The daily gazette., 1882-04-08
xUCATAN.

- asi4a2aavii4a.ar,
Yucatan 10 the most eastarnmost atata
of the Mexican republic, and, though A.
the little end OF the horn before men
TONED, is ~ no means likely, in COM
moo parlanee, to come out OF the little
enc. Entirely distinct ffom its sister
states, IN geological construction, It's ter
r1tory produces totally distinct article
OF commerce, henequen. Its shipments
OF thia hemp fibre have increased, so that
the capaclous steamers OF the Alexandra
line have hardly been able to carry ali
that 10 offered, one cargo recently
amounting 10 $500 bales 1t 400 pounds,
Il Is said TO comprise 4S00 Mexican
square leagues. Il has population Of
over AZ. 900, and'exported In 1880 (main-
~ TO the United States, 1929, 900
worth Of hemp. The value Of It's proper
" 10 this country was estimated at only
$S,SS2, 900 though the greater portion OF
lls territory 10 unclaimed or abandoned
to the indians. 1t produces beside hene-
quen, gypsum, ochre, tobacco, corn, raw
sugar, honey, different kinds Of starch,
salt beans, cotton, vanilla, and variety
OF Medical plants, ane also exports, deer.
hides snd dyewoods, lite lo2wood dis
trict Of the north and east being rich and
extensive. Its capital Is Merida, with
$1,000 inhabitants, which contains many
schools and colleges, literary institute,
conservatory OF music, hospitals and
charitable institutions, penitentiary, pnb-
lie library and museum. Other large
cities are ZAmal, ValIadolld, Motul, II
cul aud Tekxx, and It's only port, the
hourlshing town Of Progress, with $500
inhabiiants. 1t Is the only one In tbs
state bordering upon Guatemala that
has q railroad. II. has two In fact one,
leading from the port to tue capital,
"a miles long, producing enormous pro-
tiis; the other, yet In an unfinished state,
but already paying, from the capital into
the interior. Though 90 succ, ,ful in
developing her rather restfieted resour-
eeS, Hucatan has not yet been brought
under entire subsection to the Mexican
government and only q portion cf the
coast and interior ccuntry 10 cultivated.
The unsubdred Indians hold posse silon
Of the best lands, OF which they cannot
be disposed. a
The country south Of Yucatan, that
portion 4 Guatemala west of the Brit
ish colony Of b Alize, south of Campeche
and east Cf Chlapss and Tabasco, is an
almt 81 unexplored region. Here the
Aboriginal Indians rcam with all the
fesdom Of their ancestors before Span
sh domiDlOn. Somewhere 10 this wild
region Is situated the "mysterlous city,n
described by Stephens and Mouiet, said
TO have walls Of silver, which glisteD SO
that they can be seen 100 miles AWAY,
and to be still occupied by descendante
Ct its original builders, The ruins of
some former race may be traced tLro ugh
out all southern Mexico, through OAK
AGA, Chiap&s, Tobascc, and YucataD,
until they cnlminate, In the lstter state,
In the wonderful sructures that are the
amazement Of the present generation; .
tut all are silent cities; all their inbab-
'tants sre dead or departed, hundreds If
years ago. But here Is said to be YER.
table aboriginal city preserving, bot
only its own people, but thess retain all
the ancient customs and rights of their
progenitors. Here 10 q subject more
worthy cf Investigation than the heart
OF Africa, TO find the key to lest arts
and manufacture, to find q people still
preserving the rites Of sacrifice, which
they practice at the expense Of the trav-
eller lucky enough to penetrate to their
city; this were enough to iDcte huld-
reds to exploration. Unfortunately,
those who 60 In never return; 1t Is easy
enough to penetrate 10 that city, but no
ole has ever been know to return to
the coast who has once been there. On
the borders OF this region /. The wonder
iul Lake Peton, with its lovely town of
Flores, on an island, In. which the sim
pie Inhabitants set up an efigy Of a
horse Of the Spanish conquerors, and de-
hed 1t. This was on the occasion of the
passing Of COrtes, when on that terrible
march from Mexico to Honduras,
1t will be seen from this enumeration
Of the productions OF the adjacent Mexl.
can states that II Is valu ible territory
that borders upen Guatemala, not lack
Ing 10 scenic or historic interest, aud
that, If the troops Of the little republic
get on the war path soon enough, they
can infict much injury upon what is in
many respects tbe richest portion Of
Mexico. There Is little occasion for
alarm, however, for though Mexico
might gladly welcome an opportunity
for extending her territory southwaid,
she IS hardly prepared as yet to do so,
while Guatemala, though conscious OF
a certain right In the case, must be fully
aware of the strength ar d resources Of
her possible antagonist, " hich are being
80 rapidly developed by the extension
OF her railroads.