Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1888-07-19
Scenes in Tahnsco.

Correspondence OF the Alexandria GAZETTE.
SAN JUAN BAUTISTA, Tabasco, Jolly 3,
1SSS.-In my last we were among the ruins
of Uxmal in the interior of Yucatan. Since
then we slowly .wended our way along the
south coast of thu Gulf of Mexico, tarrying
few days at the ancient city of Campecha
in the State of Campecha. The only thing
remarkable about the city is that 1t is very
email for its age and is enclosed by the
highest and strongest wall with the largest
gates OF any city on the North American
continent. The ancient inhabitants had q
constant fear of pirates, hence their great
wall of defense. AS further protection
they built the city like four-ffths Of the
cities on the gulf coast just inside long ex.
panse of shoal water, coral reefs and shift.
ing sands, as by this means, the pirates were
prevented from landing. The ancient stu.
pidity and lack Of forethought ia now
"blessed" Though not according to Scrip.
.urel by every stranger when he buys a
ticket to any of these ports and is let down
in small open skif five miles out at sea
under the vertical SUI CT this torrid cline.
IF the tide is out he way have to lay at an
Choir and roast until it rises, then an ad-
verse wind may keep him lacking until be
is fairly toasted. for all of which extra tor
ture he is required to pay what they ask,
and this ia determined, generally, &C.
cording to the purse of the payer.
This imposition is not confined to Campo.
cha, but is prscticed all along the
line. Mexicans are. never in hurry
and the coast steamers often tsrry at intermediate
ports, such as Campecha, for two or three days,
and to save provisions ali passengers are required
to 20 ashore and get feeced by the hotel-keepers
or pay extra for board on the steamer. In either
case the trip will often cost more than double
what one pays for through ticket. These are
some of the discounts of travel where there IS no
competition. But l have found competition IN
this country carried to the opposite extreme. In
the rivers Of Tabasco the Indian with his dug-out
will compete with his rival to the extent that he
will paddle and polo his primitive craft whole
day for twenty-five cents, while in the Indian
trails among the mountains of the States of Tab
asco and Chiapas the Indian cargedor will carry q
traveller seatcd chair strapped to his back, at
the rate Of from twenty-five to fifty cents per day.
according to the weight Of the traveller These
half-naked, benighted, but perfectly physical and
muscular creatures, with staff in hand, will carry
the traveller up almost impossible sleeps, along
the verge of frghtful precipice, through Marshes
over stony ways and among all the narrow de.
files and winding ways of the mountain gorges,
and that with as much apparent care and safety
as The mother carries her papoose on the Western
plains Words can't describe the emotion felt
on my introduction to this mode of travel Yet
it is in places the only mode, and It'll charity
to answer their appeals for employment; so
yielded, mounted, adjusted and went off in little
jog-trot. 1t seemed inhuman one regrets he or
she is so heavy. The nerves are not relaxed for
several hours. One has the mingled emotions of
pity, persecution and all the Tovel experience
naturally connected with this mode of transpor-
tation. Finally, for PHYS sake, concluded to
walk and give ing carrier rest, and, beside one is
apt to think if the native can make the trip with
the extra burden of ones weight then the trip
can be better made on foot. However, as this
would result in throwing some poor native out of
employment, they Usually object and so l kept
my seat, feeling that the carrier was equal to the
task, and settled back in my chair to take in the
wild scenery of the mountains with about as
much contentment as the old geography repre-
sents the man similarly mounted while crossing
the Andes. RAMBLER.