The Green Forest tribune., 1909-09-10

 usral 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 and poor, sit side by side for hours, playing their game with bits of glass and kernels of corn. The penitent, coming from prayers, hies 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 patron saint in his next venture. 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 violent one. The streets of the town are paved with lava formation from the ancient erup- tionS
 At Jalapillo, hamlet some three miles below, parties are made up for the ascent of the volcano. It is said to be a comparatively easy ascension, requiring about four days for the trip, only one of which must be made on foot. It 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 treessWhich are valuable for timber.
 On the outskirts of the city is the hill called "El 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 nar- TOW 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 a 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 housewife's 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 a piece of fine lace for song from them. Cordoba, about 12 miles belowe Orizaba, is one of the most picturesque1 of the smaller towns It is just in-e oiuO IHS ZOllS Ol luo terra Cdll0nCo, E and here are grown some of the mostN delicious fruits to be found anywhere.e The tropical fruit, called the "Manilatl mango and the tiny, yellow banana,E about as large as ones finger, are# brought to the train by the Indians& and are eagerly snapped up by travelSl CTS, as they are too perishable to bdHI shipped. Orchids of the most exquiss lte eoloring, and of infinite variety# are offered for sale for a mere pit# tance. There is an old moss-grownH Weather-beaten church here, where 8 sleepy parde sings an occasional mas $F to sleepy congregation. In the plaz Tn front of the church, idlers doze ol X the quaint old benches. No on$ $ seems to have anything to do Th# # only thing to disturb the slumbeys o2 r. the place is the passing of the trail is from Mexico to Vera Cruz in tn d. morning, and the train from Ver&1 Cruz to Mexico in the afternoon. ThS Ss2 rest of the time it rests in peace s smothered under the brilliant and lulu urlant flowers of the tropics. N8