Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-08-08
WEDDING DRESS REHEARSAL.

aderstands the appellation. In point of
fact, however, nine out of ten people in
the states are at loss to know whether
it means bushman, boatman, guide
or a trailer-for it might mean either of
these. In reality the word implies
either, according used, but means
neither.
The Bovianders of Guiana are dis
tinct race of half-breeds, descended
from the intermarriage of the original
Dutch colonists with the Indian women
aof former generations. There are also
black Bovianders, descended from che
intermarriage of Indian braves with
runaway slave women, who fed to the
wilderness IN the days of slavery; but
these are not nearly SO numerous as the
white class, by whom they are looked
down on. These people inhabit the wide
and indefinite region now known as the
disputed territory, lying between the
aOrinoco and Essequibo, and maintain
the freest relations with the native In
-tiians on one side and the negroes of the
British colony on the other. They are
spread over the whole country, but
their chief settlements are nearer to the
English than the Venezuelan side
In color the Bovianders of Dutch eX-
traction are light brown-yellow,
somewhat fairer than mulattoes, and
with the European cast of features far
more strongly developed. They are
well formed, and, for the most part.
handsome. The black class are of
dirty reddish black, fiat featured and
ugly. In habit and manner, the white
is tidy, clean, pleasant and attractive;
the black slovenly, foul. sycophantic
and repulsive. Their language is Eng
4ish, but so full of Indian and Dutch
1dioms and variations as to be sort of
Nolapuk.
The customs of the Boviander, like
his language, are an admiXture of prim-
itive savagery and civilization. In him
socially as well as ethnologically the
European and the native Indian meet;
and it is often difficult to tell where the
~one ends and the other begins. Former
ay the Bovianders lived their peculiar
life pretty much to themselves, being
but infrequently disturbed by wander
ing explorers. With the opening up of
their country consequent upon the dis
rovery of gold, they have been brought
more into immediate touch with civ
;lization, and the dozen or SO of years
that have elapsed have wrought quite
AN interesting change.
Let us visit the Boviander and have a
passing glimpse of him in his home be-
vond the first line of the cataracts-
y
tween the colony proper and its back
woods. What we wish to see is low he
combines his Inheritance of primitive
customs with the new ideas of civilized
life that he has imbibed. and nothing
could be more apt to the purpose Than a
little experience of my own.
Bunting was to provide us will. boat
men to go up the river, but on arriving
at his settlement delay occurred.
Chloe, his daughter, was to be married,
and all outstanding engagements must
a Boviander. and the groom elect was
a white man of local celebrity, u Mr..
Gordon, of Glasgow Apart from its
annoyance the incident was very in
5eresting affair. We were fortunate
to be in the nick of time to witness a
full dress (wedding dress) rehearsal.
too. As we approached the Bunting
homestead Miss Chloe emerged onto
the balcony radiant in the best up-to-
date wedding costume, fresh from the
Georgetown milliners. She was i tall,
slender and very pretty girl, and ap-
peared in sharp contrast with her pres
ent surroundings As she came forth
to exhibit herself there was a rush of
1sovianders, Indians and negroes.
What a to-do there was! Such a
shouting and hand clappingi The pace
was set by an old negro granny. fat aid
iovial, and younger negro wench, who
accompanied the bride from her cham