Rocky Ford enterprise., 1915-11-05
Y 7 Y

Entirely alone. Don AIbino could make no head
way with his project OF getting rich quickly and.
taking advantage of passing vessel went back
to Valladolid. The cotton he had succeeded In
planting before his moZos deserted him was al,
lowed to grow wild. and the island once more
was completely abandoned by man.
1t not until 1S4S that Cozumel was again
inhabited. The revolution which caused YucataE
and Campeche to separate had deprived many
citizens of the means of livelihood. and for ma
terial well political reasons it became
necessary for them to seek pastures new. The
federal government offered to help them, provid'
ed they would leave the peninsula. But to where
could they be transplanted? Being Yucatecos.
quick to resent the paternalsm of the govern
ment and always suspicious OF the party IL
Offices bona fdes they were OF spirit dimcni'
to keep under restraint and more than likely to
become unruly again. Therefore to allow
them to migrate to the central states. or even to
the regions bordering on the Gulf OF Mexico. was
out of the question: 1t was imperative that they
be kept apart from the more docile peoples OF the
republic lest they inoculate the latter with the
political restlessness that had been their own IN
doing Finally it agreed that they should be
taken to Cozumcl This arrangement was duly
consummated. and everything necessary to enable
the exiles to make good start was furnished
gratuitously by the government. After very
many vicissitudes the colony thus launched
gradually settled itself into place, becoming at
the expiration of decade firmly estab
iisked. and Cozume is today the terra or
homeland of as hardy and Independent a set OF
islanders-half farmers. half fishermen-as CAP
be found anywhere in the Antilles.
The present population of Cozumel numberp
some fourteen hundred souls The capital. San
Miguel is credited with 300 and the village Of FL
Cedral has about $50: the remainder scat
tered among the numerous ranches
San Miguel is quite thriving. well-formed
town. It has several wide, clean streets; a plaza.
a very presentabie little church. one large gen.
eral store and several small ones inn. and
municipal offices and customhouse; It also boasts
a sort of esplanade running along the entire
'front.' at one end OF which is the lighthouse anG
at the other landing jetty. Although most Of
the buildings palm thatched cottages. there
are several strongly built stone houses and tho
main street has two-story brick house and
modern bungalow.
The only regular communication with the
side world is by government transport These
steamers call twice each month to leave anG
collect mail when route with troops and sup
plies to and from Vera Cruz and the military sta
tions of Quintana Roo
Health conditions in Cozumel are extre ,ely
good, when the tropical climate Of the island is
taken into account. The normal rate of mortality
averages IA per 1000. Epidemics very rare
indeed practically unknown.
The great majority of the Cozumei islanders
are poor, so far possessing surplus of this
worlds goods is concerned being satisfied with
hand-to.mouth existence.
Among the very few articles exported from tho
island 5ponges, but the quantity Is limited
and the quality not very fine More than one al
tempt has been made by foreigners to fully eY
plot the sponge business here but all efforts 10
make It profitable large scale have failed
There very many ruins on the island
some of which ! saw and to the extent of nv
limited time and ability examined-the archltec.
tural beauty and general plan OF which provide
irrefutable evidence that the early Inhabitants
Intelligent and cultured to a drp-op nInr.
than surprising