Osage Valley banner. (Tuscumbia, Miller County, Mo.) 1879-1881, 1881-02-24

TINS toll. while tho children, who ia
other lands would be deemed infnnts.
make themselves generally useful ia
picking weeds and many other duties
neeessitntiDg light labor.
Before the sun gilds the horizon and
white the dew is yet fresh on the grass
the family are astir, and from early
morning WI evening their entire atten-
ton Is bestowed upon their crop, either
IN weeding, watering. or picking. dur
ing the day; and sometimes at night, in
| keeping wild animals from intruding
Rpa seslEs ils.ss. : \ zl.as.s ,soai ::s.sis !
DGl CT y eRfs.
THE wants OF the hnsbandman are
bat few Four mud walls aud thatch-
ed roof compose the fanily mansion;
and ia such a hovel will he live for
generations. A scant cloth tied round
his ioins serves for coat and pantaloons.
When he desires To appear 10 adYapt-
age huge cotton sheet thrown in
graceful folds around his body, serves
as gala costume on occasions OF great
festiyity. His little Children are in
state Of utter nudity, even in the cold
est weather. and when IL Is borne in
mind that from October til February
the weather Is great deal colder than
II is in San Francisco, some idea OF the
hardy nature of native children chh be
formed. The women are somewhat
better clothed; a simple petticoat and
a gay -colored sheet has for the last
5000 years formed their attire. But,
whatever money tho husbandman
gains, he converts into jewelry, which
forms the real wealth Of the ma
tive landowner, and is regarded by na-
tiVes much in the same way as a Euro
pean looks upon bank account, In
times OF acute distress he can always
part, even at premium, with his
wifs's ornaments The HindoO religion
demands that certain ornaments must
be worn by married women. When the
contracting parties are poor they make
them of lead, bnt directly fortune
smiles iavorably they are exchanged
for gold and silver The small farmer
lives with but three objects, that is, to
load his wife with ornaments TO eat on
brass platters, and 10 he able, on the
marriage of his son. 10 make grand
display. 10 attain this end he win suf-
fer years of deprivation and inconve-
nience, and his mafy years savings
viii be wasted in single week OF jOlli-
fioation.
We can imagine bow glad must be
the raiat when the poppy plant has be-
gun 10 exude opium, and when his
opium has all been gathered he waits
patiently for the order to march with
the fruits of his labors to the weighing
station. H. depends entirely upon the
season as 10 when the cultiyators can
bring their opium 10 the Government
stations 10 be weighed.
As a.geuerai rule the month of April
is the commencement OF the weighing
season. Intimation is then given TO
the opium cultivators that they must
present themselves on certain day
with their opium. in order 10 have il
tested and weighed. In the districts
where the poppy plant is cultivated all
are astir, and grand preparations are
made for a general exodus. The opium
is collected safely in red earthen pots,
which are put in wicker crates, and the
whole family with burdens on their
heads make for the weighing stations I
The picturesque Indian lanes are crowd
ed with these men, marching like sheep
10 their destination. They only travel
during the night. The sultry heat OF
midday forces them 10 seek the grateful
shelter of the gardens and groves so
liberally planted along the dusty high
ways. Directly halt is called and
preparations are made for the daily
meal. After this is finished some lively
spirit starts a story recounting the saw
age doings OF the stranger who rules
the land With the terrified counte-
nances and anxious ears they listen 10
these fabulous tales; but inwardly they
bless the white face" when they think
Of the money he is soon to disburse
Many OF these ignorant oultiyators
have never seen. in their life, Euro
pean; and accept with easy credulity
anything detrimental to the character
of their Governors. No wonder Is il |
then that the native approaches the |
sahib or gentleman with the most abject |
fear painted on every limb. He holds his !
breath when sle hears him speak, and |
is ready TO faint at the slightest display
Of anger or impaticnee. These sensa-
tional stories are generally propagated
by rascally natives, who profit by the /
eredulity OF their countrymen in order
TO extort money. These men represent |
that nothing can be done without the /
bakshish or blaeknail present, and they
are the agents for the snhib, sent bV |
him 70 collect toll If the ignorant
wretch demurs, his torturer paints a
picture TO which the torments of hell |
are but trihe, The poor fellow, anx-
ious TO escape such calamities as he is
threatened, pays the demand, and fur.
ther presents bis friend with trihe in |
order that nothing Should be wrong.
Early in the morning the weighing |
and tests commence. Notice is given !
10 the cultivators. and they proceed to |
the factory. ranging themselves Ia "a
lolg fine before The examining officer.