The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1909-09-10
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usual interest, done by local artist
Gabriel Barraca.
The zocalo, or central park, adjoins
| the Cathedral, and is the airing-place
for society on the warm summer even
ings. Here one may see the Spanish
women in their quaint and beautiful
costumes, wearing the characteristic
black and white mantillas so becom-
ing to them, and one feels that this
is the old life which has not yet given
way to the foreign influences of the
larger cities of the plateau.
In the courtyard of the Cathedral.
and under it's very caves, is great
gambling pavilion. Here the inherent
gambling propensities of the race
have full play. Men, women and
children, rich aud poor, sit side by
side for hours, playing their game
with bits of glass and kernels of corn.
The penitent, coming from prayers,
HES himself to the game; the game
ster who has lost his all has but to
step across the court to enter the
church and beseech the aid Of his
While cotton, sugar cane, tobacco
and coffee are the principal products
of the surrounding country, oranges.
lemons, almonds and bananas of the
finest kind grow here in abundance.
The peak of Orizaba is several miles
distant, but it seems fairly to over
shadow the place. There has been
no eruption of the volcano since 1546.
when there was a violent one. The
streets of the town are paved with a
lava formation from the ancient erup-
tions.
At Jalapillo, a hamlet some three
miles below, parties are made up for
the ascent of the volcano. 1t is said
to be a comparatively easy ascension.
requiring about four days for the trip,
only one of which must be made on
foot. 1t is possible to use horses on
the trail, with the exception of the
last day. On the slopes of Orizaba,
every variety of climate, vegetation
and animal life may be found. There
are 100 different kinds of trees which
are valuable for timber.
On the outskirts of the city is the
hill called Gel Borrego," locally of in
terest as having been the scene of a
battle between the French and Mexi-
cans. The Alameda, fashionable
drive. runs out to the hill.
The streets of the town are SO mar
row that almost no wheeled vehicles
are seen on them. All the burdens
are carried on the backs of Indian
cargadores or burros.
The Indians come to market twice q
week, carrying on their backs great
packs of vegetables and fruits, or
chickens with their legs tied all to-
gether, and more dead than alive by
the time are thrust down at the mar
ket. They are also peddled from
house to house, the "pollero" untying
them for the housewives inspection.
Meat is also peddled about on burros.
The Indian women make beautiful
thread lace as they jog along, and one
can often pick up piece of fine lace
for song from them.
Cordoba, about IL miles below
Orizaba, is one of the most picturesque
of the smaller towns. 1t is just in
side the zone of the "tierra caliente,"
and here are grown some of the most
delicious fruits to be found anywhere.
The tropical fruit, called the Manila
mango" and the tiny, yellow banana.
about as large as ones finger, are
brought to the train by the Indians,
and are eagerly snapped up by travel
ers, as they are too perishable to be
shipped. Orchids of the most exquis.
lite coloring, and Of infinite variety,
are offered for sale for a mere pit.
lance. There is an old moss-grown,
weather-beaten church here, where a
sleepy parde sings an occasional mass
to a sleepy congregation. In the plaza
in front of the church, idlers doze on
the quaint old benches. No one
seems to have anything to do. The
only thing to disturb the slumbers of
the place is the passing of the train
from Mexico to Vera Cruz in the
morning, and the train from Vera
Cruz to Mexico in the afternoon. The
rest OF the time it rests in peace,
smothered under the brilliant and lux.
uriant flowers of the tropics.