Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-06-05
P1cruREsaun DRESS.
Worn ~ Native Women IN IstAnas
of Tehuantepec.

I0vAMuD
of Tehuantepec.
1t Is believed that many American
and European tourists will be attract
ed to the 1sthmus of Tehuantepec as
soon as they learn that the National
Tehuantepec railroad has been complet-
ed and opened for traffic and regular
steamship service has been established
between Coatzacoalcos and United
States and European ports, and be-
tween the Pacific coast terminal, Salina
Cruz and San Francisco. says the New
York Tribune. The Isthmus OF Te-
huantepec has heretofore been so far
removed from through lines of travel
that comparatively few pleasure seek
ers have visited 1t. In It's winter ell
mate the isthmus 10 unexcelled. The
air Is braclng and refreshing. Even in
summer the heat is not oppIeisiveg and
at Santa Lucrecia, where "A altitude
of several hundred feet ii reached,
there are all Of the comforts that are
Z to be found at most summer resorts In
the United States. In ordersto accom-.
modate visitors large hotelsFh have been
provided at Coatzacoalcos, Santa Luz
crecia, Salina Cruz and other places
along the line of railroad.
There are many interesting things to
be seen on the isthmus, not the least
of which are the native Tehuanas or
Indian women. They wear peculiar
dress that Is to be seen in no other
part of Mexico. 1t is called the Hulpil
dress. 1t consists Of short cape,
made Of white or colored muslin, with
a deep lace border of white or the pal
eat lavender, lace collar. short sleeves,
with long ruffies; short muslin jacket
OF. some bright color, with low neck and
short sleeves, and a petticoat which ID
simply an oblong piece OF crimson OF
dark blue cotton cloth. wound around
the loins, where It Is confined by q
sash, and reaching to the ankles. This
peculiar dress Is worn by every Tehuana
woman and child, without respect ID
age or social position. 1t liz worn in
many different ways, according to the
occasion, and Is always Of the brightest
colors obtainable.
The market place In Tehuantepec Il
scene Of brilllancy each morning
when the women gather to do theil
trading. One Of the staple food pro.
ducts is the iguana. This animal Ii
sold alive. 1t Is foot or two long
and In order to make 1t marketable itt
mouth Is sewed up to prevent It from
biting. and Its legs are tied behind 1t.
back. The Tehuanas are noted fol
their cleanliness. The men are indo
lent, Of short stature and slight build
They wear white linen shirts, with the
tails outside of the trousers Men
women. and children 30 barefooted.
There are number of American
planters on the isthmus. Most Of theil
holdings are in the interior. Thes.
plantations are principally devoted t.
raising coffee and sugar.
As a side trip the American touris
may 60 over the new Pan-Americar
railroad, which now runs from, sar
Geronimo. station on the Nationa
Tehuantepec road, to within 100 mile
Of the Guatemala border. Considerable,
progress has been made in the construc
ton OF this last 100 miles, and tn,
buildere declare that in less than I
year the road will be finished to tn,
Guatemala border. Deer, wild hog,
and other game which are to be found