Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-01-21
Keeping CLEAN.
Cuban Bellies Who Never Use Water
How the Bushman Purifies Himself

Pb{tddelphiG Record.
Although it may not be generally known,
there is as much difference between the
lower classes of China and Japan as there
is between night and day. Take the one
matter of cleanliness as an example. In
Japan even the smallest cities have pub
lie baths fitted up with hot and cold
water, to which all es-wOrkingmen
as well as the well-tO-dO-repair at least
once every day. The Chinese coOlie rare
ly battles unless forced to do so involun-
tarily by his companions, with whom a
favOrite practical joke is the tossing of
one of their number over the wharf into
the sea. The knowledge that the victim
violently dislIkes water in any shape gives
refinement to the joke.
However, in this respect the cOolie is a
fountain of light compared with the Bush
men of Africa. Water never touches the
Bushman's hide. Such a use of water is
entirely unknown to HIM, even for the
purpose of washing his face. Should he
have occasion to cleanse his hands, which
the handling of gum Of such like sub
stance sometimes cOmpels him to do, he
performs the operation, not with soap and
water, but with the dry dung of cattle or
some wild animal. a little rubbing of this
upon his skin is all the publication the
Bushman believes to be needed.
1t Is an eXtravagant statement, but
still Mayne Reid declares that Bushmen
have been washed. He says that it re-
quires some scrubbing and a plentiful
application either of soda or soap to
reach the true skin and bring out the
natural color; but the experiment has
been made, and the result proves that the
Bushman is not as black as he appears.
In the one or two members of this tribe
who have made the acquaintance of soap
and water, a yellow hue is found to shine
through the epidermis, somewhat like the
color of the Chinese or a badly jaundiced
Englishmah, while the unwashed body of
them are commonly looked upon as ne
grOes.
A Philadelphian, who has a large sugar
plantation in Cuba, not far from Havana,
once told the writer that the ladies
belonging to the very best Cuban families
never touch their bodies with water.
when l first heard of this fact" said
he, Il was so astounded that l walked up
to lady-it was at a ball in Havana
and asked her about it plumply. She did
not seem at all offended, but assured me
that 1t was true, and that water was very
hurtful to the texture of a lady's skin.
" But it has never hurt the skin of your
hands and face said l, triumphantly,
feeling that l had her there.
'''Oh, dear, no, Senor,' she simpered.
because it has never touched them
"'What' l cried.
Isl, Senior. 1t is so. When | cleanse
my hands and face / merely dampen a
corner Of a towel with wine, and with
that wash off the surface
''But how can water possibly coarsen
the skins texture"
"'Quien sabe,' said she, Struggling her
pretty shoulders, and putting an end to
the talk by moving to the other end OF the
room.
However, the Cuban belle manages to
spoil the texture of her skin without the
aid of water. All. those parts that are
visible-face, neck, arms and shoulders
are plastered half an inch thick with
powdered chalk whenever she makes her
appearance in public. OF course there
can be but one result. The complexion
becomes coarse, the dOwny sOftness natu-
raj to woman's face gives place to
hard, dull appearance, and, as with the
consumers OF pearl powder in this cour-
try, the result is charged upon anything
but the true cause. Nine times out Of
ten, when the mischief is done, the young
Cuban lady recalls time, perhaps years
before, when she washed her face with
water, and is morally certain that her
ruined complexion is the result of that
unfortunate washing.'