Iuka reporter. (Iuka, Miss.) 1888-1894, 1888-10-04
NINE WOMEN TO ONE MAN.
And They as Beautiful as Can be
Found in the World.
[From the Boston Transcript.l

From the Boston Transcript
Paraguay is surely one Of the most
favored lands on earth. There no in
sane love of gold compels the heart to
questionable deeds. No political situa-
ton harnesses the mind. The very at
mosphere breathes peace. The air is
soft and balmy, inviting to repose, and
prolific nature, throwing about every
thing her garments of rich vegetation,
supplies man with all the needs and
beauties all that his eyes rest upon.
Paraguay is, indeed, almost fairyland
of romance, 80 beautiful are its mani
fold attractions. The native portion of
the population is a remnant of the tribe
OF Guarani Indians, one Of the loftiest
tribes in the grade Of civilization Of all
the American race.
But nothing astonishes the visitor to
Paraguay SO much as the vast prepon-
derance Of the female over the male pop
ulation. The proportion is something
like nine to one. This is the result of a
long and very fierce war, in which the
Guaranians followed and supported
cruel and ambitious ruler through in
describable hardships and sufferings.
This war ended only with the death OF
the man who waged it, and has reduced
the whole population to about one-sixth
Of what it was twenty years ago, leaving
only women and boys. These women
are as beautiful and fair to look upon
as can be found in any part of the
world.
They are of medium height, rather
slight and 1.-the, with finely moulded
limbs, small, pretty hands and feet, and
figures OF matchless grace and beauty
that would serve for models of the
sculptor's art. Their carriage is SO easy
and natural as to be almost the poetry
of motion for the freedom from high
heeled boots and tight clothing has left
their step light, supple and strong.
Their dress is of the simplest form,
short tunic or robe, not unlike a skirt
falling to below the knees, and shou,-
der covering not unlike shawl-both OF
pure white, and adorned with pretty
native lace.
They are gracefully worn and be-
witchingly serve to half reveal and half
conceal the form beneath. In the mid.
day siesta they are fond of lying
languidly in their hammocks, slipping
their mate and singing in their low,
sweet voices, yet sad and with touch
of melancholy, the "narancaras, or
songs of the orange gatherers, or those
other strange, weird songs of theirs,
whose words are all of love. Indeed,
what need to do aught else in land SO
blessed as theirs
Living entirely upon fruits and vege-
tables that are secured with but little
effort; unmoved by the ambitious
schemes of the money making Euro
peans, upon whom they look with ques-
tioning wonder, and possessed OF
languid voluptuous natures that are fos-
tered by the climate, what else should
they do save love and dance and sing ?
Dancing is their only pastime, and into
that they throw the whole spirit of their
joyous nature. The slightest excuse is
all that is necessary for getting up
ball, at which the whole neighborhood
at once assemblies.
The girls and women are dressed only
in the robes described. The men wear
white linen trousers and red pouches.
The dancers are in quaint original fig
ures, but nearly always very graceful.
Sometimes the festivities will be kept
up through the entire night, after which
the participants will gayly return to
their occupation of whatsoever nature,
always contented, always happy. Some
times there will be grand contribution
picnic at some distant point, where the
dancing will be kept up the round of
whole twenty-four hours. For truly
these people live but to be happy
through the livelong day.
One is not surprised to hear that
many Europeans, Englishmen among
the rest, have settled down in the coun-
try.