INVESTIGATIONS IN CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA. 31 



EXPLORATIONS IN SAN SALVADOR. 



A fine field for ethnological and arclifpological research is presented in the Re- 

 public of San Salvador, to explore which I directed my steps first to the western 

 part of the State, consisting of the departments of La Libertad, Sensunat, Santa 

 Ana, and the Balsam coast, where the renowned " Peruvian Balsam" is produced. 



The inhabitants of that section are the descendants of at least three different 

 tribes. A few centuries before the discovery of America, the country, then inhab- 

 ited by a nation now unknown, was invaded by Mexicans, who remained there; 

 and at the conquest of that country by the Spaniards, some Mexican tribes who 

 accompanied Alvarado settled there likewise. The language spoken is the I\^cc- 

 lohuata, as some pronounce it, or Nawhuatl and Naiohuat according to others ; but 

 in some villages difi'crent terms are used to signify the same thing, which may be 

 the residua of the language of the invading or of the invaded nation. 



It would be a difficult task to separate the descendants of the various nations by 

 their external physical characteristics. I found the women there, as all over Cen- 

 tral America, with very few exceptions, devoid of personal attractions, Avhile the 

 men possessed more intelligence and beauty. 



The dress of the men consists of a pair of wide trowsers of unbleached cotton, 

 called salla, while the upper part of the body is covered by a short shirt, or a 

 jacket of the same material. There is no term in the Naivhnatn language for 

 shirt or jacket ; therefore these both must be of modern introduction. Tlie Avomen 

 wear a piece of blue striped cotton around the body, wide enough to extend to 

 the ankles, which is secured by tucking in the overlapping end. The name of 

 this apron is Iwliuci. The upper part of the body is mostly nude ; at times 

 they cover it with a piece of cotton, like a kerchief, the loose ends hanging down 

 over the breast. I have seen this done at times on account of my coming near 

 them. 



I went first to that section of the country near the Pacific, which is known to 

 geographers as the Balsam coast. 1 found its inhabitants, like those of all Central 

 America, fond of music. I did not see, however, any instruments of European pat- 

 tern. I observed in tlie village AVhuisnagua (Gerra. spell.), (Four-thorns, — from 

 xchuis "thorn," and nagua " four"), for the first time, their national instrument 

 called carimha. It consists of a reed five feet long and about an inch or an inch 

 and a half thick. A brass wire is attached to the two ends, by which the reed is 

 slightly bent. At a third of its length the wire is tied by a string to the reed, and 

 at tlie same place is fastened to the opposite face of the reed an inverted y«carro, an 

 oblong cup made of the small kind of calabash fruit, with its opening downward. 

 With a splint of a similar reed a foot long, the two parts of the wire are touched, 

 1 giving only two distinct sounds, which are varied by changing the time and rhythm. 

 At the same time the opening of the jicarro is more or less closed by the palm of 

 the left hand, which produces the melody desired. 



As a general rule the inhabitants of San Salvador patronize their schools better 

 than those of Guatemala. Although every village on the Balsam coast possessed a 

 school-house; only two, Komasawhua (Germ, spell.) and Teotepegue, of the six 



