Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1917-07-13

with the spirit of adventure, we crowd
ed into "Charlie's" waiting. "cayuco."
AS we neared the island black heads
bobbed up here and there in the wa
ter. How they chartered, those Curl
Gus boy Indians!
The doorways, opening fairly on the
water edge, were crowded with men,
women with babes in arms and chill
dren. The women were garbed in
fiesta" attire, as a five-day celebra-
ton, the nature of which we were un-
able to ascertain, was being held. Gay
turkey red, yellow and purple calico
encased them, while behind, covering
every available spot of ground, were
their homes. Narrow sticks, bound to-
gether by mountain vines, formed the
sides, and they were surmounted by
palm -thatched roofs. AS we drew near
the women and girls quickly concealed
their faces in bright mantles, but pierre
ing black eyes still spied at us in
quisitively. Abashed or afraid they
would not even permit US to caress
| their babies.
"Come," said our guide, and we en-
tered the first Of the long line of dwell
| ings Each one, we were told, housed
from ten to twenty families. In the
dim light, furnished by two low door
ways, we distinguished tremendous
room, with floors of hard packed clay.
There was little furniture, except a few
hammocks strung about, while clothes
lines seemed to form a division for the
family quarters. An occasional wooden
bench was occupied by groups of men
recovering from too much celebration.
Cleanliness seemed the rule. The
ocean serves as bath house, toilet and
medicine man to these primitive peo-
pie The Indians stood about in groups,
ever watchful, apparently waiting for
our departure.
1 Long Hair Only for Young Girls.
The women and children soon be-
came less timid, and followed us
through the narrow passageways, en-
deavoring to loosen our brooches,
trinkets and belt pins. They exclaimed
over our clothing and asked many
questions, which our guide answered
to his own, and apparently their, salts
faction. There were four women and
three men in our party. Sad to say
the latter received slight attention
One of our girls had very light hair
This interested them. They removed
her hat and quickly loosened her hair
and 10, it was spread before them "pure
gold!" "But why had this lovely
maiden long hair? they questioned
Charlie" We found that only the
young girls of their tribe wore long
tresses. This discovery was made by
our being halted before a booth sim.
ilar to that of church bazaar. Two
Indian maidens were squatted on the
floor ready to be shorn Of their stiff
jetty locks, the priestess of this hair.
cutting ceremony being withered ole
squaw. Twelve years old the maidens
were today-mature women, ready fo1
suitable husbands. So after all the
children bearing children in arms
were young mothers, though immature
of feature and form. A pictdre ot
three little girls, daughters of a mem
Der of our party, was shown to the ole
woman. "Humph!" she grunted; "toC
bad, all girls" Then slyly she slipped
the photograph inside her bodice, ant
we saw it no more. Perhaps it will bt
treasured by her grandchildren, Ger
tainly she considered it prize.
An unlooked-for bargaining spiri
! was displayed when we endeavored t.
; purchase some Of their handiwork
! Three, four and five dollars was asked
: for the waists. Paper money woulc
: not be considered, only silver satisfy
ing them.