The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1878-05-18

to ride on it without boat high enough out O
water to prevent their attacking the occupants
They are the slimiest, largest and most vcnomou
species of reptiles.
ACAPULCO.
This is a real tropical city, both in style anC
appearance. The approach by steamer is per
fectly charming, reminding the stranger of TN
pictures of tropical scenes so often seen in book
of travel. Long before the steamer drops ancho
in the bay the smooth, lofty cocoanut trees arr
observed, their broad long leaves spreading on
in immense proportions. Then the broad-lc0fct
palms, Spanish daggcrs, green banana trees
and various others, rendering the scene one o
Exquisite beauty. Back Of the trees and in The
suburbs of the town high verdant hills rear theii
lofty peaks in grand proportion, while in the
foreground, as we approach nearer and nearer
the picturesque little city comes plainly into
view, with its neat adobes huts and bamboo
Sheds presenting a picture that ia charming
The Bay of Acapulco is unequalled for beauty on
this coast II is large and spacious, with depth
of water sufficient to float ships Of any size or
tonnage. It is only to be regretted that there is
not more business done here than there is but
time may work miracle or two and arouse the
Iindoent Mexicans from their slumber Of ages.
In all sections the people are the same, and the
lentire country seems to be in profound slum-
Der. Without any cxaggeration, Mexico seems to
be the Rip Van Wrinkle Of Nations While it is
a land OF cloudless cimes and starry skies, it is
at the same time the land OF perpetual somolence.
There is decay about it in every feature but it
is doubtful whether it could ever have been a
| oG Nd ri Tbn -
the Peon is not sufficiently antidoted by the eau.
casian element; and the bearing of the Mexican
people, in the mass, is that Of being used to
| "subjugation, spoliation and political confusion"
"Tis Greece, but living Greece no more" as
wrote the poet. He could not apply the line to
Mexico, for she fell into an unbroken slumber,
SO far as everything but scnseless revolution is
concerned almost before she began to know she
was alive. An American might as well be en-.
tombcd ~ to lire in a country which has such
precarious pcculiarites.
The moment the gun is fired and the steamer
drops anchor there commences the great race be.
tween small boats to see which will get alongside
first. The natives swarm around in numbers
that would do honor to an African squadron
with boats laden with all kinds of shells, fruits
flowers, and everything that is possible to sell
In most cases it is women that do the selling
They all appear in full dress, which consists of a
loose wrapper tied around the lower part of their
body, leaving them exposed from the waist up.
ward and the knees down, and all are barcfooted
According to the usual custom we all went
ashore in small boats and spent the day in ram.
bling through the town and cndeayOring to study
the people, their ways and manners On landing |
we were all very much taken with the beautiful
grayclly beach fronting the city. II Is, without
any exception, although short, the handsomest ] |
have ever seen, and the way the natives enjoy ii |
is refreshing At the time we landed there must |
have been all of two or three hundred taking |
their morning bath, Two-thirds of the men were |
as nude as Adam, and in their midst several dusky
looking Ewes appeared. The Mcxcans think
nothing of this, and never for Il moment give |
the innodest part of it thought beautifully H. |
Illustrating that old adagc evil be to those who
evil think" Notwithstanding their peculiar
ways, have never met n more modest or polite |
people; and if you pass the commoncst diego or
the highest state official he is sure to salute you
"Buenos dlas," good morning.) Undoubtedly |
there is much loosencss and immortality amongst |
them, but not near so much rs they are credited |
with. woman that leaves the path of virtue
bears the brand Of scorn to certain degree, but |
not us severely rs in more fashionable society or
religious communities. There is one bad feature
existing, which perhaps has more to do with Mex
lean immortality than anything else, and that is
the cXorbitanty high marriage fees which are
charged by priests and all ministers. This makes
the ceremony Of marriage luxury, and to an
alarming extent invites impurty. The people
are for the most part poor, ignorant and indocnt
and in many cases they can not afford to get mar
ricd; SO they do the next best thing! They are
hospitabe to Il fault, and whatever they have you
are welcome to, which in nine cases out Of ten is
not much but it shows their disposition, never.
thelCss.
A ramble through the town Of Acapulco re-
ycalcd to us many strange things and gave us
still more insight TO Mexican people, their ways
and modes Of living. As bad rs we thought Ma
zatlan, this is ten times worse The narrow streets,
poor huts and miserable way of living of those
people is simply astonishing,
Our first visit was to the Plaza, Il broad square,
which seemed to be void Of all beauty or prcten-
sions, 1t was but sparngly shaded and the way
the hot tropical sun shone down ON us was like
an introduction to another region, We imagined
close by. Here we observed at least several hun
drcn men, women and children sprawiing about
in every way, shape and manner; nearly all hay
ing something to sell to the unsophistcatcd trav-
cler, who seems TO be ut all times in search Of
something for the little ones at home. On these
plazas is where you can see the Mexican in all
his Incidence and laZiness. 1t seems to be their
resting @ place, in which they will spend hours
smoking their cgarettas chatting and gambling.
Those Of them that were moving about wore
broad brmmcd hats, or sombrcros, some Of them
weighing four or five pounds and made Of the
richest material, costing from twelve to one hun
lrcd dollars, according to the lace and taste of
the purchaser. There is Il weakness among the
Mexican men, much the same as with our Amcri-
can women, they will staryc themselves and 90
Il. !