Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1897-10-02
THE QUAINT Amos RACE.
The Women Are Massive In Appearance
and Wear Silky N1usteches.

and Wear Silky Mustaches.
The world of science has just been
reused to unusual interest by a report
of the Commercial Geographical society
of France, giving details concerning 4
race of mustached white women who
inhabit the island of Ycso, one of the
northwest of the Japanese group. The
facts which the report furnishes are
those learned by & NJ. Klabullowslii,
an explorer and delegate of tho society,"
who has recently returned from visit
to the strange people described.
The existence CT the Amos, as the
race to which these women belong is
called, has long been known to ethnol-
ogists, but NJ Klabulowslli has the
honor of being the first explorer of mod
ern times to penetrate the country and
look upon it and its people with tho
keen eye of the ethnologist. He is be-
lieved to be the only white man who
has gained full information concerning
the women, whose mustachcs arc equal
to those ever worn by any member Of
their race.
The explorer reports that these wom-
en- arc massive in appearance, and, in
fact, appear to better physical advan-
tage than the men. They have high
check bones and are distinctly Cauca-
sian They do not have that CHASTITY
yellowish complexion Characteristic of
the Chinese and Japanese, but rather
bear every appearance of white women
who have lived much III the open air.
Their mustaches, when natural, are al
ways black and silky and are invariably
turned up at both ends.
1t seems that not every one can grow
a mustache. What is the cause of this
fact no one apparently knows. There is
not even Il native explanation, except
the one found i'll the statement that the
mustacho is an indication of the caste
or rank OF the owner thereof.
The popularity isall the more strange
for the reason that the Amos are Il do
cidedly hairy race, their whole bodies
being generally covered with hair that
is naturally soft and silky. If, howev-
Ii with no trace Of mustacho appear
ing. her parents take it for granted that
nature has tabooed her so far as mus
taches are concerned and proceed to
supply the defect, in appearance, at
least, by the aid Of tattooing. The skill
which these people possess Of initiating
the mustache Ly these means is remark
able. Indeed, ut distance it is almost
impossible to tell whether or not the
mustaclie is genuine OF imitation.
Woman among the Amos is an in
ferior being. All heavy work, including
that of the field, is reserved for her. LII
childhood between S and 10 her counte-
nance possesses Il certain charm. After
that time the burden of life becomes
OF such nature that i'll a measure it
unsexes what should be tho fair sex.
Once married, the mustached woman
is more than ever the slave of the beard
ed man. She has not even the right to
pray. Notwithstanding the portion OF
the woman i'll the house is not so hard
as might be imagined. She possesses, i'll
fact, means Of defense which is special
to herself. She can, when she is angered,
transform her countenance into a hor-
rible mask, having as 4 maker OF grim
aces an inimitable talent.
Her husband cannot ignore the fact
that this perversc and mustached crea-
trre without honor or religion will
hesitate ut nothing; that, if she is too
badly treated, she can do him an i'll turn;
that she may, for example, serve him
In the guise of venison several pieces OF
dead bodies, or, when she is very seri-
ous burn his amulets. The Amos, how
ever, as she becomes old, succeeds little
by little in inspiring sort of reveren-
tial ear.-Denver Republican.