The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-05-02

Ns then about as comprehensive an i'm
plement as could be devised: he uses il
for anything. from peellng a stick of
sugar cane to telling n tree u foot and
half in diameter, and II Is really n
rare sight to see u. peasant without his
cutlass. either carried in his hard or
swinging in long leather sheath In
appearance 1t is much like corn knife
hut is usually longer and heavier, with
homemade handle. incomparably
more comfortable than the blistcr-rais-
Ing device which every country boy
has tasted In cutting down a row of
corn. The readymade handles OF horn
look like quite the proper thing to the
novice, but the veteran machete man is
almost sure to discard this as a snare
and delusion. substituting n piece of
wood carefully cut out to ut his hand
and bound around ingcniously with
twine TO hold the blade firm and give a
good grip. So attached do these IN. n
become to their own particular imple-
ments that you can materially lessen
your best workman's efficiency by start
ing MIN out with strange machete
indeed. he Is more than likely to refuse
To work at oil under such conditions
Naturally the choice OF such n constant
companion is a we!ghty matter. and
however poverty stricken u man may he
he Will pay a full price for u blade
that exactly suits him. His test is "a
severe one. Laying the muchete fiat
on the ground he stands on one end and
bends the blade until the handle almost
touches the point-requiring precisely
the same degree of fieXibillty as made
the old Damascus sword so famous If
the steel survives this treatment and
gives out the proper note when struck
Sharply. hardly anything he has is too
precious to secure IT, Constant filing
keeps the blade in razor-like condition.
even through the hard usage IL has TO
undergo and If he be building a hut he
VIII cut the palm-leaf thatch and the
laGnas TO cover the walls. fell and trim
the logs Tor the framework and even
new out the palm LOarGs, all with the
same blade. while the yams which are
aug up with the point are often cut
into eatable portions with the edge.
The case with which one of these
sturdy fellows Swings his machete ali
day under ;hel scorching SIM In he
cancelled or the forest. would make an
Inexperienced onlooker .think of i. a
simple matte. and II is not until he has
attacked slender saDl!ne with terrific
torce' only 30 find the blade turn as it
strikes ana make The slightes; of cuts
Ina. .I'i ne reali|es the amount Of skill and
khack necessary to bring out all its
virtues. For The expert EMPLOYEES com
paratively little muscular strength. He
mas MS machete balanced exactly RICH.
and as sharp as file can make IL. and
theh. with deXterous swing and n
drawing motion. buries the wide blade
IN Inc wood, generally a; a sharp angle
allowing tine handle to rest loosely in
mis- palm at the moment OF contact. so
as 10 get the benefit OF che full mo-
mehum. He can cut away from his body,
towards II, up, down. sideways. back
handed, against a solid trunk or through
swinging, elusive vines-all with this I'M
err.ng blow. and no matter how thick
the tangle of growth all about him
catching at his arm and weapon, he
hardly ever Injuries himself.
On holidays out comes the extra blade.
the media Cinta. longer. narrower and
lighter than the other: the leather belt
Is 200 prosaic for this favorie knife. so a
gaudy. great silk handkerchief is passed
through the sheath slit. itself as decora
Wve as a Mexicans stirrup feathers and
In this festal attire the ;eallan. struts
forth prepared to curt MAYA blossom for
his sweetheart o: split aAuccessful rivals
head If his jealousy be goaded too far.
The children measure their height by
the length of The blade. and when the
ambitious younEster can strap on his
fathers machete and walk without hav-
ing the point trailing on the ground. he
feels himself n man indeed
With such lifelong course of train
Ing 1t Is small wonder that the Cuban
should have distinguished himself and
his mache.e when 1t became his chief
defense agains. his oppresser.