The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1888-12-29
THE SWEET REWARDS OF ARSON.
People In Guatemala Encourage the Burn
Ing OF Houses Gathering bananas.

IL il town regulation that, when
ever mans house burns down, the
whole population must turn out and
help him rebuild IL, and for many years
this ordinance was conscientiously OBJ
served, but with the increase Of knowl-
edge and the fruitfulness of quiet
thought an Indian might regard his
house as i'm poor condition, or not fit
for him to live In, SO he would commit
arson and force his townsmen 20 build
him "A new house To replace the old one.
Fires increased with great rapidity,
and very soon the entire population
became no more than community OF
builders, without the power To strike.
The wise old men got together. and
now / understand that an investigat-
ing committee Is always appointed TO
determine the origin Of fires. and, as a
consequence, the fire rate has greatly
decreased. Many of the Indians are
weavers and pottery-makers. The
clothes they produce are very pretty.
bright-colored fabrics, beautifully en-
broidered In cotton or silks as the
wearer may desire. The skirt Of their
costume Is made like n square bag,
with hole for the head. and holes for
the arms. and when the skirt Is fastened
around the waist with their pretty
belts the lower part Of the skirt be-
comes petticoat. Dress n prettily-
shaped and well-washed Indian girl in
this costume, give her bright turban,
and let her balance the earthen water
Jar gracefully on her head. and you
have a picture not soon to be forgotten;
and vet they seem 10 be unaware how
picturesque they look.
In the .Semana Santa" or holy
week. these Indians will not work, and
during this time they eat nothing but
bread and honey. not rs n penance,
but because they like IL. The city of
Quezaltenango, about twelve leagues
distant. Is where they buy their bread
for this week. They can buy just as
good bread, and just as cheap, In
Ratalhulcn. only five miles away, but
they cannot be persuaded 10 buy else
where than in Quezaltcnango. Each
Indian has his plat Of corn, frijoles.
and banana aud plantain trees. and
truly as class they need not work
unless they are so inclined. They are
experts in managing banana trees. A
tree once started It's roots spread in
every direction. and the roots are said
To have hiios (sons). because from
many different points on the original
root will spring up little banana trees.
These the Indian carefully detaches
from the main root. and the "son." be-
ing transplanted in some favorable
spot, soon becomes the father of many
more. etc. A banana tree from the
time IL appes<s requires twelve months
10 produce bunch of fruit. and it
bears but once. When the bunch,
which appears at the very top OF the
tree. Is fully developed, the Indian.
using a sharp pointed stick. gradually
cuts through the trunk and heart Of
the tree until the weight Of the bunch
Of bananas draws the summit near
enough TO the ground topermit gather
ing; this done the tree Is allowed 10 rot
on the ground. Cutting through the
tree with pointed stick IL a slow pro-
cess. but an Indian will never cut
down n banana tree with his machete,
or long steel knife. for n superstition
exists that steel coming in contact with
the sap Of the tree ruins the flavor
Of the fruit to be gathered. --NeD
York Times.