The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1827-02-21
.E;ratGCettaRD.
EAUTEMRLA

Is1O EJus1 LII.
Extract of a letter from Col. John Williams.
Minister TO Guatemala.
Since despatchiUg Mr.. Marshall with
the treaty TO the United States, | have
taken rapid excursion Of six DAYS to
the south and southwest of this CITY,
The country through which travelled
is one of exquisite beauty and extreme
fertility. Capt Philips, of Philadelphia.
who accompanied me, has travelled
through the interior of the island of Gu
ba. He is of opinion that the country
between this and the Pacific Ocean is
superior to Cuba in fertility of soil, and
all will agree it has the advantage in CHI
mate. On my route the thermometer
in the valleys ranged from &c to 60 and
10. The south side of the Cordiileras,
which divide the head-waters of the
streams falling into the two oceans, is
richer land and generally more healthy
than on the north side. Central Amer
lea, which has hitherto, by he policy of
Spain, been effectuaIly shrouded from
the eye of science and Of TASTE, will
compare with any other pnrtinp -ae -AL-
tconllnent OF The same extent. lis pres
ent population is about two millions. 1t
possesses the capacity OF sustaining more
than 90 millions with not only the CON-
forts but the luxuries of life. The To-
dams are generally in an ilIiterate and
degraded condition. They have been
converted, it is true, to Christianity, by
means of Spanish swords. But the best
i, of their conversions consist IN change
Of ceremonies.
The system which has so long con-
signed TO oblivion this fair portion Of the
earth, happily exists no longer. The
moral and political energies of the couu.
try are developing themselves; aud this
march of Improvement cannot fail 10 in
crease the comforts and advance in civ.
iIization the thrice unfortunate aborig.
mes of the country. The TWO most re.
markabie If the ten towns visited or
NY late excursion are Awatltan aud An.
tigua, (old) Guatemala. The former i:
: situated lii fertile valley on lake Of
the same name, three leagues long anC
| abou, half league wide, and Conts Inine
four thousand inhabitants. Near me
upper end OF the lake there are sal
works. A beautiful river conducts the
water of the lake 10 the Pacific. Tni,
town is much trequented for the purpose
of drinking the waters of the river OF
lake, which is considered specific ir
many diseases, and to indulge in the
luxury of the baths. According to the
tradition of the country, This lake was il
high antiquity, the site of an extensive
town which was swallowed by an earth.
quake. This tradition is ST. enlightened
by the fact that the ishermen of thi.
day frequently find in the shallow part.
of the lake culinary aud other utensils
There are around the lake many eyi
dences Of volcanic agency. Ii was tC
me phenomenon 10 see such body o.
i. salt water in the interior of the countr,
surrounded by high mountains. The
curate of the town, my host, a well ed
ucated, accomplished gentleman, inform
ed me that that neighborhood claimed
the first discovery of Cochineal that II
was carried from thence TO Oaxacs. IN
Mexico, where its great value was as.
ceriained.
! This gentleman is cultivating three
lots of cochineal, from which he ex.
poets 10 reap this season $4,000 worth
he expressed astonishment al nv state.
ment, that twenty successive crops.
without mauuring, would impoverish
mos, of the land In the United States
HIS theory is. that in this country, the
elements impart fertility to the soil ms
fast as cultivation exhaus;s il. This
town has active volcanoes in its neigh
borhood. The earth has almost every
day tremuIous motion. This Rev. Gu
rate suggested another new idea. He
remarked that, since great Oumber OF
wells had been dug in the town, the vi
bratfons of the earth were moi so yio-
lent as before, and assigned as The rem.
son that the wells enabled the earth TO
breathe with greater ease, lie entered