The Holbrook news., 1912-01-05

YYN going down the western coast to l Panama, one will find it decidedly l worth while to stop of at Cham perico while the ship Is taking on
 coffee. and run up to Guatemala City, then catch the ship at the next port. This. however. affords just a peep at things. Finding the country so interesting, we left our ship and stayed over for the next one which arrived ten days later. A party of us planned to go to the city. and we were all anticipation until Champerico. the port of Guatemala, was reached. The ship anchored about a mile out and the cargo was first put off in the waiting lighters. This helps to steady them as the swells are quite large here. We were then lowered down on the cargo in basket manipulated by a crane. The basket swung out into the air, high above the water It's course was directed by men in the lighter, who grabbed the ropes at tached to 1t and landed us safely in the center of the cargo. We then scrambled up on boxes and sacks out of the way of the next basket load that lowered suspiciously over our heads before it was finally lowered. All the while, the lighter, unless well balanced with cargo, is the victim of the caprices of the swells. If one is inclined to be seasick, the suspense of waiting for the last basket load to- land is most aggravating.
 On reaching the port, we had an other basket ride, then went to the custom house, where our luggage re ceived very superficial examination.
 Just back of the custom house a train was waiting that took us to Re tahuleu, little Indian village, where we remained for the night
 Right after leaving the station our train, the Guatemala Central, plunged into the thickest tropical growth. It was very warm, but the constant change of scenery made us forget our condition. After an hour or so we stopped at Blanco Caballo. Here we got our first glimpse of native life. There was a whole street of bamboo huts with native men and women lounging about the open door and half clad children dreamily watching the train. Tall cocoanut palms grew ev- erywhere. Vendors were selling the cocoanuts through the train windows. We tried some of the milk, 1t being considered very refreshing. but as the cocoanuts were not ripe, we did not like the taste. The natives drink the milk of the unripe cocoanuts. We jour neyed on and reached Retahuleu tired and dusty.
 Due to a fiesta in town, people had come from everywhere Fiestas must mean a great deal to these poor na- lives, for they were there in droves and while they do not show their en- thusiasm no happening escapes their notice.
 Crowded Quarters
 The hotel landlady was able to ac- commodate us with only one room, so the eight ladies took that while the gentlemen of the party were looked | the eight of us made a hasty toilet | with the aid of one candle and four-by-four-inch mirror sadly lacking | in ref1ecting quality
 The train once more plunged into | rich dense foliage. now more ,beauti- | fuI than before, with pretty roads | here and there leading to distant viii | lages. We passed miles and miles of coffee, banana and sugar-cane planta- tions, besides many of cocoanut, with | here and there scared rubber trees. | In many places the banana trees over Tapped the train and we rode through | a canopy of green
 At Escuintla we changed cars and had a two-hour wait. From Escuintla on, we made a very perceptible climb in reaching Guatemala City, which is {, 1000 feet above sea level The train makes many turns in winding round the mountains, and we get glimpses of little villages we passed earlier in the day.
 After leaving Escuintla the train travels for some distance before slow ing up at Palm. the next largest stop Indian women in the proverbial native costume crowd the station with bas- kets of fruit on their heads, some times supported by one hand while a baby peacefully sleeps tied to their backs. All the while they call their fruits and wares in a soft staccato voice. These women are short, but well built and seem to be superior in to others we saw.
 On to Guatemala City.
 The Guatemala Central follows to