Daily Kennebec journal., 1905-10-10

When CoIulubua first sailed his
ouoi,,r caravels across the blue Carib-
bean So: and gazed with wonder on
the yerdurr clad mountains of the
Antilles h. found the beautiful islands
inhabited by q strange cannibal race,
p,ulca he called Caribs. Spanish.
French and English IN their turn found
this warIike people menace to their
:, ttl.Iuents and progress. and fought
them loggedly. but more or less inef-
lectlally, for three centuries. Mcrci-
less. warl!kc and brave, these C@ribs
no, only wagcd relentless war upon
The whites. but IN their swift dugout
war canoes made frequent sortfcS from
one island to another to prey upon their
ncighborS III their own race
On these excursions they killed the
men ana carried the women back rs
slave, ANA v ives and celebrated their
victories by cdnnibal orgies. and IT
WIS doubtless upon the island Of To-
huEo on such ;tn occasion that Robin
SON Crusoc saved III" life of his man
Friday.
Al last. however, the superior arms
ana Skill Of the European triumphcd
over the savage foe, ana the natives
were. gradually forced back from the
COASTS and cHtcrIninatcd, until today
the sole survivors Of this once dreaded
people scarcely number one hundred
souls, living peacefully upon 4 govern
mcnt reservation on tho island Of Do
rninica.
Previous 10 the eruption OF Mont
r,l.,. and the SoufTri"rc, Of st. Vim
cent. there was another small band Of
Cdribs IN the latter island. All Of
these. however. were destroyed by the
cruptinns.
Of the Dominican Caribs only about
onc-hhlf ar" OF pure blood. Or 80 near
ly pur. That no trace Of negro blood is
dis.~rnibie The others are greatly
mixed. AMI il IS difficult 10 determine
here negro leaves off ana Carib be-
gins.
IN appearance the CaribS are rather
short and thicksHt. with ycliowish or
coppcry olive skin. stiff. straight, blue
Hack hair and oval faces. with dis
tirctly MonSolian features. They are
quiet 10 almost taciturnity. Industrious
and pcac, able. but, like Poor Lo.
cvci'yuhsr. have an inveterate fond
n-s. for strong drink. and also possess
another unfortunate Indian failing. be
ing incorriEible thieves.
They profess the Catholic religion
ana dress in civilized clothes.
STRANGELY enough the Carib language
had two distinct forms. one Of which
was confined 10 the use of women, the
other to the men. This state of affairs
was doubtless due TO the fact already
mentioned that their wives we're cap
tUred from other tribes. Their num-
cral system was also rather remark
aDia; they were unable TO count
mum. rically above five. Tho word tOr
five was the same as for "hand." Ten
vas two h:n,iS." or half man:
fifteen Il foot and two hands, and
twenty two hands and TWO feet" or
II man." and 80 on.
The Dominican tribes are Cor the
most rnrt agriculturiSts III a SINAI!
way. and cultivate littl" patches OF
c;.":to. cane. vans and plantains. Some
work as laborcrS on ncighbOrinE es-
tateS, ana many are fishermen.
Their fishing boats are particularly
interesting, masmuch is they have "p- |
rarrntiy been patterned from the iioW'-
or Spath Of the palm tree. In fact, |
the boys uSe the natural spathG for toy !
canoes. The real canoes are formed |
from the trunk III thc gommeir tree. |
followed ,t:t inside and spread open |
by means Of heated stones and hot |
water. Tn adj greater fr"e-hoard TO !
the Shell 4 plank is Fastened 70 either |
yunwal@, ana the whole is strength |
cned by hand hcWcd ribs and thwartS. |
These. boats are used throughout the |
Islands not only BY the fishermen. but |
AZ passenger craft rs well. ana when |
larger and more stOutly built are even