The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1873-07-25

BOLIVAR, HARDEMANI CO. O.,

= T---T77 ~
on the Central Pacific road. We met
none on the Kansas Pacific, or Union
Pacific beyond Cheyenne. But here
they exist in abundance. They belong
to the Piute- tribe, and the name well
describes them, although I do not know
what it signifies. But it sounds some
thing as they look. The men are of
medium stature, broad features, and
short heads. The women are like them.
The hair of both is black, coarse and
long, with a luster to it that shows it
did not come out of stores. 1t is
lcombed straight down around, and
nearly hides their faces. If it quite
concealed themthe hair would hayemore
friends than Jim Fisk possessed before
he fell and killed himself. s..-s-- .-
The men wore blankets and pants.
The blankets had the appearance of
having been used to smother a fire in a
slaughter house. And the pants, well,
one look at the pants would fetch tears
from any distance. I don't know as
their faces were dirty. Perhaps they
we're not. If any one could get down
to where their faces are he would find
out. " -' '- s-- sa-i
They were strong, healthy looking
men and women, but they didn't have
that ferocity about them that scares
work. How they live I do not know.
they may hunt for living. IF so, it
goes to show how wonderful are the
ways of creation. I know of no better
place to hunt for living than on those
plains. rlaar 7f rliv aEasa-z.
|. There was none of that wild grandeur
of apparel which I had been led by cir
Gus. Representations to believe monopo-
lied the trunks of .savages. The blank
ct and pants, with a soft hat, where
there was any hat at all, constituted the
wardrobe of both sexes - s..a
There were no feathers, no fringes.
But there was paint. It was streal1ed
across the face in different hues. They
evidently gave a great deal of attention
to this branch of art, and had attained
/ a success that appeared marvellous.
When you got down from the car in the
night, and in the light OF the station
lamp saw one of these sample clerks
from the great national paint-shop
come toward you, you got on the car
again. You may not have sprung on.
But that's the way it looks.
We passed a few of their houses.
Some of these we're formed of poles set
in a circle in the earth, and tied at the
top with strips of hide, and partly Gov
cred with bits of cloth. In the center
of this pavilion fire of sticks and roots
cooks the meals, and here the family
gathers to think of the traditions of the
past, and cough up smoke.
The Pukes-that is, the Piutes-are
people of few pleasures. They have
no homes, SO they ride on the cars to
pass away time. They get up on the
platforms to the baggage and postal
cars, and will sit there for hours and
dodge cinders. When they become
tired of the motion they will get down.
Wherever they stop they are at home.
They may miss their clean linen and
bath and parlor organ, but they control
their emotion so perfectly that you do
not suspect it. ....... .. ......-
Beyond Sherman, the highest point
OF the road, we met the Chinese, and
have had them in several capacities ever
since. They have chartered back to us
as track hands, and comforted us as
cooks, and exasperated us as walters.
But. in looking back over the trip, we
can conscientiously say. that we feel no
Ill toward John. In all phases in which
we have met him, we have found him
patient, industrious, temperate and
good-natured. All these qualities show
in their expression. I cannot now re-
call single yicious-looking Chinaman.
Their costume on the road is a loose
blouse of blush color and light materi-
al, and pants of the same stuff The
| blouse came to the knees. Their shoes
were mostly the wooden pattern. Sur
mounting their shapely heads were
straw turbans, with wide brim and with
| edges that curl under. Something like
| the cap to an acorn. In the cities they
wear soft wool hats with straight, mar
row brims. All of them wear the cue
on some it is pendant; on others it
| forms coil at the back of the head.
This mode of wearing the hair indicates
the company to which they belong. As
| ;Eo., tho l,I1,Isl, TDI1,,-, - i l.,
one Of spotless white. And they make
good walters, although there is occa-
sionally difficulty IN fixing their atten-
ton on you. Both men and women
preserve the customs of their native
land, though IN eostuming colors are
avoided. . -.-. I'D ~
Car life on the plains is monotonous.
Anticipation, regret, guide-books,
watches and meals absorb most of the
leisure, although there is little time
devoted to lying about various subjects
But you find people who can lie sc
much more tOTtUously than You car
that this department Is soon vacated.
The eating occurs pretty regularly
The meals are uniformly good and vel
served. / can hardly tell you what
1 they are composed of, and it is too deli
cate subject to guess at The steal
was always tough. It was so constantly
tough that the fact finally filed me-
with Hneasiness. They say it was beef
and hope it was. We had other meats
cut from the same animal, and a goot
selection of vegetables. The coffee ant
tea were always excellent, and so wa,
H. I,oo5 IT. - -1- ~