Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1888-04-04
The wilds of Yucatan.

The EViIds of Yucatan.
Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette
UxMAL, YUCATAN, March 1SSS.-Since
my last have made q long journey by land
and sea and am now in the interior of Yucca
tan. twenty one miles from postofice and
twelve miles from the nearest neigbbor.
During the past Two months have seen
much out oftha regular line of travel for
much Of the time have been in the Indian
trials where most of the journey had to be
made On foot, and since entered the country
have not slept 10 bed, as hammocks are
used among all classes here in place of beds
1t is used as chair, lounge, bed and clothes
line. The traveller fulils the command OF
the scripture here to the letter, for he takes
up his bed and walks. When night comes
c9e only have to prepare our supper by the
camp FIRE, then swing our hammocks high up
between two trees or from the branches, and
then climb into them and swing ourselves
TO sieep, and that often as quickly as baby
would be rocked to sleep by the motion of
its cradle. In it, though We be far from
civilization and among the snakes, lizards
and the great aguana of the tropics, we are
out Of reach Of ali !; besides, the big ants,
bugs, spiders and other crawling things that
would make sleeping on the ground or even
in the open houses of the country very
unsafe.
write this by the camp fire, and my
hammock swings by my side and that OF
my Indian interpreter is close by it. He
and form the party. We have now been
some weeks together As discrip-
tiou of my camping place may interest your
readers will give ii. large rubber tree
towers above us; tall slender cactus Is
growing everywhere. The soil is very
rocky and Of coral formation, as i5 the whole
of Yucatan. My table is rustic, indeed,
being often the smooth side OF log; my wide
hat brim is my desk, aud chuuk of wood
or a big rock my chair, a large tin eau close
by is our coffee pot and gourds, wooden
spoons and case.knife aud FORK the table
furniture sugar, coffee, cheese, chickens,
sweet potatoes, corn cakes or torrillas, and
pap cakes or French bread, form our bill OF
fare. Besides, we have plenty OF fresh meat
as there are deer, wild hogs, wild cattle,
phesssnts and other game in abundance
All this is cooked bgrbacue'style and
We get enough ashes with it TO make
it wholesome, while broiling it over the hot
Goals. While I am deprived of many of the
Injuries enjoyed in Fairfax and Prince
William counties, during my ramhles in
Virginia, yet see as 1 never saw before
thatsolitude has its charms, and the beau
Ties Of the wilds around me, including
strange birds, flowers, trees, fruits and the
ever changing landscape meet IN the Jour-
neg Of day, where white man is rarely
seen, to me far more than compensates tAe
loss of ali the pleasures and pastimes of fash
ionsble society. From my hammock the
cry of the wildcat and the tiger may be
haa-d OF inht vet n the lover of the WIG
woods it matters but little, while his ham
mock swings high and his powder is dry.
Yet would not have my readers, especial
ly the dissatisfied and adventurous boy, be-
lieye all is sunshine, for such is not the case,
for to be an explorer is to take risks against
man and beast and all the evils OF new
climate Your life will often depend on
your own watchfulness end wakefulness.
Should you succeed in making important
discoveree, the plaudits of the public will
De your reward but you may fail and die
oifeyer or famine in some foreign cline, IN
which case you will likely pass away un'
Enelled, unknown, uncared for, and perhaps
slole
The ruined and ancient city of Uxmal is,
perhGps, the most extensive and remarkable
ruin 10 the New World. The city was in
ruins long before America was known to the
Old World. Since have been here l have
entered about eighty large, well ventilated
and lighted rooms Their walls are white
and smooth, and all is as perfect as if it had
LETT the builders hands only score OF years
ago. let on the floor l saw fresh tracks OF
Wild beasts in the damp sol! and tha accu-
nulated dust cf centuries. Here, among
lallen wells, tumbled down columns and
broken statuary, the tiger end the wildcat
anG an unmolested home, and among the
long. black gables the swallow builds her
nest and the vampire bat fuds its quiet hab'
Nation, As loitered over the lone mounds
aod desecrated graves, which in the name
o. science have been made to give up their
dead, aud as looked upon the gods before
which generations have bowed though they
arg lifeless pieces of stone, yet they impress
g g me as l was never impressed before.
aere, where stand, and there, where the
goa was placed and worshiped, and before
Which lives were given up, blood and palpi.
Sau3g hearts were presented, yet all TO
Ge Gead god. When we think of the modern
oafistian who worships living God, we
are are able to see the worlds progress ss we
save never seen it before. In short, from
SsesecFated and deserted unknown graves,
ION Son a mouldering city in the centre of
uuwTling wilderness, with dead gods, to the
"a1 Eept and flower covered-graves of my
bs.1 bSa land, with its populous cities, and,
tte"ef t. than ell, a worshiping people, who
aaa suo" and worship God that liveth, was
,Su ,Satce OF pleasure to contemplate even in
'ue wilderness. RAMBLER.