The Republican journal., 1898-02-17
Funny Side of Life i'm Costa RIGA
7,pical Posada, or Rural Inn. Land of
80 Hay." Mesoneros and Cartmen.

-.retal Correspondence of The journal.
tRro LIMoN, CosTA RIGA, Jan. 5th:
r.er travelling in these wild countries,
rIe ordinary comforts of life are fire.
andy non est, it is far better to laugh
ludicrous side of things than to
toy the unattainable But ones phil
is sometimes severely taxed in
raj districts of Costa Rica; and
.. more so than by the posadas, or
.-s tros, which take the place of way
ms. A better idea of the typical
.sa Of to-day, as it exists in many
...- OF Spanish America, cannot be OBJ
-. than by reading Gen. Wallace's Ben
the similarity is striking between
and the posada in Bethlehem of
-a which sheltered Joseph and Mary
eventful night when Christ was
In outward appearance they are
ae A large corral or yard, entered
Aage gateway with heavy wooden
; surrounded by high, thick adobe
the inner face Of which is divided
ue partitions, matched with straw,
serieS Of small square rooms. These
euts are generally windowless,
floor but the earth and no furni-
uatever, its clumsy door opening
corral where the mules are fed.
muleteels, each rolled in his blan-
.eep peacefully upon the paving
long and wearisome ride, ex.
nom the dim twilight OF the morn
the DINNER twilight at the other
the day, you arlive at last, tired
ngry, before some village posada,
.d the great doors closed and barred,
lie object of the inn were to keep
out, instead OF atfording entertain
Tor man and beast
muleteeI picks up a stone and
5 upon the gate resounding tattoo,
eng, "Abra la puerto, Somos Amigos
Open the gate; we are your
leads, Sir Nobody pays any atten-
tor some time, to his repeated calls;
anally a sleepy, ill-natured looking
dual noisely withdraws the bolt,
IS wide the door-just long enough
,ou to hurry through, then re- bars it
-.a and retires to his unknown lair
F. lout SO much as a glance at his newly
,ed amigos. Looking around you
he pale glimmer of the moon or the
,el gleam of tallow dip in a lantern,
see crowd of muleteers and Garrett
with their coffee carts, horses,
mules and oxen, collected in the
l'sard. Nobody pays any attention to
. as you clatter in on horse or mule
b.. isnount, and proceed to look for
occupied room, or rather stall,
.. IS a we'll bred United States horse
~ lisdain to stand in. Having found
Fou take possession Of it, unpack
luggage and stow away the saddle,
s and everything stealable, which
HneJeer brings You for safe keep
0Qkug around your First floor
rs d candle Of your Own providing,
al one end eff the empty room a
oI stone or adobe, about feet
-. aad Z feet wide, which is designed
sava the triple purpose of bed, table
asy char. Occasionally frame OF
asAed together with thongs, OF an
uaay stretcAeI With a raw hide nailed
ID II, takes the place Of the bench and
-s the same purpose; but there is no
article OF furniture i'll the typical
40 apartment. Sometimes an urgent
and may obtain for you deal table,
encl, ora cot bedstead; but that posada
ID be swell indeed and scarcely to
und in Central America, which would
p!y such unheard of luxuries as chairs
Nashstand' DO you suppose that Jos
and Mary had rocking chairs and
bowls? when in Turkey do as the
5ies;' spread your wraps up the adobe
and sit upon it, and if you must
a-A. go out into the corral to the big
III from which the cattle drink and
the muleteers indulge in their in
1ent ablutions, and afterwards stand
~ ne sun to dry. Travellers are expect
20 bring their own beds and bedding,
j. we'll as towels and cooking utensils,
everything else except the bare walls
root to shelter them at night. One
'"H learns to get along with very little
sedimenta; but whatever you dispense
WITH in this vermin-infested country, be
'y 10 keep well supplied with hellibore
some other effective bug poison, and
ei4re spreading your blankets for the re-
se, literally besprinkle all adjacent OBJ
-ets.
d. one corner of the corral is the public
hen in which you, or your servants.
'7 at liberty to cook supplies of your
Nn furnishing, over handful of char
4 bought of the mesonero or inn keep
The great difficulty is to get hold of
"t mesonero and induce him to part with
'rtion of his supplies for liberal con
'd-Tation. From his bearing one would
lhpose that he considers travellers his
aaral enemies, to be Stunned and de-