Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-06-09

aIuUNA AAlt l0MtlNs
here and there or stopped a moment
to stare at the Intruder into their
domain. Alligators along the shore
basked In the lazy sunshine. or hounced
with a sudden splash into the water
as the unexpected dip OF our paddles
warned them of our approach. The
country has deservedly been called
terrestrial Eden" have never seen
so much condensed beauty expressed
in so many types.
when l had been padded in this
way for n hundred miles or there
nbouts, / decided TO dlsembark and
look up a coffee farm. There should
have been one on every side instead OF
the unused acres OF matchless soil. but
the treasures OF this paradise are
locked secret TO the most OF us. and
only few daring. far-secing indi-
viduals have made their way into the
depths OF all this vegetation and begun
to transform II and its possibilities into
gold. As 1t happened. however, 1
had not far to go, for, as l soon dis
covered, l had come ashore at the
very threshold OF big plantation.
l was rejoiced. you may be sure, for
was growing weary OF Spanish. and
thirsty for a good. strong draught
OF the Queens English. My guides
took out their bowie knives, and go
Ing before me, cut out path for us;
l following closely, assisting now and
then, but principally engaged In avoid
ing the tarantulas. scorpions and snakes
which seemed almost as thick as the
mosquitoes.
In this way we continued for about
quarter OF mile, when we sud-
denly emerged into a clearing In the
centre stood three houses, and at the
door Of the smallest, which was little
more than a hut. a rectangle built of
cakes OF sun-dried clay. stood the tall,
broad-shouldered owner. As / has
tened forward to meet him l observed
his appearance with interest. He was
6 feet tall and with the development
OF an accomplished athlete. He wore
white cotton trousers, a red flannel
shirt open at the throat and great
sombrerO. In his belt were big sharp
shooter and an ugly looking bowie
knife, By the time | had taken note
OF these facts | was upon him, and
shaking hands enthusiastically with
this fellow-countryma Of mine, whom
| had at once recognized as such. An
open. frank face met my glance with
the smile OF boy. and an honest
| American voice made me welcome.
| As we stood In the doorway talking
| and Introducing ourselves, a troop OF
sixty Indians came up and jostled and
crowded Into a long, low building just
| on the other side Of the one whore we
We're standing. This, ! learned, was the
eating house, and the sounds which
| soon issued from It left no doubt as
TO it's character.
Come IN and have some grub" said
my new-found friend and, following
! hts suggestion. We were soon hard at
work despatching some corn and beans.
/ my companion accompanying our re-
past with anecdotes and information
which / found highly interesting.
YES, this Is the coming country" he
answered to one OF my inquiries, the
finest coffee land In the world.
! bf.t tgFsf
self. and there is still some land TO be
cleared but the experience of the other
planters outstrips anything l had eX-
pected
Coffee is king" he continued after n
pause. and FIVE years at the outside
win see me rolling in wealth and my
own carriage Have some more beans"
Are YOU here alone2' / asked. as n
| creHcendo IN the hilarity OF the Indians
recalled the present to my mind and
the danger that must surround a single
handed foreigner among so many. "In
n way, yes. l am my only friend, and
the only man who can talk respect
able language. These sixty Indians
over yonder can keep me pretty well
occupied, however. When they get
iold of any rum they drink 1t until they
nre In n frenzy, and then | have all
can do to keep them from killing each
other. They must have rum three
times day, and l deal 1t out to then
myself. 40 as to keep them In theii
limit They are sly dogs, though. ant
lay in private stores from passing
caravans and the FIRST thing | know Il
that they are chewing each other NJ
like regular devils
DO you mean to say that you rr'
not ufrnld2'
Fponded, fcarlesaly. tapping his six
/ shooter significantly and squaring hi
z | DoNgrfll chest
= Night had set In by this umc, an,
l with II the mosquitoes had come out
T. armed to the teeth, leaving us but on
1 retrcat-bed. Here. with a voluminuu
( | netting OF cheese cloth, we battle
/ them, and. lying comfortable an
! warm under the blankets, we soon fe
, asleep, surrounded by angry mos
}. quitoes,
!. For several days I continued to r,
y main on the plantation, and foun
Z much to interest and fascinate TIL
! poems, the most ignorant, indolent pc,
y pie conceivable. live principally
l blankets. To be sure, they have house
~ wretchcd novels made of clay or oil
u refuse matter, such as railroad tie
o sugar cane stalks, old barrel STAY,
and mating, but they spend their day
y In front Of them, wrapped TO the chi
ri In their brilliant blankets. and
= night. when they go inside, they |
e down In the same blankets. They a
u always honest. and. when sober, a
l. docile and submissive II IN only VIII,
n the rum inilames thcm' that they a
4, dangerous.
=, The planters life among them Is NJ
70 easy, foYg fearing mistreatment
II strHngerse with reason. they =
e- fuse to sell their provisions. rh
m keeps the planter during the fir
a months or his experience generally ,
n the verge OF starvation. as .he on
~ way In which he can meet the de
e. cheney is by sending for supplies
~ the nearest town, usually anythii
3, but near ut hand. II took my fricl
IN four weeks In good weather to prodf
d. his provisions and in bad weather (
I'd most any incalculablc time. He to
~ me that several times he had been l
~ duced to such straits that he had be-
10 compelled TO take food from the n
)y tlves by force and make his own pri,
81 "There is nothing like bold blum
~ he remarked In telling me OF this. "a
NJ IL In beginning TO tell already, Al
nc by the time the rainy season sets IN
u1 hone to have them trained"
MS There still wanted two months |
n fore this season began. as II was
ns that time the last OF March, or ,Ibo
he the middle Of the iirst SUNNI
en- Spring, or the rainy season, begins I
w first OF June and lasts three mont
al thin is followed by the second SUNNI
70, which lasts another three monthsi
second spring 10 Jan. l, and then su
-, rner again. Nobody minus the IA