The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1897-04-29
rioeal Culture in Guatemala.


lain : miles short of the I'LL
0m pilgrimage, the capital,
.ar ranches in this neighbour
nf for the wealth of Ormus
would we part with our eX-
te last few days, nor repeat
Viec that amount In former
,rartment Of Amatitlan was
l D,uatemala, being the centre
meal industry, before other
the demand for that product;
rs te say that more of it is cul-
nan in any other equal area
The Journey here, too, via
railway, is full of interest.
anyla and the village of Pal
r.t If only Is miles, the track
tlu- over 900 feet, by grades
.u,. crossing many deep and
which the enormous erup-
rom the volcano de Aqua
r the hillsides. The tray-
r.tly into the face OF old
uu Volcano. The monster is
~ smoking; but its Jagged
DIES give ample evidence OF
nd uncertain temper, and
streams OF lava have many
doWn into the green forests
loves below. Palen is the
market garden district OF
nJ supplies the capital and
hfIuits and vegetables. At
cups OF Ouiche women are
selling eggs, cakes, and
l fruits, in little baskets of
a.tufe. The women Of this
st dwaIts in stature, with
Malay type. Their small
Ike let beads set in bronze,
> black hair is tied in a huge
The head. All are dressed
single breadth OF coarse
Mapped tightly around the
uL to the ankles, one end
lhe other and thus held fast;
H. 2 Jacket of coarse white
-nai quite reach this apology
HJ reveals a strip of bronze
ta1lN every one OF them car
ug in told Of cloth tied to
uLb some of the little moth
$ more than children them
Innate up here is chilly at
yeas, with a mountain wind
.-5s to shawls and blankets;
lr bare headed. bare footed
. -ae naked babies seem sensi-
.ld. and both preserve the
indifference peculiar TO the
eat zeal of coffee and cane
4i the base OF Aqua, and
->es several large catetals,
W sugar factories. After
sharp turns and long
United only to narrow gauge
.Ieyatel region OF glorious
-ed, including backward
racihc then, plungng down
narrow cultivated valley,
tlNu NJ san Jaun de Amati-
"u ,- l4e department OF the
U- VaeI t l4e way, is pro
...HU .r-alu. acceuting. the
b3atupou both sides ii
f,i and close by the Lago
.l-ruv strange volcanic lake
We houses are all adobe, and
Stony, built in this way;
wooden box Of the de
a. walls, then beaten down
Nw.en mallet; after which
v,a To another place, and SO
-sl.ed height and breadth is
house has its cactus plan
small, attached, and long,
which cut leaves of cacti,
p are sheltered during the
More singular still are the
SWING horizontally under the
-lN habitation, often close
u"r to the danger of every head
-fH 10 out. These are bee hives,
4srey, their buzzing denizens
->~ Excellent honey sells in
-I medic, (six cents a quart,
Nenty of sweet oranges at 3
.e tozen, nobody need lack the
., lite. The bees wax. however,
Ta-uable product, as it plays so
fl. pant in the service of religion,
rs "ysting several pounds of wax
he population of the town is
u iA 600, but was much more in
.h1 days of cochineal culture,
o. esuits controlled the industry.
- lecline the monks established
Limitations in the neighborhood,
udertook coffee growing. The
-ent, Tor county,, of Amatitlan,
mo inhabitants, is divided into
inequalities, or "communes, -
eH' watered by many rivers, is
.sE fertile. Besides its flourish
md coffee interests, and the lam
made in cochineal, the commune
uez de Pepapa is extensively
d laising cattle, pork and bees
-e the neighboring commune of
law. tie Pepapa devotes itself to the
0.e Of hats, baskets, pottery and
'tion cloth. The Central rail