Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1895-10-26
SEEN IN MADEIRA.
Peculiar People, Oddly Dressed, and
Scenery OF Extraordinary Beauty.

Peculiar People, Oddly Dressed, and
Scenery OF Extraordinary Beauty.
A queer race of men are these ma
tives OF Madeira. Mainly of Portu-
guese origin, they clearly are nation
of half-castes, and the negro cross Is
conspicuous in their good-natured,
ugly faces, in their stature, in their
shambling gait, and in their il-knit
frames. Their morality, too, is said
somewhat to partake of laxity. They
are, however, by no means fragrant Of
tenders, and practice only the lesser
vices of pilfering and lying-they
would hardly be qualified to come IN
DER the generic head of dago without
this latter failing compounding, as it
were, for their indulgence in petty
larceny and white lies by rigid
economy in the greater crimes.
Perhaps they derive their stand
ard of morality from the fact
of their living on very
small island-Madeira is only forty
miles long by about ten or twelve in
reath-for it is noticeable fact that
the jewellers on small islands are sell
dom given to marked enormity of crimi-
nality, mans nemesis being, it is pre-
Bumed, too certain to overtake him in
confined space to make it convenient
to prepetrate any very great wicked
| ness.
The Madeirans, as a general rule,
wear no peculiar costumes. The wom-
en- cover their heads with a handlzer-
chief, but otherwise their dress is about
like that Of our villagers. The men gen.
| llUNU 70 h V.f nd
white duck trousers with a broad
brimmed straw hat. When they do
not wear this, their head is covered by
piece of gear which is, believe, origi-
nal in Madeira. In shape and size it ex-
actly resembles a common tea saucer;
it is made of black cloth, and fits on to
the very point of the back of the head.
covering, of course, only about hands
breadth Of it's surface and being kept
in place apparently by nothing but the
force of suction. This 'tcarapuca," or
skull cap, is put on and taken off by a
handle made of rolled cloth, which pro-
jects from its center and stands up
from the wearer's head. This handle
is as thin and half as long as the stem
of long clay pipe, and the general APP
pearance of the islander with one of
these caps is ludicrous in the extreme
Another popularity of dress is the
very general wearing of top boots of
yellow goats leather by persons OF
both sexes and all ages. The slipper
so often seen in many parts of Spain
and other countries along the Mediter-
ranean would hardly do for the steep
hills in Madeira, while the extensive
growth of the prickly pear would
make going barefooted quite impossi-
BILE. The use of high boots is there
fore sensible enough, but the appear
ance of little girl of ten or twelve in
q pair of top boots is apt to strike the
conventional stranger as singular.
The chief interest of Madeira, how
ever, lies neither in it's inha bitants nor
in it's history, but in the extraordinary
beauty of it's scenery and the delicious
miIdness of its climate.
It's vegetati of all kinds is so lux
uriant and so lovely and it's scenery is
so varied and SO beautiful that one
never tires of going about, and re-
turn to Madeira every now and again
is looked forward to with pleasuraOlc
aEticipatiOns.
In late years they have introduced a
1
hillside to the mountain church," and
anyone caring to be deprived of lots
of fun and varied experiences in the
way of locomotion will choose the
iron road. But he who wants
genuine old fashioned locomotior
will try a pony, a palanquin, or a
sleigh. The first mentioned differs
very little from any other place where
the drivers all fight for patronage, and
accompany the rider in his rambles
over hill and dale. The palanquin Is
extremely comfortable, and is much
INDUCED in by residents, particularly
those OF the gentle sex. Two to -four
men, according to the weight to be
carried, raise a long pole on then
shoulders, from which is suspended
either hammock or some other affail
in which the traveller lounges during
the trip. There is a covering for the
head for protection against the sum:
rays, and others for the body to guarc
against the wind. What the majority
find most amusing is, however, the
sleigh. Madeira streets are paved will
little, round cobblestones, worn a.
smooth as glass, and, instead of car
riages, which are only now and again
seen, they have large blocl1-runne
sleds, with hooded tops, drawn b.
oxen.-Chicago Record.
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