Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1912-11-08

riguez de Bastidas and Christopher
Columbus visited the northern coast
OF the isthmus, they found it dense
ly populated. About ten years later
Balboa met with identical conditions
along the southern coast, and all sub
sequent reports of early explorers give
evidence Of the fact that the whole
country was in possession of numer-
Gus clans. the names of many of which
have beer preserved.
The two principal nations were the
Guaymies. extending from the Chifi-
qui volcano eastward to what is to-
day the Canal Zone. and the Cuna-
Cuna. on the opposite side of the 18TH
mus.
Up in the forbidding mountains and
valleys that form a background to the
landscape for the traveller on the
steamers plying between Panama and
David dwells the mass Of the present
Guaymies. about 5000 in number. in
their homes scattered through savan-
mas and forests. From the time of the
conquest to the beginning of the past
under the influence OF the Catholic
missionaries, but have since been left
to go back to most OF their ancient
customs and ways of living.
Among the few vestiges left of that
transitory semi-civilized condition un-
der religious discipline, perhaps the
most conspicuous is the flowing gown
Of the women. tight at the neck and
reaching down to the feet. In every
aboriginal tribe committed to their
guardianship the first care Of civiliza-
tons seems to have been to create
among those simple creatures not the
sense of modesty which Is innate
among them. but feeling of shame of
their physical beauty.
Unfortunate Women.
This is why In countries with q
constantly warm climate, and where
the rugged topography, the FREEDOM
inence of brush and the multiplicity
Of rivers make necessary only the
scantiest clothing, we often see the
poor females moving awkwardly in
their cumbrous imposed garments.
under which. however. they still bear
the primitive and more practical bark
skirt 1t is true that when there is
no stranger near the gown is mostly
discarded, and II rain-shower sur
prises caravan on the trail the wom-
en- quickly strip. wrap their toys In q
large Calathea or Heliconia leaf,
place the parcel in their load. and
then continue on their way.
The men do likewise, and besides
when they go on a hunting expedition
they invariably abandon their trousers
before starting on a run after some
wild animal. This practice has been
adopted by the other more civilized
natives in some parts, and sometimes
one discovers a whole collection of
blue trousers hanging on the lower
branches Of some tree at the opening
of a forest path. In this case the
shirt that forms the only other part
of the male wearing apparel 10 taken
on and tied around the loins.
Among the women a few were met
with who were positively pretty and
is it necessary to say?-knew II. But
beauty Is not at premium among the
Guaymi females. A woman ought first
to be strong. healthy, and a good
beast of burden and day-worker. The
children especially the little girls. also
have frequently lovely faces, with a
warm brown. velvety skin and beauti-
full eyes. When they reach the age
of maturity their hair is cropped short
and not allowed to grow again until
the first baby is born. Maidenhood
however. is a short stage OF life for
the Guaymi women, who not infre-
quently become mothers before reach |
ing their twelfth year.
Face painting is a common prac
tice. restricted apparently neither by |
age nor sex. although the women
adorn themselves thus only on great |
occasions.
Their dwellings are located either
in the midst Of the forests of the low
er belt. in solitary clearings far apart |
or in the high savannas. In the first
instance they are always at some dis
lance from the sea.