Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-12-29

Mazatlan, sinaloa, Mexico. Novem-
Der 2S, l9OO.--On the day We
reached Culiacan our drive was a
heavy one, for we expected mail and
had heard nothing from home for two
months. Imagine our disappointment
when reaching the postoGice we were
informed, There is none" That night
as We ate our bean soup and tortilas
for supper there was not much joking
or laughing among the boys. The next
morning, Nov. 10Th, we rolled out lit
tie late, as our animals were tired. and
passing through the city / called at the
postofllce to post letter, and being rec
ognized by the clerk was advised that
our mail had arrived. An had come
but the papers, and as private cores
pondents supposed we obtained election
news from the papers we are yet in lg-
norance as to the details Of election.
Culiacan is the capital Of the state
Of Sinaloa. 1t has about ten thousand
inhabitants and is second in the state
In commercial Importance. The streets
are we'll laid out and paved, the build
ings are solid and substantial. but like
all Mexican buildings are low and fiat
rooted. To an American all The houses
are odd from the absence OF windows.
or having windows. for the iron graft
ings before them like the windows in a
jail One feature OF Mexican city or
town. however, is worthy Of imitation.
fQ LaafaTtesN l..
two we'll kept and lastly arranged.
Around the outside are orange trees.
now bending under their delight OF yell
low fruit Inside are trees Of many
kinds, from the dense umbrella tree 10
the almost leafess mesquit. Benches are
arranged conveniently both In the
shade and out, and In the center
is a band stand. on every clear evening
until nine o'clock, the band plays
and both the rich and the poor. the
bond and the free mingle together TO
enjoy the music.
Commercially Culiacan Is a shipping
center for the mines round about; and
Is the terminus OF the narrow railroad
running up from the coast II has also
a soap factory. several shoe factories
and saw and planning mills The great
center Of attraction for visitors how
ever. Is the old church a large stone
building with two towers. In the very
center Of town and Just opposite one OF
the beautiful plazas.
The expedition created no little stir
In town and as we marched down the
principal street the natives gazed at
us as we would al a circus parade.
Following southeast from the capital
our road came through country more
and more rolling, until we reached
what might BE- called mountains, but
FOR the fact that those stlll further east
were so much higher Everywhere was
"a thick growth ot th1rnv brush and
cactus. not only the brush but the trees
natives the holy or sanctihed tree, from
the mere fact that % has no thorns. At
every few leagues along the road We
would pass ranches some with one
house, others assuming the dignity of
a village and having dozen. The
houses are mean and Door with dirt
floors. and matched roofs Pigs roam
al viii inside or out Close 20 the house
Is a little shanty with a peculiarly
constructed stove made OF brick and
plastered over There are three holes
and as many hreplaccs. No place is
arranged for the smoke 10 escape. hence
the shanty Is 50 full az times Il be-
comes unbearable. BY the stove Is the
eyer-present mctcte stone on which the
corn after being boiled IN lime and
washed Is ground 10 a paste This
paste Is made into small pancakes OF
tortllas by the pattlng Of the hands.
and these In turn are cooked on the fire
close By,
Many Of these ranches manufacture
l. e. - NHr.. a l.
but which bears but slight resemblance
20 the genuine article. II Is pressed In
a peculiar way few days ago Mr.. |
Henning and | called at a ranch to OBJ !
tain pasturage In a dlngy room six OF !
eight persons stood aroung a low table /
or bench, each having his hands on |
something and APPARENTLY pressing down |
We thought someone was sick, or had |
drowned and was being resuscitated. |
but when the owner came out 10 wait |
on us we were informed that they were
pressing cheese.
Besides pigs and poor dogs around |
these ranches there are always a great |
many children. These are dirty, UNI
kempt but not ragged. at least many OF
them are not for their wearing apparel |
consists principally Of a straw hat and
sometimes the hat Is wanting But they
play as other children, roll In the dust.
play In the mud or paddle and wade In
the water.
The ranch and village people. more
than those In the larger towns, are SUI
and are firm believers IN the
saints 10 whom they pray. one story.
believed by all Is 10 the effect that a
number Of years ago. how many is not
stated. two towns were I'm need OF an
mage OF Saint Francisco, Cumuripa
and town beyond called Trejo The
images were accordingly made In Spain
Ind shipped 70 Guaymas, the port OF en-