The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-16
IUGlIAN Is PROSPEROUS.
DESCENDANTS OF AxrECs PROFIT
ny WAR IN PHILIPPINES.
Their Hemp wow Sells for several
Times ITS Former Price and Bali
ancc Of Trade IL in Their Favor
Il Natives Are Interesting People.

Felix Kraemer, plano manufacturer Of
New York. who has Just returned from q
trip through Mexico as far south as Yu-
catan Is guest OF the Butler. 1t has
long been Mr.. Kraemer's custom to pay an
annual visit to tha latter interesting prov
lnce and during these trips he has become
familiar with the habits and customs Of
what he considers to be the Oldest and
richest race OF people on the western
hemisphere.
"Yucatan Ii particularly prosperous just
now" he said last night. 1T Is one OF the
few countries that grow hemp. As not a
bale OF this fiber has been shipped from
the Philippines. the greatest hemp growing
lands In the world, for over a year the In
dians are receiving SIG hundred f,r their
crop where two years ago they ar were g,ad
two-thirds OF the crop IL being. soid to
dealers in the United States, The cities
of the country are busy day and night.
American manufacturers are doing
some business there, but the great hulk Of
the trade goes to England and Germany
whose merchant vessels are In the harbors
AL the time. Americans do not look after
that trade as closely as do the other COM
'Yucatan Is still at swords points with
Mexico and suppose always will be. The
trouble is in the main caused by cattle
men. The Indians own large number Of
cattle which craze on lands within their
own Boundaries Mexican cattlemen allow
or drive their herds across the line to SEE
cure pasture and often. It is said, resort
to stealing stock This usually results IN
murder first, a war between the cattle
men and the Indians next and finally the
Mexican government Is brought in.
The Indians are of an ancient race,
more than 5000 years old and to a traveller
are most interesting people. They re-
sernblc to some extent the natives Of the
Philippine islands except that they are a
more handsome people. Their religion is
the same as 1t was In the days when our
earliest history Of them begins. In some
quarters the Mexican priests are gaining a
foothold, but It Is slight.
The women are looked upon much as
they are In Oriental countries. They wear
short skirt coming Just below tie knees
and sandals, but no stockings The waist
OF the dress Is cut low. while from about
the neck they usually wear suspended
from gold chain. gold coins of different
values It is not unusual to see a native
woman wearing fifteen or twenty gold
pieces In this way, major portion of them
being Of the value Of $40.
The men dress in white Their trousers
come below the knees. cotton shirt
without a neckband, and a broad straw
hat. complete their attire.
The cities are built in a substantial
manner and here and there. dotted over
the country. are giant pyramids whose his
tory and secrets would fill volumes
The natives are friendly toward the
but never grow familiar. There Is no such
q thing as intermarrying with them. For
personal cleanliness no people on the face
OF the earth can surpass them. Their linen
Is always spotless.
They are an interesting people and well
worth visiting, but 1t will be long before
the secrets Of the country will be given
UP to the world"