The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1897-05-29
AMONG CORAL REEFS
BEAUTIFUL SCENES ALONG THE
q CE.:TRAL AMERICAN COAST.
The Mosquito Coast, or the "Reserva
Mosquita," ~ 1t Is Now known to
Central America-A Famous Reef
Cape ssThanks to GOd"-Cargo of
Ruber.--Ab AmphibiOus Race.
Continued from End Col.

Two villages, the smaller one called "Caris-
rune $50 named by colony of Prussians who
| attempted to establish themselves here many
years ago, and most disastrous!y failed.
An Amphibious Race.
The huts and few american style" tin,
rooted houses are surrounded by palms and
plantaln trees, with detached stalks of the
papaya, laden with golden fruit, and the shore
is lined with the usual canoes, pitpans and
dories. The Moscos are an amphibious race.
They ride the toughest seas like seagu,ls,
ana II BOAT upsets they right 1t in moment
ana clear 1t OF water with their broad paddles,
not in the least Disconnected by so trifipr
an accident. Among the crowd of people at
the landing We were surprised to see yery
lew white faces, or even distinctively Indian
the vast majority being unmitigated negroes
from Jamaica, or "sambos.'' as they are
called, i. e.. of mixed negro and Indian blood.
We have always understood that the Mos
quito shore is occupied by Mosquito Indians.
but the truth is that hardly pure blooded
Indian is left in the country. The miserable
race which goes by that name have mixed
more and more, with trader blood from ia
malca, with which island this coast has it's
principal relations, until the aboriginal ele.
ment is about eradicated
Long ago as Lussan, the freebooter wrote
ne said The coast has long been inhabited
by mulasters (mulattoes) and negroes, both
men and women, which have greatly multi
olied since a Spanish chip bound from
Guinea, laden with their fathers, was lost
lere Those who escaped from the wreck
We're courteously received by the mousticks
buccaneer for MOSQUITOES" Spanish, Mos
:os), who lived hereabouts. The Indians
assigned their guests place to grub up and
ntermixed with them. They are very sloth-
ul, and neither pant nor sow, very little,
heir women performing all the labor. When
hey are inclined to sleep, they dig hole in
he ground, into which they put themselves"
The negroes cast ashore from the Spanish
save ship were largely augmented by "cimar-
ones, or runaway slaves from Spanish
settlements In the interior. Still later, when
ne English planters from Jamaica attempted
70 settle on this coast, they brought along
ihelr slaves, who also contributed their quota
toward mixing up the mongrel race which
low prevails along these borders, combining
he blood of Scotch, Welsh, Dutch, and Eng
:astaways and traders from al countries,
and always the African predominating.
No Trace of Original Owners.
Among these lazy, cowardly people no trace
is left of the original owners of the soil, when
Columbus described in letter to his sover-
algn as Fishers, great sorcerers, and very
errible." His son, Fernando Columbus, writ
ing a rev years later,is more explicit. He says:
They are almost negroes in color bestia.,
go s.
human flesh, and devouring raw fish as they
happen to catch them" But it must be re-
that the old-time chroniclers were
speaking only of the seacoast Indians Uhe
Caribs p and not Of the distinct people of the
Interior, whose language also was different
We shall not soon forget our first night in
Mosquitia! Before going to sleep, and at fire.
quent intervals between "cat-naps' through
cut the night, our ears were assailed by the
most dolorous sounds that ever fell from
human llps-or was it legion Of lost souls
oewa!ling their hopeless fate? Even after
sunrise the blood-curdling hair-lifting, in
iescribabe lamentation continued an hour
or more. Inquiry developed the fact that it
is the custom of the Moscos to mourn fer
dead relative or friend one year from the
date of his death. This is done by proxy, so
to say, TWO women being hired for the pur-
pose These professional howlers select
special nights and days in which to get IN
their work. and as each nlourner is at liberty
TO employ his own private duo of weepers.
there are few nights in Mosquito which are
not made hideous." The spirit CT the dead
is believed 10 be lowering around, and capable
of knowing whether or not his loss is properly
lamented; and there is no doubt that on this
occasion the shade of the defunct was salts
ned. FANNIE BRIGHAM WARD