Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1890-10-24
sornss OF sENsuous eeAurY.
Interesting People Who Loiter Theis
Hours Away In West indisn Tropics

x..r...trg People Who Loiter Thsin
uours Away In West Indian Tropics
Uindoos. coolies; men, women ana
misunderstanding, walking OF sitting ~
the sun, under the shadowing OF tne
palms. Men squatting, with nanus
clasped over their black knees, steauhy
observe YOU from under their white tur.
bans-very steadily. with slight scowL
All these Indian faces have the same SET
stern expression, the same knitting Oh tne
brows. and the keen, strong gaze Is
not altogether pleasant. 1t borders upon
hostility: II is the look Of measurements
measurement physical and moral. In
tbe mighty swarmings of India these
have learned the full meaning and force
of life's law as we Occidentais rarely
learn it. Under the dark forehead with
It's fixed frown the eye glitters like a
serpent's.
Nearly al. wear the same Indian dress,
the thickly folded turban, usually whte'
white drawers reaching but half way
down the thigh, leaving the knees and
the legs bare, and white jacket A few
don long blue robes and wear colored
head dress. These are babagees, priests.
All the men look tall; they are 1.-the,
very slender, small boned, but the limbs
are well turned. They are grave, talk
in low tones and seldom smile Those
YOU see with very heavy, full boards are
probably Mussulmans; they have their
mosques and the cry of the muezzln
sounds thrice daily over the vast cane
fields. Some Buddhists or fol-
lowers of Hindooism--bu the children
of Islam never Very comely some OF
the women are in their close clinging,
soft brief robes and tantalizing wells, a
costume leaving shoulders, arms and
ankles bare. The dark arm is always
tapered and rounded; the silver circled
ankle always elegantly knit to the light,
straight foot. Many of these slim girls,
whether standing or walking or in re-
pose, present perpetually studies OF grace;
their attitude when erect always sug-
gests lightness and suppleness, like the
poise of perfect dancer.
A coolie mother passes, carrying at her
hip very pretty naked baby. 1t has
exquisite delicacy of limb; its tiny ankles
are circled by thin bright silver rings; it
y
of Kama, the Indian Eros The mothers
arms are covered from elbow to wrist
with silver bracelets, some fiat and dec
grated, others coarse, round, smooth,
with ends hammered into the form OF
viper heads. She has large flowers OF
gold in her ears, a small gold flower in
her very delicate little nose. This nose
ornament does not seem absurd; on these
dark skins the effect is, on the contrary,
pleasing, although bizarre. All this
iewelry is pure metal; it is thus the
coolies carry their savings; they do moi
learn to trust the banks until they become
rich.
There is a woman going to market, {
very odd little woman; is she a Chino
blanco-a coole or Malay half breed
do not know. She represents a type
have never seen before. She wears on,
loose soft white garment, leaving arms
ankles and part of back and bosom ex
posed, like a low cut sleeveless chemise
but less long. Her whole figure
rounded, compact, admirably knit, ant
her walk is indescribably light, supple
graceful But her face is queer; it is al
OIlentdl Brotesque, u CHlHeSe uredIu
oblique eyes and blue black brows ant
hair, very high and broad cheek bones
Singular as it is, this face has the VERT
able beaute du dia5le; it is a very youn,
and very fresh face, and the uncom
monty long, black, silky lashes give he
gaze very pleasing, velvety expression
Still, the most remarkable peculiarit
she has is her color, clear and strange
almost exactly the color of fine rip
J lemon.-Lafcadio Hearn in Harper
Magazine.