Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-10-20

COLON. Panama, Oct. 14.-were you
to drop anchor on the San Bias island
shore, sixty-five miles east of here. you
would find the same Indians who greet
ed Columbus. These Indians are of the
San Bias tribe. They live much as they
did when the intrepid sailor first saw
them paddle cautiously about his little
feet.
The San Bias Indians have never in
termarried. There are no cross breeds
among them. Traders are not permit
ted to land. Until recently white men
had not been permitted to visit the
islands.
However, f. A. Salisbury, noted ex-
plorer. recently succeeded in winning
the confidence of the San Bias people,
and in company with Rex Beach, famed
novelist, spent six weeks among them,
learning much of their habits.
without a doubt" says Salisbury.
"this is the most interesting tribe OF
Indians extant. Their primitiveness has
not been spoiled by civilization, and
they present most unusual opportunity
for observation to the student of eth
nology.
RICH IN COCOANUTS.
This is the richest cocoanut country
in the world. Traders pay the Indians
a cent a piece for cocoanuts. cart them
sixty-five miles to Colon and there sell
them for seven cents, thus making a
profit Of 500 per cent per cocoanut."
The San Bias Indians hold sway over
a coast line of 40 miles long. They do
not penetrate very far inland, however.
That is, not the Indians who inhabit
the islands of the bay. These are the
people with whom the traders deal and
with whom Salisbury became ac-
quainted.
Nothing is known of the natives who
live in the rugged interior. No one has
ever succeeded in penetrating the in
land Businesses. Those who have tried
have been relieved Of their supplies and
ordered back to the coast.
OF these people who live on the islands
there are about 10000. They are ruled
by chieftains and the government is
conducted by councils in which the en-
tire village under each chieftain's rule
participates.
The women have equal rights with
men. There is no money on the islands.
Labor and cocoanuts are the chief me-
diums of exchange. Money with them
has no intrinsic value. All work is CO.
operative. II a man wants house
built, the chief calls for volunteers; If
a man wants to hew q. canoe the same
thing occurs. Thus a perfect Utopia eX-
lists in which no cog ever goes amiss.
CHARACTERISTICS OF INDIANS.
San Bias Indians are pygmies. Aver
age height, slightly over five feet;
weight, 40 pounds.
They battle twice a day and never
wear the same linen two days in sue
cession To illuminate their houses they
shake a bottle of lightning bugs.
They hew their canoes out of solid
mahogany logs and are the most won
derfuI seamen in the world. They learn
TO swim as soon as they lear nto walk.
They marry young-girls at thirteen;
men AT eighteen and twenty.
Girls wear long flowing robes; boys
go naked. Women wear gold nose
rings.
The San Bias Indians are extremely
virtuous. In case two people are mis-
mated in marriage they become divorced
by the husband leaving or being elected
from home.
Both parties must thereafter lead
virtuous life for FIVE years, whereupon
they are privileged to marry again. II
the second marriage is a failure, how
ever, they are never permitted third
trial.
II one San Bias Indian cuts or Injuries
another in any way the offender is cut
and injured in exactly like manner.
When a girl. becomes old enough to
marry all her friends and relatives cele-
brate the event with a "Chi-chi" or big
drunk. They drink traders rum that
would kin a cow and remain drunk for
several days.