The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1912-10-11

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
century, they have teen more or less
under the influence OF the Catholic
missionaries, but have since been left
&c 90 back 70 most of their ancient
customs and ways of living.
Among the few vest.ges left Of that
trahsitOry semi-civlized 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-
tions 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
constantly warm climate, and where
the rugged topography, the predom'
| 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 If rain-shower sur
prises a caravan on the trail the wom
en- quickly strip, wrap their togs In
large Calathea or Heliconla lear
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
thev 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 is taken
off and tied around the loins.
The Guaymies are usually not or
very prepossessing appearance Thell
stature is rather variable and theil
bearing has not the stateliness that II
often noticed among other Indians
Among the men the face is seldom at
tractive. The lips are usually thick
the nose is fiat and broad, and the
coarse black hair worn short.
Among the women few we're me-
with who were positively pretty and
is II necessary to say?-knew 1t. Bu
beauty is not at a premium among tn'
Guaymi females. woman ought frs
IN he strong. healthy, and goot
beast of burden and day-worker. Th'
children especially the little girls. als'
have frequently lovely faces, with
warm brown, velvety skin and beautl
ful ewes. When they reach the ag
Of maturity their hair is cropped shor
and not allowed to grow again until
the first baby Is born. Maidenhooo
however. is a short stage OF life 10
the Guaymi women, who not infre
ouently become mothers before reach
ing their twelfth year
Face painting is a common pra'
tice. restricted apparently neither
age nor sex, although the wome
.dorn themselves thus only on grea
occasions.
!. Their dwellings are located c:she
in the midst OF the forests OF the low
; or belt. in solitary clearings far apar
or in the high savannas. In the firs
instance they are always at some oil
tapce from the sea, as the Guaymle
forced back into the mountains by tn
Spanish invaders, have long since loi
!. the art of navigation.