Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1890-02-21
GUATEMALTECOS.
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ae Guatomaltecos, as:stht people Of
the peasant caste in the Gentr,l American
I Klanblics OF Gustopaia IRE called, are,
Ring -ta-a victor. in Youth,s. Companc
sfoh, the descendants OF the a60rigincs
who occupied the country when the
Spaniartts came.S They arc bright, witty
and cheerful, aud even three hundred
aud fifty years of oppression have not been
able to deprive them of their happy 90 |
lucky temperament and theirilove Of fun.
OF ak civilized Indians; from the Rio
Grandc to the Straits of Magellan, they
have the greatest amount of humor and
the most mclodious songs. sT
The men are small and muscular, and
have bright, intelligent faces. They are
always good-naturcd, gentle, defcrcntial
in manner, generous, slnds obhgins, and
seldom quarrel cyun, among themselves,
unless they happen to drink too much OF
the natiyc brandy. called ,aquarcicntc.
AS arale, they are tcnper''tss industrious
The women, when young, are very
pretty ;Nslight Of figure, graceful of-movc-
ment, and colucttish in their ways They
have transparent, olive complications,
about of 'mulatto-tint; abundant black
hair which they wear in neat braids that
fall blow the waist, delicate features, large,
lustrous black eyes that beam with intelli-
gencc and good hrnor, and small bands
and feet; and they like fun.
The Yomcu, work in the iicids with the
men, for there ARE few household cares
to detain them, and they come to market
every morning beiring upon their heads
l,r, flat a., II
and delicious fruits, Mothers carry their
babies in nctted sings upon their backs,
and the little ones lie as contcntcd as il
they were i'll cradle OF down and lace.
The women travel in groups of six,
eight, ten, aud sometimes more persons,
and seldom walk, but keep up II slow
and graceful trot for miles and hours ut a
stretch. Like the peasant women in
France they have Il word of greeting for
all whom they meet on ;hcir way.
When they arrive at the market house,
that has its place on the plaza oil every
town or city, they spread their fruits
and flowers and vegetables around them
in the most alluring manner, sand wait
for customers. Usually they do cmbroid-
cry or net saddlc-bags while they are
waiting, and chatter gaily.
Whca Il CUSTOMER appears they drop
their work, and incomplirncntary phrases
call his or her attention to the goods
they have to sell. I.aSly 'c,istopcrs are
always addressed as nina, which is a term
of cndcarmcnt like "honcy" among the
colorcd women of tho South, and gentle
men as senorito, or 'tLittlc Master =
The men carry their. loads on their
backs, in a large, ncttcd bag, or Il irlnnicr
of bamboo called Il carcastc, supported
by straps of leather across the forehead.
and around the shoulders Heavy mcr-
chandisc is transported in OK carts. 2 The
carriers usually go in groups when they
have Il considerable distance to travel.
and when one is ready to start, If 10. one
else happens to have business on that
same road, he will wait day or two.
rather than start off alone Their pace.
like that OF the women, is dog trot,
and ifthcrc is no freight to carry they
place a stone in the empty pannicr, as
they can run more easily with load than
without one. Al night they camp Ivy the
roadside, around = fire, and, wrapped in
their scrapas, or Blankets, sleep upon the
ground.
Both women and men wear uDon the
soles OF their stocliingless feet Il sandal
made of II single piece OF cowhidc They
seldom eat meat, and their diet consists
almost entirely Of cassava bread, made
from the grated root oil the manioc. a
species of yam, toitillas, or corn cakes,
frijoles, or boiled beans, plantains and
other fruits.
The Guatcmaltccos are fond Of am,se
mcnts, and particularly of dancing. AT
night in the villages and at the bodegas,
the drinking places along the roadside.
the attention of the traveller is often ar
rested by music from the rnarimba, "A curl
Gus instrument made Of strips of bamboo
cut in different lengths. with gourds
underneath them which act as sounding
boards. The music is produced by strik-
idg the bamboos with little mallets. The
player holds two of these mallet between
the fingers Of either hand, and with the
four strikes alfull chord of four notes.
The men and women dance merrily to
this music, although their feet are bare.
and the floor is only hard -trodden earth.
Their songs arc melodious and glceful,
although the words are often meaning
less. Here is a sample verse of one of
the best, which is literally translated
without any attempt at rhyme:
henr the song of the bush bird
And the cry of the Loreta (parrob
Every morning when waken,
And every day as pass along the road
sing rs happily rs they do,
For my sweetheart loves me-
And my master is kind
Chinese Foot Fashions
The Cninnsc in snitn of thnir nI,;,ns 70