The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1915-11-05
n Y

Entirely alone, Don Albino could make no head
way with his project OF getting rich quickly and.
taking advantage OF passing vessel went back
to Valladod, The cotton he had succeeded in
planting before his mozos deserted him al
lowed to grow wild, and the island more
completely abandoned by man.
II was not until 1S4S that Cozume again
inhabited. The revolution which caused Yucatan
and Campeche to separate had deprived many
citizens of the means of livelihood, and for ma
teral well political reasons 1t 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 paternaism Of the govern
ment, and always suspicious Of the party in
Offices bona fdes, they of spirit difficult
to keep under restraint and more than likely TO
soon 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; It 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 un
doing. Finally ii was agreed that they should be
taken to Cozume This arrangement was duly
consummated. and everything necessary to enable
the exes to make good start was furnished
gratuitously by the government. After very
many vcissitudes the colony thus launched
gradually settled itself into place, becoming at
the expiration Of decade or so firmly estab-
lished. and Cozumel is today the TERRA" or
homeland OF as hardy and independent a set OF
islanders-half farmers. half fshermen-as can
be found anywhere in the Antilles.
The present population OF Cozumel numbers
some fourteen hundred souls The capital, San
Miguel is credited with 900 and the village OF FL
Cedral has about $50; the remainder are scat
tered among the numerous ranches
San Miguel is quite thriving. wellformed
town II has several wide, clean streets; plaza
a very presentabe little church. large gen.
eral store and several small ones, an inn, and
municipal offices and customhouse: II also boasts
a sort of esplanade running along the entire sea
front, at one end Of which is the lighthouse and
at the other landing jetty. Although most of
the buildings palm thatched cottages. there
are several strongly built stone houses and the
main street has a two-story brick house and
modern bungalow.
The only regular communication with the out
side world is by government transport These
steamers call twice each month TO leave and
collect mail when en- route with troops and sup
plies to and from Vera Cruz and the military sta
tons of Quntana Roo.
Health conditions in Cozumel are extremely
good. when the tropical climate OF the island Is
taken into account. The normal rate of mortality
averages IL per 1000. Epidemics are very rare
indeed. practically unknown
The great majority OF the Cozumel islanders
are poor. so far as possessing surplus OF this
worlds goods is concerned being satisfied with
handtomouth existence.
Among the very few articles exported from the
island are oponges. but the quantity is limited
and the quality not very fine More than at
tempt has been made by foreigners to fully ex.
plot the sponge business here. but all efforts to
make Il profitable large scale have failed
There are very many ruins on the island
some OF which saw and TO the extent OF my
limited time and ability examined-the srchitec.
tural beauty and general plan OF which provide
irrefutable evidence that the early inhabitants
were intelligent and cultured TO a degree more
than surprising