The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-10-24
CENTRAL AMERICANS.
SOME PICTURESQUE CHARACTERS
AAONG'THE NATVEs.

u
Rags and Beggars at Ease-Wonaen
as Toilers and Men as Loungers.
Eow trade is Carried On
From the CHICAGO Inter Geaa.
The Spanish cities Of Central America
are always picturesque and interesting,
Nesting as they do at the feet of lofty vol
canoes. One always finds pleasure in watch.
ing the shifting colors Of tie mountains as
tight and shade chase each Jther over their
rugged ezpanse, the browns and greens of
the valley. and the blue misty hills in the
distance are ever sublime in their beauty
and grandeur. or ell the five
republics Nicaragua Is the most inter-
ssting an account OF is wealth, its salu-
brious climate, lis idols aud temples, and
its ruins of forgotten dties buried under
their own crumbled walls. Here are found
the customs of the SpEniard in all their
purity and impurity, scarcely affected by
the influence of the ''gringo" foreigner.
Proud of the past, the cities and citizens
battle with time, aud hold in fast embrace
the shadows OF departed grandeur. The
streets Of each city are rudely paved with
sobbe stones. In few they are lighted
WITH old-fashioned oil lamps set on poles.
The houses of the weilthy are one-story
adobe, neatly whitew8hed inside and out,
and rooted with ell-bWped tiles. The floors
are laid in dark-red burned tiles, each about
one foot square. Each dwelling has a wide
porch in front, seuarated from the neigh
bors by low iron railing, which does not
quite reach from wall 70 gutter. This porch
serves as a sidewalk, parlor and evening
diniDg-room. Here the people gather in the
evening to chat and visit, the passer-by
keeping in the street or on the narrow strip
beyond the ratings.
Each home, in true Spanish fashion, has
square inner court or patio" forming a
yard, and each room mas two doors. one
opening into the street, the other into the
patio.
THESE INNER COURTS
have porch around them, while the center
ls filed with plants, amlng which you can
find the bro d-leaved century plant, ba-
nanss, pine-apples. massive plants, blazing
masses OF scarlet flowers, rich foliaged
mangoes, dainty tree ferns, aud rare Or
chids.
Sitting on the porch, Outside in the par
lor,h in the cool Of the evening it is interest
ing to watch the people pass by. The small,
weak looking Indian men lounge along as
If they hadn't the least idea and cared less
as to when they would arrive at their desti-
nation One little Indian girl is leaning
Estlessly against the high curbing, dreams
Ing the hours away. The women, full Of
activity, in strong contrast to the men, are
strongly built and their suits consisting
only of one thin colored cot on skirt and
very 10 S-cut white sleeveless chemlse, are
admirably adapted for exhibiting their
bronze Nenus-hke forms.
They walk erect with firm strong glide,
showing great deal of motion from the
ankles 30 the waist, with peculiar side
swing Of the hips; but from the waist up
tney are so rigid and steady as to carry
empty bottles balanced on their heads.
Everything IS carried on their heads except
The babies. These are never carried in the
arms or on the back, but always astride the
nip, supported by one hand.
10 test the skill of the women an egg was
balanced, small end down, on the top of an
smpty beer bottle and given to girl of
probably IS, with the promise of 'dos raalosn
20 oents--if she would carry it down the
block and back. The bottle was carelessly
placed on her hair and the feat succe sfully
accomplished with many extra skips and
wigges on the way back, accompanied by
the dancing Of
THE BIG BLACK EYES
and the ivory CLEAN of her teeth. "Casse-
1aras," or women peddlers, stop with huge
trays Of cigarettes AID cigars, and solicit
your trade. Huge "carretas," or carts,
drawn by oxen, 60 creaking by. The solid
thick wooden wheels, the body dashed to-
gether with straps and pita ropes, and the
eternal and painful cry Of the axles for
grease, reminded me OF the days long ago
when we lay in camp in Northwestern
Minnesota and listened 20 the music % Of
the Red river carts.
The yoke used is a curved piece Of wood,
without bows, dashed by long straps back of
Toe h0rUs. On some of the carretas we're
matched roofs, and inside were the whole
family on their way 60 aud from the sea
more. Dashing "cabbalerosn came riding
by on their racking or pacing ponies keep
ugup the time-honored trick of touching
up the horse with the spur as they doR their
'omoreros to the smiling senoritas
LIE native saddle is terror. The frame
Is laf round, covered with bull hide, and
extends from the horses neck TO his hips.
Ihe sNrrups are shortened until the riders
knees are on level with the top of the
saddle and he is sitting well back near the
anlmals tail. Fatal as they are to an
AmeHcan's peace of mind, and to his abil-
10y 10 sleep for several nights after using
one' they are perfect to the eyes OF their
owners. de can not only ride on it, but
MS best girl can. and often does sitting in
rom OF q m, his strong left arm surround
iuk her dalnty waist. In fact. the whole
family often takes notion for an airing at
Inc same lime. and the ample saddle accom-
nOdates father, mother and the babies,
pied on until one would never guess that
ehere was horse underneath il it were not
for
ITS QUIvERING NosTRILs,
sne oeseeching eye, and series Of wiggles
mat convulse the whole mass ss it moves
Aowly down the street.
occasionally soldier sloacheS by. drag
s'ng rusty, dilapidated old Remington
WIN huge machero fastened on to the end
VI oayonet. These soldiers may be pict-
Gsesque, Gut they are certainly not attract
Hse. 4ne uniform consist only of thin
hugo blue cotton pants and blouse of
uehe manufacture. A thin line Of red run
mug aloDg the seams is the only mark dis
s.lguisnlng the soldier from the common
~o 'o. NO shoes, no hat, hair uncombed,
sul'oTin- III rags, the private soldiers of the
Supcs are more wretched looking than any
% %V IN the cotton fields before the war.
-us army is recruited and kept I'D in two
"alS-llrst, by making all convicts serve
~ "eir time as prIvateS in the army, and
SV'uu' oy using q press gang" When
o.sf more men are needed squad is sent
~. composed OF soldiers whose time is
GIL vatil up Their orders are to scour the
tttases ana the country aud lassO every man
c Il'y uhd who Is barefoot. The hightoned
e ras.es who can afford to wear shoes are
hos-pE IL makes the town lively for al
ay 1s' cr Two whenever forty or fifty men
s'g Suddenly wanted.
and por'ers who carry your. luggage up