The record-union., 1895-08-31
ROYAL BAxINr POWDER.

to the taste, is made from parts OF the
flowers of the hibiscus, species OF mai
low. This latter is a favorite beverage
for the sick. Wrapping paper IS practl-
cally unknown in that country, ana corn
husks fiattened out into small sheets are
employed as substitute. Iamarlnds
and paste of ground cocoSnut meat are
done up in pieces Of corn husk Tor sale,
while wrappings of the same material are
utilized to protect eggs from breakage.
To passengers on the Paclhc Mall
steamships are sold palm-leaf fans of a
remarkable shape-square with long
handles. These are universally used by
the natives, but not to discourage perspl-
ration. By them they are employed as
bellows for keeping bright the fires in the
little charcoal furnace, on top OF which
they do cooking. Some OF their contrlv-
ances are very primitive. From the base
OF the leaf of the century plant they max
stiff brush for scrubbing dishes and
collars and cuffs in the wash. Their corn
is reaped usually by means Of small,
curved sickle, because it is planted IN
rocky places on the mountain sides. where
it can only be got at in this way. Such
cornfields cannot be plowed; all cultiva-
ton must be done with the hoe. Rough
pebbles, such as may be picked up any
where, are utilized for the greatest 7arIe-
ties of purposes. Whom piece OF meat Is
tough the housewife bangs it with q stone
until it is tender. The customary way OF
opening oysters is to pound them with a
rock on the hinge until they fall apart.
This is good suggestion for picnic
parties lacking skill or suitable knife;
the method described is surprisingly
effective.
The natives of the regions explored by
DR.. Palmer are OF the ordinary type of
mongrel Mexlcans, j. g., Indians with q
dash of foreign blood. They are fairly
civilized, living in thatched cottages Of
sticks and mud. Such dwelling may
be built for So. But these people are as
much attached to ytheir homes as if the
latter were palaces. They exc out a
scanty existence by primitive methods OF
agriculture, having few needs. Corn
cakes, called ''tortillas," and beans are
an ever-satisfying diet, and the ther-
mometer seldom goes below 600 in winter.
The Inhabitants are hospitable, and II
housewife has two corn cakes for sup
per she will give one of them to the first
tramp who begs. oddly enough, that
country is one OF the worst in the world
for tramps. Wherever they come from.
they allege they are citizens OF the nlted
States. and they give great annoyance TO
our Consuls by incessant demands for
money and free transportation. They
seem TO think that they have right to be
carried anywhere they please without
paying.
DIR. Palmer's base of operations was
Acapulco, an important seaport on the
west coast. Mexican troops were as
sem bled in that neighborhood during the
recent trouble with Guatemala over the
boundary question. The town has pop
ulation Of 5000, and is said to possess the
most thlckly settled graveyard in the
world. The people die much faster than
they are born, but the number OF citizens
| is kept up by the country people, who, as
in the United States, are continually de-
serting their farms. The streets are too
narrow for cars or even for carriages.
| There are only three carts in Acapulco,
everything being carried by human be-
ings on their backs. DR.. Palmer saw
thirty mon engaged In moving a safe.-
| st. Louis Globe Democrat.