The Washington times., 1902-08-10
The Big Tree of the Church.
yard of Santa Maria del
Tule, the Great Grandfather
of All Trees = Tie Gaia
combs of Gaayuato-Hop
Corn is Prepared for "7or-
tflLas''- The Wide Chasm
Betaveen the High and Lon
Classes of Mexican People.

between Oaxaca and the ruins OF Militia.
It is great-grandfather of trees, that
must have been still great tree long
before the Spaniards came. and even
while the bdilders were at the temple
of Militia. ten thousand years ago. It
is 154 feet inches around the trunk,
6 feet from the ground, and, as native
says, st takes two looks to see the
top" II thlrty-two people with out
stretched arms. their fingers touching,
stood around the trunk they could bare
ly complete the circuit. On the east
side Of the giant Of the forest is
wooden tablet with an inscription signed
by Humbert, the great German traveller,
and probably placed there by him or by
his order. 1t has been there so long
that the bark has grown over 1t, almost
completely embedding the inscription,
so that the beginning and ending of the
lines cannot be traced. In the native
tongue this tree is an ahuehueta, CT
species Of cypress.
A City Of Historic Interest.
The City of Guayjuato perhaps con-
tains more points OF historic interest
It was captured by Hidalgo in the
early part of the war for independence.
and. after he and other patriots were
captured and executed at Chihuahua,
their heads were brought here and hung
on hooks which can still be seen af-
fixed TO the walls of the city. The old
church of San Sebastian contains scores
of old crumbling tombs with many curl
GUS Inscriptions.
High up on hill in the western part
of the city Is a cemetery that may be
called replica of the catacombs of
Rome. In the vaults which are very
extensive are artistically arranged the
bodies and bones of past inhabitants
whose departure from this vale of tears
covers more than two centuries. The
bodies are placed in tombs arranged in
tiers in TIE thick walls. stipulated
sum is paid for the tomb for the first
five years, with the privilege of renewal.
II at the end the mourners grief has
cooled and fuI ffuI Their payment Is Goott GGoot made.
the body is taken from the hole in the
wall II nothing but bones remains they
are thrown into a heap at the end Of
the arched corridor under the cemetery.
II the body Is preserved in the dry air
of the climate. II is stood up against
the wall to grin and keep company with
the other mummies that have stood
there through the ages.
Perhaps there is nothing which the
traveller can call to mind more read
lily after a sojourn in the Mexican Re-
public-nothing which he can class as
so Characteristic of the people than
the preparation of the corn for tor
tillas." a sort of ill-tasting corn cake
which forms the basis for all meals of
the low caste Mexicans. The corn is
soaked thoroughly in water. after which
it is spread out on a fiat stone and
crushed under crude stone roller
which is run over it. When the grains
Of corn have been reduced to a fine
powder, this is mixed with water until
1t forms thick paste, which is formed
into cakes and baked over a charcoal
fire.
Mexico's Lower Classes.
This lower portion of the Mexican pop
ulace is. on the whole, ignorant to a
degree and retains nothing of the finer
instincts and qualities which at one
time made their ancestors, the Aztecs.
the most highly civilized and cultured
race of the North American continent.
But. assertions to the contrary not
withstanding. Mexico has thousands of
persons among her citizens who are just
as we'll bred, just as refined, Just as
much of the lady and gentleman as any
persons on the face of the earth. There
are practically two distinct classes of
people in the republic. and fortunate
indeed is the traveller who makes friends
among the upper class of citizens-tbe
people who form the backbone and life
of Mexico.