The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1917-07-26

i fifsftE uOcS IL lie, lHlS pc
n culiar lure OF the indiana
" II grips us when Big Chief
comes to town, n pictured
Indian brave quickens our pulses and
especially has the Cuna Cuna or San
Blas tribe aroused my interest, writes
Alice S. Macqueen in the Los An
geles Times. For more than four cen
turtles they have dwclt along the At
lantic coast Of Panama, about GO miles
north of Colon toward Colombia. His
~torlcal records tell ss that formerly
their territory extended ms far as the
valleys Of the eastern reaches of the
Chagres river, covering both sides of
the Continental divide between the
present Canal zone and the bays of
Atrato and San Miguel but much Of
their belongings have gradually been
taken from them. although they are
constantly on the watch for the hated
invader, ready to fight for their pos
sessions.
The very withdrawal Of the San
Bias Indian women from contact with
the outside world lends romance and
mystery To n visit to their country.
Until recently. ] am told. white women
had not visited their dusky sisters,
who bear little resemblance to our In
dlans OF the United States. These
d%iminutive people, seldom reaching
more than five feet, with their dark
copper skins, could hardly be taken
for Africans, but for their tclltale crisL.
black hair. Years OF ocean bathing
and basking In the rays of the sun hts
given them n deep bronze complexion.
At the Island Of cortl.
Early on n bright July morning we
sat on the deck OF the s. s. San Bias.
Our little steamer was low in tho wa
ter. Twice nm alligator grazel her
bow, creating great excitement. The
! brilliant sun had converted the ever
blue Caribbean into n g%listening jewel
box coconut palms clothed in verdant,
sheeny green lifted proud heads from
water edge to horizon.
An hours ride and the island Of
Corti, our destination, was In sight.
"Cayucos,' large and small, danced
about on the waves. Tiny Indian boys
Of five or six years vnliantly padded
boats no larger than themselves; each
ripple threatened disaster. Big broth
er manned larger craft. Sometimes
seven or eight occupied one boat.
"Nucde' they greeted, so "Nuede' we
called back over the water. This
meant "How do you do" the captain
told us, although I cannot vouch for
the spelling. using sound for my guide.
Soon n reception committee swarmed
the deck of u ship, accompanied by
Charlie" the Interpreter, and after
considerable consultation among them
selves, he advised us to follow him.
We had seer many of these Indian
men on the streets of Panama, hut n
closer study was interesting. Hats,
far too small. chiefly black derbieS,
were perched aloft the stin outstanding
hair. Shirts of different hucs, worn
outside blue jean or black trousers of
uncertain length and nm occasional
i. necktie completed their costume
Gravely the elders surveyed us, while
the younger generation eagerly walt
!; ed our tossing of coins into the water,
E when their shining, naked bodies would
P poisc for an instant on In" hoat's side
: then splash they went into the water
D only rcnppcaring when the victor had
: secured our Offering. So clear was III,
q water that their agile bodies were not
lost 10 sight for IN instant,
Before us lay II brown patch. 4
q "wart," we agreed, on Mother Nuturc',
face. This was Cortl. The island
Z seemed to he floating about GA the wa,
- ter and looked rs though II might sink
$ any moment. Camera laden aud filed
r with the spirit Of adventure, W" crowd.
ed into CHARLES waiting "Cayuco.'
As we ncared the island black head,
$ bobbed up here and there In the wa,
n ter. How they chartered, those curl
Gus hoy Indians!
The d~Oorways, opening fairly on IN,
, water edge, were crowded with men
women with babes in arms and chill
drcn. The women were CARRIED In
Fiesta attire, aS a fiyc-day celchrI
tion, the nHturc Of which we were I'm
able Ia ascertain, was being held. Gan
d turkey red, yellow aud purple calico
encascd them, while behind, covering