The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1915-10-21

" the United States and the
countries OF Central America
will be the opening OF the new rail
way connecting Mexico and Guate.
mala, writes W. ID. Hornaday in Grit.
important link In the long-talked of
line OF railway. that is destined ulti-
mately to extend all the way to the
Isthmus OF Panama, and perhaps to
the countries OF South America that
border upon the Pacific ocean, would
have been In regular operation ere
this.
According to reports from Guate-
mala the work OF extending the Pa
cifc division OF the International
Railways OF Central America from
Champerico to Ayutla. situated on
the Mexico-G Guatemala border. is prac-
tically finished. At Ayutla this line
road. which runs to San Geronimo on
the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. dis
tance OF 2s4 miles. The Suchiate
river forms the boundary line between
Mexico and Guatemala. This stream
is spanned by costly bridge. On
the Mexican side is the town of
Mariscal and Just across the river is
Ayutla.
The Guatemala link in the Pan
American keeps close in towards the
Pacific coast, and In places the blue
waters OF the ocean may be seen by
travellers on the trains. AT the port
of San Jose the road connects with
the main line that crosses Guatemala
from southwest to northeast, forming
n direct route TO the capital and to
Port Barrios, the Atlantic terminus.
The Isthmus OF Tehuantepec and
that part OF far southeastern Mexico
that Is traversed by the Pan-Ameri-
can railroad possesses many features
of interest to the world,traveler or to
the man who takes delight in pene-
trating out-of.the-way places and who
loves the beauties OF nature. II also
has attracted many American colon
lists. When travel to and from Mex
leo was interrupted by the internal
strife that has so long afflicted the
y
lists were Just beginning to get ac.
quainted with the remote region that
was made accessible to them by the
construction OF the Mexico division
OF the Pan-American railroad.
Region OF Great Interest.
All the way from Cordoba to Maris-
cal there are many wonderful things
TO be seen. but II is not until the
lsthmus of Tehuantepec is reached
that the full bloom beauty of riotous
nature, with fits deepgreen hued ver-
dure, its picturesque life and customs
of the careful natives. greet the eye.
The encroachment OF civillzing In
fiuences has left but little impress
upon the town and village OF the
Tehuana Indians. Their chief popula.
tion center is Tehuantepec. which is
located on the National Tehuantepec
railroad within few miles OF Sallna
Cruz, the Pacific coast terminus OF
that nsisthmian line. In all Mexico
there is no place OF more absorbing
interest and strange attraction to the
visitor thar Tehuantepec. There is
little in common between the Tehuana
indians and the other native tribes
OF TIE country In the matter OF cua
toms and everyday life.
The Tehuana men are OF very or
dinary type, both in point OF physique
and standard OF intelligence. but the
women as a class are the prettiest
and most attractive in all Mexico
They resemble in mobility and beauty
of features as we'll as In physical
charm the famous native PolynesiaI
women OF some OF the groups of South
Pacific islands. They are the heads
OF the households. The Tehuana mer
are anything but their lords and mas
ters. Practically all of the trade IL
the markets and stores is carried OF
by the women. The sloven,lookinl
and unattractive male members o
the tribe lounge around and live of