Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-11-17
The Little Grass.seller.


The Indians and negroes of warm coun.
tries carry heavy loads. They acquire
great skill and strength in this way, and
can support heavy burdens that white
man could hardly lift. Not only do they
bear them upon their backs, but even
upon their heads. l have had my trunks
carried upon the heads of negroes, in the
mountains of the West Indies, for many
miles. AS they practice this mode from
the time they can walk, they balance al
most any object upon their head without
holding it with the hands. Always, in
going to market, they place their produce
in basket, or tray, on the tops of their
heads, and walk gayly along swinging their
arms free. Even a small thing, like an
apple or an orange, they carry in this way,
they have got so in the habit of it. This
practice has given them strong necks and
broad, straight shoulders.
The Indians, though they can also carry
great loads on their heads, yet prefer, as a
rule, to carry them on their backs. In
Mexico they take the load upon the shout
ders and keep it in place with broad
cotton or leather band around the forehead.
They will trot many mile in this way,
they will trot; and so they do, for their
gait is much faster than walk.
South of the United States is country
called Yucatan. 1t pushes itself in the
Gulf of Mexico, and lies near to Cuba.
Here it was that l saw the men and women
used as beasts of burden, Going along the
country roads at night, | have met hun
dreds of them coming i'll to market. Some
of them had walked forty miles. BY leav-
ing their homes at sunset, they would
reach the market. place in the city next
day. They walked in the night. because
the scorching sun by day was worse than a
load. Not only men and women, but chill
dreD, boys and girls, carry burdens. Some,
not more then 10 years old, would have
| their share to carry.
AS little grain is raised there, and only
corn for food, grass and hay for the cities
must be brought from great distance.
The laborers who brought it looked, little
way off, like walking haystacks. You
could see only the feet of some of them,
the grass covered them 30. Even the chill
dren brought great bundles. From under
some of them sweet girl-faces would look
out at me from others, the faces of little
DOJsJ tOuulluS aiOHB uHNSA % AhuSh as
they could bear. Some had no clothing
on above the waist some wore simple cot.
ton garments, and carried their hats, il
they had any, in their hands. None Of
them had stockings, though some wore
leather sandals, tied on with rope.
OF course, with so much work to do,
these boys and girls cannot have much
time for school, They learn very little,
but most of them can count, and many
can read. The best thing about them is
that they are honest, and always clean
| Their shirts and frocks are coarse, but
white, and their manners are perfect
They seem to show by their behavior thai
they come from a great people. In truth
learned men tell US that the people O
Yucatan were at one time the wisest IL
America. They built temples and palaces
that now cover many acres with thei
ruins. No one knows when they were
built, but they are great and grandeur
Little Ones.