Judsonia weekly advance., 1915-11-03

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 Valladolid. The cotton he had succeeded in planting before his mozos deserted him al- lowed to grow wild. and the island once more completely abandoned by
 It not until 184S that Cozumel was 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 it became necessary for them to seek pastures new. The federal government offered to help them, proy1d- 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 Tn offce's bona fdes. they were of spirit difficult to keep under restraint and more than likely to become unruy again. Therefore to allow them to migrate to the central states, or even 10 the regions bordering 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 it was agreed that they should be taken to Cozumel 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 or so firmly estab- lshed, and Cozumel is today the 'tierra' or homeland of as hardy and independent set of slanders--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 Ell Cedral has about 150; the remainder are scat tered among the numerous ranches.
 70 San Miguel is quite thriving, well-formed town. It has several wide, clean streets; plaza, very presentable little church, one large gen era store and several small ones, an inn. and municipal offices and customhouse; it also boasts sort of esplanade running along the entire sea front, at one end of which is the lighthouse and at the other a landing jetty. Although most of the buildings palm thatched cottages. there several strongly built stone houses and the main street has a twostory brick house and a modern bungalow.
 o 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 route with troops and sup plies to and from Vera Cruz and the military sta tions of Quintana Roo.
 ,s Health conditions in Cozumei are extremely 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 Cozume islanders are poor so far possessing surplus of this worlds goods Is concerned. being satisfied with < hand-tomouth existence
 Among the very few articles exported from the island are sponges but the quantity is limited and the quality not very fine More than one at tempt has been made by foreigners to fully ex ploit the sponge business here but all efforts to make it profitable on large scale have failed
 There are very many ruins the island some of which saw and to the extent of my limited time and ability examined-the architec tural beauty and general plan of which provide irrefutable evidence that the early inhabitants were intelligent and cultured to degree more than surprising.