The state herald., 1909-04-16
MEnAcMy NAH7 oFN0H7XfRH
HLxICO

Sisal is an almost forgotten town In
Yucatan. Its foundation is one OF the
myths of the Mayas Indians. but 1t
long antedates the city of Merida,
which lies inland from Sisal and was
founded by the Spanish In 1912. Sisal
was once prosperous seaport, en-
joying the primitive trade that spread
along the coast. but when, In 1871,
better facilities were needed the enter.
prising merchants of Merida deter.
mind to make use of the nearer har.
Dor of Progreso. and they therefore
built railway to this place. The
government of Mexico raised Pro.
greso to port of entry, and Sisal
gradually sank into such insigniii.
cance that to-day It is scarcely on the
map. Sisal has the glory. however. of
having given its name to one OF the
most interesting and important indus
tries of Mexico and America.
Sisal, henequen. ixtle. or istle are
words having their origin In the an
cient Mexican Indian tongue. They
prove the age of this primitive fiber
so genuinely and picturesquely
American. and In n more accurate
sense they establish the use OF the
term century plant"-a plant cen
turtles old-as applied to the family
OF which one very important member
Is the maguey.
Sisai hemp or grass is product OF
TAI 10 Ian HttFh htgh
the natives discovered. At first only
the crude dry fiber was employed to
bind together the mud and thatch OF
their huts, but later the shreds within
the leaves were utilized until finally
threads. cords and ropes were regu.
larly manufactured. II has been ex.
planned that the mighty masses OF
stone still In excellent existence In the
ruined cities In the interior OF Yuca.
tan could never have been moved into
place II the native Mayas had not
possessed this precious fiber. and
traces OF It's varied uses among them
are plainly visible to-day. when the
Spanish conquerors suffered from a
scarcity OF cable or cordage they be.
gan to rely upon the sisal OF the Yu.
catan Indians. and thus knowledge
OF this product was extended 10 Eu.
rope. toward the end Of the eight.
eenth century. For years It's CONNER.
ciai value was almost ignored. but
gradually, as other fibers became more
costly and sisal proved It's value. II
made n permanent place for Itself ms
nm article OF export
Henequen is another name given to
the same product OF the maguey. and
this has recognized trade signih.
cance, but II has not displaced siHnl
In commercial nomenclature. for. al
though hcnequen ia exported from
Mexico. II IL lost or concealed under
the term sisal or ixtlc or TnmpIco
iiber when imported into the United
States.
The maguey. or ngnvc. has many
more uses than the production OF
f,bcrs. The Juice OF the young leaves
IN mildly irritant. and In ancient times
was applied as native mustard plas.
ter. or employed to cautcrlzo and
cleanse wounds. The strong terminal
thorns served to pierce the tongue or
.nrs In certain ekpiatory ceremonies.
or In more wholesome ways they acted
ms the modern needle. From the
slender flower stalks were made lance
shafts and the larger ones ARE still
used by the natives ms raftcrs for their
houses or fences for their farms. The
large hollow leaves ARE found ns
,batch for Indian hu,s. or when dry
they provide n cheerful fuel for winter
nights. The clothing woven from tho
native nber IN unsurpassed to-day. and
long before the European invasion tho
Indians had devised from the leaves
n tough paper, upon long narrow
sheets OF which were painted In bril-.
liant colora their pictured historical
records. Some Of these gtill exist,
and both In color and texture seem 10
be iiitlc affected BY the lapse Of cen.