The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891, May 01, 1885, Page 151, Image 21

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    THE WEST SHORE.
151
eyes and uses them may see that those who live in the
open air and under the sunny rays are healthier and
stronger than those whose days are chiefly spent in'.the
shade. The foehle phonld gprk tho sunny rays; many
beoome feeble by excluding from their homes the life
giving sun. They do all they can to exclude the source
of all strength and health. Let all pale, woakly women
court the sunny rays and beoome robust and strong.
Hindu Temples. These edifices, which, of course,
none but Hindus are allowed to enter, have lofty truii
rated pyramidal portals, which, with the columned por
tico, are the only things notable. This grand portal
tower is carved all over with figures, not an inch boing
without these sculptures in reliof. All the popular dei
ties may be picked out. Beneath the pillared portico
several scores of women and children are sheltered from
the glowing sun, now and then purchasing some little
fruit from the venders Bitting behind their hoaps of bana
nas, oranges and other fruits. So soon as I bogau to
examine closely the figures sculptured on pediment of
the columns I was surrounded by a swarm of small naked
forms, which displayed as much curiosity as would lie
excited by a Hindu inspecting Westminster Abliey. In
front of the large temple there is a smaller one, a palm
thatched chapel of ease, in which Laksliimi was placed
on her return. Beside it is the car for every deity has
a sort of Lord Mayor's coach aud in front the square
tank, covering over an acre, in the centre of which is a
sculptured edifice, apparently ornamental. Whon the
goddess had been carried within, the chanting ended, the
veil was drawn. I walked away fifty yards, and while
strolling heard loud calls. Turning, I saw tho huge elo
phmt which had attended the prooosdon making straight
for me, brandishing his huge trunk, while the man on
Iub back was uttering various cries, pointing to me and
then to the animal I was just considering whether a
sudden bath in the holy tank might not be the better
part of valor, when my driver came running and said,
"The elephant wants some money." Ah! havo I not
often found relief in an application of " bakslioesht" I
waited until this elephantine dovotoe of the goddess of
wealth approached aud placed a bit of silver in his pro
boscis. He raised it above his head to the hand of the
man on his back, then went off to a large shaded space
near by, where, falling on his knees for the man to alight,
he was soon stretched on his side in sweet repose. It was
the largest and finest elephant I ever saw.
Tub Iouana. The Iguana is a very large and ugly
looking lizard which is found all through the American
tropics. It measures fully five feet in length, iU body
being over two feet and its long, tarring tail nearly
three. It is covered with scales, and its usual color is
green, shaded with brown. Iguanas possess, however, to
an extent exceeded only by the chameleon, the power of
changing their colors, the brilliant green beooming trans
formed in an instant, through the intluonce of fear or
anger, iuto darker hues, or even into black. The eyes of
the Iguana are large, as is also its heatl, while a ixiuch,
notched in front, depends from the lower jaw. It also
has a notched tuft like a comb extending along its back
and half the length of it tail. Its legs are long and iU
feet are armed with strong claws, which enable it to
climb about among the branches of the trees with the
greatest rapidity. One would think that so large a creat
ure would be slow and clumsy in iU movements, but no
squirrel or small lizard could be lighter and more active
than the Iguana. It is as much at home in the watar as
on the land, and can remain under the surface a long
time without ooming up to breathe. When swimming it
propels itself ahead with marvelous quickness by waving
its long tail from side to side, and using its paws very
much in the manner that a boy would use his arms. A
Biiiulul' LihUuoo ut Hit) powui' and veluoily tit the Iguana
is related by an English traveler. On the brink of a
river he came suddenly upon one of these lingo lizards
lying concealed in tho tail grass. Alarmed by the apoar.
anoe of a man, whom the Iguana recognizes ss its deadly
enemy, the creature sprang into the wator, but in place
of Bwimming, so great was the force of its soring, that it
skimmed across the broad river, scarcely touching the
surface with its feet In two minutes it reached the
sand banks of the opoaite shore, and soon vanished
among the bushes.
Bohtenino Lkatiimi. Neatsfoot oil will not soften
leather under all circumstances, neither is castor oil any
bettor. Oil is not necessary to the liability of leather
the leather of the ox, goat, calf, ami kid It is necessary
that the leather be kept moist; but oil need not be the
nioistoniug means. Yet in use oil is the mostcoiivoulont
moans for keeping leather soft It would bo inconven
ient to employ water to keep pliable the leather of our
boots, because of it spreading the jmres of the leather
and admitting oold air; besides, unless always wet, leather
becomes hard and rigid Oil, on the oontrary, keeps the
leather in a proper state for its best usefulness, that of
pliability. But in order that oil may soften the leather,
its way should bo prepared by a thorough wetting of the
leather by water. Much less oil is required if the leather
is well saturated with water. The philosophy is obvious;
water is reollont to the oil, and prevents it from passing
entirely through the leather, holding the oil in the sub
stance of the leather. The use of water for softening belts
in factories is not inconvenient, if advantage is taken of a
holiday. At night the belts may bo brushed clean and
thoroughly wetted, then iu the morning use the oil; a
much smaller quantity is necessary to render the bolt
pliable than when uo water is used.
Associated Daiiiyinu. There can be no doubt but
what the introduction of tho creamery, or factory system,
has been a great benefit to tho farmers of tho West It
has added a good deal of money to the iockU of thotto
who retain cows on the farm. It has relieved our good
wives from a burden, which is gratifying to every farmer
that has a pnnmr regard for his bettor half. It lias loeu
the cause of increasing tho quality of butter beyond the
exectation of every one. All of the farmers do not
make good butter, but all of the creameries or factories,
as a general rule, make tho very boat It saves the indi
vidual farmer the trouble, annoyance and expense of
marketing his butter. He receives at his own threshold
the money for his milk or cream, once a week, or once a
month, just as he may elect This is a matter of a good
deal of moment, because he can use his money as often
as he has a demand for it Then, atjain, it plaoos the
quality of the product of the whole neighborhood on an
equality. Finally, the creamery system, being oo-oxtr.
ative measure, lessens the care ami anxiety of the farmer
who patronizes it Stuck, Farm and Home.
Tub Alaska Ikoian. There are 40,01)0 of the Alaska
Indians. They are indolent and squalid Their number
is constantly (lecreasing. They live half of their days in
canoes made of solid logs, burned out In the miserable
huts are bloar-yed old sinners and half-olad women who
will sell whatever they happen to possess, even their
child daughters, provided they can get their price, ami
every family has a dog or two as ugly and dirty as their
owners.