Daily Kennebec journal., 1905-10-10
CARIBS A VANISHING RACE
The Tribes Which for Centuries Waged Fierce War
Against Settlers is Disappearing.

I used nJ lighters in loading and dis
charging the steamship cargocs.
For speed. seaworthineSS and rough
usaS@ these primitive craft have few.
If any, equals. II Is no uncommon
sight 10 see q feet Of these dugouts
bobbins about iAr out TO 5e.l laden to
the Euuw:iles with huge ulbicore and
dolphin nnd under q press OF canvas
far our Of proportion TO the tiny vcs-
sells.
AS row boats they are very fast. It
good native oarsman easily pulling five
TO six miles ar hour in Il twenty-foot
cunon. while their torpedo boat bow
ANA stern give them an appearance or
even greater speed. Their especial
recommendation to the natives. how
ever. is their adaptability 10 b"aching
in {; heavy surf on the rough cobblcs
which form tie beaches on these
islands. TO III" stranger destruction
Of the craft seems certain when for the
first time ne sees one Of these canoes
dashed on H." crest of q huge roller
upon IN. ShinGl". As the smooth,
round bottom touches The stones the
harcfootti. barclrggcd oarsmcn leap
overheard and with wonderful iudg-
n!enr and skn rush their boat up on
tn" al,4cS.
Another curious craft used BY the
Carlb5 s. 4 sort Of miniature raft
Known s.s 4 "piriri." This is formed
from three Or four pieces of the hollow
trunk Uf the 'bnis canlt." 4 wood al
most as light as cork, fastened togeth-
or and ll0orcd over with rough native
plankS. The navigator sits upon q
low seat ;miishipS, clothed in little
save his right mind, and rs his weight
sinks the contrivance slightly below
The Level Of the water tho appearance
Of 2 group Of pipiriS is sight 10 startle
the bchCldrr when seen Tor the first
time. The effect is exactly as though
the dusky owners Were standing and
sitting upon til. surface Of the sea, re-
mindinE cnc Of overgro1n aquatic IN
scctS 50 common on stugnant pools and
ponds.
AS hunters The Caribs are experts.
and during the open season bring many
agoutis. parrots and Wild pigeons to the
Roscau market. How they manage 10
kill anything other than themselves
with the ahaky gas pipes they con-
slider guns has always been Il marvel
TO strangers.
They also excel in baSketwork. and
make many IN honest shilling from
the sale of their closely woven water
proof baskets. which are in great de-
mand throughout the Antilles In lieu of
grips and trunks. These baskets are
woven in iwo sectors or shells. the
inner portion Of split bamboo. the out
or Of palm Leaf ribs. with a layer OF |
Wild rlantain leaves between the two to |
render it waterproof. They are usual |
ly richly colored in dull reds, browns, |
ycllonS and black In geometrical pat
tcrns, and are commonly sold in nests |
Of assorted sizes. ranging from few |
inches tn two feet square.
They also utilize their basket weav-
ing skill in making fish pots OF split |
bamboo and cane, and make excellent |
rope. twine an3 fish nets from the fiber
Of various plants.
Few Of the tribe speak English, the |
majority Cortcnting themselves with |
the French patois Of the island.
Although numerous stone axes. ham |
mcrS. knives and other primitive i'm
plcments. As We'll rs fragments Of pot
terry. idols and sculpturcd rocks. are
found throughout Dominica. no sys-
trrtatic search has been instituted for
ancient burial places or relics Of the
past and no study has been made To
throw light upon the long forgotten
customs II this interesting race whose
religion, language and history lie
buried III the mountain Businesses Of
their island home. from which ere |
many years the last of the Caribs will |
have isappcarc,l.-CEicago Chronicle.