The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-08-26
CARRYING THE BABY
CUSTOMS OF MANY TRIBES.

their burdens except their babies on their
| heads. Unlike the women of civilized coun-
tries, they make of the hustle a useful
thing. They wear very large bustles, upon
which the children sit astride. a rope Is
tied under the arms of both mother and
child to prevent the latter falling of its
high perch.
In PaDakai, King County. New Zealand
the women fasten the children TO their |
hacks. the little hands ciinging tight around
the mothers neck. They hold them in
place with a large wooden shawl. In Tara
wepa. New Zealand. women and girls carry
! the children on the shoulder or hEo. tied
snugly in place with the folds of a .nawl.
| The mothers and babies of Delacarl!er.
Sweden. are handsome specimens of the
race. The women seem to know Instructive
Iy how TO make artistic pictures of them
selves The little one is slung in a stout
hammock on the mothers or nurses back.
The hammock has strong bands, which go
over the shoulders and keep the child In
| place.
The New Guinea mother. ~guiltless of all
ciothing except a short petticoat. drops her
baby into a Melted bag and suspends 1t in
front of her, fastening 1t securely on her
head over the ears.
haf1r women set their children astride
tneir oacks and hold them in position By
tying a piece of cloth around their loins.
IA oeuuuiH DdDS makes its infaQtiI6
Journeys about TIE world nesting sausly
In a long bag which hangs down the
mothers back. The bag is ingeniously con-
uiFtu from a shawl, two corners of which
are fastened on top of the woman's head So
mat the weight is borne from there and ro.
from the shoulders
In Bombay. Java and Calcutta the child
riues astrlde the mothers hip. The little
1dVanese Is held in place BY a strong hand
rs which Is fastened obliquely across the
mo.her ; BACK. Ihe children soon grow ac-
customed to the awkward position and view
the world with untroubIed eyes
Chlnese and Japanese BABIES ride nicl
on ei'her siung in a stout canvas or
Strapped about with strong bands AZ
iuie' ne nurses seem very careless of them
ana their shaver heads bob ,bon, In , 49,,
uncomfortable manner.
LII Japan the little girls back is fitted IN
~ ourueh very early in life. One often
S 'nhu oi not more than 4 or 5 Years Of
age piavins with her doll fastened to her
r" as shc grows older a larger doll is
USED. 50 that by the time she is 10 mr. I, chs
Is able TO carry her infant brother n r sistsr
without breaking down under the burden
my Shihese baby lies with its face fiat
s' II motners back. which position.
49,, peupie tnihk, accounts for the broad,
nat hostrils so prevalent among tho Nop.
SolS. The little Chinois has its he.u oh. vod
u d uozen fantastic fashions. and the more
u II can make 1t look the better the
nhother likes 1t. Chinese babies are not very
attractive. for the reason thar tbev saem
heslectcd and dirty. This Is freuuen1lv don.
win d purpose. The more parents love their
chiidreh the more they pretend nor TO. hop
nus 'hefepy TO cheat the jim, or spirits of
the AIR, VINO they think would carry off
thelr little ones should it be discovered that
they loved them. The Egyptian mother
Velis her face with a yasmak and cnvelops
her inquire in a loose robe covering her from
heao 10 heeis. She takes UP the little brown
mite OF humanity and gives him a toss
Whicn iands him astride her shoulder; wiN
MS httie hands placed on her head he keepN
hif1seit IN position. and thus he sees tho
world from an elevated point of view.
All the North American Indians use some
sort oil a cradle-board; some of them are
extremely pretty. decorated with bead work
ana porcupine quilts. In some tribes the
Doard alone is used. and the little papooss
is Strapped TO its mothers back; others
make an osier hood or whole cover for the
poard. once the child is dashed to the board
IL Is set up In any convenient corner or at
'ached TO the swaying branch of a tree.
where 1t may lazily swing in the sunshine.
"heh the Indian mother leaves the tent
sne Slips the strap of the cradle-board over
her hec1 and carries the winking baby with
her. When long journeys are to be made
the cradle-board Is slung from the horn Of
\ the mothers saddle.