Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1881-02-05
Our Own Correspondent In
yades an Ancient. An
liQUe Mexican City.

cIFyC "A TTFLD FOR FNTER.
PRIsING YANKEES - MILLIONS
IN GOLD AND SILVER IN THE
VICINITY - FUTURE PORT OF
AMERICAN AUsTRALIANTRA
GUYMAs, MEX, Jar. 10, 1881
Eds. Independent:
This quaint old town in Sonora,
Mexico. 10 located on the east shore
OF the Gulf of California and has a
barber, land-locked and sheltered
from The sea, with approaches
through channels between the Is
lands of Pdj0r2s, San Vicente, Pit
ayas, and C0chOri. The odd and
distinctive features of this strange
old towD, are no peculiar that
have been tempted TO give your
readers some id "a OF - location,
its future possibilitie- an, some
thing Of the antedilu, iln habits Of
this city OF 6 600 souls.
| came down from Frisco on
very comfortable coast VIE steam
er, which touches here bout once
month, carrying a few passen-
gers and light cargo OF goods.
We anchored one bright morning
In the harbor, and while we we're
preparing 10 go ashore, / took in
the wild and romantic surround
iDgs OF THE port, SO soon 10 be-
come a great commercial cntrepot
IN tn, American-Australian trads.
Lazy Ysqui Indians were ply
ing their vocation on every hand,
catching fish of many varieties
or taking shrimps, crabs, Holsters
and oysters, that are found in
great abundar ce.
THE TOWN OF GUAYMAs
nestles at the end of its quiet and
secure harbor, surrounded on three
sides by high bluffy mountains.
The opening into the ocean be-
tween two high, rugged cliffs. is
about five miles from the city, and
within this strait the 5sy wideus
so as to furnish what has been well
termed the most secure barbor on
the Pacific. About half mile
from the town an island divides
the inner from the ou or hsrbor,
and it is on this island that the
South western terminus Of tho
great Atchisoa, Topeka and Santa
E'e is located. Here are the i'm
mense wharves and unlimited
dOckags, where the heaviest men
of war can anchor in safety. Be
yond the island, landwsrd, the
water is much shallower, the av-
erage depth being but about nine
feet, while on the seward side
there is a depth averaging thirty
feet The railroad reaches its
terminus by long bridge from
the eastern shore, and will be
able to
Transport FREIGHT TO TIE
STEAMER DIRECT.
After some little delay at the
custom house, we walked over to
the American Hotel,n and | am
free to say that it is the oldest
looking building in the world en-
joying that universal name; q low,
square adobe building, surround
ing a court or placita. Its mud
floors and small windows, and low
ceilings, are striking novelties.
After . lunch my friend and l
sauntered through the town, which
carries the Mexican stamp upon
its face. The buildings are all Of
adobe, built one story high, and
better as class than those in New
Mexico. In fact, some of them
were highly ornamental. AS we
neared the public square, or piazza,
we found gay scene awaiting US.
The native band from the garri-
son were playing a medley of
Spanish airs, and the piazza was
filled with ladies, young and old,
in gay costumes, who promenaded
without escorts, their natural pro-
tectOrs standing outside the circle
and bowling here and there as they
recognized acquaintances. 1t was
very pretty sight to an Ameri.
can unused to such scenes. /
found, upon becoming better sc-
quainted, that
THE INHABITANTS
are divided into three classes, the
upper Ten," being Spanish mer-
chants whom | found refined and
educated and with an elegant gen
tility about them, too often lack
ing among our own aristocracy.
The middle class are the native
Mexican and the lower, tbs Yaqui
Indians, who have been largely
employed in grading the road be-
tween Hermosilla and Guyamas.
/ was astonished to find what we
term slavery there called peonage)
is in full vogue. If man becomes
in debt to anotb or for $40 he is
placed in absolute servitude until
it is paid. and as wages vary from
ten to thirty-five cents a day, a
"a vwhn hnhfNI g.