Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-11-28
PYRAMID OF PAPANTLA.
In THE DEPTH OF A MtXICAN
WILDERNESS.
Animal and Vegetable Life in Pri.
mevai Solitudes-A Journey and
Dive Deep into the Past.

About fifty miles north of Jalapa, but
within the limits of this State of Vera Cruz,
is found the far-famed pyramid of Papant-
la. One may go by daige,lcia as far as Tt
sintla, and thence proceed on muleback
through the almost impenetrable forest
but we preferred making the entire journey
on donkeys, having learned from sad expe-
rience the discomforts of the diligencia, and
knowing that the widest route would be
safer from los cdbelleroS del canine than the
more trequented roads. Our party was a
small one, comprising only two ladies, an
elderly gentleman who was then one
of the acting Consuls in Mexico, his half
grown son, two guides and three trusty
servants. Tie men were well armed, the
women neither given to nervousness nor
unaccustomed to "roughing it." the ham
pers crowded with camping delicacies, and
the mules all staid, reliable beasts, whose
wild oats IF they ever had any-were
long since sown. Therefore, taking ne
thought for the morrow, and endeavoring
20 forget that any world existed for us be-
yond the solemn woods, we turned our
backs upon the nineteenth century and
plunged into the misty past
According to universal custom, which in
the tropics demands a long siesta during
that portion of the dav when Americans
are most actively at work, the guides routed
US at A. NJ, and soon the round full moon
looked down upon
A GHosTLY PROCESSION,
Winding sleepily along the wooded road
Low on the horizon lay the Southern
Cross" with all its stars complete. and
familiar consultations which we have
known from childhood in the far north
seemed to wink upon US in friendly re-
cognition, though wandering so far from
our proper orbit. In this southland, day
break is the most delightful hour of the
twenty-four-whenL Luna is paling at the
approach of the sun, the skies flushing
wonderful tints, every blossom giving forth
its rarest odors, and the first faint stir OF
awaking life is heard. Two hours before
the day -god showed his yellow head above
the mountains, we had breakfasted sumpt-
uously by the wayside-on coffee and eggs
boiled a Ia gypsy, luscious oranges, with
which we filled our pockets as we rode
under the trees, Mexican bread, guava Jelly
from Cuba and Indian cheese made OF
goats milk.
As we penetrated deeper and deeper into
the forest, the trail became almost undis-
tinguishable with giant trees in serried
ranks rising close on every side. The
smallest of these woodland monarchs is at
least hundred feet high and twenty-five
feet in diameter, and all are overgrown
with orchids and creepers winding around
the trunks and reaching from tree to tree.
forming.
THOUSAND NATURAL ARBoRs.
At midday the sun scarcely penetrates these
Aowery Businesses, and gloomy darkness
envelopes them long before nightfall in the
outer world Birds of brilliant plumage-
among them parrots and huge guacamayas,
,or macaws, gorgeously dressed in yellow.
red and green-futtered fearlessly around
as, having never learned the fear of man in
these primeval solitudes.
Among the many trees hitherto unknown
to us is species of magnolia here known
as yoloXochetl, covered with lovely. sweet
smelling flowers, which are pinkish white
outside and yellow within The petals.
before full blown, assume the form of a
cross, and afterwards of q splendid star.
The superstitious Indians never fail to cross
themselves at sight of one, and to tell you
chat an infusion of the glittering leaves is a
sure cure for various summer complaint"
and that its flowers will relieve palpitation
OF the heart. Among the myriads of
creepers is species with scarlet leaves
which is always found encircling the mag
nolia.
THE CELEBRATED wATER-PLANT,"
One OF the family bromelqceoa, which Next
cans call the Easter flower. In case of dire
necessity its large red leaves would ap-
pease hunger, but its chief mission is that
of natures cup-bearer. Its leaves treasure
the priceless dew and present to thirsty
travellers never-failing store Our guides
and servants-beieving it to be a sort of
holy water bestowed by heaven because
OF the magnolia's cross and star-were per
.petually imbibing the moisture. and NUT
-tering prayers to Mdrid Ditrissino and all the
saints in the calendar
The valuable Vanilla plqnifolia is in
digenous TO these humid groves. and is
carefully sought out by Indians of the terra
cdtehte. 1t is produced only in the States
OF Vera Cruz and Oaxaca, though-accord-
ing to Baron HUmboldt-Europe received
It's entire supply Of this commodity from
Mexico, prior to 1872. The aromatic fruited
plant was assiduously cultivated by those
ancient tribes known as Totonacs, who
once inhabited all this coast region.
Though the vanilla bean requires little
care-nothing but shade and moisture be-
ing necessary, and is even more valuable
than in the days when Aztec monarchs
traded for 1t with the Totonacs-it is now
but little cultivated. But it still springs
up in the wilderness, and hourishes best
far from the haunts of man, in hidden
Jungles on the slopes of the cordilleras The
descendants OF the Toton. C " h. vet reside
in these primitive villages, are restricted by
rigorous laws from gathering this neglected
plant at will The vanilla harvest begins
in March and ends in May, and during that
season the Alcaldi of every hamlet appor-
tons TO each man his quota of labor and
protit-carefully looking Oat for his own
lions share of the proceeds. The deli
cate pods are dried in the sun and shipped
with great solicitude, for every one Of them
has sure marketable value.
HERE, TOO, ABoUNps THE IALAP.
Well know to materia medical tiny plant.
with slender branches and heart-shaped
leaves tinged with red, concealing here and
there blossom of violet blue. It is known
by the natives as toloapad, and takes its pres
ent name abroad from the town, Jaiapa.
which was Its proper mart III Cortez' DAYS.
The plant grows spontaneously on all the
mountains of southern Mexico, having tap
roots of pear-like shape Unfortunately
the Indians destroy it by tearing away its
tubercles, and the day is not distant when
this much-prized drug viii become more
Scarcer than Quinine. These forests are
full OF wild guava, sort Of myrtle, grow
ing naturally in the higher attitudes of the
tropics, and attaining hight of several
feet. Its fruit, which seldom ripens before
being eaten by birds and Larvae, is luscious
and indescribably fragrant Everybody is
fond of green guayas, but few have ever
had opportunity to know how they taste
when fully ripened. They are in great
favor among physicians. because of their
astringent and anti-febrile properties.
When cultivated, the shrub changes its
appearance so much as to be scarcely recog-
nizable; its branches grow longer, It's
leaves acquire silvery lining and the fruit
becomes rs large as lemons, which it much
resembles in shape and color
THE NUTMEG-TREE
Is found in greatest profusion in the neigh
borhood of Papantla. 1t is a shrub about
ten feet high, and is becoming extremely
rare in Mexico. The natives use an