upon the Company’s books and issued in a printed circular to the shareholders in December, 1909, this officer called upon Arana in London, entertained him at the United Service Club and Café Royal, and offered to suppress a Report he had made for the British Foreign Office upon the subject, which was, he stated, of a nature such as would ruin the Company, if Arana and the other directors would pay him £1,000 to cover his expenses on the Putumayo. The directors refused and the officer sent in the Report. The travels of this officer are mentioned in Mr. Casement’s Report. The matter is mentioned here in the interests of common fairness.
16 The present writer had been asked by the Company’s directors in October, 1909, to head this commission, and was prepared to go, but no action was taken: and again in May, 1910, but being engaged on the publication of his book, “An Imperial Commonwealth,” at that time, regretted he was unable to do so.
17 In this connection it is to be recollected that the English directors of the company disclaimed previous knowledge of the subject, as they were deceived by their Peruvian colleagues.
18 The present writer has, in his books, endeavoured to show forth the possibilities of Peru, and the good points of its people, towards whom as a nation he retains feelings of friendship. But no service is performed by attempting to conceal the serious defects of character displayed in Peruvian individuals and governance.
19 See Consul Casement’s Report.
20 The present writer has, in South America, been hailed as a “fellow-countryman,” by chance Barbadoes men, with that singular cordiality which is one of their characteristics. “How do you do, sir! I’m an Englishman too,” they will say, with outstretched hand.
21 American Review of Reviews, September, 1912.
22 The two American travellers were left without resources in Iquitos, and came to London under considerable difficulties. Hardenburg was accused by the company of attempted blackmail, in the laying of his evidence before the editor of Truth and the Anti-Slavery Society. By a fortunate coincidence there arrived at that moment a letter, announcing that the Peruvian Government, due to representation made by the United States, had agreed to pay over to the two travellers an indemnity of £500. The Peruvian Legation at the same time was publishing letters in the London Press actually denying that such occurrences had taken place.
23 See Board of Trade Journal, September, 1912.
24 The present writer has proposed at various times, in letters to the Press and to the Chambers of Commerce, the establishment of a strong Latin American Bureau in London, for the purpose of fostering trade with those lands, of bringing forward their geographical possibilities and natural resources, and of insisting upon attention being paid to the condition of Latin American labour. In the United States a strong organisation exists in the Pan-American Union at Washington for dealing with the first two items here proposed, and due to its exertions the United States are securing a much larger share of Latin American trade than formerly.
25 Mistress.
26 After the ancient Incas of Peru.—Editor.
27 Food for the journey.
28 Porters.
29 Packages.
30 Ravine.
31 Hut.
32 Shambles.
33 Slippery Stone.
34 Native maize beer.
35 Tropical lands.
36 Bixa orellana.
37 A skin disease.
38 Blow-pipe.
39 Native alcohol or rum.
40 Cedrela odorata.
41 Swietenia mahogani.
42 Nectandra.
43 Callophilum brasiliense.
44 Hura.
45 Acrodiclidium itauba.
46 Atrocarium.
47 Abrus precatorius.
48 Bactris ciliata.
49 Iriartea deltoida.
50 Iriartea ventricosa.
51 Phitelephas macrocarpa.
52 Crescentia cuyete.
53 Carica papaya.
54 Citrus limonum.
55 Lucuma caimita.
56 Anacardium occidentale.
57 Guilielma speciosa.
58 Artocarpus incisa.
59 Tapirus americanus.
60 Dicotyles labiatus.
61 Hydrochœrus capibara.
62 Cervus.
63 Bradypus.
64 Dasypus.
65 Cecropia peltata.
66 Yacquinia armillaris.
67 Musa paradisiaca.
68 Zea maiz.
69 Manihot utilissima.
70 Manihot aypi.
71 Cerveza peruviana.
72 Vine or creeper.
73 Genipa oblongifolia.
74 Boatmen.
75 Chimbada.
76 Rhea Americana.
77 The Golden Beach.
78 Gynerium segitatum.
79 PhϾna brasiliensis.
80 Hydrochœrus capibara.
81 Felis onca.
82 Felis onca nigra.
83 Felis concolor.
84 Felis pardalis.
85 Felis tigrina.
86 framework of unseasoned wood built over an open fire to suspend meat, &c., from.
87 The travellers seem to have encountered a numerous fauna.—Editor.
88 Ramphastas discolorus.
89 Portage.—Editor.
90 American slang term for a drinking bout.—Editor.
91 Simia mycetes.
92 This concern was, before October 1, 1907, a Peruvian Company, the J. C. Arana and Hermanos Company.
93 One sol (S.) is equivalent to about two shillings.
94 The full name appears in the manuscript.
95 This, of course, was all a gigantic deception, but I firmly believe that it saved our lives, for at the time it was rumoured that a big American syndicate was going to begin operations on the Upper Putumayo.
96 The scars on their backs from floggings, called so after Julio C. Arana, the organiser and chief stock-holder of the Peruvian Amazon Company.
97 Many of these have recently been published in Truth.—Author.
98 Executioners, torturers.
99 It is to be noted that, although a year and a half has elapsed since these outrages were committed, the American Government, in accordance with its immemorial custom and in spite of our appeals, has so far done absolutely nothing on our behalf.—Author. [Later on the two travellers received £500.—Editor.]
100 The bandit Burga.
101 The celebrated Zapata.
102 This account cannot be printed.—Editor.
103 The first settlers in the Igaraparaná.
104 These three monsters are jointly responsible with Julio César Arana for the hellish crimes of the Putumayo to be described later. Alarco is now managing director of this syndicate of crime, and at present is busily engaged in swindling the public.—Author.
105 It was in this epoch that Cecilio Plata and his employees were murdered on the banks of the Caquetá for having dared to enter into relations with the Indians of that region, who were afterwards enslaved by the criminal syndicate.—Author.
106 About this time Matías Pérez on the River Napo was forcibly ejected from his estate, which, with all its appurtenances, passed into the possession of the company.
107 A hint regarding these methods is given subsequently.
108 It is difficult to think that the European directors of the company were really cognisant of the crimes. As to the charge of culpability of negligence, and of their liability to shareholders under company law, these matters are being investigated, both before the Courts and by a special Commission in the House of Commons.—Editor.
109 Sábado de gloria, literally Saturday of Glory, is the day following Good Friday.
110 From La Sanción of Iquitos, Peru.
111 One arroba is equivalent to 15 kilos or just over 30 lbs.
112 Fabrico, a period of a little over three months.
113 One centavo is equal to one farthing in English money.
114 Robuchon was a French explorer, commissioned in 1904 by the Peruvian Government to make explorations, maps sketches, &c., and take photographs of the region of the Putumayo. He spent about two years there, traversing nearly the whole of the district occupied by the “civilising company,” when in 1906 he suddenly disappeared in the vicinity of a point called El Retiro. As he is known to have taken several photographs of the horrible crimes committed there, it is thought by many that he was victimised by the employees of Arana. Considering the character of these miserable criminals and certain other peculiar circumstances that are said to have taken place, it would not be strange if such were really the case.—Author.
115 Personal, a gang of men.
116 Cauchero, rubber-collector.
117 An error of España’s. Aristides, not Juan Rodriguez.
118 We shall see later how the Iquitos authorities proceeded in this matter.—Author.
119 Tambo, small, empty hut of thatch.
120 Both of these copper-complexioned monsters were formerly barefooted peons of Chachapoyas, Peru. Going to the Putumayo, they began their career of butchery, and by dint of continual crime have succeeded in amassing a small fortune. Arístides has since retired and now lives in Iquitos, a proud member of the aristocracia of that place, but Aurelio still continues his sanguinary labours in Santa Catalina.—Author.
121 The chiefs of section call their criminal assistants secretaries.—Author.
122 It is impossible to print the whole of this description.—Editor.
123 Although full accounts appeared in Truth in 1909, it was not until long afterwards, when the accounts had been confirmed, that the London daily Press took the matter up.
124 Mr. Casement received the honour of knighthood after his return.
125 This has been commented upon in the Introduction.—Editor.
126 Equal to about 105 lbs.—Editor.
127 See p. 32.
128 In outlying places in Peru and other Latin American countries it is extremely difficult to obtain the conviction of or even to sustain a process against wealthy or influential persons, as in small localities the “justices” are completely overawed or influenced by them. There is, moreover, a strong element of police-court methods in Latin America such as has been rendered familiar by occurrences in New York.—Editor.
129 Some further arrests have been made since.—Editor.