Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-12-07
A Central American Republic.

The Indians, who number in Guatemala
$4,000, are peaceable, kind and hospitable. 1t
is only on the Atlantic coast. where the negroes
from the West Indies have amalgamated with
the natives, that the explorer is liable to meet
with difficulty. These Carbs, as they are called,
are nearly as dark as negroes, are lazy, prone to
theft and suspicious of strangers. They are,
however, happy, according to the Mormon stand
ard, each man having three wives, who support
him in all the luxury that the sea will afford
and who, If they wish their lords and masters
to do them the slightest service, are obliged to
pay them in the current coin of the region
namely fish. The Caribs do nothing but fish,
battle and eat. but the native Indians are COM
paratiyely industrious. There is little raised in
the country, however, except coffee, and this is
scarcely paying product, for it costs on an
average six cents per pound and is sold for
seven or eight cents. Most Of the coffee is of an
inferior quality, and the area where good cof-
fee can be grown is very limited. Although
many products might be raised in the fertile
valleys. few are grown, and these few are grad
ually becoming less important.
In the valley OF Coban, which contains the
ruins of one of the old cities of Maya origin,
much tobacco OF quality not to be surpassed
by that grown in any other part Of the world,
was raised But this year the entire product of
whose stock amounted to about FL 600 and who
retailed cigars at three bits per hundred The
interior OF Guatemala consists of elevated val
legs surrounded by high mountains rising 6 600
or 1000 feet above them. The valleys them
selves are 5000 or 5000 above the level of the
sea- They are generally fertile. and are usually
the seat of city or large VII
lage. The higher portions of the country are
unfit tor cultivation. Everywhere there is the
most luxuriant vegetation. An English natura-
fp6 ho CIV
said that nowhere in the world had he seen such
magnificent trees or such beautiful flowers.
Some of the trees rival the far-famed giants of
our own forests. Mr.. Elsen measured one that
was 30 feet in diameter and fully 800 feet high.
Fruit grows in abundance, and only there can
be had in perfection the delicious 'allgator
pear" as it is sometimes called. The climate
can hardly be surpassed. In the interior the
thermometer throughout the year stands, in the
house, at about 72o At the old city of Guate-
mala is found the finest climate of all. peculiarly
adapted to delicate lungs The atmosphere is
as clear as crystal, invigOrating and pure
The city of Guatemala contains about 6, 600
inhabitants. 1t is situated in one of the inte-
tains as by wall. 1t is poorly built,
the streets being narrow and the
houses low, and built of adobe There are
many fine churches. but none of such beautiful
architecture as is found in the former sites of
the city. The present city was founded about
one hundred years ago. 1t is the third site Of
the capital. The first city was founded by AL
yaradO. the great lieutenant of the greater
CorteZ, who conquered Guatemala after the
conquest OF Mexico. and founded splendid
city almost OH the slopes of the great
volcanoes. Tuego and Aqua. whose fires
may now be seen from the deck of
vessels passing up or down the Pacific
coast. But an earthquake DESTROYED this
beautiful city, and another was built some
10 miles distant. There as in the former CITY.
the architecture was beautiful and the orna-
mentation of the palaces and churches was
elaborate. The city also was DESTROYED by an
earthquake, and its ruins now remain to show
the traveller what the old Spanish cOnauerors
could do in the way of building magnificent
city among the forests and mountains of the
New World. Again was the site of the CITY
changed. and 60 miles distant the present CITY
OF Guatemala was built. The bulk of It's pOpu-
lation is composed of native Indians. The bust
ness transacted is very limited, and there is no
apparent desire to develop trade. The COM
munication with different parts of the country
Is maintained by mules, who thread their way
along mountain trails, which are in winter
often impossible. The coffee crop OF the in
terror is sometimes kept on hand for year,
because OF the impOssibility of getting it to
market.