The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-06-05
rHr eLoRrrIED MAoarrn
Actually. ss well ss PIsurauvei1. Ansrioa's
Gin 10 Cabs.

GIu 20 Cuba.
at Is curious how the humble 'macheto'
that | used to know so familiarity In bygono
days has boon brought into fame by this Cuban
revolution, said n former West Indian planter.
at reminds me OF the strange way in which the
civil war in this country took a grotesque song
about The land OF cotton, cinnamon coed, and
sandy bottom "a song of burnt cork. banjo,
and bones-and made OF 1t a war hymn that TO
millions Of Americans is still sacred. Tho his
tory Of this century includes Dixie among its
documents. And to-day the Dyes Of mankind arc
directed to the tAbleau Of ColumbiA orming
Cuba for the battle. and, instead OF Ioicf te
sabre Columbia sings Take the machete,'
Don't you know what q 'mNeheto' isl tits
an agricultural implement, something like tho
primitive cornknifo OF this country. used whore
hand labor rules TO cut the corn stalks for gath
erinG into shocks. only the niachete is heavier.
sharper, a little longer. and broader in proper.
ton, broadening toward its point. The crop 1t
has to reap Is the sugar cane. which. In tho
West Indies, at least. 10 much thicker and
tougher than tho thickest cornstalk. and 10
toughest near the ground.
However, tho ordinary use ofia machote goes
far beyond the mere cutting OF the cane crop.
The wild shrubs and the withos, or ropy, vines,
which make the underbrush of the West Indies,
are of tough tbre. In the temperate zone un.
d%orbrush is something, OF an obstacle in getting
NulOubh a "OOuo VhOh OAV - Ia ehhit pub
1t IL an obstacle that can DO put aside with tho
hands At the cost OF a few scratches and rents.
In the tropics underbrush Is q much more seri.
Gus matter. as our soldiers arc likely TO learn
with some pain. There the shrub that has
tases G much more NOR than a few SECONDS, or
even minutes, to break, and the withes have a
se u Of u MANI strapdS and eSeet strenqtb' hang.
ing in loose bights. high and low from tho
6ouge overhead. II is absurd TO think Of stop,
move rapidly through a tropical forest, and
even IL you have plenty OF time and muscle 10
succumb under tho exasperating embraces Of
those long. Timber .lianas.'
80 for generations the machote has been a
necessity TO the rural populations. from whom
tho rank and file OF the Cuban insurgents have
reap the crops. to clear the land for fresh Guilt.
walton. and TO help themselves to an open path.
t GhGS the bush. The mhioii last Of those u SnSf must
have become specially important in tho guerrilla
warfare OF recent years. AZ the same time
lutionists were just the class to whom the
macheto was the most natural weapon Of offence
and defence.
"Yo will find the macheto occupying much
the same place in their daily life among the in.
call it a emSshsy there. They. too. acquired a
good deal Of skLllin handling It,, and in at least
/ eject as a Weapon. though never in hSnd.to.
hand fight with armed forces. Some years ago,
and, for all l know. even now. almost every
other negro to be met on a country road
in Jamaica would, be carrying a ma.
shay unsheathod, because. they wero no
more provided with scabbards than hoes
or pickaxes would be. 1t was tho peasants
constant companion, and might occasionally be
his protection against a savage dog, or, in eome
districts. u stray alligator, or he could use it to
chop up a snake, juet on the general principle
be chopped UP. Not infrequently 1t has figured
in the criminal courts, when two negroes have
fallen out after too much conviviality at the
roadside rum shop.
"One interesting thing about it is that
Columbia has armed Cuba with the macheto In
| n cop,, ~ orotH | aud litaral 0anaA a. wall N - In n
political and hHurAtive one. The machetos
used throughout the West lndies were formerly
mostly Of English make; now they are Ameri-
can. The American manufacturers have fairly
beaten their competitors In this line. a. in
others, until now there are comparatively few,
ifAny. Eng!ish-made machetes sold in that part
OF the world. 1t is not likely that the Cuban
patriots will ever how down Spanish soldiers
with machetes, or ever have done so to any
great extent; still there is a certain poetical TT
ness in the American-made machete as the en-
blem of this Anttllean war OF Independence
guerra al mdchete-"