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

Honduras, is beautiful and almos
unknown region = as different from tn,
negro settlement as can we'll be imagined
Though hardly more than weeks journey
from New York by steamer-were there il
q convenient port at which to land-it i.
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 who
lead lazy life of PASTORAL simplicity
/ All the country round about lies more
than 1900 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 q powerful empire
| To-day every hillock has its legend, and
out of the ground, in many places. rise
! massive stone walls, mementOes Of bygone
splendor
Neither the British Governments, noI
that Of Guatemala, It's nearest neighbor
attempt to interfere with the local reeula-
tioas of this district, it being regarded as
an unimportant Indian territory, and the
natives are allowed their own sweet viii IN
matters concerning themselves. To their
cr9di: be it said that crime is almost IN
known among them and while none are
rich, from our standpoint, there has never
been 4 pouper in the community.
Besides looking after the sheep ard
cattle, and cultivatinG lust enough OF the
rich soil to supply their actual needs-the
business Of life in this Acadia appears tc
consist in keeping ones self cool and
| thoroughly rested. The prime necessities,
such rs garlic and chii-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 "toil not, neither do they
spin?'
Unlike most dwellers in the tropics
these simple folk have not even a 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 oele-
brated with as much fuss and feathers as
it used TO be in ancient times, before Euro
! peans disturbed their ancestors-or as it il
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
spred 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 it. 1t was
! held in large arbor, erected for the pur-
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-
/ .inpally sent in, hot from the griddle-
made by woma secreted in 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 az 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 noisuy to and fro between his
teeth, and then eject it upon the floor
The menu, as nearly as it car be rendered
in English, was as follows:
Cigarettes
Caldo (broth) with garlic, chill and Gig ,rettoes
sopa, stewed IN grease and garnished with chill
CigSrettoes.
Puohara, stuff of every description fish, fest
fowl seeds. pods, green fruit roots and
vegetables, all boiled together
| and served on huge plates
with chii sauce
| CigaTettoes,
Chicken, steWed with grease and chilli
Cigarettes.
! Kid 3 head. baked, Wish g.rlie.
Cigargttoes.
Red beans, steWed in oil.
Cigarettoes.
Sweetmeats and coffee, with cigarettoes.
Tortilles all the time.
In the evening after these official ban
quets the real fun begins The arbor il
cleared of tables and turned into dane
! 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, fnger-rings and diadems of ma
tive gold, being so numerous as TO lool
burdensome. Bulk seems to be their idei
of elegance, and each wears several skirts
starohed stiff as shingles. AS a race they
are not particularly good-looking, havin!
more of Indian than Spanish blood, bein,
short in stature and inclined to oily EN-
bonpoint.
The musical instruments used by thes,
people, both for festive and religious occa
sions, are called ntorimbas. They are in
geniously contrived of wood and oxhide
and are played upon as dulcimer. Til,
tones they give out are more plaintiv,
than melodious, and though apparentl,
not loud, are Of that penetrating qualit,
that may be heard long distance.
The etiquette of Santo Toribiro ball
rooms is peculiar. The ladies sit aroun,
the room, their multiplicity of stiff skirt
making them look like so many Dutcl
cheeses; while the men remain outside il
groups until the dancing is about to begin
When the first strains of the marirabd-
mournful and despairing as the wall of
| lost soul-announce6 the opening Of tn
ball, one of the sandaled and hated gen
tlemen advances to the middle of the floor
On the way thereto carelessly nodding +
the charmer of his choice and she leave
her seat and goes to face him, standing
few PAGES distant. Then they perform
rapid aapeteTo, scarcely moving the body
though their feet are flying like mad-to
all the world like pair of jumping jack.
executing all manner of pigeon-wingt
jigs and double-sbufies. OCCASIONAL
they cross over and change places
but never touch hands; and thougl
the man may stare never so har
al his partner, it would be con
sidered indecorous in her to so mucl
as glance at him. When she gets enougl
of dancing she returns TO her seat withou
50 much as an adios to the gallant, Will
he without cfonpinr for a roor,or,t - ~