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

HERE does 1t lie, this Pc
Af culiar lure Of the Indian?
" " 1t grips US when Big Chief
comes to town, a pictured
Indian brave quickens our pulses and
especially has the Cuna Cuna or San
Bias tribe aroused my interest, writes
Alice S. Macqueen in the Los An
geles Times. For more than four cen
turtles they have dwelt along the At
fantic coast of Panama, about go miles
north of Colon toward Colombia. His
torical records tell us that formerly
their territory extended as 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
mystery to a visit to their country.
Until recently, am told, white women
had not visited their dusky sisters,
who bear little resemblance to our In
dians of the United States. These
diminutive people, seldom reaching
copper skins, could hardly be taken
for Africans, but for their telltale crisp,
black hair. Years of ocean bathing
and basking in the rays of the sun has
given them a deep bronze complexion
At the island of Corti. .
Early on a bright July morning we
sat on the deck of the S. S. San Bias
Our little steamer was low in the wa.
ter. Twice an alligator grazed hel
bow, creating great excitement. The
brilliant sun had converted the ever
blue Caribbean into a glistening jewe
box; coconut palms clothed in verdant
sheeny green lifted proud heads from
water edge to horizon.
| An hours ride and the island o1
Corti, our destination, was in sight
"Cayucos," large and small, danced
about on the waves. Tiny Indian boys
of five or six years valiantly padded
boats no larger than themselves; eacl
ripple threatened disaster. Big broth
er manned larger craft. Sometimes
seven or eight occupied one boat
"Nuede" they greeted, so "Nuede" WI
called back over the water. Thi
meant "How do you do?" the captain
told us, although I cannot vouch fo
the spelling, using sound for my guide
Soon a reception committee swarmet
the deck of our ship, accompanied b.
Charlie" the interpreter, and afte
considerable consultation among them
selves, he advised us to follow him
We had seen many of these Indial
men on the streets of Panama, but
closer study was interesting. Hats
far too small chiefly black derbies
were perched aloft the stiff outstanding
hair. Shirts of different hues, worl
,utside blue jean or black trousers o
Uncertain length and an occasiona
1ecktie completed their costume
4ravely the elders surveyed US, Will
lie younger generation eagerly wait
d our tossing of coins into the water
When their shining, naked bodies woul
)oise for an instant on the boats side
hen splash they went into the water
only reappearing when the victor ha
secured our offering. So clear was tn
water that their agile bodies were no
'OSt TO sight for an instant
Before us lay a brown patch.
"wart," we agreed, on Mother Nature
face. This was 'Corti. The islam
seemed to be floating about on the We
ter and looked as though it might sin
any moment. Camera laden and file