New-York tribune., 1880-01-11

t,;rstv character as ascr,bed 10 them by Coum bus
vbo found evidences of cannibalism that made
tbem the terror of the seas Mr.. Ober had been q
month i'm the interior of Dominica, living IN th'
woods. hunting new birds. and enjoying the move
experiences of camp life IN tropical mountains
when the reports which came to him from time u
time of the Carib country determined him to pehe
trate to the stronghold. They lived secluded IRON
tbe world. had no intercourse with other people
and wandered naked in the forest. sleeping on 'ne
ground ON beds of leaves. Sending his col
lectiops of birds TO the coast the author
left the Caribbean side of the island ard marched
over the mountains toward the Atlantic. AS he rode
along. every house seemed deserted, and he met nc
one saw. the ancient king who was named after King
George ILL.,, tottering toward the plantations 70
spend for rum some money he had earned. 1be
houses are low and thatched deeply with calumet
grass and Iashed tightly upon frameworks OF poles.
Near each hut is the cook-hOuse-a roof OF thaeh
supported on four poles. Beneath this roof, on Il
few stones which support the cooking utensils Is
usually an old iron pot, which serves variety oi
Uses Twice day it is brought into requisitl0n iof
the household at other times it is open to the IN
spection of pigs and strangers -
Among men and women labor Is equally divided.
In the house te woman IN sns Ppod thew work together
She prepares all the food and makes the ,es anu az
u
point is not fruitful source OF discomfort as III
her and less-favored cllmes , A.,
The women are generally well treated and loved An
old writer saws the Carbs noted for their ndne-
ence 10 their women, while the tribes OF neghpollS
Islands were excessively fond OF their wives, those
other trbcs are now extinct but the Carb character
must have wonderfully changed for they now treat
their wives well, love them For certain hsoc,
mesncrs they claim privilege and exercise It, too ot
beating them sOundly. II woman quhffei WIN
fectops she generally treated by her lord TO an lntc
view with the stick. But as community tney dTen
together amity, loving one another ana taxing anoc
tionate interest IN their chiliren. 49,, -, A.
his hut TO native dance THIS man was very
drunk as he approached his hut he daeted IN and calico
for has WIFE What was my astonshment ~ SIC nun III
stead of pounding her, throw his arms arounu nor "'o
/ had been among them two weeks before l knew %
there were Indians in the woods about me, Other tah
those living along and near the road But one aIteI
nOon in u hunt among the hills, discovered Iour h1s
the inmates OF when, unless suddenly suIpIlssu, n'u
themselves at my approach They were dressed very
meagrely shirt for the men, aud for the women torn
children, from eight TO thirteen years Olu, enarth
naked These people never nppcaT 2 '9 ,pt negbors
dispose OF Tor them, but they never leave the "Oods
not having overcome their original saw gerry
Basketinaking is the only art they have preserved
from the teachings OF their ancestors but IN TINS ey
indeed exceI Their baskets have such a reputation
tbrovgbont ali tbe islands that they command arIe
prices, and 10 net for thclr lnnac lhLlnees hIu
,he scarcity the pecullar shrub of which tho baskets
are composed these people might attain to degree o
afIluence Thee panniers," or baskets are mauc Oh
made sometimes OF a reed called roseau, but lle best
are made from plant called the mahoe. which is now
so scarce the baskcnakers have 10 take ohg)ou
news INTO the forest TO obtain il. ~ A..
BY burying II in tho ground and using for some inc
uiccs OF certain plants they give TO the plas variety
OF colors There hcknesses, ana between them
LAYERS OF the Wild planian, when MAKE thcm prcclg
vr3tertight have one which was In nearly year,
being constantly carried the heads OF my attendants
and even yet IL WILL think, hold water All me c9hn'
try people desire 10 possess panhler OF Chr,o DahAc
which serves them as light aud portable trunk.
The Carib children should be the happiest in the
world. Unencumbcrcd by clothing. they wander
at their own sweet wills over the mountains and
along the shores. The rocky rivers give them de-
lightful retreats from the sun. where they sleep
upon the broad bosoms OF the rocks. Every member
of the household takes daily bath in the river and
hence Is always clean, though ragged. IT thor gar
ments get soed, they soon remove them. even II
they have TO wash them while Naked and wait IN
the shade while they dry In the sun. The majority
of the people 60 about amentably ragged There are
few shoes and stockings IN the community and
those who have them only put them on on great
occasions The color of the Carbs Is golden brown,
Int by change of climate and residence, and fire.
ouent intermarriages with other types and with the
negroes the genuine type is likely to disappear. The
hair is beautiful abundant. long, and purple black.
finer than that OF Indians but not 30 line as the
Caucasian -
Though early losing the grace and symnetry OF form
of cdnOod through labor IN the fields exposure 10 the
sun and a natural tendency Is cOrpucncy, D0thmeh ah
preserve the shapcest OF limbs inc arms US VI
Knots OF muscle. The head Is wei shhpen hhu RihSe
fully poised This well az the stfeightne.s oi the
hack nd backw throw OF the SrOad shoulders, may
be ing to the universal practice OF carry ne eN5
kiud OF load upon their head Inc custom oi hA.,e.s
e forehead hy compression which was universal untii
the commencement OF the present century Is not no"
practised -, , -, ,.Ao
they stood before NC. IN the prmiiye garp Q, at m
nocence and virtue, two years ago Inc boy; hse1
eleven or twelve had face round, with chin of good
shaDe and small nose rather Nat moulin hmau cars
small: eyes amOnd-shaped, with black sllken nlnge
The f0rehead broad and prominent; hair purpc-Dlaok
abundant cut short above the eyes and noNing Oenn
the shoulders straigbta pluinbllne drOppsd Ilo ,ho
junction ceryIcal and dOrsa yerteDI wOud tOuc c
heels back followed; abdomen IuI Igs sai"gr r,
hips not large but powerful; breasts wen rOuhded Inc
grl was an picture OF the boy In tho ieatlcf
above described the mouth vas daintiy cut Win thln
lips and grace and lithesone freedom were III eVeJ
turn and motion -, -. A.. -, -,
little beauties would develop into coarse, inbodicd
men aud women, Ike those about them But IL un
doubtedly would be and this nttc boy, lhOugh To
tanning longer the shapely limbs which would deYe9l
into muscular aud brawny members, would eNchlu ub
become as wrinEled and nabby as the ugiest man IN
the village and the careless little maiden. not manI
years later almost as soon az her sba2c ahd Ds WsI'
rounded and perfected, would begin 10 acquire tha
ayossnesa tbat mars madenly beauty and II marie,
at eighteen at twenty-five or thirty she would DC Od
though vigorous. and resemble those middlease'
females about her.
Mr.. Obcrs volume forms an attractive addition &
the popular library of travel as well of natura
history He makes no great pretensions to literary
skill; he is better observer than writer. and some
times INDUCES in the luxury of padding when fine
materials are not at hand but his style Is Away
animated and often spicy he is usually happy II
description he addresses tho popular taste withou
appeals to scientific pedantry and If he lights upo
a good story he knows how to tell ii very well.
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