The Republican journal., 1898-02-10
A Novel Hunt in Costa Rica.

special correspondence of The journal.
PARIsMINA, COSTA RIGA, JAM I'd. We
have just returned from the most novel
expedition into which our checkered for
tunes have led us, viz, the annual gucha-
20 hunt, which is special feature of
carly winter in eastern Costa Rica. what
on earth is a gucharo?'' fancy you say.
Probably you will not find him under
that Spanish Indian alias in any ornitho-
ogieal work; but perhaps you will recog-
ME his kind among the coil BIRDS
which are used for culinary and illumi-
nadng purposes in various part of the
world besides Central America. His true
name, | believe, is Heatornis Caripensis;
and according to the naturalists he be-
longs to the big family Caprimulgida, of
the tribe Fisserosters and order Insessoris.
Nnd of all the queer freaks of nature, he
IS HE queerest, both in himself and the
uses to which he is put. A full grown
.u0haro is about the size of dove, dress
r in Quakerish suit of brownish gray,
nat with bin as surprisingly long and
.IJng as that of the plumber. When
.st able to fly he looks like Trinidad
-1at sucker and is not much larger
u a whip-poor- will, but more than
ldluples in size while maturing.
lWong other singular traits, he is a noe
nal bird, though frugivorous. Making
home in deep, dark caverns at the
eau's edge, he lives entirely upon olea-
nous fruits, such as aguacater (''vege-
lie butter J, castor beans, nuts of the
palm, etc. The consequence is, he
Hecomes extremely fat after summers
elteeding, and like other gluttons,
mes to bad end.
Being always on the lookout for novel
rgs characteristic of the ways of the peo-
lle-as journalistic duty demands, we
ntgged to accompany hunting party;
bat found considerable difficulty in gain
ilg our point. Though life is wild enough,
Heaven knows, in this out-of- the way
eorner of Costa Rica and the majority of
the natives seem to have no more notion
vi conyentionaltes than the birds them
selves, nowhere on earth are social dis
motions more clearly defined, or the con-
lct of the called upper classes ruled by
re rigorous etiquette. The laws of the
Modes and Persians may change, and death
and taxes be sometimes evaded, but for a
3sta Rican lady to step aside one hairs
eadth from the time honored, often alb
.urd, customs handed down from her
ancient ancestors the Moors, would mean
eial ostracism, complete and final. For
ample, Central American ladies 90 no.
here except in the beaten path prescrib-
by the narrowest of local fashions-to
1rch to the opera, to the bull fight,
t.e paseo-and are never allowed the
-ltest latitude for INDUCING vagrant
.acie> in the way of rambling about, or
liityng an investigating turn of mind
sightseeing pilgrimages. Why should
men want to see anything out of the
uary their lords and masters argue,
ftept by proxy, as it were, through the
of fathers and husbands and broth
Here woman sphere is regarded as
nsiyely within the home circle. She
rNlected to spend her life in a sort of
llcus seclusion-to look as pretty as
-sbIe, to have holy horror of ali lit
ature except such as pertains to Las
las de los Santos Ghe Lives of the
ats) lest it leads to that pernicious
lng mndedness which atflcts many
AItheru women; above all, to obey her
tIe superiors implicitly and pay strict
uure hitting attention to the prayers
md orosones which, it is believed, will
,entually open Heaven gates to her less
lrdyerful protectors.
Like Solomon's lilies, she tolls not,
ather does she spinner cook, nor sew,
ayond a little embroidery and the occa-
onal connection of some ndigestible
iulcie." Her days are spent in eating,
noking, sleeping, gossiping, church 60
ug and rearing children, with very little,
any, knowledge of the big world be-
nd the hills that bound her range of
sion. Of course all this applies to the
stocracy, and to diverge from it would
10 write oneself down irrevocably as
longing to the other class, who 90 to the
opposite extreme in ignoring the common
aecences of life.
Although in this country, as in Europe,
American ladies are now allowed much
more latitude than those to the manner
5orn, because of exaggerated reports of
ne free and easy ways of the former at
Aume, our kind entertainer stood aghast
when we proposed going to the gucharo
hunt. But "when woman will, she
will" you know and on the ground that
The United States was waiting with
ureathless interest to read all about it in
The columns of The Republican Journal,
The matter was at last arranged by the
obliging Jefe Politico, who not only offer
eQ to escort us himself in official capacity
bat loaned us his aunt and two elderly
iemale servants to act as duenas.
am afraid our Northern friends would
lave laughed outright could thew have