The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-07-24
CluDAD REAL, (San Christoval,) I
CAPITAL of Chiapas. Feb. 4. lS46. {


The Department of Chiapas-Hs Physical Aspect
Its Ruins-hs Climate, Sol, and Capabiiites-
Modes of neutrality-suspicious. and Extent of
Chiapas--C ,udad Reai--Hs Situation and
Climate-Ereeuenee of its Bread ViAags of
Chamula-Hs facfurss-I
an Women-Primitive Spinning Machims--Sdn
Bartotome - CONTAIN - Turtla - Chiapa - It's
Ciuiosities - Tonaia - Pichucalco-T In,bato--
Tla- Ococingo-Is Rpias-Palenque-H anti
qnities.
send you herewith few curosities picked up
in this department, together with an observation
of the temperature of this city, by the thermome-
ter of Fahrenheit, a correct map of the depart
ment, Qhe most accurate yet taken,) and few
notes of my travels in Chiapas. / am about to
travel through Central America, and some parts
of South America. From this place 60 to Co.
mitan, San Bartolome, Palenque, and other
places; from which shall remit you, from time
to time, letters containing such incidents as are
worthy of note. To begin
The department of Chiapas and its -eopie are
very little known, even at this day There is not
even a correct map of as yet printed. lis physi-
cal aspect varies as much as It's climate. Ii re-
NAMED for 279 years province of,Guatamala,
and in 1921 it became one of the departments Of
Mexico. Before the conquest it was very popu-
lous. 1t contained number Of large and SPLEEN
did cities, the ruins of Palenque and Ococingo
still evidence; and its people were far more adj
vanced in civilization and opuence than at the
present day.
The Northern and Southern portions of the department
are warm and humid. Cotton and cultivated
with very little abo The climate OF the interior POr
very salubrous. The Thermometer in these portions s
known to ascend higher than 65 does it fall
below 40 degrees Every description Of European grain
and fruit grows here in abundance But the soil is not
properly cultivated and the treasures hidden in the bo
som the earth wait for industrious population
develope COndl-
on many of them being impossible to horses and mulos
From Ciudad Real and Tuxta Tobasco every thing is
transported the backs of Indians who also carry the
chairs in which travellers are obliged to ride unless they
pfeer to pursue their journey foot there is no
other mode Of conveyance The usual rate charged BY
carriers one real 2 cens per league for four AFRO
ba: geo los The price Of chair Is cents per league
nowhere carriages of any description in throughout
the department The usual wages of Indian aborers
In 1911 Chiapas including soconusco, contained 1875
towns and villages, with population Of io44st In 1888
6eos3 exclusive Of ssconusco covering an area Of
$3.50 square miles.
level of the occupying the highest site in the depart
ment with the exception of Tumbaa. II 10 pleasantly
situated and contains Is churches some Of them large
mngo and convent Of nuns, (the convent OF Mercede
Sis longer in existence) 1t contains besides, col
lege and has population Of about 5000 The houses
are mostly of one story with square courtsyard patos
inside and are ndiherently built Of unburnt brick. and
rooted with tiles The streets straight and ntersec
ut right angles They constructed Of sort Of
cement and have gutter in the middle The climate il
cool and bracing the thermometer scarcely rising
above So degrees In the rainy great quantity
OF water falls every day The greater portion OF the in
naosns are Tse ses dd Of she
and is exported far Tobasco sixty leagues distant
The largest and most popuous place in the department
the village of Chamua, about two leagues Northwest OF
The number of inhabitants has never been correctly
ascertained in consequence of number OF men being
constantly absent sea- but the population not less
than 30 900 pure Indians who speak the Zotzl dialect
They very industrious, and skilled IN mechanical
trades They manufacture violins guitars, harps, &C.
from I2H cents to 80 cents piece. Two months ago.
purchased in the plaza Of Cndad Real tive violns at
~. cents each including strings and bow. pair of
strong buc kskn boots sold at from to reals t62s
s7a cens strong wooden chair at 1919 cents stout
morning the plaza is covered with the Indians from the
village who come to sell their The heads and
feet OF the women always naked and they often
~ child on the top of their load In the plaza they sit
the bare ground and are generally employed spin
ton of which dates before the conquest It is very prm
sharpened each end end berg inserted in ball of
hard clay stone TO the depth OF an chthis end is
placed in vessel the shell OF calsbash Tor instance
The pin spun round with the fore finger OF the right
hand and kept in rotary motonthe cotton il regula-
tel by the LETT The pin receives the thread and work.
ed on until it is filed
$4,000 soulspure Indians, with the exception OF about
1000 whites and mestizos. The Indians masuiscture
and speak the Zotz language.
CONTAIN 90 leagues southeast of the capital contains
ii 900 inhabitants, who very industrious They man
ufacuro cotton and wOollen goods The famous dgnGr-
diente eomfeea, distilled here in great quantities The
inhabitants mixed race speaking FIVE language
The Spanish language is used by the whites and the In
clans speak the Chanabal Casdal Maya, and Trokek.-
There are two annual fairs, era. the fair Of San De-
mngo and that OF San Nicholas Mules and horses form
the staple market commodity.
Tuxtla 10 leagues west Of the capital contains about
$500 inhabitants about 1000 Of whom of mixed blood
and 1900 are Ladnos or whites The word Tuxtla MEANS
in the ancient Mexican language rabbit II was former
ly called Toctla The climate is warm, and the sugar
t. 81 Thn India
guage. They hold two annual fairs namely, those OF
San Marco and Guadalupe.
The ancient village Of Chiapa is IA leagues west OF
the capital and two leagues east of Tuxta II is beau
tuy situated the right bank Of the great river Chi
The inhabitants, principally Mestzos and Indians are
occupied in the manufacture of earthenware (the best
made in the Department. in the cultivation OF ar:el and
sugar and in raising cattle Chapa the first place
where the spaniards settled in 1877 and was for some
time capital OF the department In the centre OF the
large and beautiful plaza was magnificent ountain at
present dry and almost ruins the first constructed in
Chspas It was built by Fray Rodrigo de Leon in 1862
Near stands ceiva of vast dimensions There Is
here Dominican convent, the church Of which hes
large bell six and half baras ards) incircumierence
the metal is gold Its sound Is heard the distance of
nine les The clapper, 10 pounds in weight was taken
out in 1884 by order ithe Prior Of the Convent Fray
Indians At one time Chapa contained between 10000
and 10000 inhabitants. Now it contains but 5000
Tonaa, So Leagues southwest of the capital and three
leagues from the Pacific ocean, contains 1000 nhabi-
tanis who are chiefly occupied in raising cattle and
cultivafng ariel Ihey speak the spanish iarBuaBo
only. The climate is very warm
Pichucalco as leagues northwest Of the capital,
tsins including the surrounding cocoa and coffee plan
taons about 1000 inhabitants who speak the Spanish
and Zogne languages in common The town is situated
the base Of the mountains and the G, Innate Is warm
humid aud heavy. II Is new settlement, and the
houses with few exceptions, built OF reeds.
Tumbals, % leagues northwest of the capital stu
ated almost on the summit Of mountain IL contains
1900 inhabitants almost pure Indians, who speak the
Maya language. , -.
about 800 inha Indians who speak the Zendai
language. ..n,.;,.
between 1000 and 500 whites and Indians. The climate
IL warm and the sugar grows better here than IN
anv other portion Of the department The nhabftants
meal the Spanish and Zenda languages Near TINS
Niece are some ruins which said to be those OIL the
city of Tulha. A.. ..,;,al cort.;r.
ed in 1888 l3OO inhabitants who are composed o.
me stizos and Indians They speak me MAYS, ana
SPANISH languages They are principally occupied IN