Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1854-07-28
MISCELLANY.



New Grenada.
The lower classes do not burden them
selves with much dress and it is quite COM
mon to see laborers and bOatmen walking the
streets with no other vestmcnt than piece of
rag tied around the middle. The Indians
sometimes resort to the less expensive subst-
tute of painting their bodies. The first spc-
cimcn of this operation that fell under our
notice, was at the mouth of the River Opa-
gado, where we stopped for one night. An
Indian dance was to take place that evening
within few miles, and an Indian woman
nearly naked, was painting pair of black
brccclcs on her husband, who was otherwise
entirely destitute Of clothing. Squatted on
the river bank in front of their hut, with a
calabash of black dive between them, she was
literally smearing the contents over him with
her hands. They rescmbled a brace of So
lcmn balloons at mischief over tar pot, lie
had cable of strings of beads around his
neck, while his wrists were graccd with
silver bracelets about six inches deep, resem-
bling two beer mugs with the bottoms
Knocked out. When the hrccchcs were
finished, she added II pair of susprndcrs, and
then, by way Of finale, applied two or three
spats of color to his snout. whcn 10 before
us stood the beau ideal of the Indian dandy
of the Atrato the - finished gentleman from
top to toe" She regarded HIM for IL mo-
ment with admiration,- ,-'' He was all her
fancy painted him He, gazing for mo-
mcnt at the neat fit of his pants, emitted a
grunt of satisfaction, then seized his paddle,
and with two bounds down the steep river
bank, sprang into his little canoe, and shot
away to the dance.
Black and red appear to be almost the only
colors used, and their employment SO far as
| observed, was confined to the Indians the
negroes not appearing to have much taste for
his branch of the fine arts.
On the San Juan, we afterwards met with
some tattooed Indians.
The passion for gambling pervades, more
or less, all classes Those Of the lower grades
seem to be actually inpatient to get rid of
their money us fast as they earn it and sur
plus funds are sure to vanish at cards, or a
cock-fght, at the earliest opportunity that
offers.
All classes, when properly approached
evince an almost innate courtesy, and desire
TO please. During a residence of several
years in New Granada, | have been repeated
ly brought into contact with persons Of every
grade, from the highest to the lowest ; and
from all alike have invariably experienced
the freest hospitality, and unfailing courtesy
This latter trait of character actually appears
to he inborn, and not the result of education
Ask any little naked Senior Caballero Jesus,
or equally naked little Senorita " Conception
de la Nirgen,'- whom you may chance to
encounter in the street, to allow you to light
! your segar by the one he or she may he
smoking it is instantly presented in grace
| full manner, with "con mucho gusto Senior.
| with much pleasure, sir,) The youngest
child will never be seen to laugh at your de-
plorable efforts at speaking Spanish, but will
! listen and reply to you with decorous gra-
witty that might shame Senator.
! never, in all my Granadian experience,
felt myself to be among ruihans and the
only precaution necessary to ensure the kind
ness and good will Of all, is, mlloly to CON
duct yourself in a manner deserving of them
1t is to be regretted that this simple means OF
attaining so desirable an object should be Sc
seldom resorted to by either the English OF
Americans who travel among them, aud who
! appear to rely more upon snohbish and vul.
gar assumption of superiority, which, while
It is almost invariably endured with for
bearaucc and politcness, fails IN etlccting
more than conviction, on the part Of thcil
auditors, that their guests are, at least, oX
| tremely ill bred. \ thousand times have
had reason to be ashamed at the contrast be
tween my own cOuntrymen and even tn,
lowest classes of New tranadians. in poin
of conventional courtesics John Bull anC
Brother Jonathan, with all their boastng
are, 50 far as my opportunities OF observation
extend, the most unfit (money and courag
excepted, y of all the nations of the earth, L
travel with enjoyment to themselves and t
those with whom they are brought in contact
The French, Germans. Spanish, indeed, The
representatives. Of all the nations with whom
have met in my wandcrings, enjoy an apti
tude ul assimilation, II certain faculty of lie
ing happy, and making others happy al
ease OF conformity to the customs of the pllc
IN which they happen to find themselves, lo
winch we look III vain, in the owl-likc, ,stulid
sclt-suihcient, hull-doggedncss of the Anglo
Saxon race. Among the Indian tribe, t,rourl
which passed, laid aside my pistols, arme,
myself with pocket lull Of scgars II pre-
sent Of an empty sardine box was more ciicc
tive than two-edged sword and lump o
our sugar to a papoose was better passpor
than my government could have furnished
'"Gcntleman Jesu. - Conception of tho Viz
gin :" not uncommon names.