The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-12-08


isied with the plan suggested, which was
nothing less than the abandoning OF their
mountain home to fonow the bright star
Of the southern sky. for it was such that
the beautiful creature appeared TO ordinary
eyes. Un-gow-a told them that by so doing
they would be led to land Of flowers,
where snow would never be seen, where all
kinds of fruits would hang on all kinds OF
trees, where cold and hunger, work and
worry would be forgotten. In fact, he drew
picture fascinating in detail, so rich
in coloring and poetic in sentiment that the
whole tribe was wild with delight. with tie
exception of two Old skeptics, who were
promptly burned. This pleasant duty ended
the nation demanded to be led forthwith TO
this land OF rest and ready-made hominy.
Thus began the long series Of moves 10
the southwark, lured on from year TO year
by the bright vision that still smiled en-
couragingly. shaking her shining tresses
over the soft summer sky at that witchins
hour. between daylight and dark, when
even ordinary objects are invested with |,
strange charm. On they went fighting the
way through hostile territories, climbine
mountains. fordlng rivers, cutting paths
through matted jungles, conquering all
foes, overcoming all obstacles, until at last
they found themselves confronted by a wild
waste Of water. Great minds are only
stimulated by opposition. These doughty
warriors gazed awhile on the heaying deep,
and decided to cross it, and to that end be-
gan at once the construction OF boat
suitable for the purpose. This was the first
of the famous dories which have excited the
admiration OF all sailors down to the pres
ent day. With their usual good fortune they
passed safely to the nearest island of that
long chain now known as the Bahamas.
Thereafter their progress was an uninter-
rupted series of conquests, passing from
one verdant isle to another until they
reached the great archipelago OF the south
ern Antilles, where every promise of the
beautiful guide seemed fulfilled and the
vision faded from the sky, not, however,
until she had made an earthward swoop,
carrying Off the faithful Un-gow-a to shine
with her forever in some remote heaven
far beyond the ken Of mortals. Here in
these lovely islands, shaded by stately
groves. watered by crystal springs, the
weary warriors built their villages. Surely
this was the Indian paradise, the veritable
happy hunting ground" Fruits to every
taste. flowers of every hue, serene skies>
sunny seas. misty mountains, limpid
streams. deep forests. where bright-winged
birds flashed from tree to tree, or poised on
the perfumed air. their trembling wings
sparkling like gems in the sunlight Such,
In short, is the story Of the Carbs. as told
by 'Jim." which, no doubt, is quite as
false and not more foolish than the fables
Of the Norsemen. which have fed the in
satiable appetites of dozen generations
OF poets. without affecting these mex
haustable minds of fiction.
Improbable as this story OF Carib migra-
ton may seem, 1t has engaged the serious
attention of number of learned writer's.
among whom might be mentioned the name
OF our own Irving; and 1t must remain a
matter of regreat that this most delightful
Of American historical writer's was never
moved to undertake the work.
A THRIFTY PEOPLE.
While the Caribs Of to-day are regarded
with suspicion by certain class OF people.
those who know them best will tell You
that they are not only industrious, but I'm
most cases honest and trustworthy: that
some Of the men have weakness for run,
cannot be denied, but In a country where
this beverage forms a part and often the
| principal part, of every merchants stock
| 1t is not matter OF surprise that some
have followed the example of their white
| neighbors The women are hard workers
| earning good wages the sugar and
banana plantations. where their services
| are always in demand, while many who re-
side in the villages engage in the laundry
business, and one OF the sights OF Liv-
| ingston is this department of Carib enter
| prise. Near the landing, where a strong
| spring furnishes an abundant supply OF
| clear, soft water you can see almost any
| day a half dozen or more women bending
over little wooden troughs made by split
| ting small tree in halves and hewing out
the inside, just as the Northern farmers
| sometimes do when short of sap buckets
during the maple sugar season. They use
no ''washboards," but saturate the clothes
with soap and water, after which they beat
them over large, smooth stones. with dis
| astrous results sometimes. They present u
highly picturesque appearance with their
single garment, which is cut very low in
| the neck, and greatly abridged in length.
| without sleeves, and is held in place by
| shoulder straps. This feminine invention.
which cannot be properly described as a
DRESS" or a Skirt" or even as waist,
| forms their sole protection from the burn>
| ing rays Of tropical sun, excepting the
red or yellow turbans. worn more as an
| ornament than from any necessity.
| The men are nearly all sailors, and are
| either employed on the coasting vessels or
| as lighternen or as is frequently the case
| engaged ia the carrying trade independ-
| emily, many of them owning dories of sew
| eral tons burden, which they manage with
| remarkable skill. These boats are models
| of their kind. They are constructed OF a
| solid piece of wood, followed out and
| shaped with the greatest care. They are
| all sizes, from the tiniest craft capable Of
| carrying only one OF two persons, up to
thirty or forty feet in length. with carry
| ing capacity of twelve to fifteen tons. We
| frequently met these little shells sew raj
miles from shore with single occupant
| standing up and steering his course with
| the utmost ease. Sometimes when the sea
| was rough both man and boat would disap-
| pear behind huge roller, always. however,
| rising on the next wave, where IL would
| hang an instant on the crest, then down
| like an arrow into the watery valley. To US
| it seemed quite impossible for such frail
| specks to survive in the wild tumult of
wind and waves but these intrepid sailors
| showed no concern whatever, but hailed US
| cheerily as they passed and were soon lost
| In the distance. Often In the dusk OF even
| ing thes strange rovers Of the deep would
| appear suddenly, like restless spirits wan
| dering abroad over the dark waters their
| ~u,arthv features fIlumined an. instant IN,