Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-10-22
A Famous City of the Aztecs.

A correspondent Of the San Francisco
Chr0Bicte, writing from the city O Jalapa,
MexicO-prOnounced HAh-lap-ah-g yes
some interesting historical and natural
data, 1t was among the first 10 yield to
COrtez, more than three and a half cen u
rles ago, and now contains 80. 600 inhabi-
tants. The natives devOutly believe that
it occupies the site Of that garden which,
according 10 Genesis, the Lord planted
eastward in Eden" and they will point
you to the identical river which, as de-
scribsd ny the sacred historian. event
out Of Eden 10 wafer the garden, and from
thence it was parted and became four
heads" Baron Won Humboldt eRrly be-
came a convert to the Mexican adage:
The ladies OF Jalapa are very bewitch-
ing" for the grand old scientist came here
first when a handsome and gallant young
fellow. and remained IN love with Las
Jalapenas and their city when aged and
weary with sightseeing.
1t IS seventy miles from the coast, 1000
feet above the sea level, and near mighty
Macultapec, which towers $4,000 feet to-
ward the heavens. Few cities in the
world are 50 iavorably situated as Jalapa,
preserving eternal summer, with little
change II atmosphere, from year 10 year,
yet sufficiently elevated to escsDe the
banefui vapors Of the terra caliente bot
}
-celieuce paradise for the artist, the nat
urallst the hunter, and the health-seeker,
and is the loveliest OF ''resnrts,v- both for
winter and summer. People from the far
north come down here 10 escape the win
ter's cold; the citizens Of Vera Cruz, Cor
dOva, aud other fever-haunted districts,
come up in summer time to enjoy the re-
freshng breezes and secure immunity
from disease: and invalids from all parts
Of the hemisphere, especially cOnsunp-
tives, are sent here 20 recuperate at any
time of year. All the exuberance Of the
tropics surrounds the place. The region
is rich in ruins OF a forgotten race. The
present inhabitants are thrifty and rea-
souably clean. The products OF the cOun-
try are many and valuable. The city pos
sesses several buildings Of historic note.
Among other landmarks belonging 10 a
haiCfOrgOtten epoch is the OH monastery
OF San Francisco, built In 1863. looming up
amid bloom and beauty like ghost OF the
gloOmier past. The public laundry OF
Jalapa is bit Of quaintness TO which no
pen can do Justice. II IS huge pavilion
n plastered adobe, resting on immense
stone pillars, and erected exactly IN the
centre OF be city--as II washing were the
chief business OF life, as indeed 10 Is among
the lower classes, VINO make up the ma
iority ia this p0verty-strickcn country.
tfrcai squares OF Eompetdu rcu udOue,
answering for tubs. are ranged along both
sides of The running stream, which is fed
from an exbHustiess fountain above. An
aqueduet. meanderiuZ through the prin-
c,pal streets, carries OF the refuse, which
has become a ir0thy river from the free
use Of amOlc-the mountain root that an-
swers the purpose Of soap everywhere Ia
Mexico. Here. upon every day IN the
week, the lavanderas cOnRreQate, young
and old shriYeled grand.dames and CO.
quettish Juauitds-all g0esipirg and gig
gltng together as they bend over the pools
and cleanse their linen With jagged roots
Of am0le. ibis ancieEt fountain boasts
tradition similar 70 that " the Roman
Trevi. Whoever goes % quad parting
drnught throws ten drops over hie shout
der, 40 the same m ment makes n Wish !;
wnereupon not only will the desire Of
biz heart be granted, but such are the
ma deal virtues OF the fountain that he
will surely return again to this "land Of
rosesn