Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-11
A pETRIFIED SEA
BY FRANCIS ]. DYER

THE designation "a Pctrlned oea IS gwen
by French traveller to the Mexican
territory of Quintana Roo, part OF the
Yucatan peninsula. which IS in many re-
spects an exceedingly strange and wonderful
region.
This territory, with a coast line OF i've
hundred miles and an area of twenty-five
thousand square miles, was at one time oc-
cupied by people having high state OF
civilization, as the numerous imposing RUNS
testify, and later it was a rich field for ex-
ploitation by Spaniards.
In a recent report to the Department OF
State by Consul William w. Canada OF
Vera Cruz, it is stated that the savage
Mayas hold the interior; so that all COM
mercial, mining, and other operations are
confined to the strip of coast, which is COM
posed almost wholly Of coral and has been
described as a "petrifed sea- 1t is also
lkened to the roof OF a great cavern wherein
are subterranean waters. Almost anywhere
hole can be easily dug to water, and
through these holes eyeleSs catfish are
caught. Many small lakes are fed by sub
terranean streams; but, having no outlet,
the copper-impregnated water IS not mt Tor
use; indeed, sometimes cannot be used even
in steam boilers.
Practically no soil exists on this coral land,
with its low undulations like the waves OF
the sea. Sometimes holes are blasted out
with dynamite, and in them such soil as can
be collected is deposited and little gardens
made. There is such lack Of vegetables,
however, that to their absence is largely at
tributed the fevers and sickness common to
the region. Living is extremely high. Ice
is imported and sold at twenty-five cents
pound, and other things are high almost IN
proportion.
Bacalar, a military town having popula-
ton Of six hundred, was at one time busy
city Of thirty thousand people, as may be
told from the churches, monasterleS, and
other buildings still found to be there. The
city was annihilated in 1850 by the ferocious
Mavas and six thousand persons who sought
refuge in church were massacred there by
the savages. Their bones were found IN
1901 by General Jose Maria de Ia Vega
when he marched into the place at the head
of his Mexican troops, and ne caused them
to be removed and inferred.
SO dangerous is the rocky coast, lined
with Jagged reefs that in some remote period
a canal was constructed giving short and
safe route for the shipping OF that day. It's
remains can be distinctly traced, and they
give signs of high degree OF engineering
skill. There are now several American COM
panies engaged in getting out dyewoods,
chice cedar, and mahogany. They have
constructed sixty miles OF railroad to faclll-
tate getting out these articles; but none
of them has ventured to penetrate the IN
terror, where the AIayas still hold sway The
commercial interests are in the hands OF
Turks, who buy their supplies from French
and Spanish houses. The trade Of the region
amounts to as much as two million dollars
annually.
rs might be supposed, the climate is
tropical, humid, and subject to great varia-
tons OF temperature. There are abundant
rains, which supply the only source OF pota-
bic water Mangroves, cocoanuts, lignum
vitae, sapote, cedar, and mahogany are
abundant The forests are full OF animal
life Many deer skins are shipped. The sea
swarms with fishes and turtles, and sponges
are fished for BY the natives. There are album
dant signs OF coal and petroleum. Copper
is plentiful, the natives having had many
implements made from it when the Span
iards made their first visit TO the country.
The Rio Azul or Blue River in the dry sea-
son carries six per cent. Of copper IN solu-
ton and deposits crystals OF it along its
course,