Sacramento daily record-union., 1888-08-25
In CENTRAL AMERICA.
LETTER FROM A NEWLY FOUND
AND INTERESTING ACADIA.
PASTORAL Life OF a Simple People,
and Their Curious Customs
and Superstitions.

| Oh Belize, DuL WITHIN the nmlLS OF BrltlSr
Honduras, is beautiful and almost
unknown region = as different from the
negro settlement as can well be imagined
Though hardly more than q weeks journey
from New York by steamer-were there i:
q convenient port at which to land-it is
doubtful if half dozen of my country mer
have ever seen or heard of the place.
The chief city, Santo Toribiro, contain,
about two thousand inhabitants, degenerate
descendants of the war-like Mayas -whc
lead lazy life Of PASTORAL simplicity
All the country round about lies more
than 2,000 feet above the level of the
nearby Gulf OF Honduras, with lovely
! park like scenery, and grassy hills, ranged
by countless flocks and herds Centuries
ago it was the site of powerful empire
| To-day every hillock has It's legend, and
out of the ground, in many places, rise
massive stone walls, mernentoes Of bygone
splend0r
Neither the British Government, nor
! that Of Guatemala, It's nearest neighbor,
attempt to interfere with the local regula-
tioas of this district, it being regarded as
an unimportant Indian territory, and the
natives are allowed their own sweet win in
matters concerning themselves. To their
credit be il said that crime is almost IN
known among them aud while none are
| rich, from our standpoint, there has never
| been pauper in the community.
Besides looking after the sheep and
cattle, and cultivating Just enough OF the
rich soil to supply their actual needs-the
business Of life in this Acadia appears to
consist in keeping ones self cool and
! thoroughly rested. The prime necessities,
such as garlic and chih-pepper, grow wild
on every hand; fruits of various kinds are
abundant; the streams are filled with fish,
and there IS sea-food within easy reach;
wherefore, then, should not those thus
favored by the gods initiate Solomon's
lilies, which toll not, neither do they
spin?"
Unlike most dwellers in the tropics,
these simple folk have not even pen
chant for intoxicants, and none Of any
sort are made or drank in the country, the
only beverages being native coffee, cocoa
nut juice, goats milk, and the clear, cold
water that bubbles up from innumerable
springs
In Santo Toribiro, election day is cele-
| brated with as much fuss and feathers as
it used to be in ancient times, before Euro
peans disturbed their ancestors-or as it is
now in the North during Presidential
campaigns Spanish chroniclers tell us
! that in the old days its was customary for
those going out Of Office to give banquet
to their successors; and still feast is
| sprea on these momentous occasions by the
retiring Alcalde and his assistants. There
being no woman's-righters nor strong
minded females here, the men only take
part in the gastronomic portion Of the
! political celebration, and are even served
at table by boys; though doubtless the
cooking is done by the dinnerleSs mothers
and daughters, wives and sweethearts.
An American gentleman residing in
Belize, who attended one of these official
| spreads, has told me all about il. 1t was
held in a large arbor, erected for the puT-
pose, OF wild cane stalks, thatched with
straw. As usual, the men retained their
hats, and smoked incessantly between and
during every course. Tortillas were con-
! tinually sent in, hot from the griddle-
made by WON al secreted in a hut some
where in the rear-and piled in steam
ing heap in front of the Alcalde, who dis
tributed them around with an easy and
graceful shuttle, something as an expert
player deals his cards. Now and then
fresh water was passed in mugs, it being
the fashion for each to fill his mouth,
draw it noisily to and fro between his
teeth, and then eject it upon the floor
The menu, as nearly as it can be rendered
! ;et foll
Cigarettes
Cado (broth). with garlic. chill ard Gig lrettoes
Sopa, stewed in grease and garnished with chilli
| Cgarettoes.
| Puchara, stuff Of every description-ish, flesh
| fowl, seeds. pods, ereen fruit, roots and
vegetables all boiled together
and served on huge plates
with chii sauce.
| Cigarettes.
Chicken, stewed with grease and chill.
| Cigarettes.
! Kids head. baked, wi.n garlic.
| Cigar ttoes.
Red beans, stewed in oil.
Cigarettoes.
Sweetmeats and coffee, with cigarettoes
Tortillas all the time.
In the evening after these official ban
quets the real fun begins The arbor is
cleared of tables and turned into dsnc-
ing-hall, and then the women and girls ap
pear They dress in loose garments O
white cotton, with scarfs of crimson or yel-
low thrown lightly over their naked shoul
ders, their necklace, bracelet, brooches
ear-drops, finger-rings and diadems of ma
tive gold, being so numerous as TO looh
burdensome. Bulk seems to be their ides
of elegance, and each wears several skirts
starched stiff as shingles. AS race they
are not particularly good-looking, having
more Of Indian than Spanish blood, being
short in stature and inclined to oily EN-
bonpoint,
The musical instruments used by these
people, both for festive and religious occa
sions, are called uerimbus They are in.
geniously contrived of wood and oxhide
and are played upon as dulcimer. The
tones they give out are more plaintige
than melodious, and though apparently
not loud, are of that penetrating quality
that may be heard a long distance.
The etiquette of Santo Toribiro ball
rooms is peculiar. The ladies sit arounc
the room, their multiplicity of stiff skirt
making them look like SO many Dutch
cheeses; while the men remain outside il
} groups until the dancing is about to begin
When the first strains Of the .narinata-
mournful and despairing as the wall of ,
lost soul-announces the opening of the
ball, one of the sandaled and hated gen
tlemen advances to the middle of the floor
on the way thereto carelessly nodding t.
the charmer of his choice; and she leave
her seat and goes to face him, standing
few PAGES distant. Then they perform
rapid sdpetero, scarcely moving the body
though their feet are flying like mad-fo
all the world like pair of jumping jacks
executing all manner of pigeon-wings
jigs and double-shufies. Occasionally
they cross over and change places
but never touch hands; and though
the man may stare never so hare
al his partner, it would be con
sidered indecorous in her to SO much
as glance at him. When she gets enough
of dancing she returns to her seat withou
| so much ss an adios 70 the gallant uh i.