The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-09-29
TIE LAKE JEWELLERS.
eMPHlEiOUS LIFE WHICH SOME
INDIANS OF MEXICO LEAD.

Peculiar Formation of tho Mexican
Lakes-Nature,s Floating Gardens.
Fishin. For Frogs, Polywogs and Flies
to Earn Scanty Livelihood.
Looking towards the lakes one day caught
sight of the spires Of u small town on tho
margin Of tho water IuquirinG OF a NIcXi-
can friend, he said: That is Chalco, lying at
the head OF lake avig2tiOn, once very
notable place. The town is now dead, or
dving. killed by the railroads Once it was
the point of shipment of the products Of tho
TERRA calieutc, and great quantities of rum,
sugar, grain and tropical fruits were trans
ported thence to Mexico, twenty-five miles
distant, III fat-hottomed boats, propelled ly
the Indians with long poles. There are somo
reminders of tho traffic yet, Eut Il foreigner
would probably find more interest i'll the
Indians, who live in kinl of house made OF
reeds, and almost floating on tac water My
friend could not have suggested al excursion
moro npropo$ to the mood OF person deeply
interested in the indigenous races and their
custor,s. In two hours time had descended
from nv crows nest Oh the hill TO the lakc
Clll WIS WIN lhS 't'' "-
the town for 4 canoe and couple of stout
Indians 10 take me to the pueblo of the Lako
DwcilrrS.
And here a first surprise awaited me. Tho
lake which had seen glStciinG in the sun
from the elevated post OF observation no
where appeared when arrived at its margin.
IN It's place was u vast cXpallSc, extending fer
miles, of reeds, swaying and drifting before
g {t1 L., IL. L vol
lowed iii this SEA Of green, feeding Oh the
nutritious aquatic plants and grasses, and
their fine condition and sleek hides showed
that this lRlphibious life was Eot unconGcnial
to them.
A narrow waterway leads from the town,
disappearing slowly among the reeds, and
upon this wo embarked in the Indians light
chalupc. As we passed along this canal L
noticed that the water was clear and pure,
Eut the bottom composed of q sronSy bed of
vegetable matter. In some places the Indians
had to get out and pull the canoe past tic
long barges laden with wool, on their way
to Mexico, and which entirely noncpolizcd
the narrow channel Their weight would
submcrge what appeared to bc, II moment be-
fore, firm ground. When the loaded bar&5cS
stuck fast their swarthy conductors had tic
habit Of getting out and spriaginS mp ard
down on this vegetable mass, at the point OF
adhesion, securing thus two Or three feet Of
water where none had been before.
at times there would como to my ears
strange ard nlournful sounds from the en-
circlny reed meadows.
"Boatmau What sounds arc those like tho
moaning OF PERSONS in distrcss:'
"Nothng, scuor! Only the chatting Of
fishermen and the laughter Of children"
Their statement turned out to be correct.
At intervals We caught glimpses through tho
tall reeds of intricate passaSeways, Just large
enough for tho entry of very small canoe.
IL these canoes were women and children en-
gagged in fishing and the other industries pc
culiar to the lake. 1t was their conversation
and laughter, filtered through the forest Of
reeds, that produced TIC mournful sounds
before alluded to.
"Dut What kind of fish do they catch:' we
next asked.
"Mainly frogs, polywoss, worlis and in-
scctS scnor." WIS his surprising reply.
1t WIS Gif;iclI!t to believe my ears, but sub
scQl,cnt investigation proved this to be the
main Industry of the Lake Dwcil@rS, apart
from their peculiar agriculture, Of which l
shall speak later on. There aro three species
of frogs inhabiting the lake. They arc pro
pared for the table, with suitable condiments,
anil are sold extensively even among the we'll
to-lo classes, being especially popular during
Lent rs substitute for animal food. Tho
spawIl of the frog, and the little animals so
ridiculous and rcpuglant to civilized taste,
peculiarly called pollywoSs, arc only used
among the poor, and are served on leaves Of
maize.
But the insect industry surpasscs by far
the frog catching business. There is sort
of water fly, called by the Indians axayacatl,
which frcqucnts the lakes i'll pruGgious
numbers, and which ispclded to-day through
the streets of Mexico with tie shriu street
cry. "Tlies for lfrl fool" As the number
OF birds kept in private houses is very large,
q single family often possessing twenty or
thirty, the fly trade is corrcSpondinyly L:i&k.
The insect is about the size of grain of rice,
has six legs, sw'itas on the water with great
force and rapdity, and though it has wings
has never been known to use them. When
caught they are either dried or kneadcd into
a paste, cooked in water with salt, and eaten
with much relish by the natives. The eggs
and larvae of this interesting creature have
equal value. The Indians plant the stems of
reeds in the shallow parts Of the lake, about .
yard apart, so that the upper end shall pro-
ject above the surface. Tho female of tho
axayacatl deposits her eggs upon these several
layers deep, SO that they not only cover tho
reed stalk but also hang in buncacS from it.
At regular intervals they are collected, dried
on mats, anl these form th" mark alilc pro-
duets called Ghiantlc. This ground and fried
il lard with hens eggs, makes dish very
much Ike fish c@,rS, CnI is mich uS2l when
tho preccpts of religion prohibit flesh Getting.
When the larvae Gro lr,t'hc:l al!l appear rs
little white WORMS t12y are caught il great
quantities and cooked 1stirc or gr1uHd into q
PASTE This delicate dish is called puXi, aid
is considered very nonrishiDg.
As we ncarcd the littic Indian village Of
YiCo which vas to be cur point Of de:tina-
ton, the boatincn became communicative,
complaining bitterly of a Einl of iloatmS
mass of reeds and gross, called yOndolcro;.
These floating banks have a thickness ran
ing from half a yard to u yard and q half,
and arc composed Of the woven roots Of
plants, living and dead the remains of tho
creatures that inhabit them, the mud Of tho
lake hottom and dust brought by the wind.
iSolidly Init together and of less density than
the water, they SHIFT from point to point with
the winds and currents. 1t is difficult to nc
count for their formation; hut nature works
Hith such skill in their construction, ans,
gives them such solitiity that, III times Oi,
drought, the natives transport their cattic to
them for pasture, and the banks sustain the
,yCirlt only rial1;np OuI Siul;ino ,,Ilrr foot