The Richmond climax. (Richmond, Ky.) 1897-1914, 1899-07-12
SAN BIAS INDIANS
Marriage with White Men Is n Capt.
tai Crime According 10
Their Laws.


A strange race of people, with man
ners and customs stranger still, lives
near the coast at San Bias, Colombia,
South America. To the few traders who
visit the spot for cocoanuts and vege-
table ivory they are known as the San
Bias Indians. Of their origin and his
tory but little can be discovered.
One thing is certain, that although
friendly to the government of the Unit
ed States and to foreigners who may en-
ter or find themselves weather-bound
in the harbor of San Bias, there is no
record of their having ever been con-
quered or subjugated by any other tribe
or power.
1t is quite probable that they have de-
seconded from the ancient Toltecs, but
what vicissitudes of tribal life they may
have passed through viii probably
never be known.
Although inclined to be friendly they
look with most jealous eyes upon any
effort TO cultivate a closer acquaintance
than the necessities of trade require.
No matter how many vessels may lie at
anchorin the harbor, or how much trad
ing may have been carried on during the
day, every white man at shutdown must
go on board his ship. or at least quit the
territory of the tribe until the follow
ing morning. This is a tribe law,
against which protest is useless.
The maidcns of this peculiar tribe are
quite attractive, and many n jack tar
has risked his life in the effort to win
OF capture a duSky bride. Love, as in
other lands. occasionally oyercomes all
obstacles, but IL the unfortunate girl is
caught or returns TO her people the
punishment is death.
The young mate of an English bark
lying in the harbor became enamored
ola girl whose home was near the beach.
The mates attentions were persistent
and his love was secretly returned.
One night. just before the ship was TO
sail, the Indian maiden secreted her
sailor boy in the thickets until after
dark. when they stole canoe and start
cd to paddle out 10 the vessel. But an
awful tropical storm came up which
caused the clipping couple TO lose their
bearings. and only with difficulty did
they manage TO keep afioat. When
morning dawned they were washed
ashore. almost exhausted. The enraged
Indians seized both and made them cap
tives. condemning the girl to imme-
diatc death.
The captain of the bark. anticipating
trouble. sent a boats crew ashore with
rescue party. y demand was made
for the prisoner. whcreupon the mate
was released. but the girl was held for
the death sentence.
Finding argument useless, the dcsper-
ate youth. with 4 few sailors at his
back. made rush To rescue his sweet
heart, and had almost accomplished it,
when he was struck down by 4 spear
thrust from the hand of the girls
father She broke from her captOrs,
erazed with grief. and, selling the spear,
drove the head of IL into her own breast.
The sailors managed 10 carry away
their wounded mate, but were driven
into their boat and away from the
shore.
The territory held bv the tribe is quite
extensive, although its boundaries are
not very accurately defined. 1t extends
from cape san Bias FAR back into the
mountains.
Cocoanuts are the source of the ma
tons wealth, which is considerable.
Probably the largest groves in the
world are Just back of San Bias, and
belong to these Indians.
A kind of commonwealth or coop
erative system seems to exist among
them, and each member of the tribe
collects and carries each day his share
of the cocoanuts and adds it to the
enormous pyramid Of them near the
shore, which is the tribes treasury.
Millions of nuts are thus stored and in
waiting for a profitable market. The
average price for them is from eight to
ten dollars per thousand in Colombian
silver, or about S. per cent. of that
amount in gold. One-half of the pay is
taken in cash and the other half in mer-
chandise.
The nuts are carried from the great
pile" TO the beach in palmetto bags.
The natives with these loads, each
weighing 50 pounds. travel at a brisk
trot all day long and seemingly without
fatigue. Although a slender, wiry race,
they will accomplish with ease task
that would kill or PROSTATE Anglo-Sax-
ons
The Indians are excellent sailors, and
even in the rough weather make the
trip from cape San Bias 10 Aspinwall
in boats followed out of logs.
A cocoanut grove is a source of never
failing revenue to its owners, as the
tree from the fourth year of its 5Aist-
ence bears indefinitely and has few if
any enemies. The nuts intended for
commerce are allowed to ripen and
drop TO the ground. Every one that
falls is worth about half cent where it
lies.
All day and all night the owner of the
estate may listen to his wealth drop
ping to the earth around him. In fact,
it is necessary 10 exercise care in walk
ing among the trees, to avoid having
4 ones skull fractured by the descending
fruit.-Boston Globe.
SM0KELESS POWDER.