San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-10-03

bringing in market produce, some carrying
the loads in baskets on their heads, but the
majority had their cargoes on their backs in
what is called "canasta-" This is wooden
framework of shelves fastened into four up
right pieces OF wood and stilfened with raw
hide thongs those of ordinary size being
about four feet high, thirty inches wide and
twenty inches deep Cords around the bot
tom and middle are joined to the leather
headpiece, or broad strap, which passes
across the mans forehead and serves to hold
the contrivance in place The Indian, in
cliniug his body slightly forward, travels for
days thus laden with his pack of $50 pounds
so delicately balanced and adjusted that he
feels no excess of strain on any particular
point. Many were driving goats and sheep
in front of them, and others dragging them
with ropes tied around their necks.
The pretty, bright colored dresses of the
Indians added much to this lively scene. Now
and then YOU could see the entire family
bringing In the produce of their farm, the
father himself carrying his load and driving
the "burro," so heavily packed that nothing
but the tips of his ears and his feet could be
seen, followed by the mother with basket
on her head and the youngest strapped to her
back, with his legs dangling out of the folds
of the shawl and his little black head peep
ing oat of the top. Then come the two boys,
both carrying loads, the older one Juggling at
q rope tied to the neck of an obstinate,
squealin2 pig, who wishes to go in any direc-
ton but the proper one, and who is being
urged forward by the younger boy, who is
laying his whip across its hind quarters at
every step They seem to make but slow
I,,,t- HOY will no nj n
time for market hours.
Through the main street of San Juan,
paved with cobble stones and filled with such
a crowd, our driver forced his animals at
gallon urging them on with his whip and
shrill whistle, and being comparatively fresh
they responded quite willingly. The leaders,
with sleigh bells tied to their necks, warned
all in advance to get out of the way. Away
we went, bounding over the uneven pave
ment with a great racket, and in ways so
narrow that the crowd had to hug the sides
of the houses to escape our wheels. For blocks
in front you could see the Indians escaping
into the side streets when possible, and
though these people are subjected to the dan
ger of being run over every time diligence
passes, they seem to bear no i'll will to the
careless drivers. They have never seen any
other management of horses, and presume
they think that this is the proper way to
drive And besides, they depend on the stage
line for the execution of any commissions
they may have in the neighboring towns.
Many times our driver stopped in the long
streets of San Juan, always welcome guest,
dropping packages here, picking them up
there, and at every stop receiving his small
piece of silver and drink in payment He
took so many drinks before coming to the
hills that began to have some fears for our
safety on the steep and dangerous roads to
come
Three miles to the north of San Juan the
long and tiresome ascent begins and SO mar
row that hOrsemen only can pass the stage
The road is cut into the mountain side,
many places in solid rock, in which, as you
90 slowly ahead, can be seen many names
and prettily carved crosses; and on nearing
the summit you see many wooden crosses
planted on the roadside, inscribed with the
names of the saints in whose honor they
were erected. Looking back, the entire val
ley of Que2alte mango is spread out before
and about 1900 feet below you, and often
obscured by the clouds, for you are above
them and in them, and the blankets over
make you feel over warm. We were nearly
ave hours making the ridge, distance of
about seven miles. The mountain scenery
in this region is grand, but any views, no
matter how beautiful would become monot-
Onous when seen from an almost springeSs
vehicle, dragged over a rain washed, rocky
road at gallOp, accompanied by a Mexican
drivers yellS and Whistles and the incessant
swapping of his whip; so, at about O'Clock
when we pulled up at the breakfast station
in lovely green mountain valley, it was not
the meal that pleased us, but the relief felt
in getting ont of that hard cushioned, wagon
and AVA from the drivers noise
The stu les meet ut this stopping place, and
when tie drivers had finished their converse
lion without any consideration for the feel.
ings of the impatient passengers we were
again off, and sooI on the down grade. 1t
was so rocky that with my feet braced in
front and holding on to the sides, very often
came down on the seat with SO violent a
bump that felt rs if my spinal column had
gone up through my brain. Now and then
the stage would give a side lurch and smash
the briIn Of my hat against the side sticks.
This down hill ride continued for two hours,
until, thoroughly exhausted, we arrived at
the town of San Pedro, where we caught
glimpse of rather level country in advance.
Guatemala Cor. New York Times