The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-06-26
WASHINGTON, juno q, 1913.
Yucatan-hs Pop,aatiom-ISlarry-Li en- tn

Yucatan--Hs Poptlation-&orery-Li en- the
Subect-A Neo spccies Of Monkey, &c.
Last summer, Professor Robert Grant disinfect-
ed the Raritan frgate, after she had arrived at
Norfolk from the Gulf of Mexico, SO filled with
the pestilence of the yellow fever that several per-
sons on going aboard, we're attacked with the dis
ease In consequence of the highly successful re-
suit Of his abors he was sent to the Gulf squadron
with authority from the Secretary of the Navy, to
operate upon the vessels there, when necessary and
also to make such scientific Investigations as Com
modore Perry might deem expedient. He then
disnfected the Mississippi steamer, the greater
portion of the crew of which were in their hunks
with, as brother Maffit calls it, the yellow tyrant
of the tropics and by the application of his gas,
the ship was rendered perfectly sweet and healthy
Attached to the expedition to Campeachy, the
Commodore despatched this gentleman to the
Usamacenti river, in Central America and he has
made an interesting report TO the Department. in
terspersed with maps and drawings, taken with the
aid OF the camera luclda.
From cursory glance, we found il to be replete
with valuable information respecting Yucatan, par
ticularly of Campeachy and its environs and of the
Nile of America, the Usamacenti River, which
runs through Central America, near the ruins of
Paenque. Mr. Grant represents the Yucateoces
a community of lazy, contemplate half breeds,
composed OF those " races which appear TO as
simulate IN this country by process of che
mical affinity, viz - Spaniards, Indians, and
negroes, IN varying proportions, and he thus
gives an illustration of the perfecness of the
combination g stood upon the raised plat
form in the vestibulc of the great cathedral
ono morning while mass was being perform
ed IL was carnival week, and the church was
filled with the Elite of Campeachy, kneelng upon
the pavement and watching with upturned faces
the ceremonies of the altar. Among these were
upwards of four hundred so-called ladies' After
careful observation, could discover but four
pure white females in the crowd" lie SAYS, that
slavery, disguised, is enforced in Yucaan in most
lntolerable FORM as the following fact will show
81 was informed by a mixed-breed gentleman of
Campeachy, when describing the troubles incident
to the war which prevailed, that about two years
previous. the government had given him, as a re-
ward Tor political services, one hundred Indians,
slaves TOR life. They had been guilty OF politi-
cal offences. He put these Indians upon place
IN the Island OF Laguna, called "Gct-ouf-fyou
Cam" and employed them in cutting logwood
When the war broke out, more than half of these
Indians run oil, to the surprise of their owner.
"Alihough they had been treated as well as they
could expect under the circumstances which con.
demned ihem to slavery" the political offences"
Tor which these poor savagcs were condemned as
slaves for life in the logwood swamps of Laguna,
were complaints, and sieLi resistance against
the lcFying Oh capltatiOn tax equal 10 the gross
amount OF their personal effects. II may DC OBJ
served, that this tax involved either the money,
or their persons, which, in the absence Of