Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1855-06-28
THE LAZY MANS PARADISE.

THE LAZY MANS PARADISE.
In Lieutenant Gibson's account Of his explor-
alton of the Valley of the Amazon, or rather
one OF its main branches, the Madeira river.
Executive document No. 36] from the Pacific
side, we find the following account of the daily
life of Creole family in the town of Santa
CRUZ, the capital of the Bolivian department of
that name. For lazy man, Santa Cruz de Bo-
livia must be perfect paradise, to soy nothing
OF the chance bachelor has of being able to
choose partner in city where there ore five
women to one man:
Very early in the morning, the Creole getting
out of bed throws himself into hammock
his wife stretches himself upon bench near by,
while the children seat themselves with their
legs under them on the chairs, all in their night
dresses The lnlian servant girl enters with
cup of chocolate for each member of the fami-
ly; after which she brings some Goals of fire in
silver dish The wife lights her husband a
cigar, then one for herself Some time is spent
in reclining, chatting and regaling. The man
slowly puts on his cotton trowsers, wollen coat,
leather shoes and vicuna hat, with his neck ex-
posed to the fresh air-silk handkercbiefs are
scarce-and walks to some neighbor's, with
whom he again drinks some chocolate and
smokcs another cigar,
At midday small low table is set in the
middle of the room, and the family got break
fast. The wife sits next to her husband; the
women are very pretty, and afiectionate to their
husbands. He chooses her from among five,
there being about that number of women to one
man in the town. The children seat themselves,
and the dogs form ring behind. The first dish
isa chupe of potatoes, with large pieces Of
meat. The man helps himself first, and throws
his bones straight across the table; child
lodges his head to give it a free passage, and
the dogs rush after it as it falls upon the ground
floor. child then throws his bone, the moth
er dodges, and the dogs rush behind her. The
second dish holds small pieces of beef without
bones. Next comes a dish of finely chopped
beef, then beef-soup, vegetables, and fruits
finally, coffee or chocolate. After breakfast the
man pulls off his trowsers and coat, and lies
down in the hammock. His wife lights him
cigar. She finds her way back to bed with her
, cigar. The dogs jump up and lie on the chairs
tho fleas bite them on the ground The In
dian girl closes both doors and windows takes
the children out to play, while the rest of the
family sleep.
At two P. NJ, the church bells ring to let the
people know the priest is saying prayer for
, them which rouses them. The man rises,
streatches his hand above his head and gapes;
the dogs get down and whiningly streatch them
selves. while the wife gets up in bed and loudly
calls out for fire; the Indian girl re-appears
with "chunk" for her mistress to light her
master another cigar, and she smiles again her
self The dinner, which takes place between
three and FIVE, is nearly the same as breakfast,
except when beef is recently killed by the In
: dams, when they have boil The ribs and
other long bones of the animal are trimmed with
.. fssh, lsavsng the bones only coated with meat
these are laid across fire and roasted the mem
!. bers'of the family while employed with them,
look Us II all were practicing music.
A horse is brought into the house by an In
dian man, who holds him while "the patronn
saddles and brides him he then puts on o
large pair of silver spurs, which cost forty
dollars, and mounting, he rides out of the front
door to the opposite house halting, he takes of
his hat and cries out d" Baenas, tardes, senori-
y tas'-good evening, ladies. The ladies make
/. their appearance at the door one lights him .
cigar, another mixes him glass Of lemonade,
!. to refresh himself after the ride. He remains
in the saddle talking, while they lean gracefully
!. against the door post, smiling with their be-
W witching eyes. He touches his hat and rides of
N to another neighbor. After spending the after
N noon in this way, he rides into the house again
"a The Indian holds the horse by the bride, while
- the master dismounts. Taking of the saddle,
he throws it into one chair, the bride into an
d other the spurs on third and himself into the
is hammock the Indian leads out the horse, the
" dogs pull dowu the riding gear to the floor, and
'. Law themselves on their usual bedstesds Choc'
8 late and cigars are repeated.