Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-06-23
In YUCATAN.
SOME OF THE CURIOSITIES OF
LIFE AT XCANCHAKAN.
Agriculture OF the Yucatecans-A
Combined" Implement-Indian
Diyertiscgnents-Wa Caves.

Duliui1B, 1nCiOoeu httilIh pdS-lOAiSu wits,
looking more like the palace of some feudal
lord than latter-day residence in republi-
can America Nearly Il thousand men and
women are employed upon the estate, and
It's cattle-yards, water-txnks, and other ac-
cessories are all on the largest and most
substantial scale.
The SYSTEM Of agriculture in Iucatan is
as primitive as can be imagined Besides
hemp and sugar, which the Indians sell
dom attempt to raise on theirown account,
the principal products Of TIE country are
corn and beans. If we except garlic,
which grows without cultivation, hardly
enough vegetables are raised to supply the
people. CaIabasas are grown, a cross be-
tween pumpkin and squash), a few
cdnloles which seem like second cousins to
our potatoes, and chill without limit A
little cotton is cultivated here and there.
and sugar in limited way, for all the best
sugar lands in that section are now monopo-
lied by the savage Chan Santa Cruzans
Corn is the great staple, and the cultiva-
ton of 1T differs little from the system fol-
lowed by the Indians before the conquest.
During the dry season, generally in Janu-
airy or February, place is selected in the
woods, from which the trees are cut down
and burned. The corn Is planted in May
or June by making little holes in the
ground with pointed stick, putting few
grains into each and covering them over.
Once in the ground it is left te take care
of itself, and if the crop is scanty it is at
tributed to the poorness Of the soil. Plow,
hoe and harrow are alike unknown, and
weeds and corn keep pace together.
About the only agricultural implement
employed in Yucatan is the mechate-a
long clumsy weapon which is neither
knife, sword nor scythe, but 4 combina-
ton of all three, and answers for everything,
from carving meat to cutting paths through
operations for the doctor, as well as muir
ders for the highwayman. In this part Of
the world no Indian is ever seen without
his mechate, and owing 10 the stony face
of the country it serves better in farming
than pillow or harrow.
When it comes to thrashing the corn
space is cleared about 100 feet square, and
along its borders are hung line of ham
mocks in which the Indians sleep all
through haryest-time, each hammock hav-
ing a little fire beneath it to drive away
mosquitoes and warm the occupant in the
chilly night air
The thrashing-machine Is certainly not
an infringement on any Yankee patent,
but looks more like a homemade bedstead
than anything else. 1t is rude scahold.
say 20 feet square, made of four upright
posts for corners, with poles dashed to
them horizontally three or four feet from
the ground, and across layer Of strong
sticks, placed side by side The parallel
sticks serve as a thrashing floor, on which
the corn is spread. On each side rests a
short ladder, and on each ladder stands a
nearly naked Indian, pole in hand, beat
ing the corn with all his might The
grain falls through, and at each corner,
under the elevated floor, a man sweeps off
the eobs with broom made Of bushes, the
shelled corn being afterwards taken up in
baskets and carried to the hacienda.
Where men are plenty and labor counts
for next to nothing, probably this process
answers as we'll as the best thrashing-ma-
chine ever invented.
Everywhere in Yucatan hemp is king.
and upon this estate is mandatory for
making cordage, coarse cloth, carpets and
cables from the raw fiber. The machines
in use were brought from Boston, and are
tended by Mestiza girls, who are said to
be rs careful at this work as they are quiet
and faithful. And very pretty they look,
dressed in white, moving about among
toothed bands and flying spindles, seldom
looking up from their task and not even
singing or speaking.
The greatest of all the native uses to
which agave fiber is put is in the manu-
facture of hammocIs. Throughout Yucca
tan beds are almost unknown, the highest
and lowest alike being born in hammock
and living and dying in one. Not only
does everybody sleep in his hammock, but
the greater portion of his waking hours
Is spent IN the same net, idly swinging to
and fro There is as much difference in
hammocks as in beds, and in their manu-
facture the Hucatecos excel. Great num-
bers of them are sent to the United States,
but only the coarser varieties, for the best
ones command higher prices here than
they would in New York From ten to
fifteen dollars is the common price for a
good, woven hammock, and some will sell
as high as $50, but they are almost indie
structible
On this hacienda, a short distance from
the circular mound described in the pre-.
cedlng letter Is another cenote, which is
believed to have supplied the ancient
Mayas of the ruined city with water. Its
entrance Is now broken and dangerous
and so steep is the descent that great care
Is required to prevent serious accidents. A
little way down one comes upon an extern
slve chamber with lofty roof, from which
lahyrinthian passages branch off in all
directions. At the entrance to one of
these passages a scnlptured idol was found.
and scientists have hunted long for affairs,
sepulchres, mummies and other relics-but
so far with Indifferent success. The bones
of animals and remains of fires, in many
places, show that some time men have
made these gloomy recesses a place of
refuge or residence. So much of the roof
has fallen in that exploration is almost
impossible, but by crawling upon ones
hands and knees through narrow passage
a body of water may be reached, which is
lnerusted with thin coating of sulphate
of lime
The surrounding country seems to be
full of caverns and about half a mile from
eN'S'ShS 10 duotuSI WHICH, the Indians say,
has no end. Those who have entered de-
scribe it as series of immense chambers.
with lofty roofs and gigantic corridors
leading-none know where. Walls, roof,
base and passages are stupendous fossil
formation, in which marine shells are con-
glomerated together 10 solid masses. indi-
eating that this part of the peninsula, at
least, was once overhowed by the sea.
In all these water-cayes, which are so
numerous in Yucatan, strange bird is
found, called the "Toh" He is & species
of the UOnaOsus, the size of small hen.
with silky plumage and tail composed of
two long feathers which are stripped, naked
nearly TO the tips, the rest being mere
stems. Sometimes the, eenotes are swarm
ing with alligaters, and a: other times not
an alligator can be found-which fact
seems to prove an underground connection
With large bodies of water.
At Motul is ceuote in which the water
can be seen only By locking down into a
deep well-and yet This mysterious well Is
actually a public bathing place. There is
an entrance by larger hole, through
which you reach 4 great chaaber very
dark and gloomy, swarE1ing with bats and |
lizards. Here you uudreSs AMI grope
about in total darkness toward a distant |
Of water. Pluaging igso the !