The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1875-06-16

The N. Y. Tribune gives tho fol.
lowing pi,turo of life Oh the Atrato
riyor i'll Central America
This portion of tho Atrato mav hc
said to be the most.populous, with the
exception Of Quibdo,. rear the head. .
waters, and tho center of tho miniuy
instruct. Both banks were lined with
plantations Of maize, sugar cane.
plantains and banauas. Eyorv troni'
cal fruit flourishes, and the soil
makes abundant returns for any labor
OF the husIandman. Tho fertility Of
tho country is its curse. Food can
DO raised with 50 little labor that the
inhabitants arc very lazy. An acre
OF wheat, which would afford susie,
nance for ono man, will in plantains
supply twenty-five persons with food
AS the warmth and even temperature
renders clothing an article Of !uxurv
not OF necessity, dress is Il mattor Of
MINOR consideration. From tho canc
the Juice is expressed in tho rudcst
pos"lbio manner, aad from this iuic,
an Intoxicating drink is madc by fer.
mentatlon, which scoms to answer IN,
purpose Of making mou drunk As we'll
rs our best "corn juice" Cocoa is
raised in small quantities, and deli.
clous chocolate is made thcrcfrom,
Nature is bountouus, and all uhvsic,i
needs arc supplied with very litllc
labor: When 'oAdy money is needed
the father Of the family loads his
canoes with plautaius, and takur hi,
machotc, gun and dog, sets out for
tho mountains in SO .rch Of caontrl,oun
The spot selected for his onryot;on,
being reached, temporary s'ranch,"
IS constructed, aud his hunt for the
rubber trees begins. Cutting n
branch haro and there as a guide for
ms return, with his quick eve search,
ing Tor tho white barked, brieht green
leaVcd troe, the sap of which is such
Il precious article Of commerce, he
1orees MS way through The dense for.
cs1s I'LL tree is found. AS may be
SUPPOSE, there is much luck in such
WORK. Days may pass without a
single tree being found, and. oo,in
one days work Will mark dozen
trees. Tho troc being found, fow
outs with tho machctc start tho heavy
sap downward, and largo oulabasi,
on the ground receives the lluiI rubL,r
as 1t runs. Tho sap is subsequently,
vuso"' ] INTO uoep pits dug in tho
s,ouno, kept covered with wator,
soon loses its white color, and as it
sol'uiiies becomes black. \ large
tree VIII yield rs much rs 200 pounds,
small one scarcely SO. When n
su1licicnt quantity has been collected
TO pay or Old scoros, tho rubber is
loaocd III canoes, and taken to tho
Atrato' where it yields $50 to the
.oo weight. Ready money being
thus obtained, the native once again
Eetlres to the bosom OF his family, to
smoke and dozo till tho sharp tongue
OF tho wife shall driTo him forth to
renewed labors. The fanianeo is
'ho only amusement. To tho rude
music native drum and Gfc, and
STIMULATED by copious libations Of
ahiSado,' II villAinous beverage, the
"ahcins Is kept up tor twelve hours
"' tiIAe. The manner of dancing is
sach that severe fatigno is avoided,
.ho measures being SLOW, and the
movements more Of tho body than of
inc limbs. Some of the figures arc
very stately and dignifcd, While 9th.
vs. ufe more luxurious than corrot
sas'e @ would approve. With the ex.
ception OF tax on rubber, there are
~ other burdens imposed upon the
people, and happier, moro careless
CLASS 1t would be difficult to find.