Hopkinsville Kentuckian., 1890-02-25
A ouATeMALAN FUNERAL.
Some OF tho Peculiar Customs OF Central
American CarlbA

American Carlbs
heard jingle of bells this after
noon, and, supposing fire had broken
out, was about to start for the scene
of the conaagration, when the land
lady informed me that 1t was only
funeral and said it would pass the
house. A few minutes later, hearing
sort of wild music, mingled with
shouts and laughter, 1 ran to the door
Just in time to see u couple OF half
drunken men, shooless and hatless,
coming along at brisk pace, bear
ing coffin on their shoulders 1t
was simply n rough box wrapped In a
piece Of striped calico, and swaycd
from side to side rs tho bearers rolled
along. Following was woman, the
widow. ! was told. carrying rude cross
covered with flowers and laughing inn
moderately, Next to the hilarious
chief mourner came tho band, con.
sisting OF one accordion. two iddles, a
tin horn and drum, all run to their
full capacity.
Next came mixed crowd OF mon,
women and children. The men wero
attired in the usual costume OF the
country, pair of cotton drawers and
shirt. worn outside. The women wore
a single garment, sleeveless and low
necked, coming barely TO the knees.
The children were arrayed In their in
rocence only. All were smoking,
laughing, or dancing by turns. Alto.
gether IL was the most cheerful funeral
/ had ever witnessed.
] had returned to the table when my
attention was once more called to the
street by chorus Of wild yclls and
uprourious merriment. Stepping out
| discovered the cause. One OF tho
bearers had stumbled and fallen.
throwing the coffin to the ground with
such force that one side was partly
broken out exposing one arm and a
ghastly hand half closed. But 1t was
a contented, well-behaved corpse, and
took the whole thing as joke. Pres
emily the bearer staggered TO his feet. |
the coffin was replaced. and the pro-
cession moved merriiy on.
The landlord, however, insists this
was worry tame affair, and assures
me that the burial services OF the rich |
are very much livelior, In such cases
the body is dressed up In the best
shirt the estate affords 1t is then
carefully tied in chair in an upright
position. aud thus carried to the
graveyard, while the whole town
turns ont to do him honor by dis
charging crackers. rockets and
variety Of native fireworks. while the
drinking is general and the Joy un-
boundedl hope TO be able to record
a iirst-clnss affair soon. The owner
OF three huts and n pair OF mules Is
quite low, and We are waiting patient
ly for him to die The natives also
exhibit n good deal OF anxiety. and
every little while one OF them will steal
up to the window TO note progress and
report TO the eager crowd.
As usual in times Of greet public
cAtlh'AhNut tllt HNNN - NtTy tOulIh. |
dictory. A little while ago it was an.
nounced that he was almost gone.
confused murmur ran through the as
sombly and an OCCASIONAL shout, with
\ random cracker or two, was heard
The next report, however. was mos,
liscouraging. The watcher was seen
fleeing as for his lie and the sick mai
close In his wake with huge
club The last bulletin was more IA
the doctor having arrived
" ith his whole stock In trade. and
those who are posted predict that the
sick man will be ready for burial to.
morrow.
These are the Caribs, the direct de-
scendnnts of those wild, fierce tribes
discovered by Columbus on his FIRST
voyage and found inhablting the
iouthern islands OF the West indies
entirely in appearance, GUS
.oms and disposition from tho sur
nations, 10 whom they wore
: constant terror Guatemala Cor.
Post.