The National tribune., 1901-03-14

| serving and cooking lthese valuable sup
plies. They prefer living on cassava, CO.
coa-nuts, piantainsg mango fruit, or any
thing else. to making nets, building drying
stages, or troubling themselves with work.
Fishing lines are too slow; salt can only
be had by constructing evaporating flats,
which require constant attention. Why,
then, weary their souls when poor food,
or, indeed. privation, rs preferable? Spear
ing fish at night by torchlight affords con-
siderable amusement. To get comfortably
intoxicated On some cf those many chicas
which are always at hand, and go out
with whooping crdwds, appears far bet
ter than taking trouble; and an existence
which is always either a feast or a famine,
suits these Sambo barbarians entirely.
Their boats are of three classes-ca
noes, pitpans, or dories. All. however, be-
long to one type, that of the tree-trunk
followed by fire and subsequently gouged
or chipped into shape. 4 pine torch is
fixed at the bow; behind it stands some
skilled sportsman with one of those sim
noks previously mentioned; his crew pad
die.
Vast numbers of fish rising to the flare
get struck; but there is an unconscionable
waste from spelling, and thousands mere
iy poison the air when thrown away;
moreover, nothing need be added to the
climates noXious character, since this
Mosquito Coast is among natures most
beautiful and deadly regions.
During English and Spanish wars, as
well as in those of Independence, mortal
ity, especially among foreigners. reached
nights that seem incredible. While Mel
son, then Captain of the HitchinbroOk,
was operating here with boats-particu-
1arly on his expedition up the Chagres
Riyer-he lost so many men from disease
that scarcely enough remained to bring his
ship away. Other vessels actually rotted
at their anchorages because all on board
perished. The French colony at Cape
Gracias was eSterminated; while a like
fate befel Belgian and Prussian settlers
in Santo Tomas and Bluefeld.
Natives, living after fashion which in
vites sickness, die also; yet not so numer-.
ously. Despite preventive measures, both
of us soon began to feel langrid lose
strength and get nearer day by day, to
an attack of fever. 1t was certainly time
for retreat but before escaping to those
wind-swept sounds or breezy islands L.
ing outside. we assisted ut one funeral
which merits description.
The deceased, according to all accounts,
was an eminent citizen, who by dint of
hard drinking and general debauchery, had
finally killed himself. If this worthy's
friends did not eXaggerate his perform
ances through taking a pride in them, it
" L
end came at last, however, and a pressing
invitation to be present on the solemn oc
casion was extended to us. Midnight
is the fashionable hour for burying
people, but this wake was in full swing
long before. Many fires illuminated the
scene, which closely resembled a Central
African one. both as respects its personnel
and surroundings. Much eating and
more drinking went on; occasionally a
mourner broke into an extemporaneous
sOng-and-dance performance-some wran-
gled, others embraced. the whole were ut
terly barbaric and supremely disreputable.
Oyerpowering other discords, band of
women, wild as Bacchantes, screeched I'M
ceasingly around the corpse, and some
where hidden in darkness big tree-drums
doomed, shrill reed-fifes scattered cascades
of disconnected, meaningless notes, and
great bark trumpets beloved.
The dead man, wrapped with cerements,
lay in half of a canoe, where he was as
siduously famed by attendants. Then
suddenly, as the appointed hour came,
certain persons previously concealed
rushed forward, looking like demons;
come to seize upon this defunct. None
wore any clothes to speak of, each
had his hair stiffened with gum until
it stood on end, 5aH were smeared
from head to foot with red and yellow
clay. They quickly fastened cords TO the
open boat-coffin, and Itore away, followed
by one who bore its other half on his
head. Everybody trooped after, capering,
yelling and firing old muskets TO frighten
away devils; and thus the funeral train
sped into that dark forest which lay near.
A shallow trench received the casket, now
covered by its remaining portion, and earth
was rapidly thrown on top. Over all they
hastily made fimsy hut, planted tur-
tle-spear at the graves head, put an
earthen jar of water by it's side and fed.