Finally, two well-known Colombians, who are under the orders of the agency of El Encanto, flogged the _Capitánes_ Cuyo, Guema, and Nampí, of the Yaquebuas tribe, and _Capitán_ Acate, of the Nuisayes; the first was flogged to death and the others, after the flagellation, were kept chained up for several months, all for the "crime" of their people in not delivering the number of kilos of rubber fixed by the company. Just before these occurrences one of the men in reference murdered three Indians, stabbing them with his own hands.
These are the actual deeds that are carried out constantly in the Putumayo, and for the lack of one kilogram in the weight of their quota of rubber they murder, mutilate, and torture the people.
The relation which I have just made of some of the many crimes committed in this tragic territory of the Putumayo is made only for the sake of the suffering and defenceless Indians in the hope that a stop will be put to the crimes. It is inconceivable that within two steps of Iquitos, where there are political authorities[118] and a superior court of justice, crimes of the class I have described are committed.
_Translated from "La Sanción," August 29, 1907._
SEÑOR BENJAMIN SALDAÑA ROCCA,--I have heard that you are about to begin a legal action denouncing the criminal deeds committed in the Arana "possessions" on the tributaries of the River Putumayo, and as I was an eye-witness of many of these tragedies I will recount to you what I have seen.
We had scarcely arrived at La Chorrera when Señor Macedo ordered us to the section of José Inocente Fonseca, who was then on a _correría_. The food given us was a little _fariña_ and water, but Fonseca and his numerous concubines ate abundant viands. We stopped at night at one of the many _tambos_[119] in this region, the hammocks were slung, the sentinels were posted, and those who did not mount guard lay down to sleep. Within a few hours I heard people arriving, and three Indians entered, each one carrying on his back several small bundles, wrapped up in what looked like baskets. The chief was awakened, and he told them to unroll what they had brought.
I thought they were fruits or something of that sort, but what was my horror when on unwrapping the coverings there appeared first the head of an Indian, second that of a woman, and third that of an infant, and so on for the rest. The emissary as he unwrapped the heads explained, "This is that of So-and-So, this other that of his wife, the third that of his son," and so on. Fonseca, with the utmost unconcern, as though they were cocoa-nuts or other fruits, took them in turn by the hair, examined them, and then threw them away. I do not record the names of the victims, Señor Saldaña, for they were Indian names, difficult to remember. This took place in Ultimo Retiro, among the nation or sub-tribe of the pacific Aifugas Indians, in March, 1906.