Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1848-07-14
YUCATAN.

now discharged from Mexico, are likely TO
take part is one of the great struggles of
this age, which ought to be understood by
the friends of humanity. II is in fact SER
! vile war, an instruction of slaves against
! luxurious and heartless oppressors.
The capital city of Yucatan is Merida,
which stands days journey inland from
lis port of Sisal, in a fertile and rather level
country, much resembling Hindostan.--
During the dry season tho whole plain is
scorched, so that vegetation would nearly
disappear, were it not for immense water
TAM Ks constructed by art. The country is
In Fact Il comparatively level shelf. projecting
from the foot Of the Cordileras in north
erIy direction some $50 or 400 miles into
the Gull of Mexico. All the great torrents
from the snow-capped peaks of the CONT
nent seek nearer way to the sea, and this
shelf is left thirsty. But lis limestone stra-
Ia catch and hold the water in lakes, and
between nature and art there are abundant
sources OF irrigation, which is rewarded by
the finest productions ofthe topics. Meri-
da contains population of over 10000,
with much wealth ard refinement Its
churches and many of lis private residen-
has we'll appointed theatre. It's distance
from New Orleans is bat little more than
600 miles, being 900 miles nearerthan Vera
Cruz. The whole population of the state
which comprises about 10000 square miles
is put down by the guess of the Geogra-
pliers at half million. But neither they
nor the few white inhabitants who lord il
over the Indians know anything of the mat
ter. Nine lenths of the people at least are
Indians, and many of the latter still nhabit
their mountain iastncsses-lOr though the
peninsula has nothing 10 compare with the
CordlIlcras IT has respectable mountains
IN state quite too wild TO be counted
When ucatan became independence Spain
these Indians, who has been in a state of
vassaIage TO the priests who concerted them,
were set free. And much did they prize
their freedom. They are mild, frolic-
some, improvidcnt race, and, taking adyan-
tage OF their improvidcnce, the IordIy own
crs OF the hacieadaS and tanks soon reduced
them to scrvltude practically the same as
that from which they had escaped. sim
gle Spanish family in Merida frequently
owns half dozen Of these hacie1das, each
OF which isunder the supervision of an over.
seer or major-domo. who acts his pleasure
as master, making free use Of the lash to
enforce obedience to his commands. The
Indian is not slave, but hopelessIy in debt,
and cannot, escape the servtude but by find
ing some other proprietor of hacienda who
will pay the debt. Mr.. Stephens in his In
cdenls Of Travel, gives a graphic picture of
the scrylty of these Indians, who at the
beck OF the master not only make a coach
for his guests, but thcmsclve serve both as
horses ant wheels. The white hospitality
OF 1ucatan cchpscs even that of South Caro-
lna-of course entirely at Indian expense.
But the mlldcr Indians of the plain have
fierce cousins among the peaks of the great
Cordlllcras chain on which the peninsula
abus. There Mr.. Stephens discovered In
dams who had never been conquered, be-
cause neither Spanish force nor cunning
was ever able TO conquer them. Some of
them had been ChristanlZed, but it was on
ly TO add the superstitons of Christianity TO
those of the Aztecs. The wild mountain
Indians, under two savage chiefs, Jacinto
Pat and CeciIio Chi, have come down up
on the plain and raising the standard of free
dom among the oppressed vassals of the
llaclendas have driven the trembling whites
to the cities. Merida is crowded and in
momcntery fear OF fire and sword. But all
the Indians ask is liberty and equal rights.
A peace was concluded with Jacnto Pat, to
divide him from his compcer. But he soon
discovered the treachcry of the whites,
which showed itself in an attack upon other
Indians in his rear, and again took the field
for revenge. At tie last advices Cccilio
Chi had captured a place named Bacalar
after bloody contest and thereby made
himself master of 100 muskets, IA cannon
and 80 barrels OF powder. In this victory
he lost his life, but is succeeded by SINH
larspirit named Nlancuva. Mr.. Stephens,
taking evidently the represents the Indians
as entirely destitute of spirit of improve
ment or any ambition to be free. This is
quite satisfactorily contradctcd by the over
whclnng onset they have made upon their
opprcssors. God grant them success, say
we, and let them push their proud and in
dolcnt opprcssors into the sea, unless they
will yield fair play. These indians have
toilcd under the hot sun while their masters
lay on s ladcd couches. They have SUBJ
ml;ted to poverty ami hunger to swell the
boards of drones. Read in Stephens the
terms OH which these poor creatures have
Iabored, and say if they have not some cause
to assert their liberty
"The hacienda of Uxmal is ten leagues
or thirty miles square, bat only small por-
ton is cultivated, and The rest is mere
roaming ground for cattle. The Indians
are of two classes vacerOus, or tenders Of
cattle and horses, who receive twelve dol
lars per wear, with five almudas of maize
per week and Iabradores or laborers, who
are also called Luneros, from their obliga-
ton, in consideration Of their drinking the
water OF the hacienda. to work for the mas
ter without pay on Lunes or Monday
These last constitute the great body of the
Indians; and. besides their obligation to
work on Monday, when they marry and
have families, and, of course, need more wa
ter, they are obliged to clear, SOW. and gath.
er twenty micates of maize for the master,
each micate being twenty-four square yards.
When the bell of the church is struck five
times, every Indian is obliged to go forth
with 10 the hacienda and for a real 2 day