Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1881-07-15
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A Peculiar People.

lac people OF this region sro OF an amphibi-
ous Dalure, and live so m1ch on and in the
water that most of them, am sure, arc webs
footed. They live mainly on fish, CLAIMS, oys-
ters, crabs. terrapins. and wild fowl. When
they leave home they 90 in boat, and whether
they 90 to curt or 60 courting, or to trade, or
to mill, OF to funeral. they always 60 by sail.
Their corn mills arc run By sails, and soma Of
,hcm pump their water with wiudml's They
don't go upstairs, but "go aloft;" and when
they g1 to bed they turn io;" when they ers
Ill they are under the weather" and when 10
robust health they ssy thsy are burg up and
bllse free" The speak of trim-bul sweet
heart as 'clpper built" If she is litlls stcu:
they say she is "broad 10 tho BEAM" or
she is wide across tho transom.' Many
OF them have ships cabin doors 10 their
houses, that slide Oh grooves, and to their build
!nRs thoy give coauog OF Tar Instead of paints
Ing them. The "old woman' bloss q oonch
she'll when diouer is ready and they measure
time by bells Their babies are not rocked
in cradles. but swung 10 hammocks, Thoy
chew black pie tail tobacco, aud drirk q wild
tea called "Yeopon." They manure their
land With sea grass and bury their yam potatoes
in the sand hills When they want the doctor
they hang red flag against bill side as a Gig.
nal of distress. If he don't come. because the
wind amt fair" they take dram of whisky
and copperas, coax their feet 10 sea water,
turn in' aud trust to luck. If they die they
will be buried on tho top of sand ridge; and
when you see several sail boats 90 the Wator ia
procession, With fig at half mast, you are
looking at funeral.
They ornament their houses With whales
ribs and jaws. sharks teeth; swordfsh snoots,
deVilhsh arms, sawi,h swords Isix feet long
mlnlsture ships, osmphor wood Guests, Hondu
ras gourds, spy glasses, South American ariats,
war clubs from the Mozambique Islands, Tur.
kish pipes. West Iodls shells, sandal
wood box 80. Chinese chessnen, japanese faces,
Madagascar idols, Australian boomeraugs, and
other strange, ou.lsndish thiogs Their hogs
are raised 90 CLAIMS, mussels. offsl Of fish aud
garbage. and their cattle wade out 90 the shoals
for miles, where the water covers their backs
to feed On sea grass, snd if they are carried M
country and led on corn and fodder, they will
not live.
Every mau is captain Of some kind of boat.
and she IS always better than aDy other yat
10 some way She is hard to beat 10 gallo of
wind, or before the wiod," or "bosting to
the wndward," or with tho wind on the
BEAM" or "she can sail closer 10 the wibd"
or will carry sail longest" or "hatd to beat 10
light wind." or Totes more sock," or ia
stronger" or dryer or she is biz little
boat. or draws the least water.' or needs
less ballast" or "she s the newest" or has
the best timbers," or ''steers the best" or
she is lucky boat" or ''stsuds up better"
or needs less sail than any other boat" or
''she is best for 6shiDg," &s. Perhaps "she
comes absut better than soy other boat" She
is bound to have something about her better
han anybody else's bost.-Raleigh Ncaos and
Observer.