SICILIAN CHARACTERISTICS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 2936, 9 May 1891, Page 4

SICILIAN CHARACTERISTICS.

J a view of the trouble at Now Orleans tlin information given in the last British Consular report from .Sicily is interesting. The report remarks that there are dark shades in Sicilian character which contrast with the simplicity by which one might imagine the people to be wholly possessed. They can be deceitful, reticent, malicious, and vindictive . petty theft; and robberies arc not uncommon litis said also that in gratitude they ale sometimes wholly deficient. ] !■• that to be. ' .-.•.;l'.it. ' (.'■•unuingly clever) is with tie m e meritorious ~.„..:;,;..■, i.i.d 'I,.;! implying is re- :-.i..! with f.-ivc'iii- even in children. O.viie,' to the spirit of 1 i eifi,'.' am! 'oiiierla,' which pervades ni; Sieiiv. I hey combine to hide each other's misdeeds, and in the case of robbery and even assassination, it is generally impossible to get evidence against the wrong doers, even from tlie victims themselves. There is a f-fcrct understanding among al! that no one shall assist the legal authorities in their efforts to bring criminals to justice, arid the Sicilian its a rule, relies on himself and on his friends for obtaining retribution for private wrongs, unci everyone who transgresses this unwritten law has to fear the. vendetta of hisneighbonrs. One of the most disagreeable traits in their character is excessive cruelty to animals, of which travellers in Sicily frequently have seen revoking instances. When remonstrated with on account of this they simply shrug their shoulders and say, ' What matters ) They are not baptised.' Thev cannot comprehend that any creature has any claim to consideration outside the pale of the church. Frightful raws in horses and donkeys go unnoticed, and are fed on by Hies : deep holes are plugged with low, and l:uno animals arc made to work with heavy loads as though nothing was the matter with them. As for relieving a horse or donkey of a heavy burden going up hill, such athing never enters their heads. To see a country cart crammed with people behind a horse that can scarcely stagger undents heavy load, and rr> obsorve that nn one ever endeavors to relieve the poor animal in the most difficult pris-iiges, is a com mem o<\MUTe!',ct\ !,ive poultry aie carried to the markets hung from a pack saddle, or by pedestrians from the hands, by the legs. The birds keep their heads up as long as strength endures, til! at last thoy ean do so no longer, and dio a painful death by a rush of blood to the head. Children are, it is said, taught cruelty to animals from infancy, for cue of the commonest sights in town

or country is to son children jilayinii with nnwiv-i-uught, robin redbreasts ;ila! -<i!(llinriirs, u hiell they hold tied l.y tin- leg v- it!i ii .string mid jmll hack when the liner l.ird attempts, tn ily. Another defect, in the. eliiir:u,ter and habits of the Sicilian peasant is lack of clrinliness. Hut, ill spite of all llicse, the ireneral dcineanour and hahits of the Sicilian are. so pleasing that one feels inclined to regard his deiiciences with iiuich leniency.