The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1897-06-24
ross Guatemala on the Deck of a
Mule.
aoederfui Lake Atitian. Scenes In the Wiids of
Central America.


~7. This odd. old town-ot which
,. ave as vet seen little, being too wea-
ed from the long mule-back journey for
..51e explorations at present-lies 20
Is northwest from Antigua, our start
aolnt. and LOO miles from Guatema-
g We made a four days picnic of
With guide and mozo, camera and pro-
>5u hamper-the itinerary calling for
% miles per diem. We might have
10y diligencia in half the time. and
s,lhlv with half the fatigue-but Ger
with far less satisfaction to our in
--pt.e appetite for scenery" Twenty
day is not much, with an early
- IA the quarter deck of an easy go
44.e. Indeed, in the way OF an I'M
M. ii would be nothing at all over
,od. level roads OF the United States
hen the miles are mostly perpendic
set almost straight up, or straight
the hills. through wild ravines and
rs. ii becomes different matter-so
-he feeling in your back and prayer
ers IS concerned. However, few
and pains are not to be considered
the delights of leisurely Journey
III the beautiful highlands OF this
nj sunshine. The rainy season.
uter OF this part of the world-has
1e-un, making perfect weather in
ountain attitudes, neither hot nor
with nightly showers subduing the
ST. and leaving vegetation at its green
ud orightest-the air odorous of VIC
5ud orange blossoms, the ozone in it
ug to contain an invigorating tonic.
route from the capital lies practi-
dong the coast range of the Sierras
running north and south through
a- America. form a continuous
with the Andes Of South America,
sierra Madres Of Mexico and the Rock
t our own land, with only link or
missing at the Isthmus of Panama.
tie mostpart. we stuck religiously to
d amino Real, OF Royal Highway
Early Spaniards, which hereabouts
through a region of sugar tineas and
stock farms, on to the famous coffee
~ubber sections near the coast. At first
Dad is comparatively level, but so
~ that the volcanoes, Feugo and
which should have remained Sc
in the rear. seem to be constantly
ing about and shifting their relative
lions in the most pulling manner. We
td through several picturesque ham
notably Jocotenango, Pastores, san
and san Lorenzo-most of them in
apartment spelled Sacatepequez and
pronounced by a sneeze. AT PATTI
halted az the public fountain for
miles to drink and feed, as is the
ii all waYfarers passing through.
5l-er is brought distance of several
ly very ancient aQueduct, and
u1ain is of the usual form in these
tall column. more or less orna
'ed rising III the middle OF a large,
basin of stone, which catches the
ng water from several spouts near the
p ot Ire column. From this common
Ia dogs. nudes. horses and cattle
4, ana the women dip water for their
ng and all household purposes, the
themselves being quite beyond
Now and then woman, more
dian her neighbors. brings along a
hJmboo pole, one end of which she
jn the spout. the other in her wa
U standing on the edge of the basin,
Lus makes a little aqueduct of her
While the animals were feeding we
.ed into half-ruined church, on
IN earthquake had evidently play
tactical Jokes in days gone by. At
mote period it was decorated with
.aued saints and angels, set in inches
a- the facade and at the corners: and,
lsly enough, every one of the celes-
mpany is now fit subject for the
tal, having lost a leg or an arm or
sac ether portion of his anatomy. In
lhe church a wedding was going on
couple kneeling within the chancel
nder one red shawl.
lar first night was passed in Chimal-
Tango, town of some consequence as
lg the capital of a department
r'h produces considerable sugar, cot
wheat, oats and barley 1t has ex-
7ye stock farms also, and mines mot
.-l worked) of gold, silver, copper,
. and iron. There are manufactures,
'0' of cotton and wooden cloth, hats,
LES. baskets and pottery; besides an ex-
'H>iYe tannery, and several mills which
lnish flour of excellent quality Near
a- the town we saw beautiful yellow
1'Ionias, growing on trees by the road
e. Roses rioted everywhere in gor-
-euus perfection and in many yards were
eA'raordinary double dahlias, pink and
"A te, growing as high as fifteen feet,
al-u stalks eight and ten inches in diane
e.
Aree miles from Chimaltenango, in
ll.a same vast plain, is the village OF
ia, famous for its annual fair, which
cid during the last four days of No
Der. This fair used to be the great