Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-19

the best shots and the most efficient Off
Gals in the republic. The old adage you
know, Set thief to catch a thief" We
passed one of these rurales shortly before
reaching the village. He was well mounted
well armed and well uniformed and alto
gether looked the part. Each man owns his
own horse and takes great pride in his
work. In about an hour we reached the
village of Xochimilce, meaning gardens of
flowers.
At Lunch Time.
There was no village green, but at one
side of an open space a well-con-
structed adobe building. This was the orig
NAL club house. 1t was scrupulously clean,
and l judge is always kept swept and gar
nished. We had brought big hamper of
provisions. which were soon displayed
temptingly on long hower-decked table.
Inc Moral decorations We're quite unique,
and were made voluntarily by the Indians,
who knew of our coming. The walls were
decorated with some English and American
prints prominent among them being a copy
of "A Helping Hand the original of which
hangs in the COrcoran Gallery.
Our host on arrival was greeted affec-
tionately by the jefe, or chief of the village,
who threw his arm about him in true Next
can style and called him ''compadre.''
A Miniature Venice.
After good luncheon We walked through
the village. which seemed to be a miniature
Venice, with little canals running in every
direction, and in one of the larger of these
lay Mr.. Phillips private yacht with steam
up ready to make a trip among the gar
dens. 1t certainly was queer-ooking
craft and the only one that steams in those
waters. 1t seemed to be simply a fiat boat
about thirty-five feet by eight, with deck
rail about foot high, an awning overhead
and easy chairs scattered about.
1t had PADDLE wheel astern. an engine
lust al0ft the center and rudder in the
bow. This strengthening steamer was
the result of several years of experiment.
ing.
Worked for Success.
Mr.. Phillips first tried ! naphtha launch,
but she couldn't navigate those waters.
The floating hyacinths and weeds of various
kinds which grow there luxuriantly soon
wound themselves about the propeller and
the launch refused to bulge. Then he built
a catamaran. but she sank too low in the
water, so .4e put a third boat and covered
them with a dec-,, and built side paddle
wheels with rudder astern. This combina
ton tloated all right but couldn't be steered
properly. Then he hit upon the idea of
wheel astern and a rJfdder in the bow, and
the problem was solved, and the Santa
Maria of Xichimilco'' is now always in
readiness for her owner and his guests.
The engineer and fireman were two bright
faced Mexican lads, employees in Mr.. Phil
lips foundry in Mexico City, who we learn
ed came from the city early in the morning
with the mule team and walked over from
Huipulco. The pilot was the intelligent
looking head man of the village, who took
a seat in stationary chair up in front
(there was no bow. gave the signal to
start by ringing a little be- and we were
off.
A Queer Lake.
We soon learned that Lake Xichimlco is
lau h,,+ CT, inn
wide and kept open only by constant traffic
and cleaning, rapid and dense is the
growth of the vegetation. The land is proba
bly, as fertile as any in the world, as six
or eight crops a year can be grown upon II
by judicious fertiliZing and irrigation. Both
are easy propositions, Tor the water is
dipped up and thrown upon the gardens,
and the black mud from the bottom of the
canals makes the richest kind of fertilizer.
AS the Santa maria steamed along, max
ing about four knots an hour and drawing
only eight inches, we could see the whole
system of cultivation.
These islands which now nearly MI the
lake are of various sizes; some are soi.d
earth. while others are only few feet IN
thickness and are really hoatng. Some
are natural and others are artificial.
The Indian Method.
When the Indians desire to make a new
island they cut from the inland a good
sized piece of the soil and anchor it by
sticking stakes all around the edges. Then
they fertilize it with the rich bottom muds
and plant some seeds. and in a few months
they add to it, in a couple of years having
a new island garden The stakes which