The Elbert County tribune. [volume] (Elbert, Elbert County, Colo.) 18??-1920, 1911-05-26

Inc world Is 1aSt grasp
Ing the fact that in the
comparatively small space between Mexico
and the lsthmus OF Panama lies as 1t were.
the Land Of Promises promise Of wealth In
calculable to the realm of commerce, through
the cultivation and development Of marvel
ously rich and fertile countries which are be-
ing opened up with wonderful rapidly by the
network of railroads that are spreading
throughout the five beautiful republics of Cen
trail America. More than a land of promise
to the archaeologist. who has here vast
Held for research wherein to unravel the mys-
terry which surrounds the history of the an
cient American civilization and throw some
light upon the origin of the people whose won
derful works are evidenced in the ruins of
prehistoric cities found hidden in dense trop-
veal forests. land of beautiful realities to
even the ordinary tourist who finds easily
accessible a wealth of scenic beauty unsur-
passed and perfection OF climate rarely
equaled.
This is particularly true of Guatemala. the
most northern of the Central American repub-
lies and our nearest neighbor after Mexico.
1t is reached by three days delightful sail
on the Gulf OF Mexico and along tho coast ~
British Honduras. The fine new ships of the
united Fruit company give every luxury and
comfort OF ocean travel. and Guatemala in
the very near future, will become the Mecca
VI .hose desiring to escape the cold and gloom
oil northern winter. Nowhere in the world
can be found more magnificent and varied
scenery than that which greets the traveller
especially IN the lake regions of this lovely
republic. OF the four larger Iakes-Peten
,ying lar to the north; Yzabal, near the At
iantic coast; Amatitlan on the Guatem.Ia
Central railroad not far from cnata,
City, and Atitlan, tucked away in the moun-
talns near the Pacific coast-there &c srnaI,
choice Differing SO widely each in its wan t.
perfect characteristic of its location and eli.
mate. anu Gil
ciuded to visit Lake Yzabal before pono -
to the City of Guatemala After ono ntt. W
rest, therefore, we boarded the LITTLE 80,
ooat winch carried us out from the handbook,
pay snort distance across the Gulf of An
'ique ana along the shore line. where gracefu,
palms stirred lazily in the perfumed hroenu
to Livingston. This town is nict,r. ee1e'
situated on bluff at the mouth OF the d..
Dulce, or Sweet river new bot1 -, .io
comfortable rooms and excellent cuisir. "ieu
iately been opened here, and dav mr. 10. as
may be we'll spent enjoying the MANI ,, 80
scenes In this quaint little town
From the porch of the Hotel Rio Dr,.o
iooh down through maze of palm traes
across the matched roofs of the town 70 ~
sparkling waters of the bay. where the Caribs
dart back and forth in graceful canoes IN
d hheehng posture and with only the use of
paddle they skim across the water with in
credible speed The air is heavy WIFI ~
scent Of jasmine and gardenias. the .,aa,,
or oranges and the tiny golden halls ~ tha
cumquat meet the eye at every turn and tow
erihg ABOVE all the great spreading branches
OF the wonderful breadfruit tree.
Lake Yzabal lies about so miles inland and
regular line of steamers ply between Iiv
ingston and Pansoz in the interior on the
Polochic river. We did not however avail
ourselves of this usual means of traasporta-
ton, having had launch placed at our dis
posal.
For the first ten miles we followed the
winding course of the Rio Dulce. the beauty
OF which is only comparable to that of the
far-famed Saguenay. BY some terrible com
vulsion of nature, the mountains have been
rent asunder and through picturesque can
yons and gorges this lovely river wends its
majestic course to the sea. The shores gradu-
ally draw nearer together and we soon find
ourselves shut In between towering walls of
green, rising to a height OF 400 to 500 feet,
with dense tropical vegetation and graceful
oyerhanging vines lazly swaying in the
breeze. Here the water seems to be motion
less. Its CLASSY surface rejecting in absolute
perfection of detail each leaf and flower. and
not sound breaks the silence. The only
signs OF life are the hundreds of beautiful
white Cara. the birds which furnish Dame
Fashion with the much-desired and everexpen-
sive aigrette. We passed occasionally a ma
tive drifting downstream In his dugout or
pitpan. as these canoes are called-F..s cargo
bunch OF bananas or string of fish.
The shores again receded and we entered
the Gulf OF Golfete. pretty body of water
some ten miles in length and dotted with nu-
merous islands. Another narrow channel and
we finally entered the lake proper. A beauti-
full picture Is before us-the lovely expanse
of water with its wooded shores rising sradu-
ally to the rugged Sierras de las Minas, to
the south, and the Santacruz mountains, to
the north. Here stand the picturesque ruins
of the old Spanish fort OF San Felipe. built In
1925 by fernando Cortez during his march
from Mexico to Honduras and erected to pro-
tect the approach to the town of Yzabal. which