The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1897-05-22

HOME FROM MEXICO.
Mr.. Joseph W. AbrahamS Visiting His
Cecil Relatives.

The WING had Il pleasant call on Tuesday
from Mr.. Joseph W. Abrahams, son of Mr.. c.
5. Abrahams, of Woodlawn, in this county
Mr.. Abrahams, who owns II coffee plantation
in the State of OaXaca, Mexico. reached New
York by steamer from Vera Cruz on the 2Gth
of April and has been since enjoying visit
to his parents. He comes back to Cecil the
picture of physical health. his bron2ed face
and stalwart limbs attcsting the benefits of
the pioneer life he has been leading in the
tropical Republic of Mexico. Three years
ago Mr.. Abrahams. through the influence of
Mr. Murray, II partner of his brother John V.
Abrahams. who is prosperous lawyer in
Topeka, kans., decided to engage in coffee
culture in Mexico, Il brother Of Mr. Murray's
being similarly engaged there. Taking II
steamer at New York for Vera Cruz, he re-
shipped 10y way Of the Papaloapan river.
which emptics into the Gulf about forty miles
below Vera Cruz, and after journey of up
wards of two hundred miles. he landed at
TuNtepec, a town Of four thousand inhabi-
tants, about six miles from which he located
his plantation, or cafetal as it is known there,
oH WHICH nt HIS now growing lulEiN-lDur
thousand coffee trees.
Like our own republic, Mexico is composed
Of distinct states. TuXtcpec. although not
the seat Of government Of the State of Oaxaca
pronounced Oahaca-is one of its principal
towns. The meadow or alluvial lands that
line these Mexican rivers are especially
adapted to the cultivation of tobacco back
of the bottom lands the foot hills rise, EXTEND
ing toward the interior into well-defned
mountains, what are known us the chocolate
lands being chosenf for the cultivation ofcoiIec.
These lands in large bodies can he purchased
for five dollars per acre, the roads leading
through the foot hills being bride paths. and
the houses of the coffee planters being haci-
cndas built of palms. The cultivation of
Mexican coffee begins with the seed, which
are planted in seed beds, and when the young
plant has attained one gears growth, they
cafetals or plantations from seven to eight
feet apart, and are allowed to attain Il height
OF about nine feet, being trimmed back to
allow the easy picking of the coffee berries.
This is done generally in February and
March. Each pod contains two grains of
coffee the pods when ripe are bright red, and
present II very beautiful picture. the coffee
grains beng dark green when stripped of
their pods, made up of three distinct cover
ings, which process of preparing for market
is done by suitable machinery. The coffee is
worth about thirty-three cents per pound in
Mexico and IL tnD lpDr mr. l., I,,
the natives who use roasted corn. The
climate of Mexico on these foot hills is trOpi-
cal, although scml-tropical fruits and flowers
grow there. The rainy season begins in our
spring months and extends up to October,
there being some rain fall every day. The
temperature is about that of our extreme
summer weather. Yellow fever is epidemic
periodically. the ague with chills and fevers
being the diseases to which foreigners must
be acclimated. Mr.. Abrahams has now passed
that period of anxiety in tropical countries.
and is apparently as well Injured to the climate
as Il native Mexican.
The language of the average Mexican is "A
Spanish patOiS, not by any means pure Cas-
lillian, the race being II mixture of Spanish
and Indian bloods. Labor is cheap there, the
average daily wages for a peon being thirty.
seven cents. Everything he wears or uses is
high in price, and silver with copper centavos
or cents in limited quantities his currency.
Gold is never seen. Mexico beng absolutely
on a silver basis.
As well as coffee, tobacco is extensively
cultivated in Oaxaca Wheat is not .ult-
waited there. Rye and Indian corn are grown.
while oranges, bananas, pines, melons. and
tropical fruits generally abound. The climate
is too warm for the raising of sheep, beef
and pork being their principal meat products
Cattle have ample range. are never fed and
Craze the entire year round.
Now that he has become acclimated Mr..
Abrahams likes the country, and enjoys the
freedom and life of the Mexican foot hills.
He expects to leave New York July 1st for
Vera Cruz. He is but twenty seven, and We
wish him long and successful career in his
chosen occupation of cultivation of the
Mexican berry, not much of which is yet
shipped to this country, but finds its market
in England.
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